{"id":21411,"date":"2014-01-12T08:00:27","date_gmt":"2014-01-12T16:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/?p=21411"},"modified":"2014-01-13T05:36:06","modified_gmt":"2014-01-13T13:36:06","slug":"pcgs-gerald-flurry-points-to-russias-putin-as-the-prince-of-rosh-of-ezekiel-382","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/prophecy\/pcgs-gerald-flurry-points-to-russias-putin-as-the-prince-of-rosh-of-ezekiel-382\/","title":{"rendered":"PCG’s Gerald Flurry points to Russia’s Putin as the ‘Prince of Rosh’ of Ezekiel 38:2"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"
\nVladimir Putin (www.kremlin.ru)<\/em>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

COGwriter<\/a><\/p>\n

Gerald Flurry of the improperly named Philadelphia Church of God<\/a> (PCG) has another speculative prophetic error–PCG has published:<\/p>\n

FROM THE EDITOR<\/p>\n

Is Vladimir Putin the Prophesied \u2018Prince of Rosh\u2019?<\/strong><\/p>\n

From the\u00a0February 2014\u00a0Trumpet<\/em>\u00a0Print Edition \u00bb<\/p>\n

Russia\u2019s president is taking on authoritarian power and restoring the Soviet empire. Biblical prophecy speaks of a tyrant from that area committing some shocking acts. Is President Putin going to fulfill that prophecy?…<\/p>\n

Now, a recent move by President Putin has rattled some European leaders to their core.<\/p>\n

For several years, Ukraine has been working toward joining Europe\u2019s Eastern Partnership program. But in late November, it abruptly decided to pull out of the EU deal. Why? Because of Mr. Putin\u2019s threats and offer of some rich financial rewards…<\/p>\n

But Vladimir Putin is one we need to keep a particularly close eye on. His track record, his nationality and his ideology indicate that he could\u2014and I strongly believe he\u00a0will\u2014fulfill a linchpin Bible prophecy<\/em>\u00a0that was recorded millennia ago. The time frame of his rule makes it almost certain.<\/p>\n

A Prophesied \u2018Prince\u2019…<\/strong><\/p>\n

A prophecy in Ezekiel 38 gives us some of these important details. \u201cAnd the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and\u00a0prophesy against him\u201d<\/em>\u00a0(Ezekiel 38:1-2). These verses\u00a0begin<\/em>\u00a0in the latter days (verses 8, 16) before the Great Tribulation, the Day of the Lord and Christ\u2019s Second Coming…<\/p>\n

One other Russian people is mentioned in Ezekiel 38:2. There is controversy over how the Hebrew word\u00a0rosh<\/em>\u00a0should be translated in this verse. The King James Version uses the adjective \u201cchief.\u201d But the correct rendering (used by the Moffatt, New King James and others) uses the word not as an adjective, but\u00a0AS A PROPER NOUN:\u00a0Rosh<\/em>. Thus, that verse should read, \u201cthe\u00a0PRINCE OF\u00a0ROSH, Meshech and Tubal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rosh<\/em>\u00a0was the ancient name of Russia, once called\u00a0Rus<\/em>. Many encyclopedias and commentaries (such as the\u00a0Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary<\/em>) recognize this. So who is this \u201cprince\u201d of Russia, Moscow and Tobolsk? The use of all three names states that this is an individual ruler of\u00a0all<\/em>\u00a0the peoples of Russia, from the west to the east.\u00a0EZEKIEL\u2019S COMMAND TO \u201cPROPHESY AGAINST\u00a0HIM\u201d<\/em>\u00a0FURTHER INDICATES A\u00a0SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL<\/em>.<\/em><\/p>\n

When you study these scriptures alongside current events revealing modern Moscow\u2019s imperialist direction, you see that Vladimir Putin\u00a0could well become the leader<\/em>\u00a0of that gigantic army of the East. I strongly believe Vladimir Putin is going to lead the 200 million-man army. Just look at the power he already has.<\/p>\n

Can you think of any other Russian politician who could become so powerful and have the will to lead Russia into the crisis of crises? I see nobody else on the horizon who could do that. And only a tiny few years remain for the\u00a0prince of Rosh<\/em>\u00a0to appear!<\/p>\n

