Since February of this year, Russia has been engaged in war with the Ukraine. Putin’s initial efforts extended to the capital, Kiev, but since then, he has had to be content with several eastern regions. A reasonable question emerging from this invasion is, does Mr. Putin have more far-reaching ambitions than the Ukraine? The answer from a Biblical perspective is, yes, he does. In fact, Putin himself has indicated his displeasure at the breakup of the old Soviet Union. As early as 2004, the Times newspaper reported that Kremlin insiders indicated that one of Mr. Putin’s dreams was to re-establish a Russian-dominated empire on the ashes of the old Soviet Union. Further on, in 2021, a Reuters headline said, “Putin rues Soviet collapse as demise of ‘historical Russia’.” The article went on to quote Putin, “It was a disintegration of historical Russia under the name of the Soviet Union…We turned into a completely different country. And what had been built up over 1,000 years was largely lost.”
Christadelphians are not surprised by these recent events. In fact, they have been expecting some form of development on the part of Russia for years. Based on Bible prophecy, they are convinced that Russia is determined to expand its influence, not just into the Ukraine, but ultimately into the Middle East. Regardless of the present outcome, the Ukraine, along with many other countries, will eventually come under the influence of Russia. In 1848, a Christadelphian writer, John Thomas, made the following comment:
“The future movements of Russia are notable signs of the times, because they are predicted in the Scriptures of truth. The Russian Autocracy, in its plenitude, and on the verge of its dissolution, is the Image of Nebuchadnezzar standing upon the Mountains of Israel, ready to be smitten by the Stone. When Russia makes its grand move for the building-up of its Image-empire, then let the reader know that the end of all things, as at present constituted, is at hand.”
Russia and the territory of Ukraine is mentioned in the Bible. Not by the names they are known by today, but by the names they possessed in Old Testament times. The Old Testament prophet Ezekiel describes and invasion of the land of Israel at a point future to his time. He describes the invasion taking place “in the latter days” (Ezekiel 38:8,16). This period is further narrowed down by informing us that the invasion would take place when Israel has returned to its ancient homeland. We read that the invasion will take place against “the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste; but is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely” (verse 8). The mountains of Israel refer to the West Bank which is presently a bone of contention. This prophecy could not have been fulfilled before 1948, when Israel didn’t exist as a nation.
Who are the nations involved in the invasion? We will restrict our comments to the key figure in the chapter. The head of this confederacy of nations is “Gog of the land of Magog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal”. The word Gog simply means a roof, indicating that he is the one who is on the top, that is, the overall commander of the confederacy. But who is Gog? He is “the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal”. Alternative translations render the phrase “prince of Rosh”, the word chief being the Hebrew word Rosh. It is also interesting to note that the Septuagint (LXX) translation, in circulation around 250 BC, recognized the word Rosh to be the name of a people or country. Government license plates in Russia carry the name Rus, and the Encyclopedia Britannica comments that “Rus, also spelled Ros, (was an) ancient people who gave their name to the lands of Russia and Belarus.” Thus, Gog is the chief prince of Russia. Historians have identified Meshech with Moscovy from which is developed the name Moscow. Similarly, Tubal has been identified as Tobolski in Siberia. This fits the description of Gog in Ezekiel as coming “from the uttermost parts of the north” (Ezekiel 38:15, Revised Version).
Historians have also identified “the land of Magog”. Josephus, the Jewish historian (AD 90), wrote of Magogue who “founded the Magogae, whom the Greeks then called Scythae”. Another historian, Herodotus, wrote “The name Scythae was a name given by the Greeks to an ancient and widely extended people of Europe, who had spread themselves from the river Tanais, or Don, westward along the banks of the Isther, or Danube”. So, the western border of Magog was the river Danube, and the eastern border was the river, Don. In modern day terms this covers the territory from the Ukraine in the east to Germany in the west. Putin speaks of Ancient Rus in his speeches. He is referring to one portion of the land of Magog, namely the Ukraine. This was clearly communicated in 2021 when he was asked about Russian-Ukraine relations, he said, “The throne of Kiev held a dominant position in Ancient Rus. This had been the custom since the late 9th century. The Tale of Bygone Years captured for posterity the words of Oleg the Prophet about Kiev, “Let it be the mother of all Russian cities” (President Vladimir Putin, 12 July 2021).
God’s timetable decrees that there will be a gathering of the nations subsequent to the nation of Israel being back in the land. Russia will be a dominant factor when this happens and it will control the territory from the Ukraine westward to Germany. Other European nations will also be involved under the leadership of Russia, as well as Persia, Ethiopia and Libya (Ezekiel 38:5-6).
At the present time, it may not appear that Russia is going to be successful, and certainly there is no alliance between Russia and Europe. But events can change rapidly; remember how quickly the Soviet Union collapsed.
Bible prophecy has never failed. This is evident when we look at Israel today. For two thousand years, Israel was without a country, yet the Bible declared “He that scattered Israel will gather him” (Jeremiah 31:10). Ezekiel 38 tells us that Russia will invade Israel at a time when Israel is prosperous and confident (Ezekiel 38:13-14). Today, Israel is clearly a leading country in many areas of commerce and its military confidence to defend itself is undeniable.
Whatever the outcome of the present crisis in Ukraine, God has spoken. Russia is destined to fulfill Ezekiel’s ancient prophecy, but when this event takes place, God will intervene on behalf of Israel. The book of Revelation, when speaking of the gathering of nations, tells us that it will be then that Jesus Christ will return to the earth. We read, “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth…” (Revelation 16:15). The world does not expect the return of Jesus Christ, and like a thief, he will return to an unsuspecting world. But not everyone need be in that position. Reading the Bible can prepare us for that great event.