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THE CUTTING EDGE

NEWS BRIEF:  "Russian Mercenaries Flying For Ethiopia", by Charles Smith, WorldNetDaily, http://www.worldnetdaily.com/bluesky_smith_news/20000718_xnsof_russian_me.shtml , July 18, 2000.

"WorldNetDaily has learned that Russian 'mercenary' pilots are flying advanced fighter jets for Ethiopia in its conflict with Eritrea. The report follows the confirmation that an Ethiopian Su-27 Flanker destroyed an Eritrea MiG-29 Fulcrum ..." [Both planes were apparently flown by Russian pilots]

"There are a lot of Russian advisers who are active,' responded Eritrea Embassy spokesperson Vicky Rentmeesters. 'They are not just sitting at a desk. Our embassy in Moscow made a complaint with the Russian Ministry of Defense, including a list of Russians working for the Ethiopian military.' The Eritrea embassy supplied WorldNetDaily with the complaint issued to Moscow, including the names of alleged Russian military "senior specialists working in the Air Force (mainly pilots)."

"The introduction of an advanced fighter such as the Su-27 into Africa could be perceived as a direct threat to Saudi Arabia, Israel, Egypt, the Suez Canal and U.S. Naval forces transiting the canal. The only other Russian client states to field the advanced Sukhoi strike-fighter are India and China ... The advanced strike-fighter is also a particular favorite for Russian pilots who have performed seemingly impossible aerodynamic maneuvers in the Su-27 during air shows. Western military defense officials are concerned that U.S. military aircraft would not be able to defend against the advanced AA-11 "Archer" missile that arms the Su-27."

Let us stop for a moment here to look at a map of the Middle East so you can see exactly where Ethiopia and Eritrea are located in relation to one another, to Egypt, and to Israel.  You can look at the CIA map at http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/figures/802640.jpg

As you can see, Eritrea is located only about 900 miles from the Egyptian crossing of the Suez Canal. Further, Eritrea is strategically located nearly at the chokepoint to the Suez Canal at the Gulf of Aden.  Ethiopia is very close to the water herself, with only the small nation Djibouti standing in the way.  Certainly, American military officials have to be concerned with the appearance of Russian mercenary pilots on both sides of the conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia, especially since they are flying the two aircraft that can possibly outfly our aircraft, and piloted by Russian pilots that just may be better than our current pilots.

Of course, the most important possible outcome of this conflict is the bearing it might just have on the Russian invasion of Israel at the "latter days", as foretold in Ezekiel 38-39.  Let us examine this prophecy in some detail so you can understand the excitement of this current conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia.  While we do not have the time here to thoroughly review all the Biblical details of these two chapters, we encourage you to stop here and read them before continuing on with this article.  First, though, we had best pause to review both general prophecy, and pertinent aspects of Ezekiel 38-39.

GENERAL BIBLICAL PROPHECY

Now, let us review some general End Times prophecy.

1) Joel 3 -- An End Times Chapter -- "For behold, in those days and at that time when I shall reverse the captivity and restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all nations and will bring them down into the Valley of Jehoshaphat [the Middle East] and there will I deal with them for their treatment of My people and my heritage Israel ..." [3:1-2]

"Prepare war! Stir up the mighty the men! Let all the men of war draw near, let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears ... Hasten and come, all you nations round about ... there You, O Lord, will bring down your mighty ones, Your warriors." [3:9-11]

"Let the nations bestir themselves and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there will I sit to judge all the nations round about. Put in the sickle for the vintage harvest is ripe; come, get down and tread the grapes, for the winepress is full; the vats overflow, for the wickedness of the peoples is great." [All above verses taken from Parallel Bible, KJV/Amplified Bible Commentary]

Certainly, we have seen this prophecy come true in the years since Israel has become a nation again, haven't we? Israel declared war in May, 1948, and immediately found herself locked in a death struggle with vastly superior Arab armies. No human being could have expected Israel, who was always vastly outnumbered and outgunned, to survive; but, the mighty hand of God was with her, just as in the Old Testament. Israel routed her foes. Israel fought again in 1956, 1967, 1973, and 1982. We have had five wars between the Arab and the Jew since Israel's national rebirth in 1948.

