Kingdom Tidings Winter 2008

THE ARTICLES WHICH FOLLOW SHOULD BE READ IN THE LIGHT OF GOG / MAGOG PROPHECIES FOUND IN EZEKIEL CHAPTERS 38 AND 39.

Washington's controversial plan to build a new missile defence system in eastern Europe, has evoked counter measures from the Kremlin.

Potential moves, says analyst luke Harding in The Hindu, could be the upgrading of its nuclear missile arsenal, putting more missiles on mobile launchers, and moving its fleet of nuclear submarines to the North Pole where they would be virtually undetectable. Russia could also bring the new U.S. silos within the range of its Iskander missiles launched potentially from the nearby Russian enclave of Kaliningrad.

The Bush administration's claim that their bases in eastern Europe are placed to shoot down rogue missiles fired by Iran or North Korea has been greeted with widespread incredulity, not just in Russia but also among some of the U.S.'s nervous Nato allies, including Germany.

Putin has warned that Russia would target its missiles at sites in Europe if Washington should go ahead with its defence shield plans. Defence experts say there is little doubt that the real target of the shield is Russia. "The geography of the deployment doesn't allow any doubt the main targets are Russia and China. The U.S. bases represent a real threat," said Russia's expert on anti-ballistic weaponry, General Vladimir Belous.

Russia's new Voronezh missile interceptor station 30 miles north of St Petersburg, which can monitor territory from the North Pole to Africa, is the first step in a large scale programme. Plans are also afoot to consolidate aircraft engine manufacturing companies into a large, state controlled holding, similar to Oboronprom (the helicopter monopoly) and Rosoboron Export (the state arms export company). A naval base is to be established in the Mediterranean for the Black Sea fleet. If Russia builds a naval base in Syria, it could anger Israel. The Russian navy has started serial production of its new Bulava submarine-launched intercontinental nuclear missile which can penetrate any defence system.

The latest and most dramatic development in the new aims race is Russia's new post atomic weapon.

The greatest disadvantage of deploying a nuclear device is the radiation that occurs once a bomb is exploded, and the consequent inability to occupy the devastated area.

No wonder, then, that Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Army, General Uri Baluevsky, was proud to announce on 10 September the successful development of a new Russian weapon. As reported on the Bulgarian website www.nezavisim.net. "Russia has produced the world's most reliable and powerful weapon ...Russia doesn't threaten anyone. Our nation has developed this weapon to ensure peace on earth," he said.

During the next two days Russian television and internet sites gave further details, quoting General Alexander Rukshan, deputy Chief of Staff. Tests of the vacuum implosion bomb showed that it equalled the force of a comparable atomic bomb, but produced no radiation or ecological pollution. The new bomb although four times more powerful than the American version last tested in 2001 and a much smaller device than anything produced thus far is exploded in the air and its effect is intense heat and shock. The temperature at the epicentre
is twice that of the American version, and the area affected 20 times greater. An army would be able enter the area soon after the explosion. This weapon does not contravene any international agreement.

Where the older, smaller American version was called 'The Mother of all Bombs', the scientists who developed the new Russian weapon have called it 'The Father of all Bombs'.

Analysts point out that the testing of this weapon will usher in a whole new era of warfare. The nuclear bomb was essentially a virtual weapon and could only really be used as a threat. The new 'Father' will make limited warfare possible:it could be dropped from aircraft; deployed by means of the rockets recently tested over 6,000 miles; or scaled down versions could be launched from ships or even used by commando units.

THE BBC World Service is being blocked from FM radio in Russia. "The symbolic removal of the BBC World Service from FM radio, where its Russian service was relayed via Moscow station Bolshoye Radio, came as a shock to the BBC. Bolshoye Radio described the BBC output as 'foreign propaganda'. The BBC will still be available in Russia on other wavelengths. Last year the authorities
dramatically curtailed the number of stations broadcasting Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Voice of America news programmes.

