Wars and Rumours of Wars
There has been much talk about a new world order which is simply a world government. John prophesied, nearly 2000 years ago about a coming world government and a coming world dictator, the Antichrist. John said in Rev. 13:7, “….and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations”. In verse 16, “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads”.
In the last 60 years the call for a world government has been growing. In 1950 a Senate Foreign relations committee introduced the following resolution. “Whereas, in order to achieve universal peace and justice, the present Charter of the U.N. should be changed to provide a true world government constitution”.
Another statement reads, “World government is coming, in fact, it is inevitable. No arguments for or against it can change that fact.”
Harry Trueman said, “It will be just as easy for nations to get along in a republic of the world as it is for us to get along in a republic of the United States.
“Regionalization is in keeping with the tri-lateral plan which calls for a gradual convergence of East and West, ultimately leading toward the goal of one world government, national sovereignty is no longer a viable concept” said Zbigniew Brezezinski.
DR. Henry Kissinger said, ”Today America would be outraged if UN troops entered Los Angeles to restore order (referring to the riot caused by the Rodney King incident). Tomorrow they will be grateful! This is especially true if they were told that there were an outside threat from beyond, (outer space) whether real or promulgated, that threatened our very existence. It is then that all peoples of the world will plead to be delivered them from this evil. The one thing every man fears is the unknown. When presented with this scenario, individual rights will be willingly relinquished for the guarantee of their well-being granted to them by the world government”.
One of the pillars of a world government will be a world currency.
Former West German Chancellor Willy Brandt said, “The new world order is a world that has super-national authority to regulate the world commerce and industry; an international organization that would control the production and the consumption of oil; an international currency that would replace the dollar; ….and an international police force to enforce the edicts of the New World Order”.
I do not believe that this One World Government will appear until the Antichrist comes to power, but I believe the stage is now being set for his appearance. One of the stage setting events will be the collapse of the US dollar and the establishment of a world currency. The present monetary crisis suggests the dollar is in grave danger of collapse.
Financial problems are today universal. Russia and China are in serious financial crisis. China has recently called for a new world currency to replace the dollar. A group of oil-rich mid-east nations are calling for a new currency.
A Financial Times news report stated, “The US will lose its status as the superpower of the financial system… in the wake of the financial crisis this world will become multi-polar. The world will never be the same again.”
In Matthew 24 the disciples asked Jesus about the end of the age and the sign of His coming. “And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the (age) world?” (verse 3).
Jesus gives a number of signs but the one we want take notice of is found in verse 6. “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.”
Notice this verse teaches us that prior to the tribulation period there will be wars and rumours of wars. Jesus proceeds to describe the period before the tribulation period and the tribulation period itself. He specifically teaches that prior to the tribulation period there will be wars and rumours of wars.
Our intention in this article is to show that we are now living under the threat of wars, wars and rumours of war, wars such as the world has never seen or ever envisioned before. This is an indication of the lateness of the hour we are now living in.
In Revelation six the appointed time has come for the judgment of the tribulation period. In verse one, this day of vengeance is about to begin. Christ is about to begin to pour out His wrath upon the world to defeat Satan and his kingdom of this world.
“And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see” (Revelation 6:1).
Now John proceeds to see the first of four horses; each horse has a rider, it is the same rider revealing four different aspects of his career.
“And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer” (Verse 2).
Who is the rider on the white horse? It is not the Lord Jesus, He is in heaven casting down this first seal judgment upon the earth. In Revelation 19:11, we see the triumphant Christ riding on a white horse at the end of the tribulation period. A rider on a white horse symbolizes a conqueror. In first century Rome, after a great victory the conquering general would ride through the gates of Rome on a white horse.
The rider on the white horse in Revelation six is an imitation Christ. This is the counterfeit Christ, the Antichrist who comes to conquer the earth. Notice he “had a bow” but he has no arrows. He is not going to war or to battle. Notice what is happening, “a crown was given unto him,” he is a victor on a white horse. “he went forth conquering, and to conquer.” He conquers without a battle; he takes over the world without firing a shot. This is how Antichrist comes to power.
Daniel says, “By peace he shall destroy many.” Paul said, “Peace and safety, then sudden destruction.”
How does he do that? What will be the scenario in the world that will enable him to do that? We do not have to guess, as we have already noted, the scripture tells us the scenario. “Wars and rumours of war” Matthew 24:6, “For nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom” (verse 7).
Before Antichrist is revealed to the world there will be a sudden rise in hostilities around the world. Unprecedented wars will explode all over the world with nations rising up against nations.
In the remainder of this article I will show how such a scenario is now forming. I believe the world stands on the threshold of unprecedented, catastrophic wars and the collapse of its economies, institutions and national governments.
The headline in The Sun on September 8 read, “Planet Closer to Catastrophic World War 111 than at any Time for Sixty Years, Experts Warn.”
George Friedman, the founder of geopolitical forecaster STRATFOR, has warned: “Be ready for war.”
Another headline reads, “Retired Green Beret Warns: World Governments are Preparing for Disaster and War”
He goes on to state, “It is my firm conviction that we will be involved in a world war that will be initiated by an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) weapon detonated over the continental United States.”