But, as all signs point to the appearance of Antichrist, we should expect even greater military conflicts, between much greater forces, than ever before. Listen to the Scripture that follows:

"Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision." [Joel 3:14, Amplified Bible Commentary] We should see really huge battles between Israel, her Arab foes, and all the other nations in the world, as we move into the final stages of this Age.

2) Zechariah 12 -- An End Times Prophecy -- "Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup or bowl of reeling to all the peoples round about and in the siege of Jerusalem will there also be a siege against and upon Judah."

When God is talking here about a siege around Jerusalem, He is speaking of a Messianic prophecy. Because, in the verses which follow this one, God reveals that He Himself shall deliver Israel during this siege. In verse 9, God says, "And it shall be in that day that I will make it My aim to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem." Notice that God vows to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. Thus, if Russia has concluded that she can restore her status as a superpower by conquering Jerusalem, she has just signed her own death warrant! [Ezekiel 38-39]

Even though all the nations of the earth will come against Jerusalem in the End Times to destroy her, and conquer her, the Bible says no where that these armies will come all at one time. Rather, other Scripture states that the nations of the earth will come before God's Judgment bar in the Middle East one at a time. Listen: "... For as you [Edom], have drunk upon the mountain of My holiness, so shall all the nations drink continually, in turn, of My wrath; yes, they shall drink, talk foolishly, and swallow down the full measure of punishment, and they shall be destroyed as though they had not been." [Obadiah 16, Amplified Bible Commentary]. In NEWS1035, "Scene Seems Set In Middle East For BOTH Prophesied Wars! Antichrist Comes", we state that at least two (2) major wars seemed to be prophesied before Antichrist can begin his 7-year Tribulation Reign. If you have not read this article, please stop now and read it as background for this article. We also have covered this subject in NEWS1037, "Stage Now Set For Russian Invasion Of Israel", and in NEWS1038, "Drumbeat To War In Middle East Builds To Fever Pitch", and in NEWS1092, "Third World War Imminent -- Arab Preparations Hitting New Peak".

You also might want to familiarize yourself with the occult visions for staging the appearance of Antichrist by reading the following two articles: 1) NEWS1056, "The Next Arab-Israeli War -- Albert Pike's Third World War Planned To Produce The Appearance of Antichrist, Part 1"; and 2) NEWS1057, Part Two. These two articles shockingly show how God is forcing Satan to conform his plans to produce Antichrist to Biblical prophecy!! You will also see how Satan has been manipulating world events for well over a century to move the world into the position to stage the appearance of Antichrist.

SPECIFIC EXAMINATION OF PERTINENT EZEKIEL 38-39 PROPHECIES

Let us look at one verse in the famous prophecy in Ezekiel 38-39, that so graphically portrays a Russian-led invasion of Israel in the 'Latter Days', after Israel comes back to her land. As describing the situation where God foretells that He will bring Russia into judgment by causing her leaders to get the idea of staging an attack on Israel, God lists the nations that will be joining in the attack. These are the nations joining Russia in this infamous attack:

1) Attacking from the North of Israel

* Persia -- Modern Iran

* Gomer -- Eastern Europe

* House of Togarmah -- Modern Turkey

2) Attacking from the South of Israel

* Cush -- Modern Ethiopia

* Libya -- still Libya today

Did you see that modern Ethiopia is listed as one of the nations that will be joining the Russian invasion of Israel?  While Russian troops are leading the way in attacking from the North, Ethiopia and Libya will be sending troops in attack from the South.  You can see from the map, above, where Ethiopia is located.  She could either attack straight across the narrow sea at the Gulf of Aden [provided she has transport], or she can move her forces north into Egypt and then go across the Suez Canal.

When you consider that Libya is located in the northern part of Africa, just east of Egypt, and that her forces will be joining Ethiopian http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/figures/802641.jpg you can easily see how probable it is that the forces of both countries will be meeting in Egypt to cross the Suez Canal so they can attack Israel.

