#539

The Next World War

The Middle East

While students of Bible prophecy are standing firm that the next world war or WWIII, will happen right where Elijah called down fire from heaven to burn up the sacrifice on the altar, but it will happen at the end of the 7 year Tribulation. Some are wondering if that war can happen sooner than we think, like right now. They point to how polarizing Israel has become and how many countries will line up to come to literally destroy the nation right there in the valley of Megiddo. But not everyone wants to do that regardless of whether they like or dislike Jews. The Bible is clear that the place of Armageddon will be Israel, but is the next world war going to happen over the current war there? Believe it or not, some people seem to think so. What do I think? Pump the brakes on Armageddon and WWIII being the same war. Yes, the location of Armageddon will be Israel, but the object of that war will be man against God, not Israel. And the most polarizing political figure in all of history will lead it, that would be the Antichrist. There are too many prophetic signs that would have to fall into place for the current conflict to spread to the whole world for the Israeli fight against Hamas to blossom into that huge conflict. However, we shouldn’t comfort ourselves with knowing that. Why do I say that?

WWI And WWII Aren’t In The Bible

Feel better now? I didn’t think so. You see even though there were Bible prophecy teachers during both world conflicts that actually thought that these wars were the end of days wars, we now know that they weren’t. Hindsight is 20/20 as the old adage goes and the world survived both without Jesus returning in the clouds to set His feet down on the Mount of Olives. Trust me when I say that we are not living in the Millennium. I and a lot of other lovers of the Bible who know the conditions for the 1,000 year reign of Jesus would be very disappointed if that was true. Every four years when America elects another president it is patently clear that Jesus isn’t literally on the ballot and we’re not going to Jerusalem to cast our votes. No my friends, the war of Armageddon hasn’t been fought, but that doesn’t mean another world war can’t happen now. Just as the first two weren’t prophesied another one could happen without getting in the way of the Biblical ones occurring. So whether a world conflict over say, the war in Ukraine heats up, it wouldn’t mean the end of the Tribulation is right around the corner. And that next world war outside of Scripture could include nuclear weapons. Boy, I’m feeling even better now, aren’t you and I’m not even stocked up with iodine.

We Should Still Be Concerned

It’s not like I want us to just sit down in our cushy recliner, load up a large bowl of popcorn and start binging on a popular comedic sitcom. You could do that, but we’re not out of the woods on world wars. Not at all. That pesky prophecy of Jesus to His disciples in the various Olivet Discourses still haunts us:

And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened or troubled, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. (Matt 24:6, AMPC)

When we dive more into this verse and others like it we understand that the closer we get to the return of Jesus, the specter of wars will only increase. And any one of them could lead to Armageddon, but Jesus wants those living at the time to pray since it’s always a good thing for people to live in peace, however He also wants us to understand that mankind is only going to fall into the trap of world wars just like happened twice before in modern history. Rumors are going to be all over the headlines leading up to the Tribulation and it will ramp up greatly during that woeful time of despair and fear. What we’re seeing and hearing now are the lead up to that time just as the birth pains of an expectant mother get closer and closer together and get more intense as well. Can I assure you with total accuracy that war won’t come to your neck of the woods? No I can’t. But I can tell you that nothing will separate you from the joy and peace of Jesus if it does:

38 For I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels won’t, and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God’s love away. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, 39 or where we are—high above the sky, or in the deepest ocean—nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when he died for us. (Romans 8:38-39, TLB)

Fighting Against The Antichrist

The church of Jesus Christ is not destined to struggle against the physical man of sin, at least in my view of Bible prophecy. I believe we’ll be in Heaven then looking down at the horrible events of the Tribulation where that man of lawlessness will rise to demonic power. But as we read in these verses, we will be struggling against his influence before he is fully revealed:

and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. (1 John 4:3, NKJV)

In this sense there is a growing world war right now, but it is being waged in a different realm much like the Apostle Paul tells us:

For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against persons without bodies—the evil rulers of the unseen world, those mighty satanic beings and great evil princes of darkness who rule this world; and against huge numbers of wicked spirits in the spirit world. (Eph 6:12, TLB)

Such a war also demands that we are wearing armor as Paul goes on to tell the Ephesians:

So use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy whenever he attacks, and when it is all over, you will still be standing up.

14 But to do this, you will need the strong belt of truth and the breastplate of God’s approval. 15 Wear shoes that are able to speed you on as you preach the Good News of peace with God. 16 In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. 17 And you will need the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the Word of God. (Eph 6:13-17, TLB)

All this talk of wars in the earthly realm belies the real war being waged in the unseen world, a war that has been waged going all the way back to the book of Genesis in the Garden of Eden. And believe it or not, it will only fully end at the conclusion of the Millenium when Satan is released for a time. For now the only world war we need to concern ourselves with it the war that Paul warns us about. Thankfully we know from all the verses we’ve discussed now, God is ready, willing, and able to join us in the fray by equipping us with the spiritual military gear we need. And of course He will lead us into the war and fight the battles that are too big for us. Let us focus on our leader as well:

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! (Heb 12:1-3, MSG)

And that is a good place for an amen!