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The situation between Russia and Ukraine has again heated up, although it has been tense since the Euromaiden protests and Russia's annexation of Crimea. There was later a separation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from the Russian Orthodox Church. Is war prophesied for Russia and Ukraine? Are prophecies in the Bible associated with the 'kings of the Medes' and a power from the "north country" related to any in Russia and Ukraine? Is a confederation of powers from the north, east, and central Asia prophesied to destroy the coming end time European Babylon? Will the destruction be reminiscent of what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah? Who is the King of the North and who will destroy him? Do those in Russia and Ukraine have a hope of salvation? Will Russia and powers of the east be involved in the gathering in Armageddon as prophesied in Revelation 16? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues.
A written article of related interest is available titled "Russia and Ukraine: Their Origins and Prophesied Future " URL: Russia in Prophecy; Ukraine in Prophecy
This video was first published February 6, 2022.
TRANSCRIPT
Russia and Ukraine: Background and Tensions
Greetings, friends around the world. This is Dr. Bob Thiel for the Bible News Prophecy Channel. I want to talk about Russia, Ukraine, some history and prophecy. The situation between Russia and Ukraine right now is pretty tense. We all know that in Matthew 24, verse 6, Jesus spoke of a time of wars and rumors of war. And there are tensions throughout Europe related to troop buildups and rhetoric associated with Russia and Ukraine. Well, are there prophetic ramifications? Well, yes, there are. But I'd like to do some background, go over some background related to this. We've seen economic, religious, and military concerns, particularly over the last nine years or so, over between Russia and Ukraine, of course, some even before then.
But back in 2013, the government of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, they decided to suspend the Ukraine-European Union Association Agreement in order to seek closer ties with Russia. And that led to a bunch of protests, demonstrations that were known as Euromaidan, and this escalated to something that people have called the Revolution of Dignity to overthrow the government of Yankovic, who had been elected. And then they put in a new government.
And after that new government got in, it took some steps that people in the eastern Ukraine did not like, basically dropping the Russian language as no longer being official, basically. So people in the eastern portion of Ukraine, particularly, as well as other parts of Ukraine who were either ethnically Russian or spoke Russian, were offended by this. And this caused some problems, particularly in the east, in regions such as Donbas, as well as Crimea. Those areas tended to support stronger ties with Russia.
And in 2014, Russia actually sent troops into Crimea, where it already had a naval base. Then, later, there was an election there, and the people there, according to the reports, voted to become part of Russia. Russia then later annexed Crimea, and the West has been upset about that ever since, and of course, so has Ukraine.
In 2018, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church petitioned the Patriarch of Constantinople to become separate and no longer under the authority of the Russian Orthodox Church. This was granted in 2019, and that particularly upset the Russian Orthodox in Russia as well as many in Ukraine. So it's kind of a separation going on there in Ukraine.
Historical Accounts of the Medes
Now, as far as history goes, and I will get to prophecy, I want to go back, much further back. I want to go to something that Josephus wrote back in the first century.
Jabin, son of Noah, had seven sons. They inhabited so that beginning at the mountains, Taurus and Amminis, they proceeded along Asia. They called the nations by their own names. Now, as to Jabin in Madaei, the sons of Japheth. From Madaei came the Medeans, who were called Medes by the Greeks. Tobel founded Tobelites, who are now called Iberis, and Moscuchini were founded by the Moshach, and so many were the countries that had the children of Japheth for their inhabitants.
Well, various ones in Ukraine and Russia have some ties to the Medes. I'm going to read something here. Herodias wrote that the Medes were beginning to settle in Ukraine even in his time. He maintained that there were people who dressed in Median fashion that lived north of Thrace, beyond the Danube.
Now I want to read another historical reference. Pliny mentions the river Don, where that Hebezar said to be descended from the Medes. Now, Herodias, he lived in the 5th century BC, and he's actually been called the Father of History. Pliny was a 1st century AD Roman nobleman and historian.
2, there's a reference to the Medes, and some people tie that in with Ukraine, so let me read a report from the 19th century about these things. Isaiah mentions a chariot drawn by donkeys, chapter 21, verse 7, and Herodotus that the Medes used wild donkeys to draw their war chariots, both apparently referring to the dung variety, which can be traced even now in the Ukraine. So some type of donkey connection here, specific ones.
Now, let's go to Isaiah 21, read a little bit about this, starting in verse 2. “Besiege, Omidia.” Verse 7: “And he saw a chariot with a pair of horsemen, a chariot of donkeys, and a chariot of camels.” So there's a scriptural tie. In fact, the donkeys in Ukraine supposedly are still related to these. There's another reason to think that there's a relationship here.
Now, some of the Russians, as I mentioned before, appear to be from the Medes. I want to read something from another historical account.
