WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS IN THE END TIMES
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Jesus and several prophets warned of a time of horrendous world wars in the end times. I believe we have already begun the first phases of end-time wars (rumors of war and the war with terrorists). Following will be several wars, becoming especially deadly during the Tribulation. Christians living today will be spared the latter wars, because they will be raptured from Earth. Even so, we see daily the preparations for war being made by the nations of the world. Jesus surely will return soon, and now is the time to prepare for His blessed return. There never was a good war or a bad peace. Benjamin Franklin, Sept. 11, 1773 |
"WHAT WILL BE THE SIGN OF YOUR COMING, JESUS?" Jesus' disciples asked Him this most important question, which He answered in the Olivet Discourse (Matthew, chapter 24; Mark, chapter 13; and Luke, chapter 21. One of the important signs of the end of the Age of Grace and Jesus' return for His church will be wars and rumors of wars (Matthew 24:6-7a): 6 "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom...."
JESUS' PROPHECY: Many end-time scholars believe certain years are especially important in the end-of-the-age countdown. In 1948, the aliyah occurred, when the Jews arose from all nations of the world to return to the Covenant Land of Israel. In 1967, the Jews regained control of Jerusalem. During this time (from 1948 until the present), there has not been a single day in which international and/or civil war has not occurred somewhere in the world. Every calendar day since May, 1948 has had major wars (Korean and Vietnam Wars, as two examples), civil unrest throughout the world (revolutions and citizen uprisings), and rumors of war (including the Cold War and terrorism threats). Major world powers and third world nations bristle with nuclear warhead-tipped missiles. The world could erupt into nuclear warfare with little provocation.
Iran longs for war: A major threat to world peace is Iran, which possesses missiles and is developing (or, has?) nuclear weapons. Iran hates Israel with religious zeal. Most importantly, Iran is led by an apocalyptic Muslim, who believes his mission in life is to cause worldwide conflict to hasten the return of Islam's "savior" and "messiah," the twelfth Imam, the Mahdi. Nothing would be a greater honor to this man than to cause worldwide turmoil, because he believes the Mahdi will come only during such a time.
Russia restarts the Cold War: After a few years of relative quiet, Russia is now making moves to become a world power and re-kindle the Cold War. Through aggressive development of weapons, deployment of weapons and troops, and harsh rhetoric, Russia leaves no doubt of her hatred for the West, especially America and Israel.
Jesus' words in the Olivet Discourse described end-time world conditions in broad terms:
Jesus' prophecy of end-time warfare was broader than wars in recent experience (U.S.A. versus Germany in World War II, for example). His terminology would include groups of people without national borders (al Qaeda or Hamas terrorists, for example, which exist in many cell groups dispersed throughout the world, but which are ruled from a far distance by a "king," such as Osama bin Laden). "Rumors" aptly describes modern times. In Jesus' time, news traveled as fast as a man could walk from one village to another and was mostly limited to people groups living near trade routes. In our time, we have 24-hour news channels, which communicate news and rumors of news to us by satellite in real time from every part of the world. We hear and see news-- including violence and threats of violence-- as it actually occurs.
WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS-- AN END-TIME PROPHECY: As Jesus prophesied, the world has recently been beset with wars. Consider some recent real and potential conflicts:
Only naive people believe the United States has many true allies in the world. How long can America and other western countries depend upon peaceful relationships with Russia, China, and many other countries? How much allegiance can America expect from the United Nations or the European Union? How vulnerable is our petroleum supply from Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, and other OPEC counties? America has been able to buy friends through foreign aid deals, but some day the financial hemorrhaging must stop, and nations will no longer be America's "friends" when the many billions of dollars of annual foreign aid and trade imbalance dry up.
The world is a dangerous place, and will become even more dangerous in the future. There certainly are wars and rumors of wars at the present time, but these will be dwarfed by the turmoil in the Tribulation.
