By: Dale Weckbacher
Revelation 22:20
He
who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming
soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
(ESV)
As we scan the news it is easy to become discouraged
believing all is over for humanity.
Jesus told his disciples that prior to his return there would be wars
and rumors of wars but that when we hear of these things the end is not yet near
(Matthew 24:6). The good news is that
the end Jesus is speaking of is not the end of humanity but the end of the
reign of Satan in our world and the ushering in of the millennial reign of
Christ. In other words, the game for
humanity is not over for one more important move remains.
Tensions around our world are at a high rate as I write
this. The threat of a nuclear Iran
providing nuclear weapons to radical Islamists with one goal, the elimination
of all infidels that do not adopt their beliefs remains high. (1) While the world is yet to experience a
nuclear terrorist attack, the world has witnessed the willingness of radical
Islamists to carry out brutal attacks upon those not adopting their beliefs
even when it means sacrificing their own lives.
In 2016 alone there were 1274 Islamic attacks in 50 countries resulting
in the death of 11,774 people and the injury of 14,303.
(2) The thought of these radicals coming into the
possession of nuclear weapons is unconscionable.
North Korea presents an even more eminent threat for they
already possess nuclear capability and are performing missile tests in an
effort to develop a delivery system capable of delivering a deadly nuclear weapon
to any place in the world focusing mainly on targets in the United States. (3) North Korea already possesses medium range
missiles capable of hitting targets in the Pacific such as Japan and South
Korea which is why the U.S. has begun deployment of the Thaad Antimissile
System in South Korea. (4) In addition to this antimissile system, the
U.S. recently dispatched a nuclear sniffer in order to detect any nuclear
testing or detonations in the region. (5)
Syria also presents another of a rumor of war. There has been an ongoing civil war in Syria
since 2011 that has resulted in the death of an estimated 400,000 Syrians. (6) While some may believe other countries should
not interfere with internal struggles within a nation, when it was discovered
the Syrian government allegedly carried out a chemical attack on innocent
people, including children in a northern held area of the nation we must ask if
civilized people can just sit back allowing such brutality to go unchecked. (7) Believing civilized people should act against
this brutality, President Trump called for a missile attack against the base
launching this brutal chemical attack. (8)
The wars and rumors of wars predicted in Scripture will
continue and most likely escalate until the triumphant return of Jesus to
establish his millennial kingdom on earth.
This, however, does not mean we as civilized people and especially the
people of God should remain silent when brutal attacks against humanity occur
but instead, have an obligation to speak out and act against those perpetrating
such attacks. For this reason, we must
monitor nations like Iran seeking nuclear capability, North Korea that already possesses
nuclear capability seeking an intercontinental delivery system, and maniacal
dictatorial regimes like that in Syria having no remorse against murdering
innocent citizens and children with illegal chemical weapons.
Easter Sunday or Resurrection Day is the most momentous
event that has ever happened in the history of humanity. This is because in our fallen state due to
Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden we were unable to be in the presence of God. Thankfully, however, humanity was not left to
suffer an eternal sentence of separation from God for God mercifully sent his
only Son, not to condemn us but to provide salvation and a restored relationship
with God (John 3:16-17). While this
event was the greatest event so far in human history, one more move remains but
are you ready for this event?
John 3:16, the most quoted Bible verse, tells us that the
path to eternal life is through belief in Jesus God’s only Son. In Ephesians 2:8 we are reminded that
salvation is a free gift from God and not dependent on our own works. Romans 10:9-10 tells us that the path to
accepting this free gift is believing and confessing or telling someone that
Jesus rose from the dead.
If you have not done so already, I invite you to make that
confession now by praying with me,
Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know
that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23). I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse
me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).
I believe you died, was buried, and resurrected from the dead and now
declare you Lord of my life.
Congratulations, you now have eternity with Jesus to look
forward to. You now have confidence,
knowing that when you witness the escalation of wars and rumors of wars, it
only means the return of Jesus to establish his earthly kingdom is at
hand. Now tell someone so they too can
enjoy eternity with Christ in his earthly kingdom once he returns.
1. Kantor, Moshe. The growing threat of nuclear
terrorism. www.washingtontimes.com. [Online] The Washington Times, March
23, 2017. [Cited: April 22, 2017.]
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/mar/23/nuclear-terrorism-a-real-threat/.
2. Thereligionofpeace.com.
List of Islamic Terror: 2016. www.thereligionofpeace.com. [Online]
Thereligionofpeace.com. [Cited: April 22, 2017.]
https://www.thereligionofpeace.com/terror-2016.htm.
3. BBC News.
North Korea's missile programme. www.bbc.com. [Online] BBC News, April
20, 2017. [Cited: April 22, 2017.] http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-17399847.
4. Gordon, Gerry
Mullany and Michael R. U.S. Starts Deploying Thaad Antimissile System in
South Korea, After North's Tests. www.nytimes.com. [Online] The New York
Times, March 6, 2017. [Cited: April 22, 2017.]
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/06/world/asia/north-korea-thaad-missile-defense-us-china.html?_r=0.
5. Burke, Dave.
US sends its nuclear 'sniffer' plane on 'emergency sortie' in Korea amid fears
of new nuke test by Kim Jong-un. www.dailymail.com. [Online] Daily Mail,
April 20, 2017. [Cited: April 22, 2017.]
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4429662/US-sends-nuclear-sniffer-emergency-sortie-Korea.html.
6. CNN Library.
Syrian Civil War Fast Facts. www.cnn.com. [Online] CNN, April 9, 2017.
[Cited: April 22, 2017.] http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/27/world/meast/syria-civil-war-fast-facts/.
7. Gordon,
AnneBarnard and Michael R. Worst Chemical Attack in Years in Syria; U.S.
Blames Assad. www.nytimnes.com. [Online] The New York Times, April 4,
2017. [Cited: April 22, 2017.] https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/04/world/middleeast/syria-gas-attack.html.
8. Courtney Kube,
Alex Johnson, Hallie Jackson, and Alexander Smith. U.S. Launches Missiles
at Syrian Base Over Chemical Weapons Attack. www.nbcnews.com. [Online]
NBC News, April 7, 2017. [Cited: April 22, 2017.]
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/u-s-launches-missiles-syrian-base-after-chemical-weapons-attack-n743636.
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