We recently experienced a widespread internet outage. Then, soon afterwards, another one. Such occurrences are annoying and inconvenient, but can also be very serious. For example, the economic consequences can be far-reaching. Few of us understand how the invisible internet system works, the meaning of ‘DNS error’ (deemed responsible on at least one occasion), or how truly interconnected our world has become. As with many things, we tend to take it all for granted until something goes wrong. But we surely realise that it is complex, and that these outages can cause disruption to thousands of services worldwide, affecting millions of people. The system is only as strong as its weakest link, piece of kit or coding. Nevertheless, despite all this, we tend to trust it and rely on it.

Our world is becoming ever more unstable in many ways. This should not surprise Bible students. A time of great trouble is predicted before Jesus returns to establish God’s kingdom on earth in a reign of peace (Daniel 12:1-3; Luke 21:25-28). A formidable time of distress and confusion is described in picture form in the ‘apocalyptic’ book of Revelation.

In the past God has intervened causing chaos and confusion, and foiling human systems in order to bring about His purpose. Examples are: the flood (Genesis 7), plagues on Egypt (Exodus 7:14-12:32), and battles (Judges 4:12-16). We cannot usually tell whether a disaster is a natural consequence of human error or His intervention. But as the all-powerful God He is certainly capable, if He so decreed, of causing widespread chaos far worse than any recent internet outages.

God is also invisible to us. We cannot understand how He works. But He is always there. He never slumbers or sleeps. He is always totally aware of what is happening in the world, and can see in our hearts and minds. He never lies. He is all-powerful, and nobody can thwart Him (Psalm 90:2, 121:4; Isaiah 14:27). There can never be an ‘outage’ of Almighty God. With Him there is no unreliability: nothing to break, fail or wear out. No weak link.

Nowadays, however, people seldom think much about God. His blessings are taken for granted until there is a crisis. In life-threatening situations people often resort to prayer. Of course, God hears all prayers. But there is no guarantee that He will answer them. The Bible contains chilling examples of God refusing to heed prayers. He refused to respond to king Saul of Israel (1 Samuel 28:6), to David’s enemies (Psalm 18:41) or to faithless Israel (Isaiah 1:15): and He even told His prophet Jeremiah not to pray any more for Israel (Jeremiah 7:16).

So where do we put our trust? In fallible human beings or in the Almighty creator and sustainer of the universe (Psalm 146)?

One day human systems will end for ever, and God will rule. We need, right now, to totally trust in, and rely on, the God of the Bible.

The Nobel Peace prize for 2025 has just been awarded to Maria Corina Machado from Venezuela. Maybe not many people knew of her or her work. There was some speculation about whether the US president Donald Trump (much more well-known) would get the prize for negotiating a peace deal between Israel and Hamas. And this has been far more prominent in the news, especially as the live hostages have been returned to Israel. But the short-list for the prize had been drawn up a while ago.

This Middle East deal, facilitated by Donald Trump, is seen by many as a major breakthrough. Donald Trump himself hailed it as such, saying that there had not been peace in the Middle East for 3,000 years, and that ‘maybe’ the peace would be ‘everlasting’.

It is certainly true that for thousands of years there has been conflict in the Middle East. Of course, it remains to be seen how long this peace deal will actually last, but we can be certain that peace in the Middle East will not be ‘everlasting’. Why? Because the Bible says so.

The Bible most definitely predicts everlasting peace; and not just in the Middle East – in the whole world. Here is one such prophecy:

‘He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore’

Isaiah 2:4

The underlined words are inscribed on a wall near the United Nations buildings in New York. But, despite their efforts, the United Nations have failed to achieve peace.

The ‘he’ referred to in the prophecy is Jesus Christ. And other, similar, passages in the Bible make it clear that this prophecy is describing the kingdom of God on earth, ruled over by Jesus after his return.

But the Bible is also clear that before this reign of peace there will be a time of great trouble. The prophet Zechariah predicted an awesome battle against Jerusalem, where Jesus comes back to rescue the Jews who have survived (Zechariah 14:1-4). He also prophesied that the Jews, who have mostly rejected Jesus, will finally believe in him.

