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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