Twenty strategic bomber aircraft are being sent on long range flights beyond Russia's territory, and over the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic Oceans. On 17 August Putin announced that "fourteen strategic bombers took to the air from seven airfields across the country, along with support aircraft. From today, such patrols will be carried out on a regular basis." In announcing the resumption of round the clock flights by long range bombers with nuclear capability, Putin pointed out that other nations, in other words, the U.S. had continued their
long range missions since the end of the Cold War. "Washington failed to live up to its commitments to Russia," said director Plesch of the Centre for International Studies at the School of Oriental & African Studies in London. The Bush Administration pulled out of the anti ballistic missile treaty, jeopardised the nuclear non proliferation treaty, and the CFE treaty was never ratified by Nato. "The Americans are still flying round Russia," Plesch said, adding that flights by American strategic bombers had remained at the same level since the
Cold War. Plesch argues that Russia is right to feel threatened by the American anti missile shield...... Now the Americans believe they have a first strike against Russia with conventional weapons."

President Vladimir Putin completes his second term next year. Now, political analysts are scratching their heads over Putin's
replacement of his Prime Minister, Mikhail Fradkov,with an obscure man from the Federal Financial Monitoring Service, director Viktor
Zubkov.

Putin will likely continue to put devoted loyalists into power at both the federal and local levels. He is paving the way to handpick his
successor when he steps down after his two term limit next year.

Putin has also created a new Investigative Committee to take over all politically sensitive investigations of government officials and Duma deputies. Putin's friend, Aleksandr Bastrykin, heads the Russian parallel to the U.S. FBI.

Zubkov is extremely loyal to Putin and said he would not stand in the way of a Putin comeback in 2012 or even sooner. Putin's 80 per cent plus approval ratings mean that whoever he names as his favoured successor is almost certain to win next year's presidential race. One way or another, it seems that Putin will pull the strings of Russian government for some time to come.

Huge military exercises have been held in the southern Ural mountains with the Chinese. With 6,000 troops involved principally Russian and Chinese, plus a handful of soldiers from four former Soviet Central Asian nations that are part of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation these were the first ever joint manoeuvres of their kind on Russian territory.

Founded in Shanghai in 2001, this regional group has six full members: China, Russia and four former Soviet republics in Central Asia, Kazakhstan, Krygyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The organisation will hold its annual summit this September. Neighbouring states are flocking to associate themselves with the group. Among them is Iran.

Iran already has observer status, and President Ahmadinejad attended the 16 August summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan as a distinguished guest. The president of non member Turkmenistan the second biggest natural gas producer in the former Soviet Union after Russia attended the SCO summit in Bishkek, also as a distinguished guest. When the U.S. asked several years ago to send observers to SCO summits, its request was refused. Apart from Iran, India, Pakistan and Mongolia were admitted as observer members.

At their 2005 summit, the SCO leaders called on the U.S. and its Nato allies, which had been given military facilities in Central Asia after 9/1 I, to set a timetable for withdrawal. At the same time, Uzbekistan expelled U.S. forces stationed on its territory. The U.S. led invasion of Iraq has exposed the limits of American power.

Thousands of Russian and Chinese soldiers amassed for military exercises in early August. The exercises, organised by the Shanghai Co-operation Organization (SCO), took place in Russia's Volga-Urals military district, and are regarded by some as the symbolic
emergence of a military bloc that could eventually rival NATO.

The 10 day operation which began August 7 with Russian and Chinese fighter, gunship, helicopter and air transport maneuvers involved about 6,500 troops and 500 combat vehicles. It was the SCO's largest exercise in its six year history and the first military exercises to include all six members of the SCO: Russia, China, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Named "Peace Mission 2007," the exercises were conducted under the auspices of anti-terrorism exercises.

According to Times Online, the maneuvers are regarded as a significant extension of the SCO's capabilities (August 6). The organization, which was originally founded in 2001 as a non military partnership for the purpose of fighting drugs, weapons smuggling, terrorism and separatism, is now regarded by some as a potential challenger to NATO.

"This is the first time all six members of the Shanghai Co-operation Organization are taking part in a military exercise together," Qian Lihua, deputy director of the Foreign Affairs Office of China's Ministry of Defense, said. "It's also a first for the People's Liberation Army to send so many soldiers and weapons to such a remote place" (China Central Television, July 25). China sent many of its units via air transport, with troops and equipment also being transported by rail: a 6,000 mile trip one way.

