As you may have heard, this past Saturday, September 24th, current Russian
President Dmitri A. Medvedev announced at a United Russia party convention
that he would not offer resistance to current Prime Minister Vladimir V.
Putin replacing him as Russia's president in the upcoming Russian
presidential election in March of 2012. While Medvedev's close allies and
supporters expressed disappointment at his announcement, as a whole,
thousands of United Russia party members who attended the convention
welcomed the announcement with enthusiasm.

Personally, I have paid attention to Vladimir V. Putin -- who is a former
KGB agent -- since he first rose to power in March of 2000, following the
exit of Russian President Boris Yeltsin. From the very start, I deeply
sensed that there is something untrustworthy about the man, despite
President George W. Bush's ridiculous claim that he had looked deep into
Putin's eyes and saw his soul.

It is a well-known fact that once the presidential euphoria wore off, during
his first two terms as Russia's president from 2000 to 2008, Putin tightened
his grip on power, and did everything within his power to return Russia to a
more Soviet era style form of government, while at the same time vocally
claiming to support freedom and democracy in Russia. Of course, George W.
Bush swallowed that verbal deception hook, line and sinker.

It is also a well-known fact that while Dmitri A. Medvedev has served as
Russia's president since 2008 -- mainly because Russia's constitution limits
a president to two four-year terms -- Vladimir V. Putin has remained the
real power in Russia, even though he has served as Prime Minister during the
past four years.

So, we have a very interesting situation developing in Russia. The general
consensus seems to be that Vladimir V. Putin will win the Russian
presidential election next March. If that is indeed the case -- few people
doubt it -- and if we assume that, as with his first run as president he
wins a second term, that means that there is a very good chance that Putin
will have served as Russia's most powerful figure for two dozen years; that
is, from 2000 to 2024.

No, my math is not wrong.

You see, one of the first things that Dmitri A. Medvedev did when he became
Russia's president in 2008 was to extend the president's term in office from
four years to six years, although the change did not apply to his own
presidency. Having said that, consider the following:

2000 - 2004 Vladimir V. Putin's 1st term as Russia's president
2004 - 2008 Vladimir V. Putin's 2nd term as Russia's president
2008 - 2012 Vladimir V. Putin's 1st term as Russia's Prime Minister
2012 - 2018 Vladimir V. Putin's 3rd term as Russia's president
2018 - 2024 Vladimir V. Putin's 4th term as Russia's president

Total time in power = 24 years

So, while American presidents come and go, Vladimir V. Putin remains in
control in Russia.

Exactly how this fact may possibly relate to Bible prophecy I am not
certain. Is it possible that Putin will still be in power at the time of
Christ's Return? That depends on your personal beliefs regarding when Jesus
will return. Will Putin even be one of the world leaders who fights against
Christ? Again, I do not know. I am not a Prophet.

Whatever the case may be, it seems rather certain that Vladimir V. Putin is
not going anywhere any time soon. Clearly, he is still steering the Russian
ship. And Dmitri A. Medvedev? Word has it that he has already agreed to
serve as Prime Minister under Putin. What a cozy little arrangement these
two have!


Jeff Snyder, SysOp - Armageddon BBS  Visit us at endtimeprophecy.org port 23
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