Much has changed in the last three weeks. The recent build-up of Russian arms and military posturing has turned into a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Battalions from the north, east and south have crossed borders and begun pressing into the centre of the country. Major towns and cities are gradually becoming isolated and cut off.
Whatever aims Vladimir Putin has for Ukraine the position today is grim however one looks at it. Many Russian soldiers seem to be caught in a war they do not understand, puzzled by orders to fight close neighbours, and surprised by the stiff resistance they are meeting, which does not tally with the story of being welcomed as liberators. Ukrainian civilians caught in the bombardments are losing homes, their freedom and in some cases their lives. Families are being torn apart as women and children flood west to escape and men stay to fight. Ordinary civilians in Russia are now facing economic hardship as sanctions take effect and the rest of the world looks on, uncertain how to act in the face of such aggression and worried about the effects on their own economies.
Those privileged to view these developments from the pages of scripture are not surprised by what Russia has done. Since the time when Ezekiel and the prophets warned Israel that a warring host
“from the uttermost parts of the north with all his hordes” (Ezekiel 38:6, ESV)
would move south, it has long been anticipated that Russia would become an aggressor nation in the last days. So the prophecies are coming to pass, which is comforting, but we are saddened by the heartache, distress and suffering that is being incurred as a consequence. Christ warned that
“wars and rumours of wars”
would be a sign of his coming, and reassures believers by telling them, “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28, ESV).
Let Isaiah’s familiar words be our encouragement:
“He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Isaiah 2:4, ESV)
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Preceding
Watch Crisis in Crimea & Ukraine – talk from 2014!
Prayer for 2022 March 06: Asking for Strength by the Russian-Ukrainian war
Russia-Ukraine war: Putin lays waste to cities
Some out of date from our Ukrainian brethren
Our Ukrainian brothers and sisters who got over the border
Special prayer request for Ukrainian sister Anna
Surrounded by war crimes performing Russians
Worldwide Call to Prayer for Brethren in Ukraine and Russia
Prayer for March 2022: We pray, above all, for peace throughout the world.
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Additional reading
- What is the point of saying ‘never again’ for 80 years
- USSR – USA – Cold-, Hot Wars and memorandi
- Cold War over and back again to bring a war in Ukraine as the end of the liberal world order
- The one who claimed he was not planning an invasion in Ukraine
- Lisa Rozner reports how Russian troops have begun moving into Ukraine
- Key Facts About Ukraine and the Russian invasion
- Zelenskiy: Russia aims to obliterate Ukraine
- Last week: It became a fact: Russia invades Ukraine
- Last week’s saying about Russia signing decrees ordering military forces into two separatist regions of Ukraine for “peacekeeping” purposes
- The biggest ground offensive in Europe since World War II
- Looking at a “Man from the North” endangering the world
- The First Great Information War
- The moral failure of considering Ukraine for NATO
- What are Russia’s four key demands it wants Ukraine to follow?
- The judgement of posterity will determine whether invading Ukraine was wise or a mistake
- Churches as Waystations on the Refugee Road from Ukraine
- Go Ahead. Pray for Putin’s Demise.
- Anno 2022, Neutrality or action
- No one can split Ukraine they say
- Ukraine keeps standing strong despite Russian predictions
- Ukraine has proven to be a self-confident nation
- People in Ukraine standing up to Russian troops – BBC News
- No-fly zone needed over Ukraine to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe
- Restrictions in Russia because of sanctions from the West for peace mission in Ukraine.
- Cool hand Vlad or Crazy Ivan?
- Putin puts Russia’s nuclear force on high alert
- Trade surpluses vs Most sweeping set of sanctions ever aimed at a country since World War 2
- Sanctions are crippling the economy of ‘Fortress Russia’
- The invasion of Ukraine is personal for me…as it is for many of us
- A boy who travelled more than 600 miles alone from Ukraine to Slovakia
- Thoughts from a Ukrainian refugee
- A letter from Kyiv
- Tied together in this nightmare
- Overcoming The Terror Of War
- The Telegraph looking at the last week of February 2022
- Russian invasion of Ukraine enters seventh day – BBC News
- US insight from the Independent for the first week of March 2022
- The first week of March 2022 looked at by the Guardian
- Ukraine From March the 4th up to now
- Some highlights of the invasion of Ukraine March 9-16
- Ukraine Crisis Reading List
- Despicable actions that endanger entire regions and historical monuments in addition to citizens
- Will the Russian War in Ukraine reset World diplomacy?
- Hundreds of Russian Pastors Oppose War in Ukraine
- Нет войне
- Нет войнe. No war
- Praying For The Victims Of Ukraine
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Related
- Tipping Point
- February 12, 2022: Don’t Be Surprised
- The Spiritual Secret Driving Vladimir Putin to invade Kyiv Ukraine #EndTimes
- Russia Invasion of Israel is NOT before the Rapture Ezekiel 38, 39 Explained
- From The Battlefield: The Peace Of Christ Is Greater Than Russkiy Mir
- Ukrainian aggression prompts civilian evacuation from DPR and Lugansk republics
- What Russian Soldiers—and You—Believe to Be True
- putin’s war
- War of Ukraine
- Venezuela, Iran, India, China, UAE, Saudi Arabia – Realpolitik in the era of Putin’s War
- The type of “🤡 leadership” NATO loves to install to keep them as vassals, ignorant and poor! Do you see how they love to spread justice, welfare & democracy?
- Bible Prophecy Concerning Russia
- To Destroy a Civilisation – The Great Reset is Coming!
- Are We Ready For the Rapture
- March 17, 2022: There Will Be Scoffers
- ‘Take the lead’: President Zelenskyy pleads with Congress for help
- The International Court Of Justice Orders Russia To Immediately Halt Its Invasion Of Ukraine
- How Racial Biases Have Influenced Coverage of the Ukraine-Russia War
- Why Fighting For Ukraine Is Not The Best Thing You Can Do.
- Many Ukrainians Can’t Find Their Loved Ones
- Dramatic moment Ukrainian soldier blows up ‘Russian special forces’ truck with rocket launcher in latest ambush
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