By Van Yandell
Mark 13:32 “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.”
Various conditions and actions by men and God have happened since 1940 that had not happened before in history. It would be difficult to determine when the beginning of the end actually started. Perhaps it was the Holocaust in which 6 million Jews were killed.
The development of the atomic bomb (Zechariah 14:12) was certainly a step toward the ending of the earth.
Possibly the most convincing of scriptural reality was the finding of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947 (2 Timothy 3:16) proving conclusively the authenticity and the very old age of the Holy Bible.
Israel became a nation May 14th, 1948, (Ezekiel 36:24). Then in the six Day War, June 5th-10th, 1967, Jerusalem was re-established as the capital of Israel (Zechariah 2:12).
The Korean War (1950-1953) divided the world into free and communist (Matthew 24:6). This set the stage for a world-wide political and military division that has lasted over seven decades.
That war has also set the positive for a fulfillment of prophesy in Revelation 13. In order for a one-world government and a one world currency to become a reality, this division had to exist for the divisions between the political left and right. The world has to experience freedom before it can be taken away.
Those desiring communism in currently free, democratic republics are demanding socialism (which in the end result, is a sacrifice of freedom). Once freedom (as we in America know it) is lost, the way is paved for the appearance of the Antichrist (Revelation 13:8).
The Vietnam War, although undeclared (1955-1975), further delineated communist and democratic government types. With America’s loss of that conflict, a boldness was established for those further seeking world-wide turmoil (2 Chronicles 15:6).
The Cold War was a rivalry between the United States and Russia that lasted from the late 1940’s until 1991 (fall of the USSR), without direct military confrontation. While bloodshed was limited, there existed tenseness and a perpetual fear of a nuclear exchange between the two nations.
The attack of America into the Middle East to expel Saddam Hussein’s Republican Guard from Kuwait brought the entire Arab world into the picture (Genesis 16:12).
We have also seen the appearing of more false prophets and teachers in the last fifty years than ever before. Jesus told His disciples in the Olivet Discourse at least three times to be aware of the false prophets (Matthew 24:4, 11, and 24).
Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” False prophets do not have to originate in a jungle in Africa, Asia or Central America. There are many calling themselves Christian teaching false (non-Biblical) doctrine.
One cannot promote their own notions and opinions of what the belief should be (Revelation 22:18-19). Eternal salvation is only by a faith based belief in Christ Jesus crucified for the remission of sin and resurrected (John 3:16).
Luke 21:17 “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.” We are seeing a level of hatred toward Christians as not seen since the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917.
An official report stated 12,000 Russian clergy were murdered by Vladimir Lenin and his followers (a Russian revolutionary, politician, and political theorist). An unofficial report maintains 43,800 were murdered. Could this happen again?
Hatred exists in the world today among people groups for many reasons. With a world population of around eight billion and people being more mobile than ever (Daniel 12:4), population density evolves into cultural wars, rioting and fighting/murder as the world has not seen since the dark ages (1 Thessalonians 5:22).
Isaiah 5:20 “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil.” Variant lifestyles unacceptable in scripture are creating a disdain for Christianity. Once again, people cannot make their own rules to justify lifestyles (Proverbs 12:15).
Disasters in 2023 include numerous earthquakes (Mark 13:8), hurricanes and cyclones (Luke 21:25), floods, pestilences (Luke 21:11), forest fires and manmade disasters such as terrorist attacks.
Numerous times the world has seen the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophesy of “wars and rumors of wars” fulfilled in the last eighty years (Mark 13:7).
Less than two years ago we saw Russia invade Ukraine. The purpose was never definitively revealed but beyond an imperialistic motivation, the possibility exists of opening a route from Russia to the Middle East.
The War of Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38 and 39) could be shaping up to take place. If the scripture holds true (and it always has), those armies invading Israel will be crushed and their homelands will be destroyed by fire and brimstone as was Sodom and Gomorrah (Ezekiel 39:6).
Military strategist are now claiming the two million man army (Revelation 9:16) is possible from Turkey and a few of the countries surrounding Israel.
By the protests and demonstrations around the world concerning the Israel and Hamas war, it certainly appears the world is choosing sides.
Yes the evidence is in and the verdict has already been rendered. The sentence upon the world has been handed down (Joel 2:28-32).
Luke 21:25-26 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.”
Van Yandell is a retired Industrial Arts teacher, an ordained gospel evangelist and commissioned missionary, from Fredonia, Kentucky. This is part of the Bible Connection series.
