The world is full of chaos and confusion, but God is still on His throne. I am not a gloom and doom preacher who runs around like Chicken Little screaming, “The sky is falling!” I believe God is sovereignly in control and His purpose will ultimately be fulfilled. Anyone with an ounce of spiritual perception can see we are living in what Paul called “perilous times” (2 Tim. 3:1). The evil and turmoil we see on the global scene are indicators and reminders that we are truly living in the last days.
I rarely watch the news anymore due to media bias. I do read news articles on my phone to stay aware of what’s going on. Mark Twain famously said, “If you don’t read the newspaper, you’re uniformed; if you do, you’re misinformed.” I don’t want negative news to consume my mind and make me live in fear. News Agencies have a policy: “If it bleeds, it leads!” Top stories typically cover murder, crime, violence, and mayhem. Many news outlets have a political agenda and a narrative they are using to sway people’s mind. (If only they would just report the facts and let us form our own opinions.)
Some people asked me about the recent attack on Israel and what the Bible says about Israel in the last days. I referred them to Zechariah 14:2-4—“I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished . . . Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem . . .” Many Bible scholars agree the Battle of Armageddon is looming in the future, the final conflict between good and evil, and God will supernaturally intervene for Israel (Zech. 14:1-12, Psalms 2, Ezk. 38, 2 Thess. 2:8, Rev. 19:11-21). I don’t think this is IT (the “big one”) yet, but it could easily escalate and boil over into an international conflict.
Because it was such a huge story, I did watch the news, and it was very disturbing.RadicalHamas terrorists fired thousands of rockets into Israel killing over 1,300 people and wounding thousands. Numerous hostages were also captured, raped, tortured, and executed. Families were slaughtered in their own homes, over forty babies were decapitated, and people were burned alive. Experts say it is the most savage assault against the Jews since the World War II Holocaust. Israel, of course, has launched an aggressive counter attack in the Gaza Strip killing over 3,000 and warning the Palestinians to flee or die.
Sadly, many protests erupted on U.S. college campuses blaming Israel for the attack and chanting “gas the Jews” or “death to Israel.” Antisemitism, fueled by the spirit of antichrist, will define the end times and will only intensify. Paul warned Timothy, “But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Tim. 3:13). In Matthew 24, Jesus predicted global crises, but also told us not to be alarmed—“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet” (Mt. 24:6). Now is not the time to panic; now is the time to pray! It’s all part of God’s master plan. He is not the author of evil, but He does move nations and leaders like pawns on a chessboard to serve His purpose.
Here’s why we don’t have to be troubled by all the trouble in the world—God’s has a proven track record of taking care of His people:
- He protected Noah’s family during the flood—Gen. 6-8.
- He saved Lot’s family from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah—Gen. 19.
- He spared the Children of Israel during the Passover—Ex. 12.
- He opened the Red Sea for Israel and drowned the Egyptian army—Ex. 14.
- He provided for the Israelites in the wilderness.
- He rescued Rahab’s family when He destroyed Jericho—Josh. 6:17-23, 25.
- He delivered the Jews from Haman’s genocidal plot in Persia (Book of Esther).
- He shielded the three Hebrews in the fiery furnace—Dan. 3.
- He preserved Daniel in the lion’s den—Dan. 6.
- He will take care of His church and YOU too (Mt. 16:18, Ac. 5:38-39)!
Jesus predicted, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33, NIV). Peace is not the absence of trouble but the presence of God in the midst of the trouble. Friend, don’t be troubled by all the trouble in the world. God is fully aware of it and He is “Our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1). He will have the final verdict in world events.