Russia has formally ended the broadcasting of the BBC World Service on Russian FM Radio, in the latest spat between the two nations. Bolshoye Radio, which had broadcast the World Service on its frequency, claimed its licence did not permit the company to redistribute the BBC's programming which the Company Spokesman referred to as "foreign propaganda"... 

Quote: "Bolshoye Radio's parent company, financial group Finam, said their license did not allow them to retransmit BBC's programs and the station will instead focus on originally produced material. Company spokesman Igor Ermachenkov said management made the decision on its own without outside interference. "It's no secret that the BBC was established as a broadcaster of foreign propaganda," Ermachenkov told The Associated Press.

Tensions between Russia and Britain have been high of late, following British demands that Russia extradite a businessman wanted for the death of Alexander Litivinenko, a former KGB agent who died of radioactive poisoning last year. Last month Russian bombers approached Scotland, and were only turned back when British aircraft were scrambled to intercept them. Today President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia intends to resume regular long range flights into foreign airspace in order to ensure the security of the Russian Federation...

Quote: ""We have decided to restore flights by Russian strategic aviation on a permanent basis," Putin told reporters after inspecting joint military exercises with China and four Central Asian states in Russia's Ural mountains. "Today, August 17 at 00:00 hours, 14 strategic bombers took to the air from seven airfields across the country, along with support and refuelling aircraft ... From today such patrols will be carried out on a regular basis. "We hope our partners will treat this with understanding."

US State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack played down the significance of the development, stating the world is not facing the same threat from Russia as it once did during the Cold War days. Personally I don't like the idea of any foreign power flying its planes over my head unannounced. But knowing what the Bible says about Russia in the latter days, it is plain to see that the nation is being prepared for the role it will play in the not too distant future. During the war of Ezekiel 38-39, Russia is to act as a guard to the Muslim nations that will fight against Israel. Ezekiel's prophecy seems to indicate that this will take the form of a massive air armada (Ezekiel 38:9), with Russian forces coming like a storm to cover the land. But rather than defending the Arab states, Russia moves against Israel in a desperate bid to secure the economic resources of the Middle East for itself.

Ezekiel 38:11-12
And thou (Gog) shalt say, I will go up to the land (Israel) of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.

As we have seen recently, Russian ties with Iran are continuing to grow. Russia has helped build Iran's nuclear facilities, has supplied the country with advanced anti-aircraft missiles to defend them and is planning to sell Iran long range jets to protect its airspace. If anything Russia will be keen to ensure that its lucrative deals with the Iranian regime do not go up in a cloud of smoke. Perhaps the threat of conflict with Iran will soon spur Russia into moving into the Middle East in order to secure its "strategic interests". In any case I believe we should look for Russia to start becoming more and more prominent in the region in the coming months.

Source Jerusalem Post, Reuters

Israeli security officials on Monday warned citizens traveling in Egypt, Jordan and other Muslim countries to leave immediately due to a "concrete and severe" threat of terror attacks.

Russian Admiral Vladimir Masorin has stated that the Russian navy is seeking a permanent presence in the Mediterranean Sea, during a visit to a naval base in the Black Sea. Masorin believes that Mediterranean is of strategic importance to Russia, being located close to the Black Sea.  

Quote: ""The Mediterranean Sea is very important strategically for the Black Sea fleet," Masorin said during a visit to the base of Russia's Black Sea fleet in the Ukrainian city of Sevastopol. "I propose that, with the involvement of the Northern and Baltic fleets, the Russian Navy should restore its permanent presence there," Masorin said, Interfax reported. Masorin did not say where Russian ships would be based in the Mediterranean Sea, where Russia has no coast.

Just recently Russia has also sought to increase its presence at the North Pole, sending two submarines to plant a flag 4200 metres under the ice. Russia's spurious claim to the polar region will cause conflict with states that have territory within the Arctic Circle, and is likely to upset others who will see this as an attempt by Russia to secure the North Pole's vast gas and oil resources for itself. 