Why will Egypt allow such an intrusion of foreign Arab armies?  We believe it highly likely that Egypt will have already been destroyed in the Third World War between Israel, the Palestinians, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt. [You can read full details of this war in NEWS1056 and NEWS1057, "The Next Israeli-Arab War -- Pike's Third World War Planned To Produce Antichrist, Parts 1 and 2 respectively].

After the Arab armies of the Palestinians, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt are destroyed in this planned Third World War, Russia will decide to destroy Israel with her own armies.  Since Antichrist will already have arisen through this world war, he will have made his headquarters in Jerusalem as he sets about to convince the Orthodox Jew he is their Messiah.  Then, when the Russians invade Israel, the world will see this invasion as an attack on Antichrist by Russia.  When God destroys Russia and her allies on the borders of Israel, the entire world will give credit to Antichrist, and fall down to worship him even more.  Since Orthodox Jews will have been watching Antichrist "fulfill" Biblical prophecy concerning Messiah, they will be watching the march of Russian-led forces very carefully, because one of the Messianic prophecies is that Messiah will deliver a Jerusalem surrounded by armies, as mentioned above [See also Luke 21:20 - Jesus is paraphrasing Zechariah 12].  Once Antichrist receives credit for the obviously supernatural destruction of the Russian-led forces, they will announce that Antichrist is their Messiah, allowing him to "confirm" their national covenant.  Daniel 3 and 7 will have been perfectly fulfilled. Then, the 7-year tribulation will begin. 

ANOTHER LOOK AT EZEKIEL 38

In this chapter, God specifically states that Russia will not only be the commander of this North-South army, but that she will act as "guard and commander" over the Arab forces joining with her [38:7].  Since the Arab forces will be marching under the leadership of the Russian, it just makes a great deal of common sense  for them to have been trained in Russian military tactics.  Furthermore, one could argue that Russia would be anxious for these Arab forces to be equipped with Russian arms and materiel so that it would be easier for Russian generals to command Arab forces, and to coordinate their movements with Russian.

In the past two decades, Russia has militarily equipped all the Arab nations in the Middle East region:  Iran, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Libya, and now Ethiopia.  Russian military advisers have accompanied these arms to train Arab soldiers in how to use them, and how to operate according to Russian tactics and military thinking.  Further, top Arab military officers have been attending Russian military academies for the past 30 years!

The stage seems to be set for this invasion, and it is happening in your daily news.  Little Israel, less than 6 million in population verses 270 million Arabs, and so small on a map that its name and the name of its capital have to be printed out in the Mediterranean Sea, will come under repeated attack.  Events will seem so black time and again, that the majority of people in the world will write her off, as she faces forces that seem insurmountable.

However, we know, from Biblical prophecy that God has guaranteed that Israel will never again be defeated once she is nationally reborn [See CE1054, Radio Transcripts, "Modern Day Miracle of Israel's Rebirth" for full details]. If Israel is defeated in this Next Great War, you can throw away your Bibles and start believing in other gods and religions!! But, we know, from Daniel 12:1, that God will command Israel's National Archangel, Michael, to "stand up" to defeat Israel's enemies. We also know, from Obadiah 15-19, that the House of Esau [the Palestinians] will be annihilated in a Last Days' War. Other prophecies that demand fulfillment are the ones calling for the destruction of Damascus, Syria's capital, of Jordan, and of Egypt. [See NEWS1112, "Stage Set For Fulfillment of Daniel 12:1" for full details].

I believe it highly likely that the fulfillment of this Bible prophecy is beginning to take shape, in front of our eyes and in our daily news. There can be no doubt now: the nations of the world ARE being drawn to the Middle East and to Jerusalem, just as God foretold. And, these developments are occurring at the same time as all the other prophecies are taking shape, all over the globe, all pointing to the soon appearance of Antichrist!!

Are you spiritually ready? Is your family? Are you adequately protecting your loved ones? This is the reason for this ministry, to enable you to first understand the peril facing you, and then help you develop strategies to warn and protect your loved ones. Once you have been thoroughly trained, you can also use your knowledge as a means to open the door of discussion with an unsaved person. I have been able to use it many times, and have seen people come to Jesus Christ as a result. These perilous times are also a time when we can reach many souls for Jesus Christ, making an eternal difference.