Wars and Rumors of Wars

Has there ever been a time when there were so many civil wars? US military involvement in Iraq, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, and Afghanistan has only increased sectarian violence. And one-time stable (albeit autocratic) governments have destablized into anarchy—and all of this, the backdrop to the devastating conflict in Syria.

Even if this was all, it might be seen as a fulfillment of Jesus’ end-time prophecy, “And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars..." (Matt 24:7). But there’s much more.  Today, there are ongoing violent internal conflicts in Yemen, Sudan, Nigeria, Somalia, and Congo—not to mention the dozens of anarchist rebel groups (besides Al Quaeda) in countries on every continent. The last century saw the greatest escalation of war in recorded history, with the death of 100 million people (including mass genocides of Armenians, Jews, Tutsis).

While you may think it could never happen here, what do you suppose the spirit of lawlessness can stir up when people are unemployed and can’t find work, and when they are hungry and homeless? Was the “Occupy” movement a prediction of things to come? As you follow the news events, keep in mind Paul’s words: “the secret power of lawlessness is already at work” (2 Thess. 2:7).