War: Past, Present and Future*

While we do not know the day nor the hour of Christ's return, we belevers are expected to know the signs of the times, if we are to be obedient. Jesus told His disciples the signs that would signal His return and the end of the age, and we should understand them: "And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation (ethnicity) shall rise against nation (ethnicity), and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." (Mt. 24:1-8). All of these signs are just the beginning. The end is not yet at hand. Often in modern history, people have mis-identified a war as "the last war", but it has not been so. Jesus continued, warning of affliction and hatred directed towards His disciples, in this case, Jewish disciples, for His name's sake. We have seen a rise in persecution as believers, but there has also been more of an issue with rising anti-Semitism, even in the Church. Hatred against Israel is growing, even though they had to deal with a terrorist attack against their civilians, including infants and children. The taking of any innocent life is deplorable, but how would you have reacted in the same situation? Jesus also warned of false prophets and iniquity (lawlessness) abounding, and we have seen both of those on the rise. Many respected ministers of the Gospel have tried to set dates for Christ's return, and have been proven wrong. However, in addition to these things, there is another sign: "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then the end shall come." (v. 14). The Shroud of Turin has been a witness to many of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, which is the Gospel, and we have been sending the free book, "The Perfect Summary", available in several languages, to many countries. Then, as we return to the words of Jesus in Mt. 24, He referred to a prophecy from the book of Daniel, saying: "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains..." (v. 15-16). Daniel's prophecy sets a timetable for the end time events that the world will experience, including the first appearing of the Messiah the Prince, who is "cut off, but not for himself". Daniel spoke of the people of another prince who would destroy the city, and the sanctuary (Dan. 9:24-26). Daniel prophesied that there will be a one week (7 year) covenant or treaty made, but half-way through that time period, or three and a half years, "he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate...And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days." (v. 27, 12:11)). This is not referring to the destruction of the temple in 70 AD, but refers to an event occurring after that date. There must be a third temple built for this to occur. Daniel was commanded by the "man clothed in linen" that the words of this prophecy be closed up and sealed "till the time of the end". (12:9). Because it is the time of the end, Daniel's prophecy is now read and clear to our understanding. As Daniel waited upon the LORD for this prophetic understanding, it was revealed to Daniel that the angelic prince of Persia (Iran) had tried to stand in the way of the deliverance of this prophetic word, until Michael, one of the chief angels of God, had helped (Dan. 10:13). The spiritual stronghold over Persia tries to stand against this prophecy of Daniel's. As Jesus brought revelation to His disciples of the signs that they would be seeing, He referred to events that would take place in 70 AD, and events that had to occur subsequent to the 70 AD destruction of Jerusalem. He spoke of signs that were just the beginning of troubles, and signs that would occur after the great tribulation had come (Mt. 24:21-29). "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." (v. 30). All of the people of earth will see this appearance of Jesus from heaven, however, this is really Christ's third coming. Before this event, He will have returned for the catching away of His Church, in which He will not be visible to all on earth. After His visible return, He shall send His angels to "gather together his elect (the Jews) from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." (v. 31). Jesus also said, "...when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the door." (Mt. 24:33). We have not yet seen "all these things" come to pass, so don't be deceived by those who ignore the signs and their timing. Luke 21 also gives us the teaching of the signs from Jesus, and concludes with a warning for us to be prepared: "And take heed to yourselves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." (Lk. 21:34-36). We are often overtaken by the "cares of this world" that Jesus warned about. Lord, let us be found worthy of escape, and worthy to stand before You. Another prophet, Zechariah, brought a prophetic word regarding a future world at war against Jerusalem and Israel, although we are already seeing the conditions leading up to this war: "Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege against Judah, and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it...The LORD shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah...he that is feeble in that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them...I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem." (Zech. 12:1-9, excerpt). All nations will be involved in this conflict, but then: "...I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn...And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends." (Zech. 12:10, 13:6). Isaiah wrote the wounded Savior shall startle them, or sprinkle them, as they consider Him. Many have used the rejection and crucifixion of Christ as an excuse to accuse the Jews. Even Martin Luther, the father of the Reformation, became anti-Semitic later in his life. However, the Jews were temporarily spiritually blinded for our sakes. The prophet Ezekiel also prophesied about a war coming to the land of Israel that will involve multiple nations. These nations will include Russia, called Meshech, Magog, and Tubal by Ezekiel (Ezek. 38:1-3). Other nations that will be involved in this attack upon Israel will be Iran, or Persia, Libya, Ethiopia, and other nations from the north (v. 4-6). Russia and Iran are already allies in the area of the Middle East, with Iran speaking threats against Israel, and supplying attacking terrorist forces against Israel. In Ezekiel's prophecy, the LORD describes Israel as formerly being desolate but now inhabited by the people who had been gathered out of the nations, becoming a prospering land (v. 12). This is the picture of today's Israel, brought back from desolation after WW II, and resurrected as a nation again after 2,000 years in 1948. It is a nation that is prospering in every way. The LORD will bring these attacking nations upon Israel, and they will be destroyed with fire (Ezek. 39:1-6). As I said last week, this coming war with Russia will release hell on earth. Out of this coming war, the LORD will deliver a world-changing message: "So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One of Israel." (v. 7). Let us come to a clear revelation and understanding of what lies ahead, and not be like the idle workers of Jesus' parable, who said that their lord is delayed in returning. If you are being fed here by these messages, then you should support us as we get this Word out. This is about obedience, and doing what the Lord is calling us all to do. **Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson, Jr.'s 11/12/23 message to the church. To support or contact this ministry: PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705. To view the whole message, please visit Dr. Stevenson's Facebook page. To get the free ebook, "The Shroud of Turin: A Perfect Summary", go to theshroudofturin.org.