Quote: "Russia wants to extend right up to the North Pole the territory it controls in the Arctic, believed to hold vast reserves of untapped oil and natural gas, which is expected to become more accessible as climate change melts the ice. President Vladimir Putin congratulated the expedition by telephone on "the outstanding scientific project," local agencies reported. Boris Gryzlov, who heads the State Duma lower chamber of parliament and the pro-Kremlin United Russia party, hailed the expedition as "a new stage of developing Russia's polar riches". "This is fully in line with Russia's strategic interests," local media quoted him as saying. "I am proud our country remains the leader in conquering the Arctic."

Russia's "strategic interests" are of course bringing it into direct conflict with the state of Israel. Not only has Russia helped build Iran's nuclear facilities, it has provided the nation with anti-aircraft missiles to defend them, and is now considering selling Iran long-range jets to protect its airspace. In co-operation with Syria, Russia is already planning to build its first naval base in the Mediterranean since the collapse of the Soviet Union. And today the Russian Admiral wants a fleet of Russian ships permanently stationed in the waters opposite Israel. So where is this all leading? The Bible seems to indicate that Russia, along with her Islamic allies, will be brought against the nation of Israel in the latter days. During a time when Israel is at rest, an unexpected Arab invasion of Israel prompts Russia to move into the Middle East. At first it seems Russia's role in this war is to act as a guard to the Arab states, which according to Ezekiel 38:5-6, include Iran, Sudan, Libya and Turkey.

Ezekiel 38:7 
Be thou (Gog) prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them.

Ezekiel 38:9-12
Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time (as the Arab invasion) shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.

Russia is located geographically above the state of Israel, yet Ezekiel prophesies that the Russian hordes shall "ascend" and come like a "storm" and a "cloud" to cover the land. The word for a "storm" in the Hebrew is a "tempest" or to "rush over", and the word for "cloud" is a "nimbus" or "thunder cloud". It is thought that this passage describes a massive air-armada, that will act as a guard for Arab states fighting against Israel. But during the Arab invasion of Israel, an evil thought comes into the Russian leader's mind. Instead of acting as a guard to Arab troops, Russia moves against Israel itself to take a spoil. This act is protested by Saudi Arabia and a few other states, Saudi being a major oil exporter in the Middle East and the other states being merchants in the Mediterranean. The Bible states that Gog's invasion of Israel will result God's fury coming up in His face. The rest of the passage describes the Divine destruction of 5/6ths of the invasion force, along with the possible use of nuclear weapons or long-range missiles.

Ezekiel 38:18
And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face. For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;. 

Source Reuters, Reuters

Quote: "Israel is looking into reports that Russia plans to sell 250 advanced long-range Sukhoi-30 fighter jets to Iran in an unprecedented billion-dollar deal. According to reports, in addition to the fighter jets, Teheran also plans to purchase a number of aerial fuel tankers that are compatible with the Sukhoi and capable of extending its range by thousands of kilometers. Defense officials said the Sukhoi sale would grant Iran long-range offensive capabilities.

Iran also recently acquired advanced Russian anti-aircraft technology to help protect its nuclear installations from an Israeli or US strike. Russia was criticized for pressing ahead with the deal despite concerns over Iran's nuclear ambitions. If these new reports prove true, it will likely fuel fears of a new conflict in the region, one that could see Israel becoming a direct target. The Bible states that the war of Ezekiel 38-39 comes at a time when Israel is at rest (not necessarily at "peace"). The most likely time for a Russian-Arab invasion of Israel would then be following a long-term Israeli-Palestinian truce, or following the Antichrist's covenant with many. And this is exactly how the Palestinian terrorist organizations have stated they plan to destroy Israel. Although the war of Ezekiel 38-39 may not come just yet, it's easy to see how preparations are being made, and the Scriptures have once again demonstrated that they can be trusted implicitly, when it comes to matters of faith, historical and future events.

Source Chicago Tribune, Jerusalem Post