Tonight on The Hal Lindsey Report

Last week, in the Baltic Sea off the coast of NATO-member Poland, two Russian fighter jets "buzzed" a United States destroyer, the USS Donald Cook. 

And not just "buzzed" in a convivial, welcoming manner, but in an aggressive, in-your-face style. In fact, they flew so close to the ship that the jets' airflow caused wakes in the water. 

The week previously, a Russian fighter jet aggressively challenged an American RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft flying in international airspace over the Baltic Sea. It flew within mere yards of the aircraft, performing barrel rolls over the RC-135. 

Now, it's not so unusual for one nation's forces to encounter or challenge another's forces when they are approaching its airspace or coastal boundaries. But it is usually done in a "we know you are here and we are watching you" manner. And it is done when the aircraft or ship approaches the nation's borders. 

These Russian aircraft challenged the American vessels in international waters and airspace off the coasts of other nations, i.e., Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. And they did it in an aggressive, bullying manner. Of course, no shots were fired or evasive maneuvers taken. But the intent was calculated and threatening. 

Debate is now raging as to "why" Russia is behaving so aggressively. Opinions vary. Some believe Russian President Vladimir Putin is exerting his dominance by "punking" lame-duck President Obama, convinced he will not retaliate. 

It gives Putin the opportunity to look strong while making the American President appear weak. 

Others believe it goes further and is a message to the former Soviet Republics who are attempting to ally themselves with the west. Putin is saying, "Don't trust the U.S. They won't even defend themselves, why do you think they will defend you?" 

And he makes a pretty good case. 

A few years ago, the west and a newly-liberated Russia convinced Ukraine to surrender the huge pile of nuclear weapons it harbored from the Soviet era. The United Kingdom, The United States, and Russia each guaranteed that they would protect and secure the territorial sovereignty of Ukraine against all aggressors. 

Ukraine surrendered the weapons. 

In 2014, Russia invaded Ukraine and stole the province of Crimea and its critical seaport on the Black Sea. The West objected and gave up a collective yawn. 

Last year, Russia began a slow-motion invasion of eastern Ukraine. Putin's explanation echoed Hitler's explanation for entering the Sudetenland prior to World War 2. He has noted that most of the people in eastern Ukraine are Russian and speak Russian and love Russia, so he wants to make sure they are protected from the lovers of the West who run the government in Kiev. 

Of course, he only chose to do this after his puppet president in Kiev was run out of office by the Ukrainians in what has become known as the "Euromaiden" revolution. 

Once again, from the West, Ukrainians are hearing a collective yawn. Those in east Ukraine are being held hostage by Russia. They have no help and little hope. 

Meanwhile, even though the mainstream media has been featuring reports of Russia's impending withdrawal from Syria, we know otherwise. And how do we know? Russia has told us. 

Russian government-owned Sputnik News recently reported about the Russian forces who remain in Syria. According to Sputnik, the remaining task force has several goals: "...fighting terrorism, supporting President Bashar al-Assad, and control over the region."

Did you catch that? Russia is remaining in Syria in order to continue exerting its "control over the region." 

We already know that Iran is increasing its control over portions of that region almost exponentially -- especially since the United States granted it a clear path to nuclear weapons and supplied the money to fund it. 

So now the two dominant outside forces in the most volatile region of the world are Iran and Russia. Persia and Magog. 

Do I have your attention yet? 

If not, how about this? Aviv Kochavi, Israel's head of military intelligence, recently stated that, at any given time, more than 200,000 missiles are aimed at Israel. And even though Israel has developed a vaunted missile defense system, Iron Dome, its glaring weakness is that it can be overwhelmed by large numbers of missiles. And 200,000 is a large number of missiles. 

Many of those have been built by arguably the world's most dangerous terrorist organization, Hezbollah. Of course, Hezbollah is the de facto ruler of Lebanon, which sits directly on Israel's northern border. 

And don't forget Iran. Its leadership sworn to Israel's utter destruction, Iran has an arsenal of missiles capable of reaching Israel. And now that they've gotten the tacit green light from the West to continue building nuclear weapons, within a couple of years Iran could have four of those armed with nuclear devices. 

Today, we can see more clearly than ever that only the hand of God prevents the State of Israel's immediate annihilation. 

And finally, I know that some Christians just don't want to hear the kinds of things we discuss on The Hal Lindsey Report. It depresses them. Talk of impending global recessions, major deadly earthquakes, humanity's moral decay, disease and plagues ravaging parts of the world, and wars and rumors of wars all over the place doesn't often make for a fun half-hour of television. 

But it's reality. The very same reality the ancient Bible prophets predicted thousands of years ago. 

Another reality is that the true believers and followers of Jesus Christ will not have to endure the trauma that is just around the corner for Planet Earth. We are going to be rescued by Jesus Himself before it all begins in earnest. That's called the Rapture. I call it "Operation Evacuation." 

It's time to get ready to be evacuated from this earth. 

In the meantime, though, we are living in exciting times. But exciting times are usually very stressful times. And if the stress is getting you down, I have some good news. 

There is a "Secret Place" in Jesus. A place in which you can dwell and lead "a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity." (1 Timothy 2:2 NASB) A life of peace and security can be yours even in the midst of the chaos and turmoil of this world. 

I want to lead you there this week. Please tune in. 

Don't miss this week's Report here Sunday.

God Bless,

Hal Lindsey