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Revenge of the Kurds: Kurdistan's Future in Bible Prophecy

by Jeremy Stevens

The Kurds have often been overlooked throughout history. As close relatives to Iranians, they often live in the shadow of their neighboring cousins. Every sibling with brothers or sisters experiences the irksome episode of being outshined by a smarter or more athletic sibling. On a national scale the Kurds have experienced this at the hands of their Middle Eastern neighbors almost as much as George Obama and Larry Jordan. Who? Exactly.

The Kurds’ ancient ancestors (known as the Medes) were eclipsed by the neighboring Persian Empire. During the conquests of Islam the Kurds were overpowered by more numerous Arab and Turkish dynasties. The Kurds experienced a golden age during the Middle Ages but their glory was dashed by a Mongol invasion followed by centuries of Turkish and Persian rule.

There was a glimmer of hope after WWI that the Kurds might gain a homeland out of the wreck of the Ottoman Empire. These hopes were dashed as most of Kurdistan was grouped in with the independent Arab state of Iraq in the 1920’s.

Their oppression reached new levels under the Iraqi Arabs, most notably Saddam Hussein. Uprisings and persecutions, including mass killings of Kurds, marked the Kurdish experience under the Iraqi Baathist Party. After the intervention of the United States in 2003, the Kurds have experienced a stronger semblance of self-rule in the mountainous region of northern Iraq. It’s far from official.

pbs.org

boundaries of a proposed Kurdish state

Today, the Kurds are the largest ethnic group without a homeland with a population nearing 27 million.1 Their population spreads across a vast stretch of land known as Kurdistan, which consists of portions of Turkey, Iran, Syria, and Iraq. The Turkish and Iranian governments block any international efforts at Kurdish autonomy for fear of losing territory to a new state. The Iraqi state allows the Kurds their autonomy but also fears losing one-third of their territory.

With Iranian nuclear intrigue, Palestinian cries for independence, and the chaos of the Arab Spring, calls for Kurdish independence fall on deaf ears. Yet biblically it seems that God has a plan for the Kurdish people.

God loves an underdog. Throughout scripture, stories of weaker, smaller opponents triumphing are told time and again. From David vs. Goliath to the Israelite conquest of Canaan, God allowed His people to triumph over far greater opponents.

God rescued the Jews from slavery in Egypt. He raised Joseph from a slave to the second most powerful ruler in Egypt. He even used a young Jewish girl to rescue His people in the book of Esther.

In the future, God will have yet another underdog – the Kurds. The book of Jeremiah explains that the Kurds are an integral part of the future destruction of Babylon.

Just as the Kurds have been overlooked in history, the destruction passages of Babylon have been overlooked as well. Some assume that Babylon was already destroyed, while others believe the Babylon described in Revelation must refer to another future super-power. In my previous article on Babylon, I explained why neither of these could be true.

According to the literal interpretation of scripture, a real city called Babylon will arise in Mesopotamia once more. It is difficult to imagine a Middle Eastern economic superpower in today’s geopolitical world. It was also difficult to believe a Jewish state was possible in 1948.


Revival and destruction of Babylon
Isaiah 13 and Jeremiah 50/51 both describe the city of Babylon’s total demise at some point in the future. John in Revelation also adds a great amount of detail. The city is burned to the ground, the inhabitants slain, and the land of Babylon along the Euphrates River becomes a desolate wasteland, never to be inhabited again. For some reason this tale is usually left out of children’s story Bibles.

The ancient city of Babylon never experienced such a calamity. People continue to live in and near the lands of Babylon today (Iraq). Therefore, this prophecy has not yet occurred and must be fulfilled in the future. A Middle Eastern superpower will fill the vacuum of power in the future war-torn region.


The Medes
Another topic not often discussed is the identity of Babylon’s attackers. Isaiah explains below,
Behold, I am going to stir up the Medes against them, Who will not value silver or take pleasure in gold. And their bows will mow down the young men, They will not even have compassion on the fruit of the womb, Nor will their eye pity children (Isaiah 13:17-18).
Isaiah gives the name of the future attackers in verse 17! The Medes were an ancient empire hailing from the western Iran and portions of northern Iraq (modern day Kurdistan). They made a name for themselves by bringing down the mighty Assyrian Empire. Eventually they partnered with the Persians, but were conquered and incorporated into the Empire.