This is not the first time Russian and Chinese forces have gathered to conduct joint military exercises. Past missions include "Peace Mission 2005," a geopolitical sabre rattling event designed to intimidate Taiwan. That mission involved a simulated large scale amphibious assault on the Yellow Sea coastline.

The latest military exercises came as Russian leaders proposed combining the burgeoning power of the SCO with the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), which represents most of the former Soviet Union. The previous week, the CSTO secretary general called for the alliance to hold joint military exercises with the SCO.

Watch for Asian nations, whether through the SCO or another alliance, to form a powerful bloc to rival NATO and, eventually, European Union forces.

One example of an alliance of those opposed to U.S. interests is found between Russia and Venezuela. Moscow has agreed to establish factories in Venezuela to produce Kalashnikov assault rifles. This move, which arms an antagonist of the United States, is the first time any country outside of Russia has been granted a production license for these rifles since the Soviet Union split into 15 nations in t991. The Izhevsk Mechanical Plant started building two factories in October: one for gun production and the other to manufacture ammunition. The Dragunov sniper rifle may also be produced.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who has compared President Bush to Adolf Hitler, said his arms build up is to protect against an invasion by the U.S. He has already spent more than $3 billion on Russian weapons since 2005, including 100,000 Kalashnikov rifles, 24 Sukhoi fighter jets, and 35 M-17 helicopters.

According to an article in Defense News.com (July 16, 2007), Venezuela is also hinting at a deal to purchase five Project 636 Kilo class submarines for about $200 million apiece. Chavez said he would like to buy nine new submarines and more than a hundred surface ships to upgrade naval capabilities. Norman Friedman, a New York based Naval analyst, said, "Venezuelan subs are the only weapon Chavez has which can physically hurt Americans." He also believes Chavez is spending the money on arms before he has it, and "the Russians might be willing to give him stuff before he can pay for it."

The problem is that Russia is deliberately arming U.S. enemies. Russia has also threatened a quick military response should the planned U.S. missile shield be built in Europe, and is like China making a concerted effort to confiscate and control the world's resources. The support chess game goes something like this:The U.S. supports Colombia and Chile, so Russia moves to arm Venezuela.The U.S., in support of Israel, opposes Hamas and other anti-Israel groups, but Moscow welcomes and talks to terrorist leaders. The U.S. provides support to Saudi Arabia, while Russia sends weapons to Iran's President Ahmadinejad.

Moscow's recent moves are undermining the United States. We know that Russia will certainly figure large in the End Times (Ezekiel 38:2) - it appears that the Russian Bear is beginning to growl again.

Russia's lower House of parliament voted unanimously recently to suspend Moscow's participation in a key European arms control treaty. In a 4180 vote, members of the State Duma approved legislation under which Moscow would temporarily. abandon its obligations under the Conventional Forces in Europe treaty of 1990. The treaty limits the number of tanks, aircraft and other conventional weapons in Europe.

President Vladimir Putin announced plans to suspend participation in the treaty in July amid increasing Russian anger over US efforts to build a missile defence system in eastern Europe and growing western influence in the former Soviet Union.

The legislation still needs approval in the upper House, which is a virtual certainty, before it goes to Mr Putin for his signature. It would take effect on December 12. Mr Putin's decision to suspend participation is seen as being driven, less by security concerns than by Russia's desire to emphasise to the west that its interests cannot be ignored.

British Imperialism and Unionism are inextricably linked, so says BBC Radio 4's Analysis programme on Thursday April 6th. So far as this newsletter is concerned that is nothing to be ashamed of and the decline of both is a cause for great sorrow and the world is a poorer place for it. Between its founding in 1934 and the end of the 1950's (did Sir Ian Macleod, the then Aberdonian Colonial Secretary in the Conservative Government realise that by deciding to liquidate the African empire in 1959/60 he was also undermining the Unity of
the United Kingdom and also undermining the Conservative Party which held the most seats in Scotland in 1955, 36 in fact, a position never repeated since?), the Scottish National Party's share of the Scottish vote at general elections never rose above 5 per cent. At the height of decolonisation, between 1959 and 1974, the SNP's share of the vote soared from 0.1 to 30.4%.