WAR AGAINST THE TERRORISTS: World peace is threatened by Muslim terrorists. Especially dangerous are Apocalyptic Muslims, who passionately hate Jews and feel it is Allah's will to fight Jews and hasten the coming of Imam Mahdi.
Israel: Israel is surrounded by Islamic nations which want one thing-- the destruction of Israel and the removal of Jews and Christians from "their" land. The psalmist wrote about the enemies which surrounded God's people then, and even now (Psalm 83:1-8): 1Do not keep silent, O God! Do not hold Your peace, and do not be still, O God! 2For behold, Your enemies make a tumult; and those who hate You have lifted up their head. 3They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, and consulted together against Your sheltered ones. 4 They have said, "Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more." 5For they have consulted together with one consent; they form a confederacy against You: 6The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab and the Hagrites; 7Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; 8Assyria also has joined with them; they have helped the children of Lot. This psalm accurately prophesied Israel's current enemies;* the hatred the Arabs and other Muslims now have for Israel; the desire to completely destroy the Jewish nation; and their conspiracy for Israel's destruction.
*Modern equivalents of these peoples: Edom: ancient Palestine between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba; descendants of Esau. | Ishmaelites: Arabic Peninsula; descendants of Ishmael, son of Abraham and Hagar. | Moab: the Moabites; east of the Dead Sea, present Jordan; descendants of Lot and his daughter. | Hagrites: desert land east and south of ancient Palestine; similar in origin as the Ishmaelites (descended from Abraham and Hagar). | Gebal: mountainous land of Edom south of the Dead Sea, present Djebal. | Ammon: east of the Jordan River, present northwest Jordan including Jordan's capital, Amman; descendants of Lot and his daughter. | Amalek: the Amelekites, perpetual enemy of Israel, a nomadic people in Canaan and the Sinai Peninsula; descended from Esau's grnadson. | Philistia: southwestern Palestine, incorporating the important Egypt-Syria trade route; its people, the Philistines, were long-standing enemies of Israel. | Tyre: ancient Phoenician city akong the eastern Mediterranean Sea in present southern Lebanon. | Assyria: land between the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers, extending southward to the Persian Gulf; includes modern Syria.
Homicide bombers bring terrorism to Israeli citizens frequently, and the threat for such terrorism is ever-present.
The end-time scenario for Israel was prophesied by Zechariah (Zechariah 12:2-3): 2 [Says the LORD] "Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. 3And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it." Jerusalem is the world's flash point-- the world's "heavy stone" burden. The conflict between Israel and her Arab/ Muslim neighbors has no solution, because it is a conflict between two completely opposite religions (Judaism and Islam) in which both sides passionately believe. Although many Israelis today are secular and even agnostics or atheists, the basis for this conflict goes back thousands of years to the "sons of Father Abraham" vying for the inheritance of Abraham's land. Most nations side with the Islamic bloc, including the United Nations, the European Union, Russia, China, North Korea, and the Organization of Islamic Nations. The only friend of Israel has been the United States, but American support now seems contradictory and weak at times (and will always be influenced by the threat of petroleum embargoes from OPEC). Some day, all nations will be arrayed against Israel, and her salvation will come only through God's intervention. God will save Israel to show the Jews that Israel's salvation comes only from the LORD, not from the United States, the IDF (Israeli Defense Force), the United Nations, or any other organization of man.
Paul taught Timothy of end-time events, some of which describe terrorists (2 Timothy 3:1-5a): 1But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2For men will be... 3unloving, unforgiving,... without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,... 4traitors, headstrong, haughty,... 5having a form of godliness but denying its power.
America: Most Americans felt secure from terrorism until September 11, 2001 (9/11). In approximately one hour, homicide bombings with fuel-laden airliners attacked two of America's symbols. The twin towers of the World Trade Center-- a symbol of America's wealth-- were destroyed. The Pentagon-- the symbol of America's military power-- was attacked and damaged. Had a fourth plane not been overtaken and flown into the ground by onboard heroes, this plane would have struck the Capitol Building-- the symbol of America's law and government.
