You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. (Mat 24:6-8, NIV)

Recent headlines for our area here yesterday read as follows:
The Russians Warned The West Again:
“No One Will Be Able To Prevent Our Retaliation, Learn the Nuclear Doctrine by Heart.”
So many people are dying because of this man and his aspirations. How many more will die? Not a pleasant subject to think about.
Our world has never been in such a state of war and rumors of war. Much sabre-rattling, threats,fighting, and slaughtering are breaking out everywhere. Russia and “The Axis Of Evil” countries are gaining new confidence to impose terror and fear upon the world. Russia seems to be on a hell-bent runaway. With help from North Korea and Iran, things look very frightening and uncertain. Yes, it’s quite true that Putin with his recent nuclear doctrine can possibly impose much death and destruction and spread abject fear, world wide. But Mr Putin is not immune to the hand of God.
My friends, if that is all we do is to read “the news” then yes. We are going to be scared. But, is there really something else we might read that will address what we are talking about and that give us assurance and hope, and that will help to inform us on what is happening in our world today? I believe that kind of reading is found in the Bible which just happens to be more up to date than next weeks news.
And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. (Dan 2:43, KJV)
History has shown consistently the accounts of other men, who thought they could do whatever they wanted to and rule the world. Or to rule over Europe. In every single case, they have utterly failed. Yes, the death and destruction they imposed was formidable but no one has ever succeeded in trying to unite or rule all countries of the world, or even just the countries in Europe.
Did you know that the Bible, talking about the kingdoms in Europe, says “they shall not cleave, one to another?” No matter what they do today, kingdoms and rulers will never be able to accomplish the uniting of Europe, or of ruling the world. The question has been asked before:
“Will One Power Rule The World?”
In an Adventist publication called “Signs of The Times,” there was penned a very bold statement about this. The year was 1940 and Arthur S Maxwell penned the following bold words concerning the ancient Roman Empire and the future of Europe:
“Crushed beneath the weight of it’s own vast proportions, it crumbled to pieces. Never to be united again.It’s elements lost the power of cohesion, and no man, or combination of men can consolidate them.”
In all of the long years since those days, that Adventist magazine has never had to go back on this interpretation of the great prophecy in the second chapter of Daniel. And no matter how crazy things get today, that is one point that will never have to be retracted. “THEY SHALL NOT CLEAVE ONE TO ANOTHER.” (Dan 2:43)
Maxwell continues in the same magazine article:
“True, many are beginning to ask questions and to entertain doubts. The Adventist interpretation here is under fire from many quarters People are saying things to us like “Look what is happening in Europe today. This new Napoleon is so strong that no one can stop him. He is bound to spread his dominion over the whole continent.”
Friends,today we are seeing another repeat of this kind of scenario. Many are literally shaking in “their boots” as we witness the horrors Putin and his helpers are forcing upon our world today. Putin himself, like people in the past, is now saying publicly that
“No one will be able to prevent our retaliation.”
History shows a long line of over-confident men. Over estimating their power and their level of control. For it is God alone that sets Kings up or brings them back down. (Dan 2:21)
As an Adventist, my only reply to what we are seeing in the world today is exactly what my brethren of the past have said about this prophecy. There is no need to retract or revise anything we have taught about the prophecy of Daniel 2:43. This prophecy is the most remarkable,the most significant to be found anywhere in the Bible. Daniel 2 is absolutely authentic and 100% reliable. It is not possible that this interpretation of Daniel 2 will ever be overthrown by any sequence of world events that we are seeing now or that we will see in the near future.
The Daniel 2:43 prophecy is the only prophecy in the Bible to which the words “certain” and “sure” are both attached. If for no other reason, with these two seals upon it, then surely we can trust it 100%. It has never failed in the past. It cannot fail now.
Perhaps this is partly why the Apostle said later in The New Testament:
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:(2 Pet 1:19, KJV)
There is a compelling reason in the witness of Bible prophecy, through which the faith of all might be confirmed and securely anchored. “We have also,” Peter declared, “a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the daystar arise in your hearts: knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” {AA 534.3}
While exalting the “sure word of prophecy” as a safe guide in times of peril, the apostle solemnly warned the church against the torch of false prophecy, which would be uplifted by “false teachers,” who would privily bring in “damnable heresies, even denying the Lord.” (1 Tim 4:1, 2 Thes 2:3, Acts 20:30, 2 Tim 3:1-5) To such false teachers, arising in the church and accounted true by many of the superficial brethren in the faith, the apostle compared to “wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever.” “The latter end is worse with them,” he declared, “than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.” {AA 535.1}
Looking down through the ages to the close of time, Peter was inspired to outline conditions that would exist in the world just prior to the second coming of Christ.
“There shall come in the last days scoffers,” he wrote, “walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” But “when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them.” 1 Thes 5:3.
Not all, however, would be ensnared by the enemy’s devices. As the end of all things earthly should approach, there would be faithful ones able to discern the signs of the times. While a large number of professing believers would deny their faith by their works, there would be a remnant who would endure to the end. {AA 535.2}
I recently spoke to a friend who said they were going to preach about something in Bible prophecy. I felt that I should remind them about the centrality of the cross and how they should make sure their message comes across as centered in Christ and Him crucified. The reply I got was something like this:
“I agree but I am teaching on signs of the times, and where we are in the prophetic time from Daniel’s statue.”
