Beats me....its just part of the story (as I have heard it translated or interpreted.)
I have never, ever thought that bible prophesies really applied to these days.
But, when you start backing away from the support of Israel and the teams are lining up over there you have to start to wonder.
This stuff is just creepy and unsettling.
Russia would benefit from instability in the ME and disruption of any ME and/or Persian oil flow to market. Therefore, ongoing ME conflict with the US "quagmired" in several places, and a fighting, not defeated Israel suits their interest.
Russia is likely allowing the US to push Israel too far, hoping for a conflict that takes out the Saudi oilfields, Iranian oil fields, and Suez canal.
Obama is betting that Israel will lay down and die, and the Caliphate oil and transportation will remain intact.
If Obama wins, the results are pretty much status quo for Russia and China, and big negatives for the US in all areas, plus the formation of the Caliphate.
If Russia wins and Israel calls the bluff, the US and Europe lose all ME oil, the Arabs, Persians, and Palis are all killing one another and US soldiers, Israel survives at war, and the Russians make more money than God, China gets oil, the US economy crashes, and the world markets shift away from US currency and credit standards. The battered world economy will finally diversify away from the US.
The interesting thing in this game is that the Russians aren't having to bet very much, considering the exposure of the US, and if they lose, there are almost no consequences.
Israel is the key, and Russia, purely for selfish reason would prefer Israel to survive and stir up enough trouble to interrupt ME oil supplies. It is unlikely that Russia would act against Israel or allow their destruction.