The Persians led an attack on Babylon in 539 BC. However, this was more of a coup as there was very little bloodshed. The Persians continued to use Babylon as a regional capital as well. No burning, pillaging, or complete destruction. Only one people group will have that task – the Medes.

Jeremiah also describes the Medes as leading a coalition of nations against future Babylon in chapter 51.
Sharpen the arrows, fill the quivers! The Lord has aroused the spirit of the kings of the Medes, Because His purpose is against Babylon to destroy it; For it is the vengeance of the Lord, vengeance for His temple (Jeremiah 51:11).
Jeremiah continues in verse 21,

Consecrate the nations against her, The kings of the Medes, Their governors and all their prefects, And every land of their dominion. So the land quakes and writhes, For the purposes of the Lord against Babylon stand, To make the land of Babylon A desolation without inhabitants (Jeremiah 51:28-29).

No mention of Persians, Romans, Arabs, or Turks leading the attack, but rather, the Medes. It is a miracle that the ancient Medes have survived as a people in the same ancient location for over 2,000 years. Only one explanation can be given – God has plans for the Medes.
But are the modern-day Kurds really the descendants of the ancient Medes?


The Kurdish connection
The Kurds are a unique cultural-ethnic group in the Middle East. They are not Semitic as the Arabs, nor do they have Asiatic roots as the Turks. They are most closely related to the Iranians as they both speak Indo-European languages. They are a largely rural, self-sufficient mountain people who have survived harsh conditions and persecutions by retreating deep into the highlands of Kurdistan.

Historians traced the ancestry of the ancient Medes to the modern day Kurds of the Middle East. The Kurds even live in the old Median lands of the Middle East. This is important because whenever God gives a prophecy about a people group, ie, Israel, Babylon, Persia, the prophecy pertains to the land as well.

Israel is the most common example of geographic fulfillment. God could have blessed the Jews by giving them a homeland in South America or Europe, but He chose to return them to their own biblical lands in the Middle East.

In the future, God will curse the land of Babylon (in the Middle East). Sorry to burst more bubbles, but the United States is not part of the Middle East and therefore cannot house the future superpower known as Babylon.

Historically the Kurds have a strong argument for their claims of Median ancestry. Greek historian and adventurer Xenophon referred to the Kurds as the Karduchi, or the Karduhki.2 According to Kurdish historian Dr. Jemal Rashid Ahmad, the beginnings of Kurdish history can be traced to the ancient Median king Kyaxer.3 British scholar Dr. G. R. Driver also placed Kurdish ancestry squarely with the ancient Medes.4
The Kurds are experiencing a Christian revival. This no doubt adds to their present persecutions. Ten percent of Kurdish people claim to be Christian, a much higher percentage than Arabs, Turks, or Persians can claim. It is important to remember that by the time of Babylon’s destruction, Islam will be a largely forgotten religion. At the end of the Tribulation there will only be two religious options – Christianity or Satan worship.

The Kurds, along with countless other peoples and nations, will experience a great revival during the Tribulation -- one that will cost many of them their lives.


Revenge of the Kurds
Once thing is for certain – when God’s appointed time for Babylon’s destruction has come he will unleash an underdog from the lands “north” of Babylon (Jeremiah 50:3). The Kurds will play an instrumental role in Babylon’s future destruction.

Although an independent Kurdistan looks bleak in the near future, it could become a real possibility in the distant one. Both Jeremiah and Isaiah describe the Kurds as a mighty host leading a coalition of nations. Other prophetic passages indicate that the Middle East is heading for some momentous changes.

Nations such as Turkey and Iran may fall apart after their attempted invasion of Israel (found in Ezekiel 38/39), while other nations such as Babylon will become prominent once again. Amidst all the shuffling Kurdistan could become a real nation-state once again.