Such a man doesn\u2019t appear overnight. It takes years for even a strong-willed leader to gain such control.<\/p>\n

Vladimir Putin already has the power\u2014and the will to use it. I believe there is\u00a0not <\/em>enough time for a competitor to arise and challenge him.<\/p>\n

But there will also be other powers involved. Ezekiel\u2019s prophecy says the Russia-led army will include \u201cPersia, Ethiopia, and Libya\u2009\u2026\u2009Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people\u201d (Ezekiel 38:5-6)…<\/p>\n

If you study Ezekiel 38 and 39, you see that much of this prophecy takes place\u00a0after <\/em>Christ\u2019s Second Coming. These chapters make plain that the end-time \u201ckings of the east\u201d will also play a key role in a\u00a0second<\/em>\u00a0end-time war! The first is just\u00a0before<\/em>\u00a0the return of Jesus Christ. The second is a short number of years\u00a0after<\/em>\u00a0it…<\/p>\n

God says in Ezekiel 38 to prophesy against\u00a0HIM\u00a0in the latter days because this is going to be cataclysmic! The Asian power that is already rapidly solidifying will be like\u00a0nothing this Earth has ever experienced<\/em>. We need to watch Vladimir Putin closely. I believe he is\u00a0almost certain<\/em>\u00a0to be the \u201cprince of Rosh\u201d that God inspired Ezekiel to write about 2,500 years ago!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The above change related to the first few verses of Ezekiel 38 is not consistent with the historical COG position.\u00a0 Here are some positions from the old Radio Church of God (bold italics<\/strong><\/em> mine):<\/p>\n

Perhaps no prophecy has received more widespread interest and attention than that of Ezekiel 38 and 39. As usual there are various interpretations. Those most popularly believed and expressed are: I) That the prophecy pictures \u201cArmageddon\u201d-with Russia the aggressor in this final \u201cArmageddon\u201d battle…The word “Armageddon,” believe it or not occurs only once in all he Bible. It is in Rev. 16:13-16: \u201cARMAGGEDON is the place of the \u201cBATTLE\u201d of that Great Day of God Almighty, which is \u201cthe Day of the Lord.\u201d This is the coming time of God\u2019s WRATH, climaxing in the seven last plagues and the Second Coming of Christ. The Battle at Armageddon is pictured in Rev. 20:19-20 and Rev.17:14. It is a battle in which European AXIS powers, symbolically represented as \u201cThe BEAST\u201d and ten federated European dictatorships wive the Roman Empire, which fight against Christ and His Angels, contesting IS right to rule the world. But Ezekiel 38 speaks of a different power altogether-\u201cGOG\u2019 in the land of \u2018MAGOG\u2019, numerous Allies – all descendants of JAPETH, father of the yellow races…<\/p>\n

And now we come to chapter 38!…The TIME of this prophecy is AFTER–not before, but AFTER–the second coming of Christ<\/strong><\/em>…The 39th chapter shows in more detail the RESULT of this great battle, in which Christ, with supernatural power, causes five-sixth of these heathen armies to be slain in this battle. (What\u2019s Prophesied About RUSSIA! The Plain Truth. November-December 1943, pp. 5, 7, 12)<\/p>\n

(Ez. 38: 12). It is now, after the second coming of Christ, with Israel obeying God in the land of Palestine, that Russia and her oriental hordes come to take a prey from defenseless cities. (Does Ezekiel 38 and 39 Mean An Invasion of Canada and the United States by Russia? Good News, June 1951, p. 11)<\/p>\n

