Protesters form a fire barricade in Kiev, Ukraine, as anti-government protests turned violent.
There has been a lot of news on the revolution in Ukraine. Yet many other areas are experiencing similar rioting and unrest. Does the Bible tell us why?
For the past several weeks, the protests in Ukraine have been in the headlines around the world. The rioting kept intensifying until then-President Viktor Yanukovych fled the capital last Friday. The situation has gotten even more complicated since Russia ordered military exercises to be held along the Russian-Ukrainian border. Meanwhile, pro-Russian Ukrainians have seized the Crimean parliament building and declared the Crimean region of Ukraine a part of the Russian Federation.
Simultaneously, intense rioting and unrest has been occurring in both Venezuela and Thailand.
Egypt has also drawn a lot of attention. On Monday, Feb. 24, the Egyptian cabinet resigned, apparently clearing the way for Defense Minister Abdul Fattah al-Sisi to run for the Egyptian presidency. Al-Sisi could soon be one of the most important political leaders in the Arab world. These current events in Egypt are the result of two Egyptian revolutions that removed governments within the last three years. It is highly likely that the rise of al-Sisi (who represents the same military that previously backed ousted President Hosni Mubarak) will lead to further unrest by the antimilitary factions in Egypt.
Other hotspots include:
The continuing civil war in Syria, which has claimed some 130,000 lives and displaced some 6.5 million people.
Religious fighting in the Central African Republic, which has claimed 2,000 lives and displaced over 1 million people since it started a year ago.
Why are so many areas around the world facing this violence and discord?
Wars and rumors of wars
Concerning the unrest in Ukraine, Venezuela and Thailand, NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams commented: “If you didn’t know better, you’d think something larger was at work here.”
And he’s right.
Revolutions have occurred throughout history—but rarely at this intensity and frequency.
Some 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ’s disciples asked Him what would be the sign of His second coming and the end of the age. Part of His answer was that “you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. … For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” (Matthew 24:6-7).
The Greek word translated “wars” can also mean “battle, fight, strife or conflict” (A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and other Early Christian Literature, revised and edited by Frederick William Danker). This word could easily imply revolutions. For the past several years, many battles and revolutions have taken place in attempts to overthrow government leaders.
The three-year-old Arab Spring has disposed of leaders in Libya, Yemen, Tunisia and Egypt. Other major protests have occurred in Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco and Sudan.
And there appears to be no end in sight to these revolutions.
Revolutions increasing
Revolutions have occurred throughout history—but rarely at this intensity and frequency. A similar wave of revolutions shook the world in 1848—known in history as the Year of Revolution.
While 1848 was a rare and notable time in world history, we are living through an era of revolutions that is just as dynamic.
The Bible tells us that wars and fighting will increase just before the return of Jesus Christ. And that should concern you and me.
What will happen next?
Jesus Christ said that increasing unrest within and between nations is only the beginning of sorrows (Matthew 24:6, 8). The current unrest in our world won’t compare to the unimaginable casualties and human carnage that will occur in the prophesied Great Tribulation.
The fighting and turbulence of end-time events will kill billions of people (Revelation 9:15-18). And just before the final battle begins—which would erase all of mankind from the earth (Matthew 24:22)—Jesus Christ will return to save us from ourselves (Revelation 19:11, 19).
A frightening future indeed!
What should you and I do?
Yet God offers protection to those who love and fear Him (Psalm 91:5-11, 14). If you are living in an area of the world that is experiencing this violence, we urge you to look to God for protection and to stay away from dangerous areas.
God will offer help and strength to His people to enable them to face and endure the dangerous events of the end times (Revelation 3:10; 12:14). Now is the time to prepare for the end times—by faithfully persevering and keeping the 10 Commandments (Revelation 3:10; 14:12).
Continue to watch world events, seek the Creator God and pray for protection from the dangerous times to come (Luke 21:36).
To learn more about how to be protected from the future events coming upon this world, read our article on the place of safety.
Tim Groves attends the Jefferson, Georgia, congregation of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, where he serves as a deacon.
He has been married to his wife, Teresa, for over 30 years. Together, they have two daughters and two sons and live in South Carolina. They moved there from Ohio in 1997 to flee the cold northern winters and allow him to do the things he really enjoys, like roaming though automobile junkyards looking for hidden treasures from times long past.
by Tim Groves