But how are we to explain the name “Russia”? The old-fashioned view was to derive the word from Roxalani. This, however, has long been abandoned. One thing is for certain, namely, that these Roxalani were of Oriental descent, a Medic, Medic, or Iranic tribe. They disappear from history, having, like so many other tribes, as for instance, the Pechangs and the Khozars, been swallowed up by the huge waves of immigration which overflowed the country.
Well, they still existed somewhere. Now, there are a lot of disputes amongst academics as to who came from who, and so a lot of these things aren't completely clear. For example, if the were Medes who went to Russia. Now, the Bible has a lot of prophecies about the Medes, and the kings of the Medes, which involve military action. Various ones in Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Russia, and elsewhere seem to be part of the descendants of the Medes, as are probably some in Moldovia. Now, if the were Medes, that would be consistent with certain biblical prophecies.
Now, as far as different names go, Rhodotus claimed there were six different tribes or families of Medes. So they're different ones. He identified the Medes as Busae, Perataceni, or Perataceni, Struchates, or Struchates, Arizante, Budaii, or Budaii, and Magi.
Now, when you think of meads, a lot of times people think they're just in Persia or modern Iran, but I want to read something that the late Dr. Herman Hay wrote about these things.
2, we have Matti, the son of Japheth, listed. Now, check an exhaustive concordance. You'll find the original Hebrew word translated into English as mead, or Midian, is always Mattaei. Mattaei is the father of the Medes. The Medes used to be associated with the Persians. Today, there are no Medes left in Persia. The Medes are gone. Certainly, a great branch of the human family could not suddenly vanish on the earth. Indeed, they did not. Throughout South Russia, in the Ukraine, four centuries before Christ, the Medes were beginning to settle. Here's what the historian Herodotus wrote of these people: “They say they are a colony of the Medes.” And yes, there are still Medes on the earth today.
Now, it should be pointed out, there's at least one historian, George Rollison. He identified some in Ukraine, not necessarily as descended from the Medes, but from the Gymri or Alani, who were possibly Medes or possibly not. He wrote: “The nations of Japhet stock which were developed at an early date are the Kamiri, Gomer, or Kamirians, who possess the Ukraine.” He also wrote the Alani in the south of Russia in Europe, in modern Ukraine. Some regard them as Medes, others as Putins. And again, there's a lot of questions academically about that, but it seems possible that perhaps those in the western part of Ukraine are not predominantly beats.
Possible Divisions in Ukraine
There may be some type of split involving Ukraine. If you've got people in western Ukraine who want to be part of the European Union, you've got people on the eastern side who have economic ties to Russia. They often speak Russian, and they see Russia as a more reliable partner than the European Union, and that the Russians pay more attention to the people in eastern Ukraine than the government in Gyiv does. Russians also supply oil, things like that. So there's a lot of modern reasons to think we could have a split in Ukraine.
Actually, back in 2013, before the Crimea switch, I actually stated or wrote that I thought there would be some kind of split. We've seen one; we expect that we'll see others in the future.
Isaiah: Prophecies Against Babylon
Now, that being said, let's go to biblical prophecies. I want to go to Isaiah chapter 13. Going to start with verse 1.
Isaiah 13, starting with verse 1: “The burden against Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amos saw. The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like that of many people, the tumultuous noise of the kingdom of the nations gathered together. The Lord of hosts musters the army for battle. They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, the Lord and His weapons of indication to destroy the whole land.”
Now, that's a prophecy of a confederation of many. And furthermore, a far country seems to be tied to powers in the East, in other places in Isaiah.
11 says: “Calling a bird of prey from the east, the man who executes my counsel from a far country. Indeed, I have spoken it. I will bring it to pass. I purposed it. I will also do it.”
Now, go back to Isaiah chapter 13, this time picking up verse 17. We're going to find out someone or some peoples that Isaiah says is involved against Babylon. Verse 17:
“Behold, I will stir up the means against them, who will not regard silver, and as for gold, they will not delight in it. Also, their bows will dash the young men to pieces, and they will have no pity on the fruit of the womb. Their eyes will not spare children, and Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of Chaldean's pride, will be as when God overthrows Sodom and Gomorrah.”
When God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, wiped them out, just totally devastated them. Babylon, the end time Babylonian power, will be destroyed.
And that was also the position, by the way, of the old Worldwide Church of God, who, in 1984, wrote: “With millions being slain by nuclear war, this destruction be wrought by the descendants of the Medes and their allies who are living in the northeast and east of modern Babylon.” Isaiah 13, verses 17 through 18. So the old Worldwide Church of God said the Medes were going to destroy end-time Babylon as well.
Jeremiah: Babylon and the Kings of the Medes
Furthermore, if we go into the book of Jeremiah, Jeremiah chapter 51, let's read verse 11:
“Make the arrows bright; gather the shields. The Lord has raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes. For His plan is against Babylon to destroy it, because it is the vengeance of the Lord, the vengeance of His temple.”
So we're going to see that there are multitudes of Medians, because they're kings of the meat, so there's more than one nation involved.
