"To some degree Russia is like the new SPARTA : A closed police-state, anti-democratic and highly militaristic society. For decades and centuries most of its citizens have been denied true democracy and freedom of speech; whether it be by its past : Czars, the Bloody Communists or its modern day President for Life : Putin." - Mario Romano; semi-expert on Russia's : past, present & future*
Whenever this student of Bible Prophecy thinks of President : Putin, he thinks of Napoleon's famous quote "I am the state." Putin embodies and is the 'Russian State' because it really doesn't matter what the Russian State Duma or the Federal Assembly dictate; Putin's word is final on almost everything in Russia. Putin like Stalin before him controls most of Russia through fear and intimidation, neither : Russian Generals, Russian Judges nor Russia's Mass Media dare question his final decisions openly for fear of an 'early death / accidental death' via FSB / KGB retribution !!! Who are the Russian's kidding ?
Vladimir Putin, witnessed firsthand the collapse of the Soviet Union as a KGB agent stationed in East Germany in 1989. Later on he would also witness West Germany absorbing East Germany completely to his dismay; Putin called Moscow as the Berlin Wall was falling but to his dismay nobody was answering in Moscow, a young Putin 'SOMEHOW' managed to scare off a large group who were about to storm into the KGB Headquarters in 1989 in Dresden. There is no question that those early formative years still haunt Mr. Putin and it should come as 'NO' surprise what is driving Putin and his armed forces all over Eurasia and into Syria : Oil and Natural Gas Pipelines as well as the restoration of Russian military might !!!
Although Russia is "NOT" considered to be among the top 10 economic $$$ global superpowers 'EVERYONE' acknowledges that it is the world's number 1 'Nuclear Power' and because of that fact : NATO, the EU, Israel and several others 'CAUTIOUSLY' maintain somewhat close diplomatic ties with it.
It is somewhat amazing that although Russia's Military Industrial Complex and its very talented : Nuclear, Electronic and Mechanical Engineers can produce some of the top : Nuclear Submarines, Warships, Battle Ships, Space Rockets and Satellites on this planet 'BUT' it is also baffling that Russia can "NOT" produce top consumer technology on a scale such as : Taiwan, South Korea, Germany and Japan !!! ( When was the last time you purchased a : Smart phone, Large Screen HD T.V or an automobile made in Russia ??? ) A very high percentage of Russia's economy depends on the revenues of the state controlled : Oil and Natural Gas revenues of the largest country on this planet : Russia !!!
This student of Bible Prophecy has been 'Tracking and Studying' Putin's geopolitical moves since 1999 and I can tell you that it appears that Putin may indeed be the 'Prince of Rosh' ( Ezekiel 38 ) Unless, Putin suffers a major heart attack or an accidental plane crash it appears that Putin may indeed end up being one of the major endtime players of the upcoming and continuing 'Middle East Wars' prophesied in the Holy Bible; and this student of Bible Prophecy cautiously states this because he senses that we are entering and nearing the final decade in which all the endtime Biblical Prophecies are about to be fulfilled !!!
Oil and Gas revenues make up for 50% + of Russia's national budget $$$. When the OiL and Gas prices decline worldwide so does Russia's economy !!! When most of us think of Oil Wealth we think of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East "BUT" the truth is that Russia is the 2nd largest producer of natural gas and the 3rd largest producer of oil on planet earth !!! Russia made the mistake years ago of not diversifying their economy and exports, Russia does "NOT" have a large manufacturing nor agricultural exporting economy; thus it like most Arab Oil Producing Middle East countries has set almost all of its economy at the mercy of oil and gas exports and when prices are low life is even tougher in Russia, luckily Russia has seen vast improvements and growth/ sales in both its natural gas and oil exports and was able to afford to host the 2014 Sochi Winter Games at a cost of $$$ 50 Billion USD !!! GAZPROM is the largest energy company in Russia ( State owned and the unofficial Bank of Putin*) and its total income in 2017 was around $$$ 113 Billion USD ( a good year for gas and oil sales*)
Why does the EU buy Russian Natural Gas ?
Nordstream 2 ( A new gas pipeline linking : Russia to Germany*) It is supported by former German Chancellor : Gerhard Schroder ( and the present Chancellor : Angela Merkel approves of it too* ) Mr. Schroder has been working now for many years 'INDIRECTLY' for Putin in GAZPROM !!! ( Gazprom is Russia's largest energy company*) Europe has very harsh and cold winters and Russian natural gas is thee number one thing that most European do purchase from Russia to keep them warm during those cold winters !!! 'BUT' The U.S. opposes it becomes it undermines Western sanctions $$$ imposed on Moscow, additionally Germany is phasing out all nuclear power/energy and is looking for a reliable source of energy as it shifts to renewable energy sources and cheap natural gas from Russia can't be beat !!!
