Finland revealed today their intention to apply for NATO membership ‘within weeks’ despite multiple threats from Russian officials.
“In the beginning of the war, I said that Putin’s aggression will drive Finland and Sweden to apply for NATO membership,” former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb stated. “I said it was not a matter of days or weeks, but months. Time to revise: Finland will apply within weeks, at latest May.”
Earlier this week, Russian lawmaker Vladimir Dzhabarov warned that by applying to join NATO, “the Finns themselves will [be signing] a card for the destruction of their country.”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov followed that warning with a threat on Thursday to both Finland and Sweden, insisting that Russia will be forced to ‘rebalance the situation’ in the event that the countries join the alliance.
Tensions further escalated on Friday when during a speech by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky to their parliament, Finland’s government websites were hit by a cyberattack.
Prior to the attacks, the ministry of defense reported that a Russian IL-96-300 aircraft had entered into the country’s airspace earlier that day.
Last month, a senior member of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Sergei Belyayev, warned the two northern European countries of “serious military and political consequences” if they join NATO.
“It is obvious that Finland and Sweden’s joining NATO, which is a military organization in the first place, would have serious military and political consequences requiring us to revise the entire range of relations with these countries and take retaliatory measures,” Belyayev stated in an interview.
From a Biblical standpoint, Russia’s widespread aggression is significant.
Jesus warned of increasing “wars and rumors of war” during the time prior to His return (Matthew 24:6), which is clearly applicable to what we are witnessing today with Russia, China, Iran, etc.
However, more specifically to Russia, the Bible directly speaks about its aggression, detailing a future war in which the country will lead a doomed invasion into Israel from the north, alongside Turkey, Iran, and others (Ezekiel 38-39).
“A variety of sources report that during its invasion of Ukraine, Russia has lost many soldiers and officers along with many tanks, helicopters, and airplanes,” Christian author Jonathan Brentner explained. “With the losses in Ukraine, one might expect that Russia would refrain from any military action in the future. The Bible, however, tells us that God will put a “hook” in the jaw of Gog [Russia’s leader], whom many believe may very well be Putin, or perhaps his successor (Ezekiel 38:3-4).”
Many have speculated that the “hook in the jaw,” which will spark this Biblical invasion, could be related to Israel’s vast natural resources.
“Israel is on alert because we know Vladimir Putin will not stop with Ukraine. Much more territory is in his sights, and he longs for the spoil (wealth) stored up in Israel (Ezekiel 38-39),” Jan Markell, the Founder and President of Olive Tree Ministries, recently wrote. “Vladimir Putin is ‘Gog-esque.’ His ultimate goal could be ‘the mountains of Israel’ (Ezekiel 38:8). Thanks to this blundering invasion, more than ever, he needs the natural resources and other ‘wealth’ of Israel.”
“The conflict in Ukraine is an end-time turning point,” she underscored. “It is much more than “wars and rumors of wars” predicted in the Bible for the end-of-days. It is further destabilizing a world that is already groaning, fearful and weary.”
“Signs are a harbinger of His return. We are seeing such events happen closer together, in real time, just as the Bible predicted,” Markell added.
