War Rumours: Cries Of Peace!
Observers of current issues and events that look to be matters involving Bible prophecy have time and time again presented the portrait of these fleeting days of the Church Age. Rapture Ready, a web ministry with which I’m associated, for example, is one such ministry dedicated to the commission Jesus gave: “What I say unto one, I say unto all, watch” (Mark 13:37).
Prophetic issues involving war and peace surrounding Israel are the most starkly presented by Jesus and the prophets for alerting humanity to the time leading up to Christ’s return at Armageddon (Rev. 19: 11). Today these signs of the times are in view as never before.
Rumors of war and the call for peace involving Israel dominate news at the same time that the world–and America in particular—are experiencing levels of turbulence even secular economic and weather experts are calling “unprecedented.”
Middle East petroleum is at the center of most of the world’s economic upheaval, many “experts” agree. Those who watch the end-times signals from the perspective of Bible prophecy most generally propose that it is God’s creation–the very elements–rebelling that is causing the geophysical rage.
These, occurring simultaneously with societal/cultural and ecumenical religious tumult at the same time there are rumors of a war that might involve nuclear weapons, and with a call for peace involving Israel, should cause warning lights to flash. The astonishing confluence should cause spiritually attuned senses of God’s children to shout within: “Jesus is coming, perhaps today!”
These signals, gushing as a unified flood at this troubled hour, certainly look to portend a stunning prophecy given for the moments just before the tribulation begins to inflict the most horrendous events of human history upon a world ripe for judgment: “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape” (1Thess. 5:3).
Among a number of rumors of war, threats by Iran leap to the forefront while thinking on prophecy for the end of the age. Hardliners in Iran are doubling down on insistence that the nuclear program continue. Tensions over a possible nuclear deal between Iran and world powers were on display on Sunday outside an atomic facility in Tehran, where a rare protest saw hardliners criticize government negotiators. According to a report by the AFP news agency, [protesters] gathered at the entrance to the Tehran Research Reactor to protest the negotiations with the West, the first such officially approved demonstration in months. It coincided with the penultimate day of talks in Vienna between Iran and the United States and other leading states about a permanent nuclear deal. “Nuclear energy is our absolute right,” and “Sanctions won’t stop us,” read placards held by protesters, many of them suggesting there should be no compromise on Iran’s disputed atomic activities. They chanted “Death to America” while a designated speaker rounded on the conduct of the year-long negotiations which entered their final 36 hours with a deal hanging in the balance. (Reuters, Sun., November 23, 2014)
The call for peace rings throughout the Middle East cauldron at the same time Iran threatens Israel, America, and the world’s ability to move petroleum through the region to refineries around the globe. The signs of the times couldn’t be clearer. It is time for those who are Christ’s to be aware of the lateness of the hour–time to do the work that Jesus gave believers before ascending to His and our Father. The minutes the believer has left to accomplish for God’s work are passing with the swiftness of movement of the end-times events observably taking place in literally every direction one looks. Jesus gave “rumors of war” as a major signal the time of His return will be near. There is not an hour passes that doesn’t bring threats from enemies of the U.S. and Israel. Russia threatens to confront anyone who opposes Vladimir Putin’s bullying of Ukraine; China threatens to attack it’s regional neighbors and to assault America and others with cyber-attacks. Iran will soon have missiles with nuclear warheads, which it has vowed to use against Israel first, and against anyone else who opposes their Islamist ambitions. It is time for believers to look up! (Luke 21: 28) The Prince of Peace is drawing near!
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