Takeover

The disciples who walked with Jesus on earth were inquisitive about what they referred to as the "signs" of His return to earth - the "end of the age." In Matthew 24, He laid out the signs for them:
5 For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.
6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Wars and rumors of wars.  We have for many years seen the buildup of military power by several large nations, but there has not been a significant attempt by one country to subvert another, such as the current crisis in Ukraine.  Russia, China, Iran, North Korea - these countries have military ambitions and have continued to build their arsenals.  We can take courage, though, if we are looking through spiritual eyes - for as human conflict intensifies, it points to the second coming of Jesus.

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I was thinking earlier today about how human conflict often arises from selfish ambition, and we certainly see that at play in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. There is certainly an element of evil present when you see innocent people who have found themselves either defending or fleeing their nation under attack. James chapter 4 states:
1 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?
2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.

One of the perspectives that we can develop when analyzing a situation involving human conflict is the spiritual - is there something spiritual going on that is manifested in the physical?  I want to spend a few moments looking into the spiritual implications of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

I came across an interesting article on the ReligionNews.com website regarding Putin's perceived ambition to not only annex Ukraine and bring it back under political control, but spiritual, as well.  Knox Thames served in the Obama and Trump Administrations, specializing in religious minorities.  He writes:

...Ukraine is the second-largest European country, second only to Russia. While many faiths operate freely in Ukraine, such as Roman Catholics, evangelicals, Muslims and Jews, the country’s population of 43 million is overwhelmingly Christian and predominantly identifies with Orthodoxy.

He contends that Putin has essentially tried to bring the Russian Orthodox Church under more government control.  In 2018, the Orthodox Church in Ukraine essentially declared independence from its Russian counterparts.  Thames writes:

The Orthodox Church of Ukraine becoming free was a declaration of independence from foreign influence and achieved greater religious freedom. Then-Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko declared that autocephaly was another example of Ukraine pivoting away from Moscow and toward Europe. In response, the Russian Orthodox Church cut all relations with the Ecumenical Patriarch, threatening to split Orthodoxy.

With war at hand, these religious battles will recede to the background for the time being. However, people on both sides are turning to their faith. Images of Ukrainians praying throughout the country were posted on Twitter on Wednesday (Feb. 23) when the attack started. Other, non-Orthodox Christians noted how Christians on both sides are fighting: “Tanks are rolling down from Russia, Russian Orthodox priests are blessing the tanks,” while “Ukrainian Orthodox priests are blessing the Ukrainian soldiers to fight against Russia.”

But, Putin apparently has a spiritual aim in seeking to control Ukrainian life.  Thames states:

Putin cited NATO expansion as the casis belli, among other issues, fearing Ukraine’s reorientation to the West. But Ukraine’s religious reorientation is also a concern. The president of the European People’s Party, Donald Tusk, cited sources saying Putin’s “demands are also connected with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and its independence from Moscow. De facto what Putin wants is the full capitulation of Ukraine.” The capitulation sought is both physical and spiritual.

I remember the days following the fall of the Soviet Union - a consortium of Christian organizations mobilized to reach people in Russia and former Soviet countries with the gospel.  It was called The Commission, and leaders warned that the window of opportunity was limited. Putin has proven to be no friend to evangelical Christians nor religious freedom.

Even though Russia is not on the Open Doors World Watch List, the ministry's website says that in Russia:

Much of the pressure on Christians in Russia comes from the government imposing restrictive legislation. Since the implementation of the anti-terrorist Yarovaya laws, the level of surveillance of all non-Orthodox Christian churches has increased. As a result, Christian activity is often under state surveillance, and church services are sometimes raided by security forces. Christian converts in the radicalized Muslim region of Caucasus face immense pressure from family, friends and local community to renounce their faith. Out of fear, converts do not even attempt to go to church meetings. Some have been forced to flee or find refuge in safe houses.

A 2016 USA Today story reported, regarding a package of new laws:

Under the pretext of fighting terrorism, the package includes a particularly chilling measure, especially for evangelical Protestants and others who actively share their faith. The new measure makes it a crime to engage in religious activities that range from preaching and teaching to religious publishing, anywhere in Russia besides government-approved sites.

Meanwhile, in Ukraine, the evangelical church in concerned. 

Evangelical Focus offers these insights into the state of evangelical Christianity there, where an estimated 2 percent of the population would be considered evangelical, according to the article, which says:

The president of the Christian civil movement Vsi razom! and of the association of Christian journalists Novomedia, Ruslan Kukharchuk, describes what is happening as “so terrible that, at moments, it even seems unreal”. “This doesn't happen in reality. It only happens in the plots of movies and history books”, he says.

According to Kukharchuk, “now in Ukraine we are more united than ever”. “Keep praying for us, may God help us”, he concludes.

The article goes on to say:

“People in churches are afraid and concerned”, said pastor Sergei Nakul speaking from his church building in Kyiv. “Please keep calm and continue to bodly and wisely pray to our Lord. Please pray for our people, our families and churches”, he added. Nakul said missionaries, pastors and radio broadcasters sought to continue to share “the Good news of Jesus Christ”, adding that “in these dangerous times, this is what our people really need”.

We can recognize that human conflict has spiritual roots, and in this case, there is a long spiritual history between Russia and Ukraine.  Putin not only has attempted to take military action, but has engaged in an attempt to unite the countries from a religious standpoint. It's been reported that Putin considers Ukraine part of Russia, but many in Ukraine are not playing along, and that includes Ukrainian churches.  And, in his effort to consolidate power, Putin has also attempted to reject the influence of evangelical Christianity under the guise of fighting terror.

We can be faithful to pray: for those that are staying in Ukraine, who have been thrust into a conflict that is not of their own making.  And, those who are leaving need our prayers, too.  I am thankful to hear of ministry mobilization that is occurring, as efforts to provide relief and encouragement continue to do amazing work.  

We also cannot ignore the prophetic significance of what is occurring.  According to the book of Ezekiel in chapter 38, Russia will lead a consortium of nations, many of them currently Muslim in nature, in an unprecedented attack on Israel. While this conflict doesn't quite fit the picture - yet - we know that there is a role of Russia in the end times, and a renewal of military action certainly shows this nation heading in that direction.