Dear Jon Tng,
Our
friend Aaron Williams pointed out this NYT article from 2014.12.26 in
which the strategic global courtships of Vladimir Putin are described.
My observation is that Russia will play a significant role in God's
judgment of the Christian-influenced societies which have "played the
harlot" with the devil, the world, and the carnality from which Christ
Jesus has delivered us by His victory in His death and resurrection.
The Lord's victory must become lived out in our individual daily lives
until we come to the fullness of church expression of His sacrifice and
resurrection. Some individual Christians will be willing to be
firstfruits in offering themselves as servants while the many Christians
still try to be honored by the world. The Lord's grace is sufficient
for us, for His strength is made perfect in our weakness.
But,
here below is an article showing the progress of Putin of Russia. One
of the means of the Lord's negative judgment upon our (Christian)
backslidings. - Peter A. Van Breemen
"There
was a time when President Vladimir Putin was welcomed, even courted, by
governments in the West. Now, as tensions between them grow over the
issue of Ukraine, and as Russia’s economy is under stress, Mr. Putin is
pursuing new friends, including one of the world’s most noxious leaders,
Kim Jong-un of North Korea.
...
Mr.
Putin’s courtship of North Korea has not distracted him from his
continuing efforts to build closer relationships with China and India.
...
Mr.
Putin is also seeking closer ties with Turkey — a NATO ally that
aspires to membership in the European Union — in part to dilute the
effect of sanctions. To that end he is also trying to persuade Serbia
and Bosnia that integration with the West is not their only option and
that close ties with Russia could yield them big returns. He is unlikely
to have much success portraying Russia as the more reliable friend,
especially since the United States, again the engine of global growth,
and Europe offer more attractive economic and political visions. But as
Ukraine proves, he can be skillful at causing problems."