Top Russian Exports: Oil, Gas,Military Weapons & Vodka
After Oil and Natural gas exports the only other thing Russia is known for exporting is its 'Vodka' obviously Russia also is one of the world's top arms sellers on this planet, what the U.S. military Corporations won't sell to many 'questionable rogue countries' because of American sanctions; Russia has no problem selling military supplies especially to Islamic countries !!!
Putin : World's Richest Man ?
Some Western Financial experts consider Mr. Putin to really be the richest man in the world because it's really 'NO' secret that he uses and abuses the $$$ profits of : Gazprom/Yukos Oil to secretly fund a few of his personal Swiss Bank accounts !!! Some experts estimate his 'hidden wealth' at 200+ billion USD !!! In 2013, Putin's official declared income was $ 101,000 regardless of whether Putin has secretly amassed $ 200 Billion USD over the years 'NO' one can deny that he indeed is worth over $ 1 Billion USD and you can't earn that on what Russia officially pays its President !!! ( So massive $$$ Russian corruption does exist and Putin is at the top of that pyramid*) In sum, the Russian Mafia is 'NOT' the only one that does 'Shakedowns' throughout Russia; Putin and the FSB long ago perfected it throughout Russia*...Muammar Gadhafi, Lybia's dead dictator was estimated to have amassed some $ 200 billion USD too and the former dictator of Egypt : Hosni Mubarak was also believed to have stashed some $ 70 billion USD in Swiss accounts !!! Russia is a more natural resource rich country ( Oil and Gas Reserves*) than both Libya and Egypt so the estimated $ 200 Billion that Putin is believed to have amassed is very believable !!!
It is 'NO' secret that NATO's expansion worries Moscow. Given Putin's military intrusion into the Ukraine it comes as 'NO' surprise why NATO was not dissolved years ago, both the U.S. and our European Allies still perceive an expansionist Russia even under Putin, the EU for a little while tried to somehow invite and absorb Russia 'BUT' it didn't work out, Putin doesn't want anyone giving him orders or being delegated into a 2nd class position in the European Union !!!
Putin has a new young girlfriend now*
Although Putin is 'somewhat religious' and supports the Russian Orthodox Church he really doesn't practice what that church teaches; Mr. Putin left his wife of many years to hook up with a much younger lady ( Alina Kabaeva ) and Putin's ex-wife did the same too, she has been seen all over Moscow with her new and much younger boyfriend !!! Putin is as religiously genuine believer as Mr. Erdogan in Turkey and Assad in Syria, despots like them really only worship : POWER !!!
Putin's Radio Active Fingerprints !!!
Vladimir Putin is believed to have authorized the 'accidental deaths' of more than 10+ persons ( FSB staged suicides, radio-active poisonings etc *) through the years that he considered a threat to his authoritarian rule in Russia, not only have Western countries approved economic sanctions against Russia for what it did in the Ukraine 'BUT' Putin continues to authorize the deaths of political opponents in countries such as Great Britain and Mr. Putin doesn't really seem to mind the increasing economic sanctions or diplomatic wars he's trying to send a signal to everyone that 'NO' enemy of his is out of his grasp !!!
Move over Joseph Goebbels : RT is Global Now !
RT ( a.k.a. Russia Today*) is a global T.V. network backed up and directly financially supported by the Kremlin and very possibly directed by the FSB. The RT Channel is on most cable packages here in the U.S.A. RT is extremely 'ONE SIDED' they will cover stories on the very worst social problems in America 'BUT' they rarely if ever cover Putin's anti-democratic moves in Russia; nor most of Russia's social ills; 'RT' covers Russia like if it was a 'Utopia' this student of Bible Prophecy does watch RT on a regular basis but it is very obvious to him that it is a 'Propaganda Tool' of the Kremlin !!! RT is funded directly from Putin ( Russian Gov't with an estimated $ 300+ million USD budget, if you know how many 'Billions+' Putin authorized for the 2018 Fifa World Cup and the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics; RT is a bargain !!!
The Italian Mafia; So Yesterday !!!
One last thing that every student of Bible Prophecy should be aware is that the Russian Mafia which has been around since the time of the Czars and which flourished in the Soviet Gulags, are believed by top Western intelligence officials and agencies to be absorbing several members of the Russian Mafia into the FSB. ( Russian Intelligence Agency*) The Russian Mafia is considered to be the 2nd largest organized criminal group in the world !!! In 1992, there were around 800,000 KGB agents in Russia and although the KGB is 'NO' more the FSB has proven to be an even more efficient lethal tool of Russia's President for life : Vladimir Putin, the FSB has for decades now been : Reorganizing, expanding and absorbing several : financial and criminal networks and services to increase their global reach and it is 'NO" secret that the FSB almost singlehandedly put Vladimir Putin in power in 1999 as it orchestrated the 1999 Russian Apartment Bombings in which hundreds of fellow Russian's died in order to paint a strong Putin as Russia's much needed savior and making Russia once again somewhat of a 'Police-State' only this time not under the KGB but under an even more sinister and adept : FSB !!! ( The FSB is like the CIA who chose who the next President of the USA would be 'BUT' it were the Russian people and voters who fell for the lies of the FSB and that's why Putin is still in power since 1999 !!! ) The Russian government; like the Chinese government have a very tight control of the Mass Media including the internet in those two countries so most : Russian's and Chinese are only presented with the 'Official Government' propaganda !!!