Notes:
1 Mahir A. Aziz, The Kurds of Iraq: Ethnonationalism and National Identity in Iraqi Kurdistan, (London: Tauris Academic Studies, 2011), 46.
2 Aziz, The Kurds of Iraq, 47.
3 Ibid., 48.
4 Ibid., 49
Jeremy Stevens is a historian, author, and teacher. His latest book, "So What Happens Next? Exploring Biblical Prophecies to Make Sense of Today's Chaos" is available at all participating bookstores.

http://blogs.christianpost.com/geopo...rophecy-14247/

With all these bible prophecies coming to pass right in front of our eyes, I think we're going to see some serious sh*t hit the fan in our lifetime. These are truly interesting times we live in. And with all the world's most powerful countries massing in one spot (Syria), I wouldn't be surprised if the Armageddon that the bible talks about is beginning. Interesting stuff indeed.

Dramatic Footage From Vostok-2018, Russia's Largest War Games Since The Soviet Union



American defense analysts are disputing the size of the Russian deployment.

Tue, 09/11/2018 - 22:25

Several videos at the page link

The Vostok 2018 military exercise kicked off in Russia's far east on Tuesday, involving 300,000 troops and close to 40,000 military vehicles. It's been billed as the most expansive war games on Russian soil since 1981 under the Soviet Union.
It further includes 1,000 aircraft, two Russian naval fleets and all airborne units, along with a contingent from China, and a Mongolian troop deployment.
Controversially, China is to deploy an unprecedented number of itsPeople's Liberation Army (PLA) troops and equipment numbering in the thousands, which also constitutes the first time a country not from the former Soviet bloc has conducted joint games with Moscow and on Russian soil.


All images via the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoDAccording to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) China has sent about 3,200 PLA elite forces troops, along with 30 fix-wing aircraft and helicopters to deploy during the exercises.

A Financial Times report described the joint deployment as including "Hundreds of Russian and Chinese tanks, attack helicopters, fighter jets and thousands of soldiers..." in "a show of strength and friendship between Asia’s two largest military powers".


At a moment when NATO is expanding up to Russia's Western border and with "non-aligned" Scandinavian countries Sweden and Finland increasingly cooperating in NATO war games, one major element to the games sure to attract the attention of Washington military planners is the inclusion of simulated nuclear weapons attacks.
Both Russia and China are among the world's major longtime nuclear armed powers, and both are experiencing soaring tensions with the United States.



In response to the impending Vostok-18 games Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon announced late last month, "We urge Russia to take steps to share information regarding its exercises and operations in Europe to clearly convey its intentions and minimize and potential misunderstanding."
Prior Pentagon reports suggest the games will be closely watched by U.S. intelligence agencies especially due to Russia's willingness to simulate nuclear combat.
On Monday Russian state sources began publishing dramatic footage of the extent of the military deployment on the eve of the exercises beginning.
Valery Gerasimov, chief of Russia’s general staff, described some of strategic maneuvers to be employed in the games: “There are plans to practice massive air strikes, cruise missile training, defensive and offensive operations, raids, and bypass maneuvers."
And this unusual commandeering of a civilian highway:
* * *
Putin is expected to observe the exercises this week first-hand in the far eastern region alongside Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who is overseeing them. As president, Putin has the title of armed forces commander-in-chief.



And likely entire civilian highways will be commandeered as military aircraft landing strips as happened during the lead-up to this week's major military exercise last month:

A busy motorway in Russia was turned into an emergency runway as part of a military exercise which saw warplanes thunder over stunned motorists.
Vehicles were halted on the Khabarovsk to Komsomolsk-on-Amur motorway to allow Su-30SM, Su-35S and MiG-31 pilots to test their landing and takeoff skills on the narrow road.
Halted motorists filmed the amazing scenes as they got a grandstand view for the military exercise close to the Chinese border in the Russian Far East.

