The Ominous Russian Bear

A map of Russia's oil and natural gas routes in Europe and Asia Minor

 While much of the world was preoccupied with the recent Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage in the United States, another event took place that was overlooked by many people. What was that? That was an economic agreement signed between Russia and Greece.

But what's so significant about that? Trade agreements occur frequently between nations. What makes that one significant? It's the terms of the agreement that make it significant and a potential game-changer concerning the economic and political landscape of Western Europe.

According to the terms of the agreement, Greece will help Russia build new natural gas pipelines into Western Europe through Turkey. What does Greece get in exchange for helping Russia extend its energy across the European continent? From http://www.ap.org: Russia promised Greece hundreds of millions of dollars in transit payments yearly if it agreed to build the pipeline. Construction of the pipeline is expected to start next year and be completed by 2019. The money will help economically-troubled Greece that's been teetering on insolvency for years.

Nearly 30 years ago, President Ronald Reagan warned the world to never allow the Russians to extend their oil and gas pipelines into Western Europe. While Reagan issued that caveat during the Cold War, he understood that Russia was an evil empire regardless of her political identity. To allow the Russians to control Europe's energy would place many nations under the influence of the Bear.

Both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Greek Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis denied that any political strings were attached to the deal. But only a fool would believe that. There will be heavy strings attached to the deal because Greece is a member of NATO, and Putin wants to weaken that organization by coercing members such as Greece out of NATO.

After the agreement was signed, Lafazanis sounded as though he was reading from a script written by Putin: The pipeline is not against anyone in Europe or the world. It is here to serve people, peace and stability. Energy can bring people together and not feed Cold War situations.
Indeed, the pipeline extension will bring people together under the growing arm of Russia. Once the nations of Western Europe become dependent upon Russian energy, they will be forced to do what the Bear wants or Russia might cut off their energy.

Remember what Russia did to the Ukraine in 2006? The Russians shut off their gas and plunged the Ukraine into a deep freeze when the Ukrainians complained about the price they were being charged. Energy drives economic engines, and without it economies can't run. The Russians know that and they also know that energy can be used as a political weapon. Thus, the Russians will likely use energy to coerce European nations out of NATO.

Though Russia is currently experiencing a recession due to low international oil prices and economic sanctions levied against her because of her military incursion into the Ukraine, the recession isn't going to last. The Russians have become close friends with their southern neighbor China in recent years and China is a nation that's flush with cash. The two need each other because the Russians need money to revive their economy while the Chinese need energy to fuel their growing industrial base.

During an APEC (Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation) meeting last year (November 21, 2014) the two nations signed dozens of contracts that were designed to benefit both countries. The Russian energy company Rosneft also sold 10 percent of its stake in the Siberian Vankor field to China's state-controlled energy company CNPC. The sale was unprecedented because Russia has rarely allowed foreign nations to invest in her energy companies. But this was a deal of necessity for both nations. Said Putin: Normally, we are very reluctant to allow foreign partners, but for our Chinese friends, there are of course, no restrictions. https://www.wsws.org

The financial deal struck by the two nations at last year's APEC meeting followed a $400 billion deal signed by the two nations in May, 2013 when Russia's energy giant Gazprom agreed to begin supplying China with natural gas.

The increasing economic agreements forged between the two nations in recent years comes as a response to the pending Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement being orchestrated by the U.S. and 11 other nations that purposely excludes Russia and China. The TPP is designed to strengthen Pacific Rim nations such as Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore and Viet Nam so that they won't be coerced into economic and political alliances with either Russia or China.

The Russians not only need money to improve their sagging economy, but they need money to continue their quest to become the world's most dominant military superpower. In recent years the Russians have spent hundreds of millions of dollars to upgrade their ICBMs, anti-ballistic missile systems and their nuclear submarines.

For example, the Russians are introducing a new fleet of advanced T-14 Armata tanks to replace the aging T72/T80/T90 tanks that were introduced in the 1970s. The Armatas are designed to withstand heavy artillery bombardment and be able to navigate just about any terrain on earth.