As if there was no way the cross needed to be included, much less be the central message of that part of Daniel, which, by the way is found in Dan 2.I am not talking about just one individual here. Quite a few people have told me recently that “the cross” is not really a part of Bible prophecy,
The biggest reason that Bible prophecy is scary to people is because when we talk about the Bible’s views on end time prophecy, we rarely talk about Jesus. As humans we often gravitate towards the beast, the mark, and all of the horrific things associated with them. In Gal 6:14 we are told to glory in nothing but the cross of Christ. The three angel’s message does just that. Prophecy is really just the story of Jesus, and His role in the great controversy with the devil. Rather than doting too much on history when we talk about prophecy, we desperately need a renewed focus on HIS-STORY. Lets look briefly at how the three angel’s message does this:
And I saw another angel flying in heaven: and with blood, he had the everlasting gospel, to proclaim to dwellers on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; (Rev 14:6, Murdock)
“With blood” is the phrase that tells us how God desires us to focus more on “Christ and Him crucified.” Thats why Paul said in Gal 6:14 “God forbid that I glory in anything but Christ and Him crucified.” One Christian writer put it like this
There is one great central truth to be kept ever before the mind in the searching of the Scriptures–Christ and Him crucified. Every other truth is invested with influence and power corresponding to its relation to this theme. The soul palsied by sin can be endowed with life only through the work wrought out upon the cross by the Author of our salvation. When Christ bowed His head and died, He bore the pillars of Satan’s kingdom with Him to the earth. He vanquished Satan. {FLB 50.2-3}
The very reason the gospel is therein called “everlasting” is because the cross has always been a fact and always will be the foundation of everything. Because of the cross we can all count on a solid foundation, no matter how horrible we have been or how much we have fallen short now.
“Those that are afar off are made near by the blood of Christ.” (Eph 2:13)
If the three angel’s message starts with Christ and Him crucified,then why don’t we? “I saw another angel WITH BLOOD,” says what it means and means what it says. Yes, Bible prophecy tells us that terrible things are coming, but it also tells us that Jesus is coming. And that is the whole point of Bible prophecy. Satan loses. Jesus wins. And when Jesus returns, we will finally win with Him. Christ is coming the second time, with power unto salvation. To prepare human beings for this event, He has sent the first, second, and third angels’ messages. These angels represent those who receive the truth, and with power open the gospel to the world. {7BC 978.11}
Through His servants, God gave the Jewish people a last opportunity to repent. He manifested Himself through His witnesses in their arrest, in their trial, and in their imprisonment. Yet their judges pronounced on them the death sentence. They were men of whom the world was not worthy, and by killing them the Jews crucified afresh the Son of God. So it will be again. The authorities will make laws to restrict religious liberty. They will assume the right that is God’s alone. They will think they can force the conscience, which God alone should control. Even now they are making a beginning; this work they will continue to carry forward till they reach a boundary over which they cannot step. God will interpose in behalf of His loyal, commandment-keeping people. {DA 630.1}
On every occasion when persecution takes place, those who witness it make decisions either for Christ or against Him. Those who manifest sympathy for the ones wrongly condemned show their attachment for Christ. Others are offended because the principles of truth cut directly across their practice. Many stumble and fall, apostatizing from the faith they once advocated. Those who apostatize in time of trial will, to secure their own safety, bear false witness, and betray their brethren. Christ has warned us of this, that we may not be surprised at the unnatural, cruel course of those who reject the light. {DA 630.2}
The Bible is clear that Putin cannot win. He will never control the world the way he wants to. For the simple reason that he is not the one that is in control.
As Christians, our calling from God is to become like Christ (Rom 8:29). This is a gradual, lifelong process that will be completed when we see Christ face to face (1 John 3:2). To be “worthy” of this calling means to want to do what is right and good as Christ would do and help us to do. (John 7:17, John 1:12).
Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thes 4:13-18, NIV)
Bible prophecy is a real eye opener on the activities of Christ throughout history and how because of His death on the cross, we all can get through the crazy times in which we now live. Bible prophecy tells us that we may look forward with peace, strength, and assurance that as we glorify God now in our life, He too will glorify us as He leads us into the next life.
“…when [Jesus] comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thes 1:10-12, ERV)
Jesus once said that
“People who really want to do what God wants will know that my teaching comes from God. They will know that this teaching is not my own. (John 7:17, ERV)
Those who sincerely attempt to know God’s will and do it will know beyond any reasonable doubt that Jesus was telling the truth about Himself. Have you ever listened to religious speakers and wondered if they were telling the truth? Test them.
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1)
Whatever they are saying should always end up glorifying God. Pointing others to Jesus. Not to themselves. (Acts 20:30) Just as the first angel of Rev 14:6 admonishes. If you want to know how to respond to what is happening around us today, just listen once again to that first angel:
I saw another angel flying in heaven: and with blood, he had the everlasting gospel, to proclaim to dwellers on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; saying with a loud voice, Worship God, and give glory to him; because the hour of his judgment is come; and adore ye Him, who made heaven and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of water. (Rev 14:6-7, Murdock)
A friend just reminded me of the following as I was penning this article
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
“Jesus reminds us that no matter what we face; His victory is our source of real hope. These words encourage us to remain steadfast in our faith, knowing that Christ’s triumph over the world assures us of His enduring support and love.”