How involved were the Scots in the creation of the British Empire and how much did they get out of it? Has there been attempt in recent times to divorce Scotland from the achievements of the British Empire and an attempt to portray Scotland as yet another victim of English imperialism? By the 1730's and 40's, the evidence from the East India Company suggests that Scottish cadres, above 50 per cent for example, of the highest grade within the Indian civil service were Scots; that the Scots made up the largest number of free merchants by 1800 in Bengal and other areas; the two great commercial syndicates in Canada, the Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company, both dominated by the Orcadians and from the Outer Hebrides. Scotland also exported a huge number of trained doctors and engineers all over the British Empire after 1750 from its five great Universities. In the Caribbean the largest number of physicians and plantation overseers were Scots. The Scots not only played a disproportionate role in the British Empire, in the creation and maintenance of the Empire, but they were also involved in the Slave Trade. Glasgow's Gallery of Modern Art in Royal Exchange Square is housed in the former mansion of a Caribbean Tobacco Baron.

Providing a Scot was loyal to King George there was to be no barrier to what he could achieve, proclaimed Prime Minister Henry Pelham in 1746. The Secretary of War, Lord Barrington, in 1751 said that such were the qualities of Scottish soldiers and in particular, Highland soldiers, that he wanted as many as possible in the British Army. Linda Colley's new book "Britons" has a particularly
interesting chapter on British military heroes of the second half of the eighteenth century, many of whom (eg: Lord Adam Gordon, General Simon Fraser) were Scots.

The Scottish economy expanded after the 1750's at a faster rate than ever before. Between 1750 and 1800 its overseas commerce grew by 300%, England's by 200%. Scotland's major cities and towns were transformed in this period. They had new broad streets, elegant private houses and imposing public buildings. The showpiece was Edinburgh new town designed by James Craig in 1767 as a celebration of British patriotism and as an assertion of Scotland's and the city's importance in the Union. Prince's Street, George Street and Queen Street intersected with Hanover and Frederick Street, thereby paying tribute to George III, his immediate family, his father and his dynasty. Also created were St Andrews Square and St George Square. The very heart of Scotland's capital was a monument to its parity with England and in loyal attachment to the House of Hanover.

The inventor of the steam engine, James Watt, did not regard himself as a stooge of English cultural hegemony.When Catherine the Great of Russia tried to persuade him to leave to work for her, he replied that he could never leave his nation which was Great Britain.

If you walk around Glasgow's George Square, the architecture clearly reflects Glasgow's perception of itself in the latter part of the 19th century as the second city of the Empire. Most of the statues in the square are of imperial heroes. The most famous is that of Field Marshall Sir Colin Campbell, Baron Clyde (1792-1863). The outbreak of the Indian Mutiny called for a General of tried experience and on July 11th 1857 the command was offered to him by Lord Palmerston. On being asked when he would be ready to set out, he said "Within 24 hours". He left England the next evening, and reached Calcutta on August 13th. After spending two months in the capital to organise his resources, he started for the front on October 27th, and on November 17th relieved Lucknow for the second time. Sir Colin, however,considered Lucknow a false position, and once more abandoned it to the rebels, retaking it in March 1858. He continued in charge of the operations in Oudh until the embers of the revolt had died away. For these services he was raised to the peerage, in 1858,
as Baron Clyde, and returning to the UK in 1859, he received the thanks of both Houses of Parliament and a pension of £2000 a year. He was buried in Westminster Abbey, he received a Sword of Honour from the City of Glasgow and the town of Clyde was named after him in New Zealand in 1865. Earlier in his career, he had quelled the slave revolt in the colony of Demerara in 1823. Demerara became united with Berbice and Essequibo as the colony of British Guiana on 21 July 1831.

Various aspectsof Scottish victimhood abound, including much coverage of the process known as the Highland clearances as well as a concentration on the events post Culloden in 1746. What Scotland needs to do is acknowledge its role in the creation and maintenance of the British Empire rather than pretend it wasa victim of imperialism. That is a false history that must be scuppered once and for all. If the nation is embarrassed by links with slavery, it could equally point to Dr Livingston's campaigns against slavery in the African interior
and that Scottish MP's at Westminster voted to abolish slavery at Westminster, as did English Members in 1807.

