Putin renews oath for fifth term with Russia under firm control

May 7, 2024 — BBC.com reports: “For the fifth time Vladimir Putin took the long walk through the Grand Kremlin Palace to the St Andrew’s Throne Hall. There he took the oath of office and was sworn in as Russia’s president for a new six-year term.

‘We are a united and great people. Together we will overcome all obstacles, we will bring all our plans to fruition, and together we will win,’ President Putin told an audience of ministers and dignitaries.

The red carpet route may have been familiar to him. But much has changed since President Putin’s first inauguration ceremony in May 2000.

Back then, President Putin pledged to ‘preserve and develop democracy’ and to ‘take care of Russia.’

Twenty-four years on, the Kremlin leader is waging war against Ukraine; a war in which Russia has suffered heavy losses. At home, instead of developing democracy, President Putin has been curtailing it: jailing critics, removing all checks and balances on his power.

‘Putin thinks of himself now as Vladimir the Great, as a Russian tsar,’ believes Fiona Hill, a former White House national security advisor…”  (Vladimir Putin has been in power as either the Prime Minister or President of Russia since 1999.   He has in essence, set himself up as ruler for life in Russia, much as Xi Jinping is set to be ruler for life in China.  Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 predict the union of Russia and China [Revelation 16:12; Daniel 11:44] as leaders in the battle for the greatest war in history called Armageddon – Revelation 16:16.  Revelation 9:14 – 18 pictures its upcoming disastrous results.)

Russia’s message to Britain

May 7, 2024 — Israel National News reports: “A threatening statement released by the Kremlin stated that ‘British military facilities may be targeted’ by the Russian army. A similar threat was also directed at France.

The threats from Russia come after statements by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, who expressed support for Ukraine’s right to use British weapons in the war with Russia, and Macron did not rule out the possibility of deploying French troops to assist Ukraine in the war.

In addition, the Kremlin announced the start of military exercises involving the use of nuclear weapons, in response to the statements of Macron and David Cameron. British and French ambassadors in Russia were summoned for clarification at the Russian Foreign Ministry, where they were informed that Russia sees France and Britain as being ‘de facto’ involved in the war…”  (Russia in Bible prophecy is the main instigator of death and suffering during Armageddon – Revelation 16:16.  Ezekiel chapters 38 & 39, which Dr. Van Impe proclaimed for sixty years, aided by Oriental and Islamic nations, bring total chaos and atomic devastation upon the world.  Worse yes, it’s just ahead of us.  Every nation he included in World War III is forming exactly as taught this global blood bath six decades ago.  The only good news is that the Rapture precedes Armageddon – Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth – Revelation 3:10.  Then our deliverance as believers – Revelation 4:1 and our joy because of missing Armageddon.  See the next report.)

Russia is Preparing to Launch ‘Physical Attacks’ Against West, Says British Intelligence Chief

May 15, 2024 — Breitbart.com reports: “While Russia is already advanced in encouraging ‘non state cyber actors’ to attack the West, it is moving towards grooming other groups for ‘physical attacks’, the chief of Britain’s eavesdropping and cyber security bureau has said.

The West needs to be prepared for what may amount to state-backed terrorist attacks for Russia, the director of the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) spy agency Anne Keast-Butler has warned in a rare address. As previously reported, however, several instances of such activity are alleged to have already been discovered by European police and security agencies, suggesting this new trend is already well underway…”

Xi, Putin hail ties as ‘stabilising’ force in chaotic world

May 16, 2024 — SpaceWar.com reports: “Leaders Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin framed their nations’ ties as a stabilising force in a chaotic world as they met Thursday in Beijing, where the Russian president is seeking greater Chinese support for his war effort in Ukraine.

It is Putin’s first trip abroad since his March re-election and the second in just over six months to China, an economic lifeline for Russia after the West hit it with unprecedented sanctions over its military offensive in Ukraine.

Putin was greeted by Xi at a grand welcoming ceremony outside Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, footage by state broadcaster CCTV showed.

In a meeting, Xi then told his ‘old friend’ Putin that China-Russia relations were ‘conducive to peace’.

‘China is ready to work with Russia to… uphold fairness and justice in the world,’ Xi added.

Putin, in turn, told Xi the two countries’ relations were ‘stabilising factors in the international arena’.

‘Relations between Russia and China are not opportunistic and not directed against anyone,’ Putin said, according to a Kremlin readout.