Does Ezekiel 38 and 39 Refer to Russia?<\/strong>
\nNearly all Bible students believe that Ezekiel\u2019s amazing prophecy refers to Russia. Yet they totally misapply the time of its fulfillment. It is referring to an invasion of Palestine after Christ has restored His people Israel to Palestine. This has been amply proved in articles in The PLAIN TRUTH<\/strong><\/em>…Notice that it is Gog and Magog (Ezek. 38:2) which will come against the nation in which Christ\u2019s capital will be located (verse 16). Notice again that Gog and Magog come \u201cout of the north parts\u201d (verse 15 ) where Russia is today. (Does Ezekiel 38 and 39 Refer to Russia? Good News, August 1954, p. 5)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Despite claims from Gerald Flurry, it is not clear that Ezekiel 38:1-7 is fulfilled prior to the return of Jesus.\u00a0 Certainly, there will be a 200 million many army, but that is not what Ezekiel 38:1-7 appears to be talking about.\u00a0 Notice what it and the verses immediately after them state:<\/p>\n

1 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. 4 I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. 5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; 6 Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops \u2014 many people are with you.<\/p>\n

7 “Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them. 8 After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely. 9 You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you.”<\/p>\n

10 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan: 11 You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’ \u2014\u00a0 12 to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land. 13 Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to you, ‘Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?'”‘ (Ezekiel 38:1-13)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Pay close attention to verses 7-13.\u00a0 It is against a ‘peaceful people’ in unarmed villages that the prince of Rosh is going against.\u00a0 This cannot happen until AFTER the return of Jesus.\u00a0 Hence this is not a prophecy about Vladimir Putin.\u00a0 But that does not mean that Vladimir Putin does not have an important role–his repeatedly calls for a Eurasian Union will help lead to the time of the armies of the kings of the east of Revelation 16:12.<\/p>\n

Vladimir Putin has also been a champion for the Russian Orthodox.\u00a0 On January 27, 2009, I posted that I believed that the Russian Orthodox would be a bit distant, but ultimately to a degree at least, cooperate with the Church of Rome (see New Russian Orthodox Patriarch<\/a>). Interestingly, the Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill has sometimes sounded \u201cecumenical\u201d and cooperative since the Fall of 2009.\u00a0 As Metropolitan Kirill (the rank he held prior to becoming Patriarch), he was once so opposed to unity with the Vatican, that a few days prior to his election to his current position in January 2009, he publicly stated \u201cthere is no room for compromise\u201d with the Vatican (see Russian Orthodox Leader Urges No Compromise With Catholics<\/a>). However, by mid-November 2009, he apparently changed his mind (Cooper R. Russian Orthodox and Catholic church may end 950-year rift. Telegraph, November 13, 2009).<\/p>\n

Sadly, since taking current office, Patriarch Kirill and his followers have sometimes taken steps to get into closer unity with Rome and others. Plus he has been fairly involved in Russian politics and was a factor in Vladimir Putin’s “re-election” to the Russian presidency in 2012:<\/p>\n

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has taken a day off from “commitments of government,” according to his spokesman. And religious leaders have formally endorsed the candidacy.<\/p>\n

Hosted by the Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill \u2013 who described the Putin era a “miracle” – the event has brought to the monastery of St. Daniel in Moscow, representatives of both the so-called ‘traditional religions’ (Orthodox, Buddhist, Muslim and Jews) and non (Catholics, Armenians and other Christian denominations). Kirill “blessed” the political ambitions of the Prime Minister, calling him the “candidate who certainly has the best chance to turn his candidacy into a real office.”<\/p>\n

The patriarch, who supported the demands for change expressed by the protesters who took to the streets against electoral fraud in December, urging the authorities to listen to the people – then thanked Putin for the “crucial role” played in moving the country out of crisis of the 1990s. Kirill then defined the last 12 years a “miracle” for the Church in Russia. Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin was president from 2000 to 2008, when he was appointed prime minister by the current head of the Kremlin, Dmitri Medvedev. (Achmatova A. Kirill and religious leaders “bless” Putin\u2019s candidacy. February 13, 2012. http:\/\/www.asianews.it\/news-en\/Kirill-and-religious-leaders-bless-Putin%25E2%2580%2599s-candidacy-23956.html viewed 05\/06\/12)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Some are displeased with the support of Putin by the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church:<\/p>\n

\n

Critics of Russian Orthodox Church say it\u2019s sold its soul to Putin<\/h2>\n

May 13, 2012\u2026Kirill himself is a focus of the growing opposition to the church.<\/p>\n

