It seems to many that things are getting crazier and crazier in the Middle East. One might think that when the “end times” arrive we should expect the Middle East to literally explode. Indeed the Signpost interpretation of the Bible indicates this is true. When the Second Signpost finally arrives, it will seem surreal with the Middle East completely out of control, and all of our lives affected in materially detrimental ways that will make most of the world panic.

In the news this week we saw another loss of control incrementally by the West, in the Middle East. The Russian military is moving into Syria. They initially said they were against the Islamic State (IS). But Russia’s airstrikes of the last two days show us that Russia is more for Assad than against IS.

Russian President Putin meets with Syrian leader Assad assuring him of Russia’s support.

Looking at the map, the Syrian city of Latakia has a Russian naval base and air bases. The Russians have struck targets within the green area north of Homs, and the green area near Aleppo. Those green areas are held by the US-trained rebels. It has become apparent to me that the first goal of Russia, Assad, and Iran is to destroy and clear out all opposition (IS, Kurd, and rebel) within the red boundary, to re-establish the Assad regime as the ruling government solidly within the western end of Syria.

Looking at the colored areas on the map, it is apparent that IS is a major power within the boundaries of Syria and that the regime itself (with no color on the map) is in danger of winking out of existence with all the pockets of yellow, grey and green encroaching on Damascus.

The partitioning of Syria in September 2015. Note the dominance of IS and the precarious position of the Assad regime.

The United States has been the major power orchestrating – albeit unwittingly – the Signposts. But now it looks like Russia is now helping as well. If Russia restores the western half of Syria to Assad, then the Russian-Assad nation in the west will allow Iran to run west and allow it to do all it wants to do. Russia is also to the north, allowing Iran to run in that direction with protection. Who knows, might Russia also establish a presence in Yemen and help the Houthis to make all three directions complete?

Why is Russia doing all this? Why is Russia getting involved? News commentators say that it is because Russia wants greater power and influence. I think that is only part of the explanation – the “non-Signpost” answer. Why did General Soleimani go to Russia a month or so ago? I noted in this post that it happened but at the time I did not know why. But I think now there is a very good reason that Soleimani went to Moscow, and it is for a very scary reason: Putin may know Iran’s plans to invade the Middle East, and so Iran and Russia are coordinating plans. Rusia stands to benefit greatly from the Second Signpost.

Russia has been an ally of Iran for many decades because “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Russia has been plagued by Sunni Muslim aggression on its southern borders for centuries. By helping the Shia Muslims, they become a better pain in the side of the Sunni Muslim nations.

And now the Second Signpost will be beneficial in the short term to only two countries in the whole world: Iran and Russia. The reason it is beneficial to Iran’s leadership is obvious: the spread of its Islamic revolution and the coming of their Mahdi. Why would it be beneficial to Russia? There are three reasons:

1) The Sunni Muslim realm will be in complete chaos and will not, at first, be any threat to Russia.

2) One fourth of the world’s oil is cutoff and so the price doubles, triples, and keeps going. How high? $200 per barrel might not be out of the question. Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the USA are the largest producers of oil. With Saudi Arabia removed from producing and selling oil, the USA consuming everything itself produces, that makes Russia the world’s greatest exporter of oil. Russia’s economy and military will boom, selling oil at $100, $200 per barrel.

3) The US petrodollar will be removed and the US dollar will lose its status as the world’s reserve currency. The US, Russia’s old cold war nemesis, will be out of commission. China would benefit with the US dollar being removed and the US being reduced in power and ability, but would still literally pay a stiff price to get the oil it needs. This ultimately could be the reason that the kings of the east come to the Middle East to confront the Antichrist himself.

But for those above reasons Russia is probably the one country that stands to gain the most from the Second Signpost. No other nation on earth stands to gain like that.

So might this mean Putin knows that the Second Signpost is going to happen? Of course neither the Iranians nor Putin know about the Third Signpost, or the Fourth Signpost, or that Russia will fight for its very life by igniting the powder keg now. If Russia secures Assad’s position in west Syria, Iranian forces are free to run west, destroy IS, and be completely safe from any possible invasion from the west, or any landing by any other power on the Syrian coast. It is even possible that Russia could assist the Houthis in Yemen before the actual invasion takes place, to secure the south.  It is not required to happen, but it shouldn’t be a surprise if it does.

With the three advantages for Russia, Putin could very well know about the Second Signpost, be coordinating with Iran like through meetings with General Soleimani, and anticipating a windfall for his country that will restore Russia as an economic and military superpower.

If this is all true, then Russia joins the United States as supporting the Signposts. But unlike the United States which unwittingly bumbles and stumbles its way through supporting the Signposts, Russia is doing what it is doing purposefully, to earnestly begin the Second Signpost. Putin is also most likely thankful and wondering why the United States is basically handing Russia, Syria. Well, it’s as I said before, Obama is the president that God has given this nation because we deserve it and he is working God’s plan to get the next Signpost rolling. And Putin is the man God has supporting the Second Signpost as well.

Many prophecy teachers will no doubt say that Russia’s moves are the beginning of its invasion of the Middle East a la Hal Lindsey’s teaching and that this will lead to the Ezekiel 38 war. This is not true. Russia’s moves are only contributing as a trigger for the remaining Signposts. When the Third Signpost comes along, Syria will end up being very much in Turkey’s camp, with Sunni leadership. Since the Russians and the Turks have been bitter enemies for centuries, Russia’s position in Syria will have to end one way or another when Turkey takes over.

The Iranian invasion could start at any time. Hallelujah, God has told us about this in His word, and when it happens we will see the next step in Christ’s return.

Categories: Signpost #2: Iran

Tags: Assad, General Soleimani, Iran, Iranian invasion, Putin, Russia, Second Signpost, Syria