The Moscow 1991 Revolution: An Eyewitness Account
By Alexei Salapatov
Published December 1, 1991
A report by the editor-in-chief of the Russian language Forerunner
This article was written shortly after the events of August 1991 in Moscow. I was there from beginning to end. I wrote a short day-by-day chronicle of all the facts written here. You heard all about this from newspapers, television and mass media in America, no doubt. These are my own observations and thoughts. The tenses are mixed because I divide the events as they are happening from other information about the coup. If my style seems informal, this is because I am questioning the greater significance of this “Last Revolution.” Here I am wondering if it will be the last revolution in our history. If God has shown me something here, then I must tell my story. Let God help me to inquire into these things which I have seen to reveal the Truth.
On August 18th, I am leaving Kiev for Moscow in the evening to deal with some problems concerning the printing of our newspaper – Predvestnik. As usual, the atmosphere of the train station reminds me of a large eastern bazaar. There are many people around. Some are seeking tickets, others sleep on the floor or wait for the train. The air is very hot and dry in Kiev. As the train pulls away from the station and travels for a few hours we enter rain
On the morning of August 19th, the train arrives in Moscow on time at 9:09 am. The scenario is ordinary – nothing unusual here – except for one interesting trifle. The train stewards whisper to their colleagues arriving from other cities: “Did you hear about it?” – “Haven’t you heard about that yet?”
I didn’t suspect that anything unusual was happening, so I didn’t think anything of it. Perhaps these whispers were brought about by the death of some high ranking official in Moscow or by violence caused by the racketeers who control the black market trade around the station. Nothing in any way suggests a crisis or high treason. I immediately leave the station and ride the Metro to the Sevastopol Hotel.
Having come to the office of Christian Youth International located at the hotel, I greeted everyone there and introduce myself to the new director, Steve Connolly. I had come to clear up some questions concerning our first newspaper edition.
The first news I heard of the coup was from the BBC World News Service: “Yesterday tanks rolled into Moscow – Three people were killed.” Later we found out that soldiers killed two people pumped up by drugs who were trying to break through a barricade.
Despite everything that is happening, we decide to pursue business as usual. Even the coup isn’t a good enough reason for us to avoid the job we have come to do.
We meet with the head of the publishing company who informs us about the continuing negotiations with the coup plotters for their surrender. I don’t know if it is the truth or not – but it seems that the coup was organized in an amateurish fashion. Even such an important thing as the curfew they imposed was not observed.
Coming back to the hotel in a private, car our attention is riveted on a small radio tuner. We are able to tune in the democratic station, Radio of Russia, since it is close by. The announcer tells of the people’s resistance to the communist troops: “And now all members of the so-called emergency committee are trying to reach Vnukovo airport.”
Using all my knowledge of English, I interpret these sensational messages to Steve: “Oh, yes it seems that the ordeal is coming to a close.” Steve asks, “Do you mean it’s over? The Revolution is finished?” I said, “Yes, I hope it’s over!”
We praise God that this conspiracy ended as quickly as it began. Even the weather changes from a nasty rain to sunshine. We are having lunch and I am informing Steve and another staff member about some footnotes of Russian history, about times of coups, revolutions, putches …
I couldn’t help wondering: Was this the last deed of its kind in Russia?
Who knows? God alone …
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Freedom: The Model of Christian Liberty (DVD)
“Give me liberty or give me death!”
Patrick Henry’s famous declaration not only helped launch the War for Independence, it also perfectly summarized the mindset that gave birth to, and sustained, the unprecedented experiment in Christian liberty that was America.
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This presentation is a similar call, not to one but many. By reintroducing the principles of freedom that gave birth to America, it is our prayer that Jesus, the true and only ruler over the nations, will once again be our acknowledged Sovereign, that we may again know and exult in the great truth that “where the Spirit of the LORD is, there is liberty” (2 Cor. 3:17).
Welcome to the Second American Revolution!
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Go Stand Speak (DVD)
With “preaching to the lost” being such a basic foundation of Christianity, why do many in the church seem to be apathetic on this issue of preaching in highways and byways of towns and cities?
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Does the Bible really call church pastors, leaders and evangelists to proclaim the gospel in the public square as part of obedience to the Great Commission, or is public preaching something that is outdated and not applicable for our day and age?
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Dr. Francis Schaeffer - A Christian Manifesto (DVD)
That Swiss Hermit Strikes Again!
Dr. Schaeffer, who was one of the most influential Christian thinkers in the twentieth century, shows that secular humanism has displaced the Judeo-Christian consensus that once defined our nation’s moral boundaries. Law, education, and medicine have all been reshaped for the worse as a consequence. America’s dominant worldview changed, Schaeffer charges, when Christians weren’t looking.
Schaeffer lists two reasons for evangelical indifference: a false concept of spirituality and fear. He calls on believers to stand against the tyranny and moral chaos that come when humanism reigns-and warns that believers may, at some point, be forced to make the hard choice between obeying God or Caesar. A Christian Manifesto is a thought-provoking and bracing Christian analysis of American culture and the obligation Christians have to engage the culture with the claims of Christ.
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The Abortion Matrix: Defeating Child Sacrifice and the Culture of Death (DVD)
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Is there a connection between pagan religion and the abortion industry?
This powerful presentation traces the biblical roots of child sacrifice and then delves into the social, political and cultural fall-out that this sin against God and crime against humanity has produced in our beleaguered society.
Conceived as a sequel and update to the 1988 classic, The Massacre of Innocence, the new title, The Abortion Matrix, is entirely fitting. It not only references abortion’s specific target – the sacred matrix where human beings are formed in the womb in the very image of God, but it also implies the existence of a conspiracy, a matrix of seemingly disparate forces that are driving this holocaust.
The occult activity surrounding the abortion industry is exposed with numerous examples. But are these just aberrations, bizarre yet anomalous examples of abortionists who just happen to have ties to modern day witchcraft? Or is this representative of something deeper, more sinister and even endemic to the entire abortion movement?
As the allusion to the film of over a decade ago suggests, the viewer may learn that things are not always as they appear to be. The Abortion Matrix reveals the reality of child-killing and strikes the proper moral chord to move hearts to fulfill the biblical responsibility to rescue those unjustly sentenced to death and to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves (Proverbs 24:11,12; 31:8,9).
Speakers include: George Grant, Peter Hammond, RC Sproul Jr., Paul Jehle, Lou Engle, Rusty Thomas, Flip Benham, Janet Porter and many more.
Ten parts, over three hours of instruction!
Running Time: 195 minutes
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Abortion Clinic 911 Calls (DVD)
Exposes the Dangers of Abortion to Women!
These shocking eyewitness accounts expose the dangers of abortion not only to unborn children, but to the health and lives women as well. An antidote to the smokescreens of the liberal media, these six short clips show what really happens in and around abortion clinics.
Although the content is emotionally gut-wrenching, these videos have been used in church seminars and small groups to educate Christians on the abortion issue and to lead people toward a pro-life position.
Watch these pro-life videos on-line.
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