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Although I haven't commented at length concerning the Russia-Georgia conflict, it is clear that we are witnessing one of the key end times players beginning to openly reveal its true colors.
While there seems to be no doubt that Georgia initiated the conflict itself, Russia's response has been dramatically overpowering - to the extent I believe we can now safely assume that, in spite of Moscow's promise it was going to begin a ceasefire, military actions are still being carried out against Georgia by the Russian military.
Shocking to me, as I read the news this morning, is the statement made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov today that the world "can forget about" Georgia's territorial integrity. This is Moscow's response to the world's concerns that it may not be keeping its word.
The following is an excerpt from an Associated Press article on the ongoing conflict:
In Washington, an American official said Russia appears to be sabotaging airfields and other military infrastructure as its forces pull back. The U.S. official described eyewitnesses accounts for The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The official said the Russian strategy seems like a deliberate attempt to cripple the already battered Georgian military.
Most anyone who has followed Russia's recent history knows that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, formerly its president, has called the fall of the U.S.S.R. the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the twentieth century. In the eyes of many, he, at the very least, would do anything within his power to restore Russia to its former superpower status. The over-the-top military response to Georgia's actions may well be one way Putin, who most believe is still in charge of Russia for all practical purposes, hopes to lift Russia's status as a power to be feared once again.
As we look at Bible prophecy, it's clear that Russia is going to play a major role in the end times. Already we know that Russia is up to its neck in terms of arming Iran, assisting it with its nuclear program, not to mention supplying arms to all of Israel's enemies in the Middle East. We can expect that trend to continue, in my opinion because, as I noted in a 12-21-05 commentary, then Russian president Vladimir Putin openly declared, "Russia has always been the most faithful, reliable and consistent defender of the interests of the Islamic world. Russia has always been the best and most reliable partner and ally."
The Russian Bear seems to be sharpening its claws at the expense of Georgia. My prediction is we haven't seen nothing yet, depending, of course, on how God's prophetic end times plan is divinely scheduled to play itself out.
What a fascinating (and often disturbing) time to be alive!
Be ready for anything! Be surprised by nothing!
