Wars and Rumors of Wars
By George Stroh
February 21, 2022
When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come." And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him. (Revelation 6:3, 4)
The Second Seal judgment in the coming seven year tribulation period is great war(s) on earth. Just a reminder that the Bible says that, before the beginning of the seven year tribulation period, the rapture of the Church will happen, when all true believers will be caught up to be with the Lord Jesus Christ; For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17)
Jesus told His disciples that one of the signs of the coming tribulation period will be wars; "You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes." (Matthew 24:6, 7) Of course famine, pestilence and death, the third and forth Revelation Seal judgments are the inevitable consequence of war.
Some would correctly point out that we have always had wars and rumors of wars. However it might surprise you to learn that there are currently ongoing wars or minor conflicts in about three dozen countries, most of them in the Mideast region surrounding Israel. Of course there has never been a time when so many nations have had the ultimate sword-- an arsenal of nuclear weapons. Maybe this is what the Apostle John was referring to when he wrote, "and a great sword was given to him." Today there are approximately 15,000 nuclear warheads in the world, enough explosive atomic fire power to destroy the world many times over.
Is this another sign that the Lord is near, right at the door?
Maranatha!