Over the last couple of weeks, the world seems to have become a much more dangerous place. On Wednesday 25th April Sky News reported this story:
RAF Jet Chases Russian Planes Away From UK
“Two Russian bombers which flew close to UK airspace have been chased away by an RAF jet fighter. The aircraft, believed to be Tupolev Tu-95 Bears, were spotted off the coast of northeast Scotland. They were turned away from Britain when a Typhoon fighter was scrambled from RAF Leuchars in Fife. The incidents come amid heightened international tensions over the situation in Ukraine, following the annexation of Crimea by Russia last month. It also follows the arrival of a Russian warship, the Vice Admiral Kulakov, in waters off the coast of Britain.”
http://news.sky.com/story/1247985/raf-jet-chases-russian-planes-away-from-uk
(See our blog on the Syrian crisis from Sept 2013 to see how Bible prophecy on Russia and Israel may be interpreted. Note that the Russian planes are called “Bears”). On the same day the Guardian reported:
Israel suspends peace talks with Palestinians after Fatah-Hamas deal
“Israel has hit back hard following an agreement on Palestinian unity by suspending already faltering peace negotiations just days before the expiry of a deadline for the US-brokered process. The Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, accused the western-backed Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, of forming an alliance with Hamas, which he called “a terrorist organisation that calls for the destruction of Israel” – and hinted at further retaliatory measures.
Netanyahu’s comments followed Wednesday’s announcement of a unity agreement between Abbas’ Fatah movement – the dominant group in the PLO and which governs parts of the West Bank – and Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip. The US and EU also classify Hamas – whose name means the Islamic Resistance Movement – as a terrorist group, but may review their policies in the light of the unity deal.”
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/24/middle-east-israel-halts-peace-talks-palestinians
The next day the Daily Telegraph ran this story:
West threatens new Russia sanctions as Kiev warns of ‘world war three’
“Western powers led by US President Barack Obama have warning that Russia faces fresh sanctions over Ukraine, as Kiev accused Moscow of seeking to trigger a “third world war”. The threat came amid heightened tensions on the ground as the Ukrainian military launched a new offensive to besiege the rebel-held city of Slavyansk and insurgents blew up an army helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade.”
And on Tuesday 29th April this story broke:
North Korea holds live-fire drill near disputed border
“North Korea has begun a live-fire drill near the disputed inter-Korean western maritime border, South Korean officials say. It is the second time in a month that Pyongyang has carried out such exercises. South Korea’s defence ministry said it was notified early on Tuesday that drills would take place near two islands west of the Korean peninsula. A South Korean spokesman said its military was “fully prepared”.”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-27200485
All these incidents show the world politically is delicately poised. This isn’t the first time the world has been on the verge of war. Throughout the Cold War there were time where times when it looked liked Russia and America where going to start World War III e.g. at the time of the Bay of Pigs Invasion. But this time it’s not just 2 super powers. These stories show that America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East are preparing for a possible conflict.
This can be disconcerting and worrying, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be. We are told in the Bible how just prior to the return of Christ, the world will be in this state. In Luke 21:25-26 we read
And there will be…on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth,
We are then told after these events:
Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
No one wants war, but the Bible has prophesied that all these things must come to pass before Jesus returns to the earth to set up God’s Kingdom. In this Kingdom there will be no more war, no pain and no suffering. God is giving you an opportunity to share in this coming world if you will listen and act on his message. To find out more about what this is, visit our “What We Believe” page.