He states, “This conviction is apparently shared by world leaders, senior military personnel and prominent analysts, as well as being a general consensus of opinion worldwide.”
We are now aware of the fact that North Korea has the potential to launch a missile from a submarine or a long range missile and explode an EMP over America. We are told that in such a situation 200 million Americans would be dead in the first year. North Korea has also the potential to initiate a world war with a nuclear attack on South Korea or Japan or the US.
At this moment there is a potential for a war between the US and China in the area of the South China Sea.
Another headline in The Sun reads, “Russian President is Gearing Up for Atomic War with the West by Building Top-Secret Nuclear Shelters” The article went on to say, “Russia currently has the world’s largest arsenal of nuclear weapons.” Security chiefs fear Putin is prepared to use them.
Yet another troubling headline states, NATO is Reviewing “Nuclear Playbook” to Deter “Terrible Attacks by Russia – Pentagon Chief
Putin is preparing to dominate the world. He has spent multiplied billions on the upgrade of his military. Over half of Russian nuclear weapons are new. He has a new fleet of warships and aircraft.
In an amazing candid statement we read, “Vladimir Putin has praised the Russian cruise missiles fired against terrorists in Syria from the sea. He expressed hope that these weapons would not have to be armed with nuclear warheads.”
Apparently Putin has arrived at the place where nuclear weapons are now a real option for him. Putin has in recent days publicly directed his military to have their nuclear weapons in combat readiness.
In a recent press conference Putin stated that the US and the EU cannot be trusted. He belligerently stated that Russia will do whatever is in her best interests in the Mideast.
For 70 years the nuclear nations have been governed by the principle of Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD). This was the realization that if a nation initiated a nuclear attack the enemy would retaliate by totally destroying the attacker.
A Russian general stated that, “Russia is now 100% safe.” Russia is so confident in their new missile defense system that they have abandoned the principle of Mutual Assured Destruction.
While the eyes of the world are on ISIS, Russia is creating weapons unlike anything the world has ever seen before. We have the revelation of a giant self-propelled torpedo that can create a giant tsunami more than a thousand feet high.
It apparently has a warhead of up to 100 megatons which could produce a tsunami 1650 ft. high. It would destroy all life up to 930 miles inland from the US east coast. The radiation released would make the area unliveable for five years.
Russia has developed the RS-26 missile that has a range of up to 11,000 kilometers. It has a system of variable speeds which makes it indefensible. They have also developed a very effective missile defense system in which they feel secure from nuclear attack.
In another headline we read, “Russia Warns of New World War as North Korea Tests Bomb More Powerful than Hiroshima”
Iran and Saudi Arabia are threatening war as tensions grow between them.
In the Mideast the threat of war is constant as the potential continues to exist in which the major powers could be drawn into conflict over Syria. Russia and the US are locked in a struggle over Assad. This has potential to erupt into war between the two.
There is the potential for a world war to develop over Ukraine or other Baltic states.
The threat of a catastrophic terror attack continues to exist. Pakistan’s 200 nuclear weapons are vulnerable, to be bought or stolen by terrorists or terrorist states.
The overall world situation is deteriorating. The world’s economies are cascading out of control. There is civil unrest in Europe, unrest is developing in the US and there is the potential for conflict over racial lines or if there are election irregularities. America is polarized as never before.
The US government and the nations of the world are preparing for disaster and war. Last week the US administration warned Americans to have emergency supplies and water on hand.
The world seems to be one big powder keg about to explode.
“Ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars.” That is the very hour in which we are living.
In Revelation 6:2 we read about Antichrist’s appearance on the scene, “….and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering and to conquer.”
How does he do that?
What will be the scenario in the world that will enable him to do that?
We do not have to guess, the Scripture tells us the scenario, "Wars and Rumours of wars" (Matthew 24:6). "For nation shall rise against nation and Kingdom against Kingdom" (verse 7).
Terrorists, possibly with nuclear and biological weapons, bringing disasters all around the world? Panic, distress, rioting, looting, turmoil and lawlessness will bring the world to despair.
I repeat, before Antichrist comes to power there will be a sudden rise in hostilities around the world. Wars will explode all over the world with nuclear destruction?
Possibly a Russian nuclear attack against the US? Perhaps Pakistan against India? Perhaps China against India or Taiwan? Perhaps war in the Balkans or Ukraine? Possibly North Korea against South Korea or Japan?
We do not know the details of this scenario, but evidently the whole world will explode into wars and rumours of wars prior to the appearance of Antichrist riding upon his white horse to bring a false peace to a desperate world.
I suspect that in the midst of these wars and turmoil that the war of Psalm 83 will take place. That will result in a great destruction from the Lord upon Islam.
When Antichrist comes, Islam will have been greatly subdued and prepared to receive him as their Mahdi or Saviour at least temporarily.
At that moment, with the world in absolute despair and total deception it will receive a seeming savior with open arms and great enthusiasm as he comes onto the world stage.