The patriarch\u2019s reputation has been tarnished by a pair of scandals involving a $38,832 Breguet watch he was seen wearing and a court case in which he sought $630,000 from a cancer-stricken neighbor \u2014 despite his monastic vows not to have any worldly possessions while serving the church.<\/p>\n

And just as Putin is supported by gangs of youth thugs who intimidate his opponents, the church enjoys the backing of its own roaming enforcers of orthodoxy \u2014 tacitly approved of by church leaders\u2026<\/p>\n

Political analyst Stanislav Belkovsky said the church has turned into the Kremlin\u2019s \u201cSalvation Ministry,\u201d obediently approving Kremlin policies and slamming Western democracy as concepts alien to Russian traditions \u2014 all the while enjoying hefty government donations and tax immunity.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe church inherited its full loyalty to the existing government from Soviet times,\u201d Belkovsky said. http:\/\/seattletimes.nwsource.com\/html\/nationworld\/2018204136_russiachurch14.html<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Despite the political nature of the Russian Orthodox Patriarch, whatever arrangements he and\/or President Putin may temporarily make with the Vatican in the future will not last per Daniel 11:44 and other scriptures–for more details, please see Russia: Its Origins and Prophesied Future<\/a>. But temporary cooperation with Rome seems prophesied (cf. Revelation 13 and 17).<\/p>\n

Steps towards such a temporary union are taking place.<\/p>\n

As far as PCG goes, according to a press release, its Gerald Flurry had a fainting spell that interrupted his sermon about a \u201cnew revelation from Ezekiel\u201d (see also Cartwright\u2019s Journal out: COGaIC crisis, Aaron Dean and CGI, and the Canon<\/a>).\u00a0\u00a0 I wonder if his \u201cnew revelation from Ezekiel\u201d was related to his view of Vladimir Putin and certain events in Ezekiel 38.\u00a0 Presuming that it is, this is additional proof that his\u00a0\u201crevelations\u201d do not come from God–as he is wrong about the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38:1-7 coming before the return of Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n

Some items of possibly related interest may include<\/em>:<\/p>\n

Some Similarities and Differences Between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Continuing<\/em> Church of God<\/a> Both groups claim to be the original church, but both groups have differing ways to claim it. Both groups have some amazing similarities and some major differences. Do you know what they are?
\nOrthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics<\/a> Unity between these groups will put them in position to be part of the final end time Babylon that the Bible warns against as well as require improper compromise.
\nWhich Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Continuing<\/em> Church of God?<\/a> Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity? This documented article answers those questions. [Portugu\u00eas: Qual \u00e9 fiel: A igreja cat\u00f3lica romana ou a igreja do deus?<\/a>]
\nWhy Should American Catholics Should Fear Unity with the Orthodox?<\/a> Are the current ecumenical meetings a good thing or will they result in disaster? Is doctrinal compromise good?
\nThe Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy<\/a> Is there a Eurasian union that will be formed? Is one being formed right now? Are any leaders working on that in the 21st century? Does the Bible teach that there will be a Eurasian union? If some type of Eurasian union is formed, who might it benefit and who will it destroy? A related video would be Is The Eurasian Union Rising?<\/a>
\nIs Russia the King of the North?<\/a> Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach? Here is a link to a video, also titled Is Russia the King of the North? <\/a>
\nRussia: Its Origins and Prophesied Future<\/a> Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end?
\nTeachings Unique to the Philadelphia Church of God<\/a> Simply calling oneself ‘Philadelphia’ does not make one so (see Revelation 3:7-9), nor does Gerald Flurry calling himself “that prophet” make it so. This article provides many quotes from this group which tries to look faithful.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Vladimir Putin (www.kremlin.ru) COGwriter Gerald Flurry of the improperly named Philadelphia Church of God (PCG) has another speculative prophetic error–PCG has published: FROM THE EDITOR Is Vladimir Putin the Prophesied \u2018Prince of Rosh\u2019? From the\u00a0February 2014\u00a0Trumpet\u00a0Print Edition \u00bb Russia\u2019s president is taking on authoritarian power and restoring the Soviet empire. Biblical prophecy speaks of a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21411","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cog-news","category-prophecy"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t