Vladmir Putin prophesied? (Ukraine and Russia war)

[Song]

Matthew 24:36 ?But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.

Hi everyone.

I remember reading this article awhile back (posted in 2014), but with the current Ukraine and Russia war, I'm once again reminded of it.
https://www.thetrumpet.com/11979-vladimir-putin-is-the-prophesied-prince-of-russia

To preface, only God knows when it's the "end times" or not. In fact, so many people predict the "apocalypse" that I'm reminded of that Annie  song Tomorrow "It's always a day away!" :LH:

I only put this here as an interesting read. I have no idea how accurate it is. :dontknow: All I know is that, what Russia is doing to Ukraine is absolutely evil, and I hope God, in some way, is able to help the people of Ukraine survive these atrocities. I pray every night that Putin will stop this horrible conflict and that the Ukrainians can find peace :HeartThrob:

Matthew 6:25 - Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothes?

[Lazarus Short]

Two comments:

The article is an obvious hit piece on Putin.

The 2014 date of the article reminds me of the fact that Ukraine has been busy since then waging war against the eastern areas, against its own citizens, who prefer to remain Russian.  This is what largely precipitated the current situation, just as in 1939 when Germany had had enough of Polish persecution and genocide against ethnic Germans in Poland.

[marie glen]

Plus I think the threat to join NATO.. and war games at the border with Russia.. All pawns in the adversary?s global scheme..

[Song]

Hi everyone,

I've come back to this thread to give it a more Universalist theme.  :thumbsup:
I showed the above article link to my mother, she believes in Eternal Torment.
She's cried many times when looking at the news about the conflict in Ukraine and she hates Putin.

I believe characters like Putin are evil, but with people as evil as him, it makes it hard to convince her that Jesus will save everyone.
That people who are viewed as evil will still receive God's salvation.

I tried to convince her of Universalism before in the past, but she rejects the idea.  :sigh:
I even quoted specific Bible verses. But to no avail  :sigh:  :sigh:

Since then, I haven't brought up the idea. Though I know she still recognizes me as having that belief.
So all I can hope to do is try and do good things and hope she associates that with the idea of Universalism being good.
I don't want to mention it so often and have her get annoyed.
Nor do I want to talk about it too obsessively with her, lest she associates me with those fundies she rejected.
So it's a tricky balancing act.  :Chinscratch:

I don't blame her though. She grew up in a extremely legalistic and fundamentalist church.  :eek:
It's already a huge step for her that she managed to shake away a lot of the stiffness in rules.
But I love her and feel bad that she's still caught up in the web of lies that is Eternal Torment.
Though, if she can talk about it so casually, maybe she hasn't thought of it that much. Hopefully then, she doesn't feel any pain thinking about it.
Because for me, it makes me feel really sad just thinking about it.

So, to conclude. I'm wondering if any of you have experience with a family member who doesn't believe in Universalism, and how (hopefully) you convinced them otherwise. Specifically with the context of having people they see as evil being saved.

But I'm grateful for this safe haven where we can express these views. It feels good to get this off my chest though with you here.
I had to look at a lot of Bible verses reaffirming Universalism for a good while after talking with her.
Even though I know Universalism is true, it still hurts to hear someone talk against it and think it's not.
Here are a few I found especially comforting.

1 Corinthians 15:22 "For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive" -
Isaiah 57:16 I will not contend forever, Nor will I always be angry; For the spirit would fail before Me, And the souls which I have made.
John 6:33 The Bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives Life to the World.
1 Timothy 2:4 The Lord . . . is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance"

[Song]

Death Penalty Capital Punishment



What are the wages for 100 sins? Death. What are the wages for 10 sins? Death. What is the wage for even one sin? Death.

John 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.



The wage for any amount of sin is death. But when you believe in Jesus Christ, all of your sins are washed away, so even though you may die, you will live. Even when you descend in Sheol, because you were saved, you have the Holy Spirit inside of you by simply believing in Christ Jesus as your Savior, you will not be trapped there and you will go to Heaven with permanent life.

1 Corinthians 15:22 "In Christ shall all be made alive"



Who is someone that will die? In Ezekiel 38, the Lord tells us that the Chief Prince of Rus, Mesech, who refers to the President of Russia, Moscow, will die in the open field. Why? Because this chief prince has sin. One evil President I can imagine is the current President of Russia, Moscow, Vladmir Putin. He has committed many war crimes when attacking Ukraine. Working as a KGB officer, he?s killed many people.

Ezekiel 38:1-39:29

The word of the Lord came to me: ?Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him and say, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. And I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great host, all of them with buckler and shield, wielding swords. Persia, Cush, and Put are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; ...

Isaiah 14:9 Sheol beneath is stirred up to meet you when you come; it rouses the shades to greet you, all who were leaders of the earth; it raises from their thrones all who were kings of the nations.



The Russian military has kidnapped people, sexually assaulted, raped and tortured civilians. These things that they have done are all evil. The Lord is against violence. And the wages for these sins is death!

Isaiah 3:11 Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for what his hands have dealt out shall be done to him.



So even though there have been people who have suffered the death penalty, or capital punishment, they go to Sheol, and Christ will come to Sheol and make everyone there believe in Christ and be given permanent life!

Luke 15:4: "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?"



Thus, everyone will eventually realize that they have these sins and will be convinced to believe in Jesus Christ and be saved, this is true.

[Song]

Edit: I create this update since a friend of mine pointed this out to me. In Ezekiel, I mentioned a dispensationalist futurist view point, which assumed that the prophecy of Gog and Magog had not been fulfilled. However, from a preterist view point, which has strong arguments from what I've seen (see video series below), Gog and Magog is ancient history and has already been fulfilled.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9ePPBLvJ68&list=PLhTk2RamIg8tPSR2YKe8Mbvui-BJ00mIF&index=1

Edit: May 13 2023 I am personally a preterist, so I view Gog and Magog from a preterist point of view, not a futurist point of view.