Was 9/11 a warning for America? Consider a well-known Bible passage (2 Chronicles 7:14): [The LORD said] "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." Consider that America has pride in three strengths and accomplishments-- her economy, military, and democratic system of law. Islamic extremists attack symbols, hoping to defeat an enemy psychologically. Note the symbolism of the 9/11 attack:
Was 9/11 an enactment of 2 Chronicles 7:14? Was God telling Americans that neither wealth nor the military can spare the country, but only her people can save the country?
But, it is not just any people in the 2 Chronicles passage who can heal a nation. Only "My people who are called by My name" can provoke God to intervene. Christians have a responsibility to do certain things which will cause God's favor to shine upon a nation. For a few weeks after 9/11, churches were filled, people prayed, Americans were united, communities held prayer services, and people quoted 2 Chronicles 7:14 with great regularity. Now, though, Americans are back to "business as usual."
God has a pattern for judgment, clearly written throughout the pages of the Bible. This pattern is:
If 9/11 was God's warning to America, America is now living in a period of grace (having not been attacked again from 2001 to the present). Is God awaiting America's repentance? Since America is clearly unrepentant, why should we not expect God's judgment?
America is filled with sin, and such sin surely is a stench in God's nostrils. But, are not some other nations more sinful than America? Yes. But, God judges people (individually and as a nation) in a proportional manner. Recall the words of Jesus (Luke 12:48b): "For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more." No country in the history of the world has been given as much in wealth and opportunity as has America. Because God has so blessed and entrusted America with such opportunity, He surely expects more from Americans. In like manner, America's failure to follow Him surely is even more sinful in His eyes.
Since 9/11, America has been engaged in two wars (in Afghanistan and Iraq) and has engaged in a costly, often controversial program of homeland security. Homeland security has cost billions of dollars and has resulted in inconveniences and loss of civil liberties, with uncertain assurance that it has been effective.
A terrorist-- well-funded from his rich Arabic leaders and believing Allah will reward him with an eternity of pleasure in Paradise-- may strike America at any time by a wide variety of weapons, with complete disregard for his own life. It is impossible to defend a country against an unseen, fanatical enemy with unlimited resources. It is impossible to defend a country against an enemy in which one person may carry a weapon of mass destruction (WMD), which can kill hundreds or thousands of people.
Christians: Christians are also facing the terrorism of persecution and martyrdom. Jesus prophesied great persecution of Christians during the Tribulation (Matthew 24:9-10): 9"Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. 10And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another." John tells us (Revelation, chapter 7) of the most successful evangelical efforts of the 144,000 Jewish evangelists during the Tribulation. Although untold millions will be saved, most will be martyred (murdered) by the evil Antichrist's government. The dilemma for a citizen living under control of the Antichrist's government will be whether to accept "the mark of the Beast" (Revelation 13:16-17) and ackowledge that the Antichrist is god. Without the "mark," which likely is an implanted microchip, a person is completely cut off from all commerce and job opportunities. Without the "mark" accepted by a parent, the family would starve. But, a Christian or Jew cannot accept the "mark," because he/she cannot acknowledge the deity of the Antichrist. To do so is eternal damnation in Hell (example: Revelation 14:11).
As we progress toward this final persecution and martyrdom of God's people, we are presently experiencing persecution of Christians. Most persecution comes at the hands of Muslims, Hindus, and Communist governments. More Christians were martyred in the Twentieth Century than in the preceding nineteen centuries combined.
Americans are experiencing non-lethal, anti-Christian hostilities. Consider such examples as the war on Christmas, unrelenting attacks against Christianity by the ACLU in compliant federal courts, lawsuits against Bible publishers because this holy book contains "hate statements" against people engaging in certain sinful acts, blatant attacks on Christian ideals in the media and entertainment, slurs against Christians, the soon-to-come muzzling of Christian ministers against delivering "politically incorrect" sermons (for example, sermons against the practice of homosexuality), banishment of Jesus from schools and the public square, and censorship of students who wish to write essays about Jesus.
