The Coming Eurasian Union
FROM THE EDITOR IN CHIEF: BOB THIEL
The Coming Eurasian Union
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?
Russia’s Putin Wants a Eurasian Union
A type of Eurasian union was conceptually proposed by the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, during a 1994 speech at a Moscow university.
In October 2011, Russia’s Vladimir Putin formally called for the formation of an organization called the Eurasian Union (EAU).
On 18 November 2011, the presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia signed an agreement, setting a target of establishing the Eurasian Union by 2015. The agreement included the roadmap for the future integration and established the Eurasian Commission (modelled on the European Commission) and the Eurasian Economic Space, which started work on 1 January 2012.
Since then, movement to form the EAU has taken place. Some in other countries have expressed interest in joining it.
Here some machine-translated comments from Vladimir Putin about it:
“Construction of the Customs Union and Common Economic Space lays the foundation for the formation of a future Eurasian Economic Union. At the same time will go and the gradual expansion of the Customs Union and Common Economic Space through a full connection to the work of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
We do not dwell on it and set an ambitious goal: get to the next higher level of integration – the Eurasian Union.
What we see them and outline the prospects of this project?…
We propose a model of a powerful supranational union capable of becoming one of the poles of the modern world and play the role of an effective “link” between Europe and the dynamic Asia-Pacific region… to create a full-fledged economic union.”
…the Eurasian Union will serve as a center for further integration.
So, Vladimir Putin wants the EAU, and then hopes it will result in greater regional and international influence. Many believe that Russia’s involvement with Ukraine and Crimea were related to its intended plans for the EAU. Vladimir Putin’s interest in eastern Ukraine, Moldova, and certain other lands is related to his desire to have them part of his EAU.
What about Western sanctions? Notice the following:
ST. PETERSBURG, April 17 (RIA Novosti) – Western sanctions against
Moscow could drive integration between the Asia-Pacific region and the proposed economic union of post-Soviet states, widely seen as Russia’s counterweight to the EU, Russian State Duma Speaker Sergei Naryshkin said…
Naryshkin said the proposed Eurasian Economic Union (EAU) is a “serious geopolitical player” that will in the future bridge Western Europe, which has fallen into recession in the past seven years, with the fast-growing Asia-Pacific region.
The move comes amid Moscow’s efforts to reassess its participation in the global economy and focus on the Eurasian project. (Western sanctions to push integration of Eurasian Union and Asia-Pacific – Russian official. The Journal of Turkish Weekly, April 17, 2014. http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/165766/western-sanctions-to-push-integration-of-eurasian-union-and-asia-pacific-russian-official.html)
Western sanctions seem to be encouraging the development of the Eurasian Union. For one example, when Europe publicly considered reducing its energy purchases from Russia as the result of Crimea, Russia announced an energy sales deal with China.
A Coming Eurasian Confederation Will Include China and Likely India
The following was written by the late Herbert W. Armstrong prior to the more recent proposals and plans for a Eurasian Union:
“Gog” in the land of “Magog” is the vast regions of the U.S.S.R. in northern Eurasia extending from the Baltic to the Pacific. “Meshech” is Moscow, “Tubal” is Tobol’sk.
Notice the allies who come with them in this future battle. You will find “Gomer,” “Togarmah,” “Magog,” “Meshech,” “Tubal” identified in Genesis 10 as the sons of Japheth, father of the Eurasians. (Armstrong HW. Why Russia Will Not Attack the United States, reprint 1980, p. 8)
The second woe, with its symbols of horses and horsemen…and is also referred to as an event in the Day OF THE Eternal in Joel 2:4. This refers to a tremendous military power–also to the NORTH–due north! They come with an army of two hundred million! Think of it–an army of two hundred million! World events are now moving rapidly to make possible a Communist Eurasian army of that unbelievable manpower! (Armstrong HW. The Book of Revelation Unveiled at Last! 1972 edition. p. 38-39).
