Throughout my scholastic career there was one subject that would chill my very soul. It was the one subject that fascinated me and at the same time bored me to tears, that subject was History. Of all the classes I had there was only one that held my interest.
It was the spring of 1982, the class was a perspective on World War 2. The class began as every history class normally does, giving dates, events and names of long dead people that are only remembered by historians wanting to torture children during their formative years. That year, it was different, for what we were studying was a play by play description of what was being reported in the news daily. The parallels were unmistakable.
Argentina had captured the Falkland Islands from Great Britain, echoing Germany’s invasion into Poland. Suddenly the class became alive as we as students were able to use our lessons from school to what was going on in our lives today. The animated discussions, arguments and counter arguments kept us enthralled as the lesson continued. Hopefully I was not the only one who learned the lesson that George Santayana is credited with coining, “Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.”
There’s something about war that seems to draw us in. Writer’s have romanticized it, soldier’s tell us of the hell in the conflict, refugees lament the lose of life, property and security, yet for all that War awakens in us a primal desire to experience it. This drive has made people millions as game after game of war are produced, we can’t get enough of it.
As with the other “must needs be” signs this is a tool in God’s tool box to shape the world, readying it for the return of His Son and fulfill his Word. Like some of the other signs this one is not thoroughly understood, let’ look at what He said in His Word.
And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.
Mark 13:7, 8
Matthew 24:6, 7
Over the years my teachers have pointed out the nation against nation and kingdom against kingdom are the same thing one be national warfare and the other being civil warfare. Yet, when we look at the Greek we find that nation is the word ethnos (the base we get the word ethnic from) and kingdom is the word basileia is used for an area ruled by someone. Which means that these Wars and rumours of war God is talking about is firstly Ethnicitys versus one another or can be rulers fighting among themselves.
When one thinks of war, we naturally gravitate to one of the World Wars, but with the words God uses, our mind should also look toward racial, economic and even political conflicts. Once again let’s look at 2 Timothy 3 and see to end these conflicts are taking us toward.
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their’s also was.
2 Timohy 3:1-9
This week, try to find ways to bridge the gaps between yourselves and those from other racial, economic and political backgrounds. One way to build these bridges is try and place yourself in their place and see things from their perspective, you might be surprise that despite all the differences you both share a lot in common and may become close associates.
Father,
My whole life I’ve been raised to distrust those who are different
from me casting blame to others, when it is I who am the source of
the sinful wreckage of my life. Grant me your eyes that I may see
others as you see them, fill my heart with the love for them as I
have for myself. For in this way can I reflect You to the world and
others can see your Son in my actions. I ask this in Jesus’ name.
Amen
Teaching the End of Wickedness 