NATO–Russian War Ahead?

In April, “Russian warplanes conducted ‘simulated attacks’ on a U.S. Navy vessel in the Baltic Sea… repeatedly flying within 30 feet of the ship” (Military Times, April 13, 2016). In another incident, “RAF fighter jets intercepted five Russian aircraft flying near Estonia… just days after British Typhoon jets were scrambled from the same base to intercept three Russian military transport planes” (The Telegraph, May 17, 2016). Russia is angered by “a U.S missile defense site in Romania aimed at protecting Europe from ballistic missile threats” because Russia “opposes having the advanced military system in its former area of influence” (Military.com, May 12, 2016). Former British General and Deputy Commander of NATO, Sir Alexander Richard Shirreff, warned “that the West is on course for war with Russia” (The Guardian, May 18, 2016). Echoing Shirreff, former Supreme Allied Commander Europe, U.S. Admiral James Stavridis stated, “Under President Putin, Russia has charted a dangerous course that, if it is allowed to continue, may lead inexorably to a clash with NATO. And that will mean a war that could so easily go nuclear” (ibid.).

Jesus warned that before His return there would be “wars and rumors of wars” (Matthew 24:6-7). One prophesied event will be a large-scale military engagement between Europe and superpowers “from the east”—likely to include Russia (Daniel 11:44; Revelation 9; 16:12-16). The standoff between NATO and Russia could lead to such a conflict. To learn more about future prophetic events, see “The End of War.”