Vladimir Putin and the Killing of His Enemies

We were drawn to this title in light of what the Bible says about the deeds of the flesh. One place is Romans 1:29 where we read that “murder” is one deed that is “worthy of death.” We also learn that “no murderer has eternal life abiding in him” (1 John 3:15; cf. 1 Peter 4:15; 1 Timothy 1:9). We may also know of Revelation 21:8 and the fact that all murderers will have a part in “the lake that burns with fire and brimstone” and also 22:15 and the fact that all murderers will not be able to enter the holy city, the New Jerusalem.

It is quite clear that those who murder (without repentance and forgiveness) will be eternally condemned. Of course, we are referring to Putin but we must also include the 200,000 soldiers who fight for him. They also will be cast into the lake of fire or be eternally condemned (unless they repent). In the United States and other such countries, one is able to avoid such conflict but we don’t know that this is an option in the nation of Russia.

We really don’t know how many people Putin and his army have murdered or killed. Of course, he has killed thousands in Donbas and many more in the whole of Ukraine. Whatever the number, we know that Vladimir Putin will be eternally condemned by the living God but who really knows how many people his murderous rage has put to death? Of course, this president (of Russia) should not have put one step in the of Ukraine. Instead of placing one step there, he has murdered many, many civilians and others. He surely is guilty of destroying not only these people, but, of course, he has wiped out billions or trillions of dollars worth of equipment, buildings, houses, and so forth.

We do wonder what would be the case if Mr. Putin should want to repent of his atrocities. Just looking at the cost of his war, how would he ever pay for this? Even if he should want to sell off his massive real estate at the Black Sea and everything else, we still wonder how he could pay for the enormous damage that he has perpetrated in the world, especially the nation of Ukraine? We have read that perhaps he is the wealthiest man on earth, but we know that he could be killed at any time. Even with the billions of his worth, it may be hard for him to pay for the war that he began.

Does he have the trillions of dollars to make reparations for the war? Can he send his army in and begin to rebuild the country after this massive attack? Can he sell off all of his holdings and someone begin to pay for a rebuilding campaign? Can the Russian economy somehow pay for such a rebuilding, including the trillions that Russia has inflicted on the Ukrainians? Can Putin (with his trillions) pay for this? Can he call for the two million refugees and somehow resettle them into their own  land?

We really don’t know how this brutal and wicked man can sleep at night. How can he begin to pay for the massive human misery that he has caused?  Someone has said that a snake deserves to be killed by chopping off its head. This may be true, but we doubt that it will be carried out since there is a law that says that a country’s leader must not be killed in this way.

We don’t mean to imply that the Ukrainians are guiltless or should be looked on as innocent. Not at all. Even though Putin and the Russians should be executed, we know that the Ukrainians are also guilty before God. They also deserve to die (before God, Romans 1:32). But in all of this, the Christian (who follows Jesus and His way) will gladly leave to God our Creator and Judge. We don’t want to do the executing ourselves. We gladly leave this to our God.

We must also realize that guilt doesn’t just lie at the doorstep of Russians but of the world itself. This is why Paul could write that “every mouth may be closed and all the world may become account to God” (Romans 3:19). Whether we are speaking about Russia, the Ukraine, or a thousand other places around the world, we know that all are guilty before God. Let us realize this and commit ourselves again before the Lord is His will.

In the meanwhile, let us pray for the poor people of the Ukraine. Let us pray for the deceived people of Russia. Let us pray for Putin himself and those who would follow Him. May the Lord be glorified!