Israel, Russia and Armageddon Pt. II

The proposed Third Temple

With anti-Semitism spreading across the world once again, it seems as though Israel's days are numbered. Not only do Israel's hostile Islamic neighbors call for the destruction of the Jewish nation, but a growing number of nations beyond the Middle East would like to see Israel gone as well.

Why? Because these nations believe that if Israel goes away, then terrorism will cease and everyone will live happily ever-after. That's an erroneous belief because as along as Islam exists, there will always be terrorism. Many Muslims can't even coexist peacefully with each other as evidenced by the centuries-old hostilities between Sunnis and Shiites.

In fact, part of the current conflict going on in Syria involves Sunnis against Shiites. ISIS, the terror organization that Barack Obama disdainfully dismissed as a "Jayvee" squad, consists of Sunnis while the Iranians, who are fighting ISIS in Syria, are Shiites. 

Since Sunni Muslims far outnumber Shiites, the Iranians don't want Syria to fall to ISIS which would give the terror group control of that nation and Iraq, and put them on Iran's doorstep. Thus, the Iranians are fighting ISIS in Syria so that don't have to fight them in Iran. And certainly, if ISIS triumphs in Syria, then Israel will be in grave danger because Syria sits directly north of the Jewish nation.

While both ISIS and Iran want Israel erased from the Middle East, Iran will likely triumph in this battle because they've been joined by the Russians who are battling ISIS in Syria to keep the terror group out of Russia. If Syria's government falls to ISIS, the terror group will likely march northward towards Russia. That's why Russian President Vladimir Putin desperately wants to keep Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in power.

If Russia and Iran win this battle--and they will--then what happens next? Russia will assume control of the Middle East and install political leaders that will do Moscow's bidding. They will be responsible for controlling religious fundamentalism and cracking down hard on terror groups that possess an apocalyptical vision for a global caliphate.

How will Russia control Iran? They won't. Rather, the Russians will allow the United States to take out Iran's thuggish theocratic regime and destroy the Persian state's nuclear facilities before Moscow installs a puppet regime that will be controlled by the Kremlin. 

Russia won't allow anyone to attack Israel because the Jewish nation contains a large population of Russian Jews, and Russia has growing economic interests in Israel. Plus, Israel possesses the best intelligence of any nation in the world. The Russians need Israel's intelligence so they can prevent trouble in that region before it begins. 

But Russia's Orthodox Church, that once upon a time belonged to the Roman Catholic Church until they separated about 1,000 years ago, wants Russia to control Israel because the church believes that Jerusalem belongs to it and not to the Jews or to Islam. Like the Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church believes that it replaced the Jews as God's chosen people when the Jews corporately rejected Jesus Christ as their Messiah 2,000 years ago and had Him crucified.

And like the Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church believes that it must assume control of Jerusalem in order for Christ to return and set up his earthly kingdom. Thus, Israel must come under the control of Russia. And, as prophecy reveals, the Third Jewish Temple must be constructed on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem in preparation for Christ's return.

But how will that happen? Islam's Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa Mosque currently occupy the Temple Mount where Herod's Temple once existed. If Israel tried to remove those buildings, a bloody and violent war would break out in Jerusalem and that conflagration would likely lead to the destruction of the Jewish nation.

And yet, biblical prophecy reveals that the Third Temple will be built on the Temple Mount. (Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15, 2 Thessalonians 2:4) Who will have the authority to make that happen? The Antichrist who will offer Israel the ultimate deal; Israel's sovereignty in exchange for the coveted Temple. No other man could possibly achieve this. But remember that this man will be empowered by Satan himself. (Revelation 13:2)

And the Antichrist will have an ulterior motive for the construction of the new temple. The apostle Paul wrote this: "He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God." (2 Thessalonians 2:4)

But when will this happen? And where will this man come from? And what will happen when this man defiles the new temple? In part III; the dreaded reunion.