Keep
your eyes open!...Keep
your eyes open!...
March 31, 1999
A Watchman's View of the Kosovo Crisis
(Luke 21:36) Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."
(1 Th 5:6) So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.
As an observer of worldwide events from a Biblical perspective it is becoming increasingly apparent that our nation under President Bill Clinton is following a path clearly defined in the Bible. I say this with no rancor towards President Clinton, for whom I pray on a daily basis. I believe Scripture enjoins us to pray for those who God has allowed to obtain positions of authority.
(Heb 13:17) Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.
America, led by President Clinton, appears to be blinded by pride. Rather than attributing our prosperity to the Lord, America is mocking God. As a nation we are turning to every form of immorality with our wealth, instead of acting as stewards of the Lord. In an extreme act of disobedience and contempt we are murdering our innocent unborn children. Moses' words to the Israelites have a prophetic ring for this "prosperous" generation:
(Deu 8:11-14) Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
When the Israelites forgot God, particular with the sacrificing of their own sons in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom under King Manasseh, the curse of Leviticus chapter 26 was fulfilled. Using the Assyrians against the tribe of Israel and the Babylonians against the tribe of Judah, the Israelites were uprooted and scattered throughout the nations.
As events in Kosovo are evolving, I cannot help but see parallels between the judgement of God on Israel and his impending judgement on America. Using unfolding events in the Kosovo crisis, recent actions of the United States, historical Catholic prophecy and non-Catholic prophecy, I believe it is possible to predict that God will use the nation of Russia to punish America for its unrepentant turning away from the Lord.
A look at recent events from the standpoint of Russia:
1) Against Russian outcries Britain and America begin a bombing campaign against Iraq.
2) The International Monetary Fund (IMF), led by America, refused to grant Russian loans necessary to continue economic reforms. This stance seems to have changed abruptly during the Kosovo crisis (see CNN report). Important details, particularly the size of the loan, remain to be resolved (see Boston Globe article).
3) Against Russian objections (see CNN article) Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic are invited to join NATO.
4) Accused by Russia of starting a possible World War, America and NATO attack Serbia.
5) In a diplomatic blow, a U.N. Security Council resolution sponsored by Russia calling for an immediate end to NATO attacks on Yugoslavia failed by an embarrasing margin of 12-3 (see CNN report).
5) From: http://www.stratfor.com/crisis/kosovo/default.htm:
The New Yorker Magazine has published an article by Sy Hersh, a Pulitzer Prize winning writer, which claims that Saddam Hussein paid Russian Prime Minister Yvgeny Primakov $800,000 to obtain strategic material from Russia. ...If he doesn’t fall, and corruption by itself does not destroy careers in today’s Russia, Clinton and Berger have now made a mortal enemy of Primakov. On a night where Russian negotiators are trying to broker a peace in Belgrade, this complicates matters substantially. By leaking the above story to the press, America has insulted and belittled the very person that Russia has sent to Serbia to negotiate a peace plan (see Boston Globe article). Predictably, no acceptable peace accord was reached (see CNN report).
Russia is notorious for its nationalistic views and great pride as a nation. How long before they tire of these glaring slightings and throw their support behind the Serbs? Is a wounded bear less dangerous than a healthy one?
Additional comments follow from Dr Stephen A Rinehart [email: [email protected]]:
"If Boris Yeltsin were to suddenly disappear [or be overthrown in a planned Russian coup], and former hard-liners such as Gennady Zyuganov or Vladimir Zhirinovsky came into power, can the situation radically and drastically change overnight in the Balkans for NATO ? One of Zhirinovsky’s books "The Last Thrust To The South" advocates military aggression against Russia’s Southern neighbors as a way of achieving political stability. Zhirinovsky has made headlines in recent years threatening to take Alaska back from US, nuke Japan, and flood Germany with radioactive waste. He has stated: "Russia always has an adversary, today these are the United States, NATO, [Israel], China, and Turkey. He supported Suddam Hussein in Desert Storm."
