There Will Be Wars and Rumors of Wars Up Through and Into the Tribulation
Bible Study Guide (Olivet Discourse – End Times Series)
(Verse 6) There will be wars and rumors of wars is Jesus’ third warning to us in His Olivet Discourse on the Mount of Olives.
“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars,” (Matthew 24:6)
Wars and rumors of wars is not an unfamiliar concept to humanity. In fact, wars are almost as old as creation.
Not long after the world was lost to sin, it witnessed its first bloodshed in a war between two family members. Cain warred against his brother Abel. This brought the first stain of blood due to sin upon the earth.
Today, the globe is covered in the stains of sin brought about by war. War between families, neighbors, regions and nations. War has been a part of the curse on mankind since the fall.
At the rapture, when all good is removed from the earth there will be wars and rumors of wars that will bring about the planet’s worse days.
The heart is corrupt and evil and the Bible makes it clear.
“The heart is deceitful above all things
and beyond cure.
Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)
“What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight.” (James 4:1-2)
The World View vs. The Biblical View of Wars
| World View of Wars | Biblical View of Wars |
| The world says wars are caused by social injustice. | The Bible says that wars are rooted in evil and the fallen nature of humanity. (Galatians 5:19-21) |
| The world says peace can only come when there is social justice. | The Bible says it can only come about through changed hearts in the work of the Holy Spirit, when people put there faith and trust in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. (Galatians 5:22-23) |
| The world has a false dream of creating a utopian society for humanity here on earth. | The Bible says the only utopia that’ll ever exist will be the result of Jesus’ 1000 year over the earth from Mt. Zion in Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:2-4) |
There Will Be Wars and Rumors of Wars Until the End
The Old Testament is filled with secular wars between nations and kingdoms. This doesn’t account for the wars that were taking place outside the spectrum of the biblical lands. There are varying estimates that range from 10,000 to 50,000 wars that raged through ancient time.
Satan has also been waring against the Jewish people for thousands of years.
The 20th Century has been an historical unprecedented time of war. And has led to the most violent war torn century in the history of mankind. 187 million people died in the wars of the past century.
This is to fulfill this prophecy of Jesus that there will be wars and rumors of wars in the last days. But Jesus added something in addition to this warning that we must take into consideration. And this has to do with the timing of the end of this age and how close we are to the rapture and the Tribulation.
“All these are the beginning of birth pains.” (Matthew 24:8)
In other words, what Jesus is saying is the these warnings of wars and rumors of wars will increase in frequency and intensity. It’ll be similar to when a women goes into labor.
Rising Tide of Wars and Rumors of Wars
Today, we’re witnessing a renewed globe resurgence of the desire for world dominance by many nations. We have wars raging across several continents. Nations are increasingly sounding war drums in their rhetoric. We’re seeing an increasingly significant build up of military weapons across the globe. Military defensive and offensive positions are being taken up by many nations.
At the center of all prophecy, we see the nation of Israel currently battling wars on seven fronts. All this while we watch protests and calls from around the world for the annihilation of the Jews and their land.
There will be wars and rumors of wars and the intensity is growing almost weekly. It’s difficult to even keep up with the news of it all.
Will Wars Within the Family Increase?
Unfortunately, yes. Wars within the family will increase. Divisions will grow wider between family members. We should not be surprised by this. Because Jesus forewarned us this would occur.
“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn
“‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.” (Matthew 10:34-36)
This is not to be taken as a deliberate act by Jesus. The sword is a metaphor to indicate that He was not bringing peace to the earth. But rather division between those who accept Him and those who reject Him. This division would carry right through familial bonds.
Christ does not need a sword. No where in scripture are we told that Christ will have a sword to defeat His enemies. He spoke creation into existence. He does not need a sword.
The Flash Point
Look how the Covid vaccine divided families. And for what? That was just a flash point. This division has evolved into political beliefs. But Antisemitism, Zionism and Christianity will become the greatest swords of division. All related directly to God. This will be normalized as Satan continues to ramp up his attacks.
As we’re about to explore in the next few verses, Jesus taught us there will be wars and rumors of wars. But it’ll not be like the turning on of a switch and suddenly there will be wars. These last days that are headed toward the end of this age will see an increase and frequency of wars leading up to the next great prophetic war (Ezekiel War) of Ezekiel 38.
Many Bible scholars understand that this Ezekiel War will precede the Tribulation or begin in the first days of the Tribulation. Either way, the Middle East is fast approaching the Ezekiel War. All the chess pieces are moving quickly into place.
This current time of wars and rumors of war will lead us up to the Tribulation Period. This time period is the seven years that’ll occur after the rapture and before Christ returns for His Second Coming.
What Will This War Escalation Lead To?
The book of Revelation teaches us what will occur from an earthy and heavenly perspective during the earth’s worse days of God’s wrath upon a sinful world (7 Year Tribulation). Revelation teaches us through Jesus’ words given to John His apostle that war will be ushered in from the beginning of the Tribulation.
When Jesus breaks the second of seven seals of God’s wrath, it metaphorically unleashes the rider on the fiery horse. This horse is a literal symbol of tremendous wars that will occur during the last days. It’ll be a time of war like the earth has never seen. And it’ll culminate into the great battle of Armageddon. Then the end of this current age will come.
Visit this Bible study to explore more on the fiery red horse of Revelation.
Jesus’ Voice of Hope
“but see to it that you are not alarmed,” (Matthew 24:6)
Jesus offers His followers and us today a voice of hope. He teaches us not to be discouraged when we see these things. They must take place. But know when you see them the end is near.
Jesus’ encouraging words from the gospel of Luke.
“When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:28)
Paul, the apostle offers his own encouraging words in his letters to the Thessalonians.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”
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