The Islamic connection: Muslims will be at the center of world conflicts now and until the end of time. The Islamic holy book, Hadith, states: "Corruption that no one can escape will occur and spread immediately to another place from where it stays." The Arabic word here translated "corruption" may also be translated "war, disorder, quarrel, or dispute."
Just as Christians expect the soon return of Jesus the Christ and observant Jews expect the soon return of HaMashiach (the Messiah), certain Muslims expect the soon return of their "messiah," the twelfth Imam (Imam Mahdi). Muslims who expect Mahdi's return are "apocalyptic Muslims." They believe that Imam Mahdi will come at a time of great violence, wars, and disputes among mankind. Just before Mahdi's appearance will arise an extremely violent man, Urwa bin Muhammad, who is the Islamic counterpart of the Antichrist. The Hadith, quoting Muhammad, states: "The world will not pass away before the Arabs are ruled by a man [referring to Mahdi] of my family whose name will be the same as mine."
Devout Muslims believe this century is theirs-- their century to bring the world into the House of Islam (into submission to Allah, whether by conversion or by death). Untold millions of Muslims will have no moral compunction against killing Jews and Christians, as long as it hastens the coming of Mahdi to rule the world.
Consider the turmoil and threat to world peace being caused by Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Ahmadinejad is actively pursuing nuclear weapons, while threatening to annihilate or cripple Israel and the United States. Ahmadinejad is an apocalyptic Muslim, who sees his greatest contribution to the world through starting a world war by attacking the West. A worldwide conflict could be seen as the conflict hastening Mahdi's return. If many Iranians die in the process, this likely would be seen as a noble and necessary sacrifice to advance Islam.
AN ORACLE AGAINST DAMASCUS: Two prophecies are of interest:
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*Since the ancient city of Damascus has never been destroyed or burned, this prophecy implies that this destruction is a future event.
Could Damascus' prophesied destruction be in the near future? Syria and Israel are intractable enemies. Syria is a major sponsor of terrorists who attack Israel, particularly along her northern borders. The Golan Heights, once claimed by Syria, is now controlled by Israel. Syria harbors great anger over Israel's ownership of this contested land.
There is spy satellite suggestion that Saddam Hussein transferred many truckloads of cargo (weapons of mass destruction [WMDs]) from Iraq to Syria in January and February of 2003, shortly before the invasion of Iraq by America and her allies. Were the delay tactics in the United Nations a ploy to give Iraq time to clean up its arsenal before the invasion? If so, Syria may be sitting on more weapons than she ordinarily would have. Syria has the means to deliver WMDs against Israel. Syria's leader is generally regarded as not being politically astute.
Consider this: If Syria should be stupid enough to unleash WMDs, e.g., chemical, nuclear, or radiologic (dirty nuclear) weapons, against northern Israeli cities and kill thousands of Israelis, what would Israel's response be? Israel is thought to have "the Samson Option," which is a mutually assured destruction (MAD) plan. Although Israel refuses to discuss this option as part of her "nuclear opacity" strategy, it is thought that Israel has a national policy that if she might be the victim of a devastating attack and could face national destruction, she will retaliate by a massive counterattack. Such massive retaliation (a nuclear attack) would cause the "burning city walls" of prophecy.
THE BATTLE OF GOG AND MAGOG: In Ekekiel, chapters 38 and 39, the prophet foretold an end-time battle. The chapters are too lengthy to reproduce here, but I will quote from some verses. Please read these two chapters in your Bible to get a better sense of the prophecy.