The idea of a Eurasian Union is consistent with biblical prophecy, as well as some of the late Herbert Armstrong’s prophetic understandings. It should be noted that Eurasian army does not need to be partially or fully ‘communist’ (though many of the lands that Herbert Armstrong referred to were controlled by communists when he wrote what was quoted above).
Many steps for the proposed EAU have been taken:
Strategic experts say Eurasian Union is a Moscow’s teeth crushing reply to USA on NATO expansion in Eastern Europe and central states will come in a position to bargain whether to look towards Europe or enter into Eurasian Union to grab maximum economical and financial benefits offered to them. (Alam SS. Why Dream of Eurasian Union? 29 July 2013. http://blogs.thenews.com.pk/blogs/2013/07/why-dream-of-eurasian-union/)
Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan have agreed to set up a Eurasian economic union, modelled on the EU, with a target date of 2015. The three countries already have a customs union but now aim to go further by removing trade barriers. (Russia sees union with Belarus and Kazakhstan by 2015. BBC, November 18, 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15790452 viewed 08/12/13)
Our political decision to join the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space, and Eurasian Union in future, has distinct military-political and security content as well. As reports “Armenpress”, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Tigran Sargysan stated this…(Armenia’s decision to join Eurasian Union has military-political content: Armenia’s PM. Armenpress.am, March 29, 2014. http://armenpress.am/eng/news/755965/armenia%E2%80%99s-decision-to-join-eurasian-union-has-military-political-content-armenia%E2%80%99s-pm.html)
And while that may not sound like much of a start, the European Union started originally as a trade pact between the relatively small nations of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg (called Benelux), and now has 28 nations part of it.
This Eurasian Union is also expected to have more military cooperation. Russia is also attempting to involve various other nations, directly or indirectly with this including China and India. And actually, India has been proposed as a regular member of this yet to be formed EAU.
There are several reasons that China wishes to be involved. One of them is that Russia and China want to increase the convertibility of the rouble and the yuan. Both want to increase the two currencies’ role in international trade. Both wish to propose them to be part of a type of combined global reserve currency. Both want to topple the dominance of the USA dollar, as well as decrease the influence of the USA.
And, let us not forget that the USA keeps increasing its debt through massive deficit spending and inflating its currency through various programs. Financial experts should realize that what the USA has been doing is diminishing the value of its value. Biblically the USA is adding ‘dross’ to its currency, which is not good (Isaiah 1:22,25; Proverbs 25:4a). At some point in time in the future, this will result in disaster for the USA according to biblical prophecy (Habakkuk 2:6-8).
What is happening in Asia, and elsewhere, shows that the world is moving away from the US dollar. Many of the arrangements that the Chinese, Russians, and others (such as the Europeans) are doing are making it easier for the ultimate break from the dollar and the final time of the Gentiles.
The Bible Tells of a Military Block Forming
The Bible uses terms like kings of the east/sunrise (Revelation 16:12), kings of the Medes (Jeremiah 51:11), and “many kings” associated with of the northern Eurasian regions (Jeremiah 50:41). The Bible teaches that tore than one nation will be involved in a military block that will be formed—and this block is consisting of Eurasian nations.
Vladimir Putin has repeatedly called for a militarily stronger Russia as well as one allied with many other nations in Asia and even some in Europe.
Russia already supplies a lot of military weaponry to nations in Asia, including India, while India is also developing its own weapons. China also buys weapons from Russia and is also developing its own weapons. Russia and China themselves already have a variety of military agreements. They have issues with the West.
Years ago, I read an article out of India where the author claimed that Russia, China, and India believe that the Americans and Europeans truly will never accept them as equals and hence have decided that they need to take additional steps leading to cooperation with each other. And, also to be opposed to the West in various ways.