Putin Persecutes His Political Enemies*
It's no secret that Putin gave the orders to prop up charges and jail his chief political adversary ' Alexey Navalny' shortly before the Presidential elections in Russia this year in order to guarantee yet another Russian Presidential victory for Putin. Putin's moves prove that he has an almost absolute control over : Crony Russian Judges, the Russian Police and obviously the FSB itself who obviously orchestrated it all from behind the scenes !!! The only difference between Stalin and Putin is that at least Putin doesn't kill 'ALL' of his potential political adversaries !!! Putin doesn't like being compared to Stalin; so he let's 'SOME' of his enemies live every now and then so that the Western powers won't see him as being 100% evil ***
Putin was 'NOT' too happy about Macron's World Cup Celebration on Russian Territory !!!
It is estimated that Putin spent a little over $ 14 Billion USD in this years World Cup, ( The most expensive in World Cup History thus far *) although the Russian soccer team didn't win the 'World Cup' it did surprise most, unfortunately France won the World Cup and if you are good at reading faces you should study how Mr. Putin is looking at Mr. Macron !!! Obviously the only way Russia could host the Sochi Olympics and the World Cup is because of its OIl and Gas revenues; very few countries could afford to spend $ 60+ Billion USD on two back-to-back world sporting events !!!
"Sometimes one's worst enemy is oneself."
Mario Romano is 'NOT' into 'Conspiracy Theories' but every person who considers themselves to be serious students of Bible Prophecy should consider reading, Craig's Unger book : "House of Trump, House of Putin." Don't get me wrong I personally voted for Trump given the few choices given to us in our 'Democratic Process' controlled and dominated by the two largest political parties ( Rep. & Dem*) here in the states. I also mention this book and information because the Times of Israel website ((( https://www.timesofisrael.com/bestselling-us-author-russian-asset-trump-doesnt-truly-care-for-israel-jews/ ))) just ran a story concerning Mr. Unger's book. King Solomon was once given great wisdom by GOD and 'YET' King Solomon in the end committed even more sins before GOD than some of the worst King's of Israel ( Like sleeping with over 900+ Foreign women; concubines & Backsliding into some heavy Idolotry etc*) Trump is indeed way in over his head; TRUE President Trump is 'NO' King David nor King Solomon and this student does 'NOT' brings this 'Information' to bash our President, Trump needs our prayers 'BUT' he long ago 'knowingly or unknowingly' made friends with very questionable characters that may or may not come back to haunt him and his Presidency !!! Mario Romano states this because although GOD does forgive our sins when we REPENT before Him 'BUT' we still must be held accountable for our bad decisions such as King David and King Solomon were before GOD; King David's sin ultimately destroyed his family ( his son's Incest & rape ( Amnon*) on his own daughter 'Tamar' and Absalom his other son almost overthrew King David himself !!! ) President Trump himself has accumulated many sins that are now being exposed by his enemies and I don't know if Trump has asked GOD for forgiveness 'BUT' what we can learn is that Trump better learn from the reign of King David and King Solomon; that GOD makes 'NO' exception of person's, GOD has 'NO' problem allowing your enemies to get at you when HE decides that 'enough is enough' just like King Saul's tragic ending !!! Trump's 'Colorful' past is 'NO' secret and i'm not here to bring up his sins 'BUT' several of his companies did declare bankruptcy in the past and what author 'Craig Unger' brings up in his book may help us to some degree understand why the U.S. may not come to the aid of Israel in the future when Russia makes its moves against Israel 'IF' Trump is still in the White House in those days and also what could be behind Trump's and Kushner's Middle East Peace Plan***
The Bible warns us about being 'False Witnesses' 'BUT' Trump's past life has been covered by numerous credible news sources; so what this student of Bible Prophecy is trying to say is that Mr. Unger's conclusion about : Russian blackmail, Putin and Trump does have truth to it ...
