Are current geopolitical events a sign of the end of time?
With the current events in Israel since October of 2023, the world has been witness to pure and evil savagery. That being said, it seems Israel does not have much support on the world stage. The nations of the earth appear to be aligning against God's chosen people since ancient times. The bible tells us this will happen in the last days. There are other markers as well. Men being lovers of themselves, children dishonoring their parents and tight family relationships, and apostacy in the church.
All of this being noted. We do well to remind ourselves that God wants us reading our bibles and looking for Christ, not watching the news and looking for antichrist. Furthermore, since many of us have family, friends, and loved ones that are not saved, we are reminded to pray for grace and mercy for the world, that those we are attempting to love and cherish into eternity may have time to repent and receive the Lord Jesus into their hearts.
In my 58 short years of life, I have seen cycles of unrest escalate and subside over and over again. For centuries people that identify with God, and people whom God chose to reveal Himself to mankind through, have been persecuted simply for being identified with Him. Sure I have heard all the mud slinging thrown on Israel, how they are alien occupiers and so forth. But these things are simply not credible. God made space for Israel. Israel is God's created nation on earth. No other nation can claim that. For millennia Israel has simply wanted a place to call home and live in peace. The promise of God is that one day they will have that. But only He can give it to them. There will be no peace on earth until Jesus comes, because men are corrupt, especially those that think of themselves has high stakes players in the game of politics, power and the temporary wealth they can accumulate in the world. The cry of the flesh is "never enough", it will never be satisfied. That is why God's people are taught from the Father to put that flesh to death daily, and follow Jesus.
As long as there is depravity, temptation, and sinful lusts in the hearts of men there will be wars and rumors of wars. The Lord Jesus is coming soon. But what does soon mean? Paul the apostle said Jesus is coming soon, he has been dead for almost 2 millennia. Soon to God, and soon to us are vastly different things. God exists outside of time and does not experience it in the same way that we do. God fills up time with His Spirit. Image you were to choose to have a pet iguana. You purchase a large fish aquarium, and construct a habitat. You put the lizard in the box and from time to time you feed it. You go to work, on vacation and whatever else the Lord places in your path to do. But you are confident the lizard will be ok. After all, you provided for it for quite some time. Your existence is vastly greater than you pet lizard. You exist outside the confines of the box. God exists outside the confines of the box of time He created for us to live in. But the bible teaches us not to fear or to worry, only to watch and to work as we are charged with His great commission.
Whether or not WW3 breaks out into a military conflict that destroys nations or not, only God almighty will decide the end of time. And He overrules in the affairs of men also. He is able to restrain man, not by mans will nor might, but by His Spirit. But He has shown in scripture that He will judge the nations for their sins. For "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.". God will judge the nations and no nation is exempt. He even punished Israel for their sin by allowing their enemies to conquer and rule over them. In a very important time in history, and with an election coming up will God's people start demanding that our leaders turn the hearts of the people back to God, acknowledge Him in their own lives, and to trust Him instead of their own understanding so that He can direct the nations path? Are there even enough Christians to effect an election in this world today?
We have to take responsibility for depravity going off the rails in our society. It is not enough to post blogs and comments, give a thumbs up here and a thumbs down there. We have to start caring about what matters to God, and God created us for deep relationship. Relationship with Him, and relationship with others. Life really is not more complicated than that. But it seems too many of God's people have been complacent for too long. Content to say "Well I guess I struggle most with sins of omission." My friend you are not going to win hearts to the Lord simply because you discipline your flesh (imperfectly I might add). God wants you to be in the business of winning souls! But the vast majority of church members are just too busy, too scared, too whatever to do it and we wonder why the world is spiraling into deep degradation and lewdness. What matters to God? Souls! We have to share the gospel, and we have to demand more of our leaders both in the church and in government. And we have to get more into the word ourselves instead of being content with being spoon fed by others.
Our God is huge! And He can do marvelous things when His people exercise faith. But without faith it is not only impossible to please God, but it also limits the effectiveness of the work of God. Jesus said "A prophet is without honor except in his own house." Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief. When God's own people have weak faith, how much less will the world be effected by that weak faith. God told Joshua to be strong and courageous. That may be a good charge for God's people for the day in which we live. Keeping your mind set on the things above, not on earthly things. For you have died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you will appear with Him in glory.
God's sovereign plan still has a future. Jesus has fulfilled 4 of the 7 feasts in Leviticus. We are living in the age of Pentecost, which was the last feast the Lord fulfilled. Next on the agenda is His fulfilling of the feast of trumpets, followed be the day of atonement when Israel will accept Jesus as the Lord God and Holy One of Israel, and following that is the fulfillment of the feast of tabernacles which I believe will be the millennial reign of Christ. In the midst of fulfilling these feasts our Lord will also be pouring out His judgements on the earth as described in Revelation, and He is just and blameless when He does.
Do God's future plans involve you? They can! Turn your heart to Jesus and receive Him, then you will have the Life that is found in Him residing in you! God has a pretty simple immigration plan for His kingdom. Receive Jesus as God and King, and you are welcomed into the kingdom by His own Holy Spirit! God gave Jesus to you and for you because He loves you and wants you to have grace and mercy from Him. Trust Him today, and start living by faith in Jesus, who loves you, gave Himself for you, rose from the dead to justify you, so He could place His Spirit in you, and He could live His life through you. Where else can the world go to find rest for their souls? Go out and tell the world today that there is rest for the weary in Jesus.