Ezekiel 38:1-3: Ezekiel identified Gog as a "prince," a strong man, a ruler of the nation or confederacy of Magog. Ezekiel importantly told us that Magog would be composed of the peoples of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. Refer to Genesis, chapter 10. Noah's descendants dispersed themselves throughout Asia. Magog was the son of Japheth (Genesis 10:1-2). Magog settled in the Caucasus region, between the Black and Caspian Seas. The Greeks called these people "Scythians." The Scythians moved farther north into Europe and into the Ural Mountains, becoming ancestors of the Tartars, Cossacks, Mongols, and other European and Asian peoples. Thus, Magog was the founder of southwestern Russia. Ezekiel further described Russia. Some prophecy students teach that Meshech is the origin of the word "Moscow," Russia's capital, and Tubal is the origin of "Tobolsk," an important city in Siberia. Rosh (which may be translated "chief" in some Bible versions) is the origin of "Russia." Israel's enemies are described as being from "the far north" (Ezekiel 38:6, 15; 39:2). Moscow is directly north of Israel, and no other important city is farther north than Moscow. How many more clues do we need to determine with certainty that Magog is Russia? Gog is Russia's (Magog's) present or future leader.
Ezekiel 38:4: God will put hooks in Gog's jaw (as a farmer might put a hook in an animal's jaw to control its behavior). Gog, then, will be persuaded to invade Israel. These hooks will be "thoughts in [Gog's] mind" (verse 38:10). Of course, no one knows what the "hooks" will be. Russia way want Israel's petroleum (if present oil drilling efforts in Israel are successful), or Russia may need a warm water port to export petroleum from the Middle East, or Russia may need to appease her allies in the Middle East (especially if, say, Israel destroys Iran's nuclear facilities), or there may be other reasons.
Ezekiel 38:5-6: Gog will enlist the help of Israel's heavily armed enemies. Ezekiel names these southern confederates of Gog as Persia (Iran), Cush (Ethiopia, upper Nile region), Put (Libya), and Gomer and Togarmah (Turkey and Armenia). What Ezekiel described is the present confederation of Arab-Muslim nations, which are now political and military allies of Russia and intractable enemies of Israel.
Ezekiel 38:8-9: This battle will occur "after many days." (The Jews have returned to Israel only recently, after a Diaspora [dispersion] of nearly nineteen centuries.) Israel will have recovered from war. (Will a temporary Palestinian Authority-Israeli truce be this prophesied freedom from war?) Israel's people will be gathered from many nations. (Since 1948, a massive aliyah [a rising up to go home] has occurred, with Jews from many countries returning to their ancestral land.) The land had been desolate prior to 1948. (One of the fulfilled prophecies in our lifetime is Israel's restoration of a desolate wasteland into an extremely productive land-- a blooming desert. Israel's efforts have been so successful that they have actually changed the climate, with rainfall becoming more abundant. Israel raises much of Europe's vegetables and fruit.) Enemies will advance like a great storm. (Certainly a combined force of Russia, Russia's northern allies, and the Arab-Muslim confederacy moving at modern military speed [tanks, planes, missiles] could converge on Israel like a great storm.)
Ekekiel 38:10-12: Israel will be attacked as "unwalled villages," a symbol of being at peace and not suspecting war. Israel had begun building a security wall on her eastern flank, as a barrier to homicide bombers, but the U.S. State Department strenuously (and shamefully) objected to this wall. Will halting of the construction of this wall, leaving Israel "unwalled," be the intent of this passage? Consider also that a wall is a meaningless defense against modern weapons (missiles, airplanes). All countries today are "unwalled" against modern warfare.
Ekekiel 38:13-14: The nations of the world stand by, debating the Russian-Arabian invasion but doing nothing. To me, this sounds like a perfect description of the essentially worthless and anti-Israeli United Nations. In this passage, Sheba is Ethiopia, Dedan is Saudi Arabia, and Tarshish and her villages and merchants may be Spain (European Union?). Why will the other nations not help Israel? God wants to be the only One to save Israel, and He does not need the help of the United States, European Union, or United Nations.