The Russians also recently introduced their latest and greatest ICBM, dubbed the TOPOL-M that can travel up to 15,000 mph and evade sophisticated radar and anti-ballistic missile systems. The TOPOL-M can travel 6,500 miles and be launched from either land or nuclear subs, making it accessible to any destination on earth. And the missile can carry up to 10 decoys and six operational nuclear warheads.

From Tyler Rogoway of jalopnik.com: The missile and reentry vehicle's ability to dynamically maneuver outside of its ballistic track makes producing an effective kill solution, or even predicting the TOPOL-M's target problematic. All these features come together to make a missile that is probably outside of America's missile defense capabilities today, and the sheer number of them that exists makes the idea of defending against anything but a limited barrage totally invalid.

The Russians plan to spend up to $700 billion by 2020 to complete their military makeover. When it's all said and done, Putin believes that his nation will possess the most potent military on earth. Here's what he boasted recently: No one should have the illusion that they can gain military superiority over Russia or put any kind of pressure on us. We will always have an adequate answer for any such adventures. Vladimir Putin Says Russia's Military Might Has No Match - NBC News

Many people dismiss Russia's growing ascent to superpower status once again as an anomaly. They shouldn't because biblical prophecy revealed 2,600 years ago that Russia, along with China, will play major roles in end time world events.

The prophet Daniel received an allegorical vision from God concerning a powerful world government that will rise in the last days. This government was symbolized as a violent beast with 10 horns. (Daniel 7:7)  Daniel wrote that this beast was "terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot what was left."

Daniel then revealed that one of the nations that will eventually assume control over this global government will be a northern kingdom. (Daniel 11) What nation could that be? Since the Bible always places Israel at the center of its geographical map, a northern kingdom would be located north of the Jewish nation. While there are several nations located north of Israel, the most powerful northerly nation is Russia. And Russia is rising rapidly as a military and political monster in the world.

Furthermore, the prophet Ezekiel, who lived during the 6th century B.C., revealed that a powerful nation he described as Gog would invade Israel in the end-times along with a military alliance he identified as Magog, Meshek and Tubal. (Ezekiel 38) 

Here are the words the Lord spoke to Ezekiel: "After many days, you will be called to arms. In future years, you will invade a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and now all of them live in safety. You and all your troops and the many nations with you will go up, advancing like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land." (Ezekiel 38:8-9)

Who is Gog? Gog was one of the ancient names for the tribe of Rosh that many modern Russians are descended from. Obviously, Russia's rise to prominence once again isn't an anomaly. It's the fulfillment of ancient prophecy. And Russia will continue to rise despite threats of war and economic sanctions levied against her. Though the United States is still currently the world's greatest superpower, America's days are numbered. Political, economic and military power is shifting to the east, and Russia, along with China, are poised to supplant the U.S. as the new superpowers on earth.

Consider what Russia's rise to prominence also means to the world; it means that Islam and homosexuality will eventually be eradicated because Russia tolerates neither. Putin is an Orthodox Christian who reviles homosexuality and he aims to eliminate it from his nation. And he also recognizes how dangerous Islam is and he wants that religion out of Russia as well. As Russia begins to spread her influence across the world, Islam and homosexuality will be pushed toward extinction.

In an ominous speech he gave to the Duma in February, 2013, Putin said this: In Russia, we live as Russians. Any minority from anywhere, if it wants to live in Russia, to work and eat in Russia, should speak Russian and respect the Russian laws. If they prefer Sharia (Islamic) Law, then we ask them to go to those places where that's the state law. Russia does not need minorities. Minorities need Russia, and we will not grant them special privileges, or try to change our laws to fit their desires, no matter how loud they yell discrimination. http://www.barenakedislam.com/2013/06/09/russia-vladimir-putin-orders-crackdown-on-muslims

Thus, the future of the world belongs not to America, but to Russia. And that's not good for anyone.