The SNP want to see the UK broken up and our total absorption into the European Union. Their policies should not be criticised on the grounds of cost alone-they are an insult to our national mission. Large parts of the world, particularly in Africa & the Middle East, are in a mess and are getting worse and not better since the so called "yoke of imperialism" was so "kindly" removed in the 1960's. Many mistakes were made in the 60's - some of the economic follies have been remedied. Alas the follies in social, defence and foreign policy have not been remedied. This is a vital task for a new British Government. Withdrawal from the EU, the restoration of God's Laws and standards at Westminster, a tougher approach to terrorism, both against terrorist organisations and terrorist states & nations, and an end to self flagellation over "imperialist guilt" are essential if a more confident British nation is to take shape in the 21st century. It is my dearest wish that the UK enjoys again the same national renaissance as it enjoyed after 1707.

(The following document was found in Westminster Abbey, nameless and dateless.)

A Nation would be truly blest if it were governed by no other laws than this blessed Book. It is so complete a system that nothing need be added to it, or taken from it. It contains most things useful to be known or done. It affords a copy for a king, and a rule for a subject. It gives instruction and counsel to a senate, authority and direction to a magistrate. It cautions a witness, requires an impartial verdict from the jury, and furnishes the judge with his sentence; It entails honour to parents and enjoins obedience in children. It prescribes and limits the sway of the sovereign, the rule of the ruler, and the authority of the master; commands the subjects to honour, and the servants to obey, and promises the blessing and protection of its Author to all who walk by its rule. It promises food and raiment, and limits the use of both. It defends the right of all, and reveals vengeance to every defrauder, overreacher and oppressor.

It is the first Book, and the best Book, and the oldest Book in the world. It contains the choicest matter, gives the best instructions, and affords the greatest pleasure and satisfaction that can be revealed. It contains the best laws and the profoundest mysteries that were ever perused. It brings the best of tidings and affords the best of comfort to the inquiring and disconsolate. It exhibits life and immortality and shows the way to everlasting glory. It is a brief recital of all that is past, and is a certain prediction of what is to come. It reveals the only and true God and shows the way to Him, sets aside all other gods and describes the vanity of them, and of all who trust in them.

In short, it is a Book of laws to show right and wrong, a Book of wisdom that condemns, all folly, and makes the foolish wise, a Book of truth that detects all lies and confronts all errors, and a Book of life that shows the way from everlasting destruction.

To understand it is to be wise indeed, but to be ignorant of it is to be destitute of wisdom. It is a complete code of laws, a perfect body of divinity, an unequalled narrative, a Book of lives, of travels and voyages. It is the king's best copy, the housewife's best guide, the servant's best directory, the young man's best companion, the schoolboy's spelling Book, and the learned man's masterpiece. And that which crowns it all is the Author is One in Whom there is no variableness nor the shadow of turning.

On October 27th 1967 the Abortion Act received Royal assent and abortion was permitted in Great Britain. 6.7 million babies have been legally killed in the womb since 1967, with 465 added to that number every day.The government has tried to curb the rise in unplanned pregnancies by giving youngsters free access to morning after pills. Despite these policies, the rise of 15-17 year old girls aborting babies has gone up by 12% from 2005 to 2006 in Wales alone. 1,004 girls under 18 had abortions last year in Wales.

The Daily Mail reported that a record 18,619 minors had abortions in the UK with 135 girls under the age of 14 terminating a pregnancy. They reported that one girl of 18 had recently had her sixth abortion. 193,737 women had abortions last year with 44 of
these having had their 8th abortion.

Joseph is a fruitful bough
By well springs flowing clear,
His branches o'er the wall extend,
And in their strength appear.

The archers, grieved, their arrows shoot,
Yet seek his hurt in vain;
'Gainst their attacks Jehovah God
His chosen, will remain.

Their hatred of the exalted one,
Their darts against him thrown,
Are by the Almighty turned aside
Nor is their danger known.

The blessings of a father shall
Fruition duly see;
On Joseph's head while hills endure
A benison shall be.

Through many an age God's purpose runs,
His promises endure;
And Joseph's sons in Britain's isle,
May count that purpose sure.

From sea to sea, from shore to shore,
Wherever man is known,
The chosen race his name shall bear
And righteousness enthrone.

Thus shall the time so long foretold
Be hastened, when our God
is owned, extolled, revered, adored,
And all men praise the Lord.

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