Pastor's Corner - February 25th, 2022

When considering a topic with which to discuss in this Pastor's Corner, it's difficult not to talk about the news item of the week--the Russian invasion of the sovereign nation of Ukraine.

Beginning earlier this week, Russian and Belorussian forces which had surrounded Ukraine began a series of coordinated and deliberate strikes on military targets throughout the nation of Ukraine. Shortly after these strikes began, Russian troops began to move deeper into Ukrainian territory, advancing on, and engaging Ukrainian forces, capturing territory and establishing forward bases on their march to the capital of Kyiv. As the first couple of days of updates have come out - it appears that Russia has paid a far heavier price than they anticipated, and underestimated the spirit and determination of the people of Ukraine. Their advance has not taken place without civilian casualties.

The outcome is yet to be seen, but it seems clear that the power balance of Europe is being tested, and the coming months will determine whether a broader conflict, or greater shifts in this balance of power takes place.

Our prayers are certainly with the people of Ukraine, as these horrendous and historic events take place. We have many brethren in Ukraine, and their whereabouts, and their safety at this time is unknown. We hope to receive updates in the coming days and weeks as to their safety and well being given the current scenario.

With everything - we examine the events that we see in the light of scripture, and the implications of what we have seen over the past week certainly show a degree of handwriting on the wall with pieces being moved into place for end-time events. There are a number of things which must take place, and begin to be realized before these things can take place.

Interestingly, Ukraine produces 1/8 of the world's wheat, which is something I didn't realize - but when combined with Russia (which has now received export sanctions) the combined total of wheat produced and exported to the world is almost 30%. Nearly 1/3 of the exported wheat to the entire world. 

Revelation 6 describes the opening of the first four seals and their impact on the world. Verse 5 hints at the scarcity that can/will come with the events described by the opening of these seals. 

When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come and see." So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine." (Revelation 6:5-6, NKJV)

A denarius at the time when Revelation was written was equivalent to a days wage, which illustrates a significant inflationary cost of these staples, wheat, barley, oil and wine. With increased geopolitical tensions, it's not difficult to see how scarcity such at this could take place. 

With the destabilization of the power balance in Europe, the events of these four horsemen and the warfare, disease and famine which result - the events of the latter seals can be understood.

Perhaps more concerning than Russia's aggression toward Ukraine, which has been telegraphed for the past several months, are the countries which are coming to Russia's defense and painting the United States and NATO as the aggressors.

China has placed the blame squarely on the United States, and upon aggression from the West. Their tone changed a bit today, and the impending votes on the UN Security council resolution will tell the tale, whether China vetoes or abstains, but China and Russia have grown closer economically, and politically over the past several years. Another country which has expressed their support and solidarity for Russia, is Iran. All three countries have been trading with one another, Russia providing weaponry and equipment to Iran as their soldiers have taken a shared role in support and training of Syrian soldiers to support Bashar Al-Assad. China has provided equipment to Iran, while building further empire in Africa and the middle east economically and politically. All three of these nations are friendly toward one another, and share an extreme dislike of America and her allies, of the 'West' in general.

As we see the growing conflicts of a unified European continent with its allies against Russia and its allies, we begin to see movement of the various chess pieces establishing the alliances that could develop for the prophesied events of Daniel 11, and the pathways to the fifth and sixth woes recorded in Revelation 9 become more clear.

This weekend will tell much of the tale in the country of Ukraine. Will their forces be able to hold out against the Russian aggressors, or will they be forced to negotiate a cease-fire staring down the barrel of 'demilitarization and de-nazification' to avoid additional bloodshed? It remains to be seen. What role if any will NATO play, and will the conflict widen beyond Ukrainian borders? Will Russia pay a heavy price for their escalation of this war, or will the world move on once a ceasefire/surrender is negotiated?

God knows what will take place, and nothing that takes place happens outside of His purview, and His will - pray that His will be done, and for His protection of the civilians of Ukraine, many of which who have been conscripted into the national defense force and may unfortunately pay a very heavy price. 

With Love,
Ben