Meanwhile, the US-funded official news source VOA News has cited experts who dispute the Russian defense ministry's much touted numbers on total troop deployment.
"Numbers and figures for these kinds of exercises are typically what we might call to be true lies, in that they're statistical lies whereby the Russian army's General Staff tallies every single unit-formation that either sends somebody to the exercise or has some tangential command component in it," said Michael Kofman, Russia and Eurasia security and defense analyst at the Kennan Institute, as cited by VOA.
"This basically means that if a brigade sends one battalion, then they count the whole brigade," he explained. "So these numbers are not entirely fictional, but you have to divide them by a substantial amount to get any sense of how big the exercise actually is."
"And they typically revise the numbers after the fact," Kofman added. "For example, originally after Vostok 2014, they said that they had 100,000 participants, and then I guess they decided it wasn't impressive enough, because they later posted an official figure of 155,000."
* * *
A map of estimated deployment numbers, via VOA News:




Dramatic Footage From Vostok-2018, Russia's Largest War Games Since The Soviet Union

Putin watches biggest ever war games; RussiaChina side-by-side...


WAR FOOTING Vladimir Putin watches on with glee as Russian and Chinese tanks tear up fields and choppers fill the skies in Moscow’s largest-ever war games

The Vostok 2018 drills - taking place in eastern Siberia close to the border with China - involve 300,000 Russian troops as well as joint exercises with the Chinese army

multiple Videos and photos at the page link

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/7248874/v/

Trump needs to move forward with his plan to establish new and improved relationship with Russia and do it soon. Trump was right about Russia, everyone else was and is .... wrong. We can not let them align with China through our own failures caused by a Russia Hoax.

Originally Posted by Judy

Trump needs to move forward with his plan to establish new and improved relationship with Russia and do it soon. Trump was right about Russia, everyone else was and is .... wrong. We can not let them align with China through our own failures caused by a Russia Hoax.

A relationship with someone that can't be trusted is a road to disappointment and maybe even disaster. Peace through strength is really the only language countries like Russia, North Korea, and China understand. Diplomacy when and where we can, but we must always be prepared for the worst.

Americans have always been able to trust the Russians. Russia isn't the country stabbing US in the back, robbing our coffers, stealing our companies and jobs, or conspiring behind our backs. Other countries do that, I think China is doing that with North Korea, but not Russia.

I tend to agree with Judy. Russia or it's citizens have never attacked us. Russia was also our ally in both world wars. And they aren't raping us economically like other countries are, who are raping us through bad trade deals. In Syria, Russia is doing the same thing we are, which is fighting ISIS terrorists. If Russia wants to sacrifice it's blood and treasure to fight these terrorists, let them have at it. Better them than us. We can better use all that money here at home.

Originally Posted by 6 Million Dollar Man

I tend to agree with Judy. Russia or it's citizens have never attacked us. Russia was also our ally in both world wars. And they aren't raping us economically like other countries are, who are raping us through bad trade deals. In Syria, Russia is doing the same thing we are, which is fighting ISIS terrorists. If Russia wants to sacrifice it's blood and treasure to fight these terrorists, let them have at it. Better them than us. We can better use all that money here at home.

Vladimir Putin will always be America’s enemy

By Ralph Peters

December 11, 2016 | 7:17pm

Modal Trigger
Vladimir PutinReuters


Vladimir Putin is our enemy. Not because we want him to be, but because resentment and hatred of the United States is central to his being. Russia’s president yearns to do us harm.

He blames us for the Soviet Union’s self-wrought collapse. He blames us for Russian stagnation. He blames us for the derelict lot of his drunken, diseased country. And he wants revenge.

Putin has five strategic goals: He wants international sanctions lifted, Europe divided and NATO destroyed. He seeks to restore the empire of the czars. And he wants to humiliate the United States.

Americans and Europeans are targets of a ruthless, audacious and skillful disinformation campaign portraying Russia as a victim, not an aggressor. Not since the heyday of the Soviet-sponsored Ban-the-Bomb movement in the 1950s has Kremlin propaganda thrived so broadly.

We naively insist the truth will prevail. That’s nonsense. Putin knows that big lies work, if repeated until absorbed. And he’s aided by Western stooges who, for money or malice or moral malfeasance, abet Putin in deluding our populations.