Now I want to read something from a Roman Catholic book that has an imprimatur on it. It's from a priest. Jeremiah 51: “Reverberations of Babylon's punishment will echo in Revelation. There the seer will describe the punishment of his Babylon, the Roman Empire.”
Well, the empire that's coming is a European one. And those who stay associated with it will be destroyed by an assembly of nations led by a northern power, which, if you look at a world map, looks to be Russia.
Now, if you're in Jeremiah, I'm going to go back to the previous chapter, Jeremiah chapter 50, starting in verse 8:
“Move from the midst of Babylon, get out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be like rams before the flocks. For behold, I will raise up and cause to come against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country. Nations shall raise themselves against her. From there she shall be captured. Their arrows shall be like those of an expert warrior. None shall return in vain.” So you see the north being involved.
Ezekiel and the Northern Confederation
Now, in Ezekiel 38, verses 3 and 6, I want to read about a power. It's got something to do with the north. “O God, the prince of Rosh, Meshach, and Tubal.” Verse 6: “From the far north and all of its troops, many people are with you.”
And in Ezekiel 38, verses 14 and 15: “Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to God: You will come out of your place from the far north.” And there are other references to Gog and Brash, etc., being from the far north. And the far north would have to include Russia.
The old Worldwide Church of God wrote: “Ezekiel speaks specifically of Togrimah in the uttermost parts of the north. This is a clear reference to the Siberian branch of Togamar.”
So we see the far north. It's got Togamar; it's got Siberia. Well, Siberia is part of Russia. So we see that a Russian Confederation is going to form. Now, Gad, Rosh and Meshek and Tubal—all associated with Russia.
Jeremiah: Nations Gathered Against Babylon
Furthermore, it won't just be Russians; it'll be some from Central Asia who are involved. Jeremiah 51. This time I want to start in verse 27:
“Set up a banner in the land. Blow the trumpet among the nations. Prepare the nations against her. Call the kingdoms together against her. Ararat, that'd be Armenia, Mini, Neschizens. Appoint a general against her. Cause the horses to come up like bristling locusts. Prepare against her the nations with the kings of the Medes, its governors and all its rulers, all the land of his dominion. And the land will tremble in sorrow, for every purpose of the Lord shall be performed against Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a desolation without inhabitant.”
Babylon and whoever is associated with Babylon at the end is going to be destroyed. Power from the north, including the Medes, including Central Asians, are going to be involved here.
Let me go to Jeremiah chapter 50. Verse 41 this time:
“Behold, a people from the north, a great nation, and many kings shall be raised up from the ends of the earth. They shall hold a bow and a lance. They are cruel; they shall not show mercy. Their voice shall roar like the sea. They shall ride on horses, set in array like a man for the battle against you, O daughter of Babylon. The king of Babylon has heard a report about him. His hands grow feeble. Anguish has taken hold of him. Pangs is of a woman in childbirth.”
So the end-time daughter of Babylon is not going to like this when this happens.
Daniel: News from the East and North
This is also consistent with writings by the prophet Daniel. The prophet Daniel talks about a king of the north. This is a European power. So let me read a little bit of what Daniel wrote.
40, then 43: The king of the north: “He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver.” Verse 44: “But news from the east and the north shall trouble him. Therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and glorious mountains. Yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him.”
What's north and east of Europe? Well, Russia, Central Asia, and at this instant, Ukraine. And we'll see what happens solely with Ukraine. But this is not going to happen for a while, at least for six years. But I should also comment, there's no land on earth that's any further east than Russia. Why would we mention that?
Revelation: The Kings from the East
Let's go to Revelation chapter 16, read verses 12 and 16: “Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared.” Verse 16: “And they gathered them together to the place, call in Hebrew, Armageddon.”
Russia is a nation that's going to be involved in Armageddon. That's at least seven years away from now. And Russia is certainly one of the kings of the east.
Prayer, Hope and Closing Remarks
That being said, people in Ukraine and many other areas right now are frightened. They worry about war, government, poverty, freedom, economic matters. And those who are affected by wars and rumors of wars in those regions should be in our prayers.
Now, the Bible shows that war is in the future for Russia and Ukraine, yet it's not hopeless. The Bible also shows that God will call all who ever lived. This will include all the Russians and Ukrainians. And we have a free book online at www.ccfg.org that covers this, called “Universal Offer of Salvation”.
Now, that being said, the more immediate prophetic reality is a time is going to come when the kings and Medes will rise up in the confederation. This will include Russia; this will include some Ukrainians at least, and others in Central Asia, as well as further east, and they will one day destroy European Babylonian power. What we're seeing now between Russia and Ukraine is not that. But what's happening now is helping set the stage for what's going to happen later.
So yes, there are biblical prophecies involving Russia, Ukraine and Europe. Believe them because they will come to pass. We can trust the Word of God. This is Dr. Bob Thiel for the Bible News Prophecy channel.
BIBLICAL PROPHECY INTERIVEWS
