In these days the world, the nations around us are increasingly forming alliances, accusing each other and preparing for the final show down, just as the Bible predicted. For a while already, we have been following these developments, but more recently, things seem to be moving forward at a quicker speed.
Just last week, in a major move, Russia suspended its nuclear treaty while in bitter speech against the U.S. It is believed that both these countries own as much as 90% of the world’s nuclear armament. Now there is a race to see who possesses the most weapons of mass destruction. Ironically, one does not need that much to destroy one another including the rest of the planet.
And in another strange move, last week, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin, Russia’s president. This is the first time a head of state has issued such warrant during a president’s time in office.
With this, a third power, China, is rising and is getting closer to Russia. Its president announced it will visit Moscow this week while at the same time criticizing the west for bullying Russia. This too is a major development.
And again, last week, Australia, the UK and the US. decided to build a super nuclear submarine against the threats of China in Asia. To this news, the Chinese military angrily reacted and said that the region is “Going down a dangerous road”.
And then we have the continuing war in Ukraine which really covers as a battle between NATO and the Russia. Just last week the US announced $460 million in additional military assistance.
In the meantime, Israel is also preparing for war; just a couple of weeks ago, Israel and the US kicked off a massive war game with an apparent message for Iran. This exercise drill, dubbed Juniper Oak 2023 gathered 6,400 US troops, 1,500 Israeli soldiers and over 140 aircraft, and artillery systems from both nations.
Clearly, instead of peacemaking efforts, the world is moving toward what Bible prophecies have predicted long ago; Armageddon. One may wonder how come they did not start a major war already; they are certainly flexing their muscles. They are threatening each other, but in all this we can see God’s sovereignty and patience and it is in Him where our trust and hope lie.
How one wishes that all this energy and money spent would be for the betterment of the world and especially for those who are suffering the most, the most venerable of our society, the children of the world.
One thing we do not hear much about lately is world hunger. According to the UN, it is worsening at an unprecedented rate. The number of food-insecure people in 2022 is estimated at 1.3 billion, an increase of 119 million people, or 10 percent. This has more than doubled the number from 2020’s statistics.
Last June, the UN Secretary warned of a “global hunger crisis.” He also mentioned the “real risk” of “multiple famines” which were declared in 2022 and are seen to be a sure thing in 2023 with worse famines to be expected. This is just like what Yeshua predicted would be a precursor just before Armageddon.
And, the incredibly sad fact is that there is enough food for everyone in the world but there’s little space in the hardened heart of men and women for those who are suffering.
But who is suffering the most when it comes to hunger? Children.They say that 10,000 children die daily from chronic poor nutrition. And we know, and especially from our text today in Mark, that if there is anything in this world that touches God’s heart, it is the suffering children.
We will see how Yeshua took these children in His arms and began blessing them and laying His hands on them Mark 10:16. Yes, God is tolerating all these things, but one thing we can be sure of, it will not be for very long.