More Rumors of Wars

In response to Russia’s stepped-up air reconnaissance flights and active role in the Ukraine, “The United States on Wednesday placed sanctions on eight Ukrainian separatists and a Russian bank, warning that recent attacks by rebels armed by Russia violated a European-brokered ceasefire in the war-torn country” (Reuters, March 11, 2015). Britain’s Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, warned in a recent speech, “Russia could pose the ‘single greatest threat’ to Britain,” and he “accused Russian President Vladmir Putin of ‘subverting’ international rules which keep the peace between nations and said [Putin’s] actions in Crimea and eastern Ukraine ‘fundamentally undermine’ the security of eastern European states” (AFP, March 10, 2015). 

This week Russia pulled out of a 25-year-old European arms control agreement (BBC, March 10, 2015). Also this week, a three-month NATO military exercise involving the USA began in Europe. This “show of force” is aimed, in part, at demonstrating to Russia that the NATO allies will not stand by and watch Russia take European soil (ibid.).

Jesus Christ warned long ago that “wars and rumors of wars” would be one of the signs of the end of the age and His imminent return (Matthew 24:3-7). Russia’s actions, NATO’s reactions and the spreading strife in the Middle East all point toward the fulfillment of these ancient prophecies.

For more on these signs, read Fourteen Signs Announcing Christ’s Return.