Notice the following::
Plans for a Eurasian Union are a feeble rear guard action aimed less at NATO and the West and more at the increasing relevance of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
The SCO has China as its sponsor. And, while it is not clear at all that China has designs for control of any kind over Central Asia, it is the power with the most momentum in the region. It has now become cliché to say that Central Asia’s markets are flooded with Chinese goods and businessmen. (Peterson A. Central Asia unlikely to become another unstable Middle East. Global Times, August 13, 2013. http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/803601.shtml#.Ugqr96z8az4 viewed 08/13/13)
So, China is a sponsor of SCO and according to at least one reporter, the SCO situation is what the Eurasian Union is really all about. Hence, the some see that proposed Eurasian Union is really about building an economic and military confederation That being said, Russia’s Vladimir Putin does consider that the EAU will help him counterbalance the West and NATO.
Militarily, the Bible shows that a type of Eurasian military union will happen involving those from the north AND the east and frighten the European King of the North:
…the king of the North… 43 He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels. 44 But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. 45 And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him (Dan 11:40,43-45).
Places like Armenia (called Ararat below) are prophesied to be involved with the Northern power (kings of the Medes below):
27 Set up a banner in the land, Blow the trumpet among the nations! Prepare the nations against her, Call the kingdoms together against her: Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a general against her; Cause the horses to come up like the bristling locusts. 28 Prepare against her the nations, With the kings of the Medes, Its governors and all its rulers, All the land of his dominion. 29 And the land will tremble and sorrow; For every purpose of the Lord shall be performed against Babylon, To make the land of Babylon a desolation without inhabitant. (Jeremiah 51:27-29)
Armenia currently had candidate status with the Eurasian Union. Whether or not it joins the EAU, it is prophesied to be aligned with the Eurasian power that will fight against the the end time European Beast power.
The New Testament shows that a group of nations known as the Kings of the East will form:
12 Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 15 Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” 16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon (Revelation 16:12-16).
Note: The literal translation of Revelation 16:12 is “the kings of the sunrise” and thus this would seem to also include China, Japan, Korea, Indochina (including Vietnam), Indonesia, and other lands (since Indonesia is Islamic, it is likely to wish much closer alignment with the Chinese in the end after the King of the North overwhelms the Islamic King of the South per Daniel 11:40-43). India is also likely one of those kings.
Russia, with a border that extends east to the Pacific ocean, would appear to be one of the Kings of the East. There will be an end-time confederation of Asian nations with some European involvement that will be part of this eastern confederation.
Other parts of the Bible also show that this “Babylonian/European” empire will be destroyed by a northern power.
In the Book of Jeremiah, for example, it is shown that a northern people (which most logically would seem to be Russia) will be part of the force that concerns and then eventually invades, end time Babylon (which will be a European power):
50:41 “Behold, a people shall come from the north,
And a great nation and many kings
Shall be raised up from the ends of the earth.
42 They shall hold the bow and the lance;
They are cruel and shall not show mercy.
Their voice shall roar like the sea;
They shall ride on horses,
Set in array, like a man for the battle,
Against you, O daughter of Babylon.
43 “The king of Babylon has heard the report about them,
And his hands grow feeble;
Anguish has taken hold of him,
Pangs as of a woman in childbirth…”(Jeremiah 50:41-43).
3 O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal…6 from the far north and all its troops–many people are with you (Ezekiel 38:3,6).
Thus, the European empire (the “daughter of Babylon”) is to be destroyed by a northern (apparently Russian led) force. And one that cooperates with nations in the East, as well as maybe Iran, and possibly the Ukraine. (While the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38 happens long afterward, the fact that it refers to the peoples of the FAR NORTH helps shows that there is a power further north than the final European King of the North, which is consistent with Daniel 11:44).
