ABOUT WARS AND RUMOURS OF WARS

Greek soldiers in WWII

      When there is a war in Europe it is so devastating that it becomes a world war. This is why the European Union was formed. Currently there are three areas of conflict that are ripe for an escalated war. No longer are wars simply one nation against another. Due to trade deals and international bodies, wars have a higher impact on the regions. Recent events have been alarming for most of us. Many of us are trying to fit the situation into the Bible prophecies. Next blog! 

Jesus warned us in Matthew 24:6-7 that there will be wars and rumours of war.  Before a war there is usually a rumour or threat of war. There are different sides to rumours: 

1. A strategy in starting rumours. All rumours add to the tensions that usually cause wars. Especially in a Cold War. USA and Russia has returned to a Cold War recently with the Russian ultimatum to NATO and USA. 

Extract from Draft Agreement sent by Russia to NATO and USA (Dec 2021).

A clear example of the danger of rumours happened in 1967. Russia started a rumour about Israel and Egypt responded by declaring war. Two times the United Nations said it was not true. By the time Egypt realised it was based on a lie, it was too late. The people of Egypt were clamouring for blood and the Prime Minister could not reason with them. Personally, I think this was a huge tragedy as people died. In this case, there was a plus for Israel as they won Jerusalem. It backfired!

2. The response to rumours. Most of us know the story of the boy who cried wolf. A rumour of war could be just that. Sometimes there could be so many issues that threaten to bring a war that people become used to it. I find it hard to judge this situation and say people become complacent in war torn countries. It could be they are dealing with the stress differently. 

A friend in Georgia told me that if people were to leave the country with every threat to it, Georgia would be empty.  At this point in time Ukraine is surrounded by Russian troops. Troops in Belarus are conducting an exercise with Russia. How can one know when and if, an attack will happen?

Other times people are so comfortable they ignore harsh realities. This certainly played a role in Germany at the start of the Holocaust. In the late 1990s I formed a friendship with the now deceased Sister Deverney. When I found out that she fled Germany we chatted about her experience. 

She said a lot of Jews had been comfortable and did not believe it would happen to them. This was even though they knew troops were systematically going from street to street and they heard the stories. My friend was on the last British ship leaving Germany. I thank God I got to know her and her story.

Let us pretend the rumours they heard were not true. It would have meant making decisions to prepare to hide or flee. At the least it would have been stressful. Rumours affect people who are closer to the situation. They have to trust in leaders to work it out. Unless they pray and God intervenes. 

Today there is a high rate of suicide among our young people. A situation with rumours of war can still cause despair, death and affect lives. In Europe in particular there are studies with youths who say they feel disenchanted due to the lack of employment. Rumours of war makes the situation more desperate for them.

As Christians we pray about each situation and ask God to intervene.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12

Leaders cannot see it all and do it all. Let us all pray that leaders are strong to resist the temptations. Let us pray they; treat human life with value, not  give in to egotistical plans of empires, and that they make well thought off decisions based on truth. We speak life while others speak death, we speak truth and seek God's will. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. We speak hope where there is despair. 

I pray you look to Jesus and find hope in Him. I pray you find peace and His joy fills your heart in Jesus name. I bind and remove the principalities and dominions of darkness operating over your nation in the name of Jesus. 

If you have not asked Jesus to be Lord over your life you can pray the following prayer and attend a full gospel church near you:

Dear Heavenly Father,

I ask you to forgive my sins in knowledge or ignorance. Please forgive me. I accept Jesus as my Saviour. I ask that Jesus comes into my life as I live to be a witness for Him. Please change my life and make me into the person you want me to be. Guide me in these times so I can be used by you to help others in Jesus name I pray. Thank you Father.

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