Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine dominates the news headlines, as it should. Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked invasion of the Ukraine is reminiscent of Hitler’s unprovoked invasion of Poland that eventually kicked off World War II.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his fellow countrymen have shown remarkable courage and surprising resistance in the face of Russian aggression. The battle is in many ways analogous to the conflict between David and Goliath, but it is currently unclear whether the Ukrainian underdog will win.
The war has brought the 700 Club’s founder Pat Robertson out of retirement. He is claiming Putin “is being compelled by God” to invade the Ukraine but his ultimate goal is to invade Israel. Robertson has a checkered track record when it comes to interpretations and fulfillment of the apocalyptic passages of Scripture.
To be fair, Jesus when his disciples questioned Him about His return, said, “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom,” Matthew 24: 6-7.
Scripture prophecies are at once clear and obscure. For instance, Jesus’ prophesies of human conflict have come to pass with increasing frequency and intensity and not just in eastern Europe. Wars rage in several countries in Africa and are “rumored” in the far east; China has been threatening to invade Taiwan and North Korea continuously threatens the United States.
So, the prophecies about “wars and rumors of wars” is very clear and being fulfilled as I write. What is obscure is which nation will rise against which nation, or which kingdom will rise against which kingdom and when?
Ultimately, the Bible clearly tells us there will be war in the Middle East and Israel will be the object of that aggression, but whether Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine is the one that sparks that conflict is not clear; is Robertson right? Maybe, maybe not.
Our focus as believers should be Christ’s words, “See that you are not frightened.” Knowing God foresees all that will occur should comfort us that He is in control and not fear what is ahead.
And “those things must take place” points to man’s fallen nature making him incapable of living and ruling himself peacefully with his neighbors. When men turn their back on God, it is not long before they turn on one another. All this will usher in the millennial rule of the Prince of Peace.
Russia has caused untold suffering for those in the Ukraine, but ultimately Russia will prove to be a mere pawn in the hands of God.
“Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales; … All the nations are as nothing before Him, they are regarded by Him as less than nothing and meaningless,” Isaiah 40: 15 & 17.
Russia will be “less than nothing and meaningless.”
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