‘And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn’

Zechariah 12:10

That chapter also predicts the fearsome battle with Jerusalem. Quite clearly, these events are still in the future.

Another prophet, Ezekiel, described a future battle in Israel (Ezekiel 38:10-23). Verses 11-12 described an invader of Israel:

‘…I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will fall upon the quiet people who dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having no bars or gates, to seize spoil and carry off plunder…’

This invader is destroyed by God.

Consequently, despite their best efforts (however genuine), no human beings can bring about lasting peace in the Middle East, let alone the world.

Bible students watch world events in the light of Bible prophecies such as these. The news heralds the return of Jesus.

But there are also warnings for us. The apostle Paul wrote to believers in Thessalonica:

‘While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape’

1 Thessalonians 5:3

He was warning about ‘the day of the Lord’ and judgment by Jesus.

We need to heed these warnings. We need to be preparing for the return of Jesus, because it could happen sooner than we imagine. He will only accept us if we have tried to follow him. To some professing believers he will say chilling words:

‘On that day many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?” And then will I declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness”’

Matthew 7:22-23

We may not know much about Maria Corina Machado; we are unlikely to know Donald Trump personally, but we have Bibles and we should make every effort to know and follow Jesus Christ. For it is certain that one day he will identify his true followers and establish everlasting peace.

Last week there was a deadly car-ramming and stabbing  outside a synagogue in Manchester, north England. A synagogue is a Jewish church, and many Jews were there celebrating the holiest day in their calendar. It was Yom Kippur, or ‘the day of atonement’. Devout Jews spend the day fasting, and praying for forgiveness of their sins. Even secular Jews often fast as a sign of their Jewish identity.

This was not the first attack on Jews on Yom Kippur. In 1973 a coalition of Arab states, led by Egypt and Syria, attacked Israel on the day of this festival. And the capture of the hostages in 2023, by HAMAS, was exactly 50 years after this.

But what is this ‘holy’ day? It originated in the Law of Moses, which God gave to the Jews. It was an extremely important religious celebration that Jews were commanded to keep each year. As with all Jewish festivals, the original ritual is no longer followed. According to the law (Leviticus 16) there were instructions for all the people and especially for the High Priest. He had to perform rituals, including animal sacrifices, that were unique to that day; the people were told: “afflict yourselves” (and hence the fasting). All the sins of the previous year, for the whole nation, were forgiven on this day. This included sins for which sacrifices had already been offered during the year. No wonder it is regarded as ‘holy’.

But followers of Jesus do not keep this festival. Why? The reason is fundamental to the Christian faith, and is explained in Hebrews 10:1-18.

The law could never make the people ‘perfect’ (verse 1). There was this ‘reminder of sins each year’ verse 3

And, most importantly,

“…it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins”

verse 4

In stark contrast, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ did exactly that.

“But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God” verse 12

In fact, the law, and especially this Yom Kippur day, pointed forward to the sacrifice of Jesus (verse 1).

Tragically, the Jews did not accept Jesus as their promised Messiah. They, together with the Roman officials, had him crucified. Very few Jews accept Jesus now. And this has been stated in the past as a reason for hatred of Jews and acts of antisemitism.

But why does all this matter?

Firstly, God takes little delight in mere observance of the rituals themselves. He asks for obedience and the right attitude. Ritual was intended as an external sign of an obedient, godly heart. God said:

“For I desire steadfast love, and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings”

Hosea 6:6

There are few rituals for followers of Jesus. They are essential to observe, but it is crucially important that we develop the right attitude, and imitate Christ who “came to do the will of God” (Hebrews 10:5-7).

Secondly, we have no room for complacency. Despite their rejection of Jesus, the Jews had, and still do have, a special place in the plan of God (Romans 11:1, 25-26). While we should be sad at their rejection of Jesus, there is absolutely no reason for antisemitism. Rather, we should humbly learn from their mistakes (Romans 11:20).

A final thought: many Jews are easily identifiable. It was well known that they observe Yom Kippur. If we profess to follow Jesus is our allegiance and faith equally obvious in our daily attitude and behaviour? Do we really value the once for all forgiveness achieved by Jesus? We should do.