Notice also that the Bible shows Babylon tied together with birth pains/pangs to a group from a far country:
1 The burden against Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw.
2 “Lift up a banner on the high mountain,Raise your voice to them;Wave your hand, that they may enter the gates of the nobles. 3 I have commanded My sanctified ones; I have also called My mighty ones for My anger–Those who rejoice in My exaltation.” 4 The noise of a multitude in the mountains, Like that of many people! A tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together! The LORD of hosts musters The army for battle. 5 They come from a far country, From the end of heaven–The LORD and His weapons of indignation, To destroy the whole land. 6 Wail, for the day of the LORD is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty. 7 Therefore all hands will be limp, Every man’s heart will melt, 8 And they will be afraid. Pangs and sorrows will take hold of them; They will be in pain as a woman in childbirth; They will be amazed at one another; Their faces will be like flames (Isaiah 13:1-8).
Thus, both the accounts in Jeremiah and Isaiah seem related to the same invaders. This is referring to an end time confederation that has a distance to travel–apparently a type of union of powers from the east including Russia, who is also the major power of the far north.
And this type of confederation is something that Vladimir Putin has repeatedly called for. This is something he will continue to advocate and work towards. And whether he leads it or not, it will form.
A northern confederation (that appears to be led by Russia and probably includes the far north and far east/Pacific coast portion of Asia) will destroy the European Babylon. The following passage may also apply:
9 For behold, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon
An assembly of great nations from the north country,
And they shall array themselves against her;
From there she shall be captured.
Their arrows shall be like those of an expert warrior;
None shall return in vain. (Jeremiah 50:9)
So, although many worry that Russia will be a major military threat to the USA, the reality is that the Bible indicates that it will be the Europeans that will receive a massive attack involving Russia. And perhaps not too many years from now (nearly 3 ½ years after the start of the Great Tribulation). This Eurasian union is something that Vladimir Putin advocates and plans to continue to work towards making it happen.
Notice the following:
13 Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15 So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. 17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. 18 By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed–by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths (Revelation 9:13-18).
Where can such an army come from?
Only Asian forces, such as those in China and India and likely many others who will align with them, could put together a 200,000,000 man army. India, China, and others in Asia will apparently align themselves with a Russia confederation against the European Empire.
Notice what Joel 2 indicates some of what that two hundred million man army will do:
2…A people come, great and strong, The like of whom has never been; Nor will there ever be any such after them, Even for many successive generations. 3 A fire devours before them, And behind them a flame burns; The land is like the Garden of Eden before them, And behind them a desolate wilderness; Surely nothing shall escape them. 4 Their appearance is like the appearance of horses; And like swift steeds, so they run. 5 With a noise like chariots Over mountaintops they leap, Like the noise of a flaming fire that devours the stubble, Like a strong people set in battle array. 6 Before them the people writhe in pain; All faces are drained of color. 7 They run like mighty men, They climb the wall like men of war; Every one marches in formation, And they do not break ranks. 8 They do not push one another; Every one marches in his own column. Though they lunge between the weapons, They are not cut down. 9 They run to and fro in the city, They run on the wall; They climb into the houses, They enter at the windows like a thief. (Joel 2:2-9)
That massive army will cause fear and massive destruction.
A Eurasian Union Will Form
Vladimir Putin wants a Eurasian Union to form. Russia has taken steps to try to work with those nations that were once part of the old Soviet Union. But beyond that, Russia has also taken steps to try to improve cooperation with North Korea, China, India, Pakistan, and others.
The fact that the Bible refers to them as “kings of the Medes” and “kings of the east” suggests that the final form of this will be more of a confederation than a single kingdom.
The Bible tells of a time with those kings will get together and will ultimately destroy much of the final Babylonian Empire that the Europeans will end up building.
The currently forming Eurasian Union may well be a prelude to the final cooperation that will involve many of the Eurasian nations.
But even if currently proposed organizations such as the EAU and SCO fail, the reality is that the Bible is clear that in the final end times, a Eurasian confederation will form and be involved in the destruction of the final Babylonian power that the Europeans are in the process of trying to creating.
News events verify that Russia, China, and others are working to increase the power and influence of the Eurasian region. A region that the Bible prophesies will be involved in massive warfare at the end of this age.