The current pro-Putin narrative holds that Russia’s a martyr to Western aggression, that we’ve abused Russia since the USSR dissolved and that NATO’s eastward expansion equals aggression. Then there are the preposterous claims that Russia’s battling Islamist terrorists on behalf of civilization, even as Russian bombs butcher civilians by the thousands.

We can’t polygraph all the pro-Putin voices (although I’d love to, publicly), so let’s look at the facts of what *Putin has done.

• He interfered with our presidential election via computer hacking, the use of front organizations and fake news (Kremlin-gate may prove our worst political scandal). His military challenges us in the skies and at sea. In Afghanistan, his agents assist the Taliban. In Syria, his jets target Syrian hospitals, clinics and civilians in a literal “Slaughter of the Innocents” at Christmastide.
• He invaded Georgia and Ukraine (the latter twice). He threatens the NATO-member Baltic states and subsidizes Europe’s extremist political parties to radicalize electorates, undercut democracy and realign *nations with Russia.
• At home, he suffocated Russia’s nascent democracy, crushed the free press, jailed and murdered his opposition, cheated foreign investors and turned Russia into a gangster state where the czar is the only law.
• 
  

What of his claim of a vast Western conspiracy to harm Russia?

I served in Washington (traveling often to Moscow) as the Soviet Union died of organ failure. Far from attempting to punish the “new” Russia, we and our European allies fell all over ourselves to indulge Moscow’s whims and encourage investment. Our State Department’s infatuation with the “new” Russia was embarrassingly extreme.

Nor did our goodwill end with the Clinton administration’s witless indulgence. President George W. Bush insisted he’d seen into *Putin’s soul and that we could be partners. Putin then embarrassed Bush with glee. Next, President Obama fooled himself into believing he could deal constructively with Putin behind the backs of American voters. He wound up shocked and humiliated.

Putin would be delighted to chump another US president.

Russia’s problems are made in Russia. We’ve tried to help, not harm. But Russians refuse to help themselves, preferring brutality, squalor and hostility to the rule of law and civilization.

As for the upside-down charge that NATO’s eastward expansion signaled aggression against Russia, look at how *Putin has treated non-NATO-member Ukraine and you’ll understand why the newly free states of eastern Europe cling to history’s greatest peacetime alliance.

Putin suggests a Russian right to the Baltics and Ukraine, as well as to hegemony in Eastern Europe. Russia has no such rights. Ukraine has not “always” been part of Russia. It was conquered in the 18th century and, ever since, Moscow has tried to crush Ukrainian identity, from czarist-era bans on the Ukrainian language to Stalin’s horrific man-made famine that killed at least 10 million.

Is it any wonder Ukraine doesn’t want the bear back? Or that Ukrainian (and Baltic) partisans continued to fight the Red Army and its commissars after World War II?

As for the Baltic states, when they gained independence after World War I, they went through an incredible cultural flowering — only to be invaded by the Red Army, the Nazis and the Red Army again. Now they want to live in peace and freedom, as part of the West to which their cultures belong. How is that aggressive? Is little Latvia going to march on Moscow?

The east-European states — above all, Poland — know too well how savage Russian mastery can be. The key event in modern Polish-Russian relations remains the mass murder in the Katyn Forest of 15,000 Polish-officer POWs by Stalin’s secret police. The nightmare of Soviet domination followed. Is Poland wrong to fear Russia?

Should those who suffered under Moscow’s tyranny forget the slaughter of workers in Berlin in 1953? The bloodbath in Hungary in ’56? Soviet tanks rolling into Prague in ’68? Or the millions who disappeared into the Gulag?

Russia’s victims scream warnings from the grave.

In today’s age of cyber-assaults, Russian subversion and Putin’s *naked aggression, fear is back. We must decide what we value, either freedom and decency, or foolhardy efforts to make friends of monsters.

To align ourselves with Putin in 2017 would be the equivalent of *allying with Hitler in 1937.

Ralph Peters was a US Army foreign-area officer for the former Soviet Union and Russia. He is currently Fox News’ strategic analyst.


https://nypost.com/2016/12/11/vladimir-putin-will-always-be-americas-enemy/

Ralph Peters is no long a Fox News strategic analyst.