What would it take for the world’s nations to surrender their national sovereignty to Antichrist?
What would it take for Russia, China, USA, Great Britain, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Iran to surrender their nukes and missiles and modern weapon to a world government?
In the present world scenario, how long would it take for the nations to come to that place?
I suggest that unless something totally unprecedented and unexpected happens, the nations will never make that surrender.
I also suggest that the above mentioned disastrous scenario with war and chaos and with nuclear exchanges is the only situation in which the nations will be desperate enough to surrender their sovereignty and their weapons to a world government.
I also suggest that this is the reason for the primitive weapons in the war of Ezekiel 38-39. Remember this war takes place after the tribulation period begins and after the war of Psalm 83 which is prior to the tribulation period.
In this situation, Antichrist comes upon the scene riding on his white horse (figuratively) offering himself as the answer to all of the disaster and chaos and fear.
He begins to talk. My how he can talk! “And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things…” (Revelation 13:5).
“Give me your armies and your weapons, put them under my control. Give me your nuclear weapons and the world will be a safe place again. Give me your police forces; put them under my control and I'll restore peace to the earth; I'll make the earth one big happy place and we'll all be one.
Give me control over your devastated economies and over agriculture and over transportation systems which have been disrupted by the chaos and wars. Put the world’s monetary system in my hands and I will establish a one world currency and bring peace and prosperity to the entire world.”
There will be a peace conference to end all peace conferences. The whole world will participate, war will be outlawed. This false messiah will control all of the weapons of war. War will now seem impossible. Israel will be given the West Bank and Jerusalem and a guarantee of peace and safety.
Islam will go along with the peace proposals, believing that Antichrist will ultimately deliver Israel into her hands.
The world will welcome a world religion, a world economy, a world government and a world leader. The whole world will come together, at least for a short time.
The euphoria of this new and seemingly final peace will sweep the world. Through the charisma and flatteries of the Antichrist, the world will be impressed. Peace and safety will be the cry. He will demonstrate "signs and lying wonders;" the world will be deceived.
He will have special powers given to him by Satan himself. He will perform miracles, signs and amazing wonders with all "deceivableness of unrighteousness,"
Paul says, he will deceive men with his false philosophies. "God shall send strong delusion that they should believe a lie" (verse 11). The lie about who Antichrist is and the lie about what he can do and the lie that men can become as gods.
This great peace initiative will be led by Antichrist who will be the leader of the Revived Roman Empire. (Daniel 9:26) He will gain the allegiance of the New Ecumenical World-Wide Union of all religions. He will forge a vast political/commercial/religious alliance designed to dominate world affairs.
A great euphoria will sweep over the world as this wise, dynamic, charismatic, benevolent, and powerful, wonder working leader seems to offer the world and its citizens all they have ever hoped for in their wildest dreams. The third world will be ecstatic with enthusiasm.
For over a hundred years there has been a powerful force including a group of wealthy men who have worked tirelessly to bring about a world government. Their goal has been to unify the world, ostensibly to bring peace and prosperity to the entire world. Of course the wealthy always seek personal gain.
They have sought to limit national sovereignty (including the USA) and ultimately to eliminate it. They seek to unify the world’s economies, the world’s currencies and the world’s laws. They seek to destroy the various cultures and to unify the world’s religions.
They are seeking to bring about a financial collapse to further facilitate their goals. Today they are using immigration to make the world a melting pot. Global warming is a tool to allow the UN to intrude into the jurisdiction of the nations.
Satan has always sought to weaken the nations to advance his agenda. “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations” (Isaiah 14:12).
Satan’s agenda is a world government through which he can easily control all men on earth. At Babel, the Lord scattered the nations to keep that from happening.
Satan and his minions have worked very hard to bring his plans to fruition. The only reason Satan has been frustrated is because it is not God’s time as yet. Paul reveals that to us in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7, “And now ye know what withholdeth that he (Antichrist) might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth (hinders) will let, until he be taken out of the way.”
The Holy Spirit working through the lives of believers has restrained Satan from carrying forth his plan to establish his kingdom on earth through his man Antichrist.
When the church is (taken out of the way) raptured and taken out of the world, Satan will be freed to attempt his total control of the world of men and women.
The stage is now being set for his man of sin to come on the scene, but before that can happen the church will be caught up to its eternal home and be with Christ forever.
We can see the stage being set for this end time scenario to take place.
I remind you that I have no special revelation from the Lord. I just take my Bible in one hand and the news in the other. The Lord has committed Himself to reveal to His servants that which He plans to do in the future. “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). Of course that revelation comes through His Word.
We are watching a scenario building which will allow the god of this world, Satan, to carry out his ill-fated goal of usurping God’s rule over His creation. Satan’s plan is to place his man on the throne of this world instead of Jesus Christ.
The scripture reveals that the major thrust of Satan’s attempt to establish his kingdom is a world church. This effort will be led by a religious leader called the false prophet (Revelation 13:11-15 – 16:13). He will lead the way to a unified world through a unified church.
Though no man knows the day or the hour, I believe that we are very near to the sound of the trumpet. Are you ready?