An Except from Jim Bramlett's God's Judgment On America
Soon Fulfillment of Ezekiel 38. Another possible reference to America, by conspicuous omission, is in Ezekiel 38 and what most scholars see as an invasion of Israel by Russia and a confederation of Moslem nations. The geopolitical preconditions for this are rapidly forming. There are reasons to believe this may occur in the very, very near future (perhaps at the beginning rather than the end of the Tribulation as some believe). For example, there has been a recent security agreement between Russia (Magog, 38:2) and the leading terrorist state, Iran (Persia, 38:5). Russia is supplying Iran with nuclear materials and, on the black market, with nuclear warheads. (And I have heard the weapons have only a seven-year shelf life!) I have a reliable report of a recent briefing by NATO intelligence that a nuclear war in the Middle East is feared probable! America would surely be involved, perhaps as below:
If Israel is attacked according to Ezekiel 38, it is strange that there is no hint of help from its security partner, the powerful USA. Oddly, we do not seem to even be a factor. I believe it may be because, from a military standpoint, America has been neutralized and rendered powerless by a surprise nuclear attack by Russia (see below). This would surely give Russian military planners an assumed and enticing cakewalk to a Middle East takeover, ownership of the oil fields, new mineral resources and an expansion to the Persian Gulf, a stated goal of at least one radical in the wings, Vladimir Zhirinovski, whose autobiography is prophetically titled The Last March South! While Zhirinovsky may never rise to power, this territorial ambition is undoubtedly shared by other radicals--possibly rising star, anti-Christian and anti-Semitic General Alexander Lebed. Of course, we know from Ezekiel 39:1-6 that God Himself will defend Israel and destroy the invaders, to make His holy name known (v. 7). Again, the above still seems more plausible when the following is considered....
Catholic prophecies about Russia
Taken from 'Trial, Tribulation and Triumph" by Desmond A. Birch (pgs. 392-93):
1)"Sister Elena describes events which will begin the chastisement:
'Russia will march upon all the nations of Europe, particularly Italy, and will raise her flag over the dome of St. Peter's. Italy will be severely tried by a great revolution and Rome will be purified in blood for its many sins, especially those of impurity. The flock is about to be dispersed and the Pope will suffer greatly.'"
2) A message of Lucia of Fatima:
""I bring you a message of extreme urgency: The Holy Father has permitted me to visit Lucia.
"She received me sadly, she was very thin and quite afflicted. Upon seeing me she said: 'Father, our Lady is very unhappy because they have not taken Her message of 1917 seriously. Neither the good nor the bad have paid any attention to it. The good continue their way without preoccupying themselves with it, they do not heed Her celestial requests. The bad walk through life swollen with perdition, not taking into account the punishment that threatens them. Believe me, Father, God will chastise the world very soon. Think, Father, about all the souls who will fall into hell. This will happen because no one prays, because they do not do penance.
'All this is the reason why the Blessed Virgin is sad. Father, tell everyone that our Lady has, frequently, announced to me that many nations will disappear off the face of the earth. Russia is the scourge chosen by God to punish mankind, if we, through prayer and the sacraments, do not obtain the grace of their conversion. Tell them, Father, tell them that the devil has begun a decisive battle against our Lady, because what most afflicts the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus is the fall of the souls of religious and priests.
'The devil knows that when religious and priests fail in their beautiful vocations they carry along with them many souls into hell'".
Christian prophecy: Vision of Dumitru Duduman (http://www.handofhelp.com/newpage11.htm)
Excerpt from CHINA AND RUSSIA STRIKE - April 22, 1996. A vision received by Brother Dumitru Duduman:
The president of Russia began to speak insistently,
"Why let ourselves be led by the Americans? Why not rule the world ourselves? They have to be kicked out of Europe, too! Then I could do as I please with Europe!"
The man standing beside me asked, "This is what you saw: they act as friends, and say they respect the treaties made together.
But everything I've shown you is how it will REALLY happen.
You must tell them what is being planned against America. Then, when it comes to pass, the people will remember the words the Lord has spoken."
Who are you?" I asked.
"I am the protector of America.
America's sin has reached God. He will allow this destruction, for He can no longer stand such wickedness.
God however, still has people that worship Him with a clean heart as they do His work.
He has prepared a heavenly army to save these people."
As I looked, a great army, well armed and dressed in white, appeared before me.
"Do you see that?" the man asked.
"This army will go to battle to save My chosen ones. Then, the difference between the Godly and the ungodly will be evident."
Conclusion
Previous articles (especially Serbia: The lesson of Army Group E) have documented the quagmire that NATO has entered in attempting a military solution to the Kosovo crisis. Air strikes thus far have not accomplished the NATO objective, and if anything, have worsened the ethnic conflicts and slaughter on both sides.
Look for Clinton's resolve to increase (like Pharaoh) despite the fact that NATO's attacks thus far have been ineffective. From his most recent quote (from Boston Globe article): ''We will see that his military will be seriously diminished, key military infrastructure destroyed, the prospect for international support for Serbia's claim to Kosovo increasingly jeopardized,'' Clinton said, adding that the allies ''must remain steady and determined.'' Each successive escalation in military involvement will add to the risk of a significant Russsian intervention.
Lastly, because I think that Clinton is an essential participant in this unfolding plan of God, it is likely that the events forecasted here will occur this year, or certainly prior to the conclusion of his term as President in the year 2000. Perhaps those individuals who are downplaying the effect of the millenial bug on America will be right, but for the wrong reason.
(Luke 21:28) When these things begin to take
place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing
near."