‘Together, we uphold the principles of justice and a democratic world order that reflects multipolar realities and is based on international law,’ he added…”  (China will become a basic partner with Russia for the rapidly approaching battle of Armageddon – Revelation 16:16. Russia will lead invasion number one – Ezekiel 38 & 39. China will lead invasion number two – Revelation 16:12; Revelation 9:14 – 16. Then all nations will come against Jerusalem for the final invasion at which point Jesus will return to stop the bloodshed and set up his eternal kingdom upon earth – [He gathers] all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken… Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south – Zechariah 14:2 – 4. Then Psalm 2:6 occurs as God the Father says: …I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion [Jerusalem].  See the next report.)

Russian, Chinese defense ministers tout close bilateral ties during meeting

May 1, 2024 — SpaceWar.com reports: “The defense ministers of Russia and China have emphasized the close bilateral ties between the two nations even as the United States voices displeasure over China’s stance on the Ukraine war.

China’s Dong Jun met with Russia’s Sergey Shoigu in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Friday during a meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization member nations, and both leaders made statements affirming their cooperation.

‘We are determined to implement all agreements reached at the highest level,’ the Russian defense chief said, according to an official statement.

The two sides, he said, generally agreed ‘on the fundamental issues of the current world order and pressing international problems.’

Russia and China ‘are consistently working to build comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation’ in a world where ‘new hotbeds of tension are emerging and things are getting worse in the existing ones. In fact, this is the result of the West’s geopolitical escapades and selfish neocolonial activities,’ Shoigu said.

Meanwhile, China’s Dong said it is ‘particularly important that the relations between our armed forces maintain a high dynamic and respond to the trends of the times,’ the Russian state news agency TASS reported.

The relationship between the two countries ‘is important for strategic stability on the planet,’ Dong said…”

China says tailed, ‘issued a warning’ to US Navy ship in South China Sea

May 10, 2024 — SpaceWar.com reports: “Beijing’s military on Friday said it had tailed and issued a warning to a US Navy ship near the Paracel Islands in the disputed South China Sea.

China ‘organised naval and air forces to tail and monitor the ship in accordance with laws and regulations and issued a warning to drive it away’, military spokesman Tian Junli said in a statement.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey ‘illegally intruded into China’s territorial waters near the Xisha Islands without approval from the Chinese government’, Tian said, referring to the Paracel Islands by their Chinese name.

‘The actions by the United States seriously violate China’s sovereignty and security,’ he added…”  (God help America.  Revelation 9: 14 – 18 is the prophecy describing Armageddon: …Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.  And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.  And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.  And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.  By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.” The good news is that Dr. Van Impe dogmatically believed that this battle is fought after the Rapture: “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth – Revelation 3:10; …I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter – Revelation 4:1; …the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord – I Thessalonians 4:16 – 18.  Rest upon God’s Word: Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ – Titus 2:13)

North Korea Condemns China for Supporting ‘Denuclearization’

May 28, 2024 — Breitbart.com reports: “North Korea on Monday lashed out at South Korea, Japan, and even Pyongyang’s patron China for supporting the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula at a summit in Seoul.

North Korea’s rhetoric was par for the course with regard to South Korea and Japan, but unusually harsh against China, which went out of its way to avoid criticizing the North Korean regime during the summit.

China was less insistent on denuclearization at this weekend’s summit than it was at a similar event held in the Chinese city of Chengdu in 2019. The trilateral meeting issued a statement on Monday that said disarmament and stability on the peninsula are important for all three countries, but avoided the phrase ‘complete denuclearization’ of the Korean Peninsula, which appeared in the 2019 joint statement.

‘We reiterated positions on regional peace and stability, denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the abductions issue, respectively. We agree to continue to make positive efforts for the political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue,’ the new statement said.

‘Abductions’ refers to North Korea’s horrific policy of kidnapping Japanese citizens during the 1970s and 1980s. A few of the abductees were later returned to Japan, but the Japanese government has long demanded a full accounting of all of their fates. North Korea periodically claims to be ‘investigating’ the matter, without results…”  (Even if North Korea gives up its nuclear weapons, there are enough remaining in the world to create havoc.  Nuclear war is part of the battle of the ages – see Revelation 9:18. Other prophesied texts are predicted in Psalm 97:3; Isaiah 66:15; Ezekiel 20:47: “…Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched…” Study also Zephaniah 1:8; Malachi 4:1; and Revelation 8:7.)