( Several intelligence experts believe that Putin does have various 'Video' recordings of Trump living the 'Wild Life' very obviously Russian Intelligence 'FSB' have been discreetly recording Mr. Trump for sometime now before he enjoyed Secret Service Protection ) This student of human and signals intelligence is 'NOT' stating that Trump is a 'Manchurian Candidate' funded by Russia's FSB; what I am trying to say is that Putin does have some very 'Compromising' video clips of Trump as well as piles of financial documents that Trump wouldn't like being disclosed on global T.V.***...Trump made many mistakes in his past that are now catching up to him, to what degree will GOD allow Trump's enemies to get the best of him remains to be seen, I'm not one to throw rocks at anyone who is already surrounded by all types of wolves who are trying to end his Presidency...((( According to a recent : NYTimes report the 'National Enquirer' has a lot of dirt on Trump that it has collected over the decades 'BUT' the Russian FSB probably has it all in High Definition video too* )))
In conclusion, Most of Russia's economy is driven by natural gas and oil exports, Russia also has a respectable 'Tourist Economy $$$' but its failure to diversify into manufacturing and agriculture has set up the Russian economy for future failure. There is no question that one of the several reasons why Russia will 'CONTINUE' to expand its military presence in Syria and in the region will be because of OIL and now you know ( if you didn't ) why Russia : has, is and will continue to insert itself in the Middle East in future wars of prophesied by Ezekiel !!! Yes, Putin would like to see a weakened and divided : NATO and European Union, to some degree he will live to see it 'BUT' Bible Prophecy guarantees that the European Union is going to morph into the final 10 Horned Beast of Revelation, what we do know with 100% certainty is that Russia is 'NOT' going to be part of that 10 Horned Beast; therefore Russia's ( Moscow's ) future will mirror that of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, wars are coming and the 'Little Horn' is going to finish off/ & militarily accomplish what neither : Napoleon nor Hitler managed to do to 'Mother Russia' and this student of Bible Prophecy does 'NOT' enjoy writing this concerning Russia's prophetic future 'BUT' as an interpreter of the Book of Daniel and Revelation this is what is coming to Russia during the Tribulation Period and very possibly even before it starts !!! ( Some students and teachers of Bible Prophecy believe that the Ezekiel 38-39 war could begin before the start of Daniel's final 70th Week*)
Vladimir Putin the 'Democratically Elected Tzar' of Russia will do almost anything and everything to stay in power, the past Russian elections is proof that Putin is 'NOT' going quietly into the night, he has big plans for Russia and unfortunately he has the world's largest stockpile of nuclear weapons at some 4,000+ !!! Putin is only getting better with age, he has almost 'PERFECTED' the police state in Russia; it is 'NO' secret that Putin has persecuted and mortally neutralized his biggest political enemies all over Russia. The reality of it all is that Putin has a large and growing military presence in Syria and according to Bible Prophecy its only going to keep getting bigger and bigger; very obviously Russia is not in Syria to promote UN Peace, Putin has his personal reasons of why he is in Syria and his military moves in that region of the world prove that Russia is 'NOT' leaving Syria anytime soon !!! Putin's age and Russia's economy confirms to this student of Bible Prophecy that it sure looks like that we are indeed the final generation !!!
By : Mario Romano. This servant of GOD feels for the Russian people who have suffered under 'MOST' of its 'Cruel and Undemocratic' leaders for centuries !!! ( Soviet Gulags, Siberian Prisons, Massive Political Persecutions and Famines; etc *) While most people know that Hitler and his NAZI's killed more than 4+ million Jews, most people tend to overlook the fact that Hitler killed more than 20,000,000+ Russian's
( Soviet Union*) when all was said and done in World War II. This student of Theology and Bible Prophecy acknowledges that life is 'HARD' not only in Russia but in most of the African Continent and elsewhere in the 'underdeveloped world' too !!! Russia is unique in that it has an economy the size of that of Italy's 'BUT' it has 4,000+ nuclear weapons !!! Russia's importance in relation to Israel is that a large part of the Russian armed forces and Russia will suffer GREAT destruction during the Tribulation period as GOD wipes out most of the Russian Troops on the hills surrounding Israel and as the endtimes Beast launches a nuclear strike against Moscow !!! If Vladimir Putin is indeed the 'Prince of Rosh' he is going down quite spectacularly !!!
( Soviet Union*) when all was said and done in World War II. This student of Theology and Bible Prophecy acknowledges that life is 'HARD' not only in Russia but in most of the African Continent and elsewhere in the 'underdeveloped world' too !!! Russia is unique in that it has an economy the size of that of Italy's 'BUT' it has 4,000+ nuclear weapons !!! Russia's importance in relation to Israel is that a large part of the Russian armed forces and Russia will suffer GREAT destruction during the Tribulation period as GOD wipes out most of the Russian Troops on the hills surrounding Israel and as the endtimes Beast launches a nuclear strike against Moscow !!! If Vladimir Putin is indeed the 'Prince of Rosh' he is going down quite spectacularly !!!