Ezekiel 38:18-22: God's hot anger will be aroused against Gog. Massive death and destruction of Israel's enemies will occur. There will be a great earthquake in Israel. Soldiers will be confused, killing their own comrades (casualties from "friendly fire" are always problems in warfare). Rain, hail and burning sulfur and fire (nuclear weapon fallout?) will fall on the enemy troops, accompanied by plagues. The enemy's weapons will become ineffective (39:3).
Ezekiel 38:23; 39:7: Israel will know that God is LORD.
Ezekiel 39:9-20: Ezekiel painted a picture of mass casualties-- mass burials in the Valley of Hamon Gog, seven months for the Israelis to bury the dead (the dead remaining after the birds and animals gorge themselves on the dead bodies), seven years to burn the weapons (using nuclear warheads in nuclear power plants?), and so forth. NOTE: Debate exists whether the Battle of Gog and Magog occurs before or after the Rapture. The only hint may be this passage. If Israel requres a complete seven-year period to dispose of Magog's weapons, it would seem that this battle must occur before the seven-year Tribulation (that is, before the Rapture).
Ezekiel 39:21: God will display His glory among the nations. Some scholars suggest that Israel will bring out the Ark of the Covenant before the battle, and God will act on their faith to deliver victory to them. "God's glory," here, may be His Shekinah, resting upon the Ark as it goes before the people.
Ezekiel 39:22-29: God promises to restore Israel. I believe this promise may be His entire purpose for the Tribulation-- to restore the world and bring salvation to the Jews. See also Paul's teaching in Romans, chapter 11.
THE SEAL JUDGMENTS: During the Tribulation-- the seven-year period between the Rapture and the Second Coming of Jesus-- there will be the worst period of time in history. Some of the disasters that befall mankind are manmade (through the Antichrist's government), but twenty-one judgments come from God, as He attempts to entice stubborn, sinful men and women to come to Him in repentance and love. The first four Seal Judgments (Revelation 6:1-8) set the stage for worldwide wars and turmoil during the Tribulation. These judgments are depicted as riders on colored horses:
TRIBULATION WARS, INCLUDING ARMAGEDDON: John the Revelator described a time of world wars during the seven-year Tribulation (the period of time between the Rapture/ Resurrection and Jesus' Second Coming). The Second Seal Judgment (Revelation, chapter 6) will be the release of warring kings (nations) to cause deaths of many, and will include the use of the "great sword" (nuclear weapons).
During this time, nations will converge around Israel to fight one another. Eastern kings (China and other oriental nations) will field a 200,000,000-man army. Blood will flow throughout the length of Israel. Mankind would destroy all mankind and the world, without the return of Jesus to stop the wars (Jesus' Glorious Appearance, the Second Coming-- which occurs seven years after the Rapture).
FINALLY, WHEN DO THESE WARS OCCUR? In my opinion, the wars will occur soon, and probably in the following order. Other persons may read Scriptures differently, though.
THERE IS GOOD NEWS! End-time wars, plagues, and other catastrophic events worry some people, but I do not worry-- except that I have not done enough to encourage people to go to Heaven as I go.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace. When He returns, all war stops. He establishes His Millennial Kingdom (Thousand-Year Reign). Christians will help Him, as we re-establish the world and minister to human left behind after the Tribulation (the "sheep" in His teaching in Matthew 25:31-46).
Heaven is an indescribably beautiful place of eternal reward for all persons who accept God's gift of salvation. A Christian should never worry about future hardships. Rather, when Jesus returns, He brings our reward with Him, and He will draw us to Him forever in New Jerusalem (Heaven). In a Christian's race, he or she is in the final lap and the goal is straight ahead of us!
CONFUSED? I have provided only a brief sketch of the end-time wars. If I have confused you, please EMAIL ME, Raymond Finney, and I will try to answer your questions. Or, you may call me: (865)984.1424.