Turning Point

Guest (Male): Jesus told his disciples that an increase in war must come to pass in Earth's final days. With the promise of rising conflict, is it possible to be at peace? Today on Turning Point, Dr. David Jeremiah says yes and continues the series "The World of the End" with a biblical remedy for your anxieties about the future. To introduce the conclusion of his message, "In a World of War, Be Calm," here's David.

Dr. David Jeremiah: The Bible does say that before the Lord returns the second time, which means certainly before the first time, there will be wars and rumors of wars. I remember as an early student of prophecy questioning how all of this could take place in the Middle East. It seemed like Israel was an insignificant player that would certainly not draw the contention of other nations, but I know better than that now. Look at what has happened in the Middle East with all of the Arab nations getting involved and with NATO now being involved. Sitting on the sidelines, Russia is waiting to see what's going to happen, and China is looking over the horizon to see what we're going to do. Everything is centered on what's going on right now, all centered around Israel.

Israel is a state not any bigger than New Jersey, with not nearly as many people as you would think. And yet they're God's people, and they are certainly the target of anti-Semitism and all kinds of things happening today, most of all, targets of war. We'll talk more about that in this session. I hope you are prepared. Your Bible should be open to Matthew 24, and we'll talk about how to be calm in a world of war. Before we get there, let me just remind you that you can have all this material that we're talking about in printed form. We have a 241-page hardcover book called *The World of the End: How Jesus' Prophecy Shapes Our Priorities*.

This book is available during this month for a gift of any size. Whatever you can give, whatever God tells you to give, you just send it to help us. Simply say, "Please send me *The World of the End*." And when you do, we'll make sure you get a copy of this book in return. I know that it will be an encouraging message to you and a blessed part of your library going forward. I hope you'll give us the chance to do that. We count on your faithfulness and your generosity. We know that we can't do this without you, so we try to encourage you and bless you and add value to your life when you challenge us with your gifts. Thank you very much. Now here is part two of "In a World of War, Be Calm."

Having looked at the curse and the cause of war, let's look at its course. It started with Adam and Eve and Cain and Abel, and throughout history, the technology has increased until the world today has enough firepower to kill everyone on earth many times over. And that brings us to the words of Jesus again in Matthew 24. This is what he said: "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars." As the time comes for Jesus to return, there will be an escalation of verbiage about war. That's Jesus' statement. Remarkably, he spoke those words during a time of prolonged peace.

Some of the biblical scholars who have commented on the phrase "wars and rumors of wars" have said that the earliest use of that phrase was a description of world war. In other words, when the writers wrote "wars and rumors of wars," they were talking about world war. If that's the meaning of the phrase, Jesus was telling us and his disciples that before he returned the second time, there would be another world war. I've heard that spoken about just about more than ever I can remember. People are lining up the nations and talking about where they would be and what would happen if this took place, and the idea of a world war gets discussed.

I don't remember that until just recent times. Are we headed toward World War III? Some military experts think so, and it's possible that Jesus said so. I don't know. In either case, the idea is there will be wars everywhere, which will increase in intensity and scope and fearfulness as we draw close to the time when Jesus comes back. So where are we today? Today, the Russian invasion of Ukraine slogs on with heartbreaking images on television every night. Vladimir Putin has amassed the world's largest collection of nuclear weapons and threatens to use them if he has to.

China is surrounding Taiwan with warships as the Communist government conducts war games and drills. China expert Evan Osnos argues that China is preparing to shape the 21st century like the United States shaped the 20th century. Another China watcher, Rush Doshi, wrote: "China now poses a challenge unlike any other the United States has ever faced." Pakistan and India now possess nuclear weapons, and the wrong provocation at the wrong time could trigger it all. At this time, nine countries are known to possess nuclear weapons, and the global inventory is estimated at 13,000.

The warheads on just one US nuclear-armed submarine have seven times the destructive power of all the bombs dropped during World War II. You heard me: on just one submarine, and currently there are ten such American submarines prowling around the world's oceans. There's more firepower than all the bombs that were dropped, even the ones in Japan. And the oceans are filled with submarines from other nations carrying equal payload. A new arms race has begun with nearly all nuclear powers working overtime to increase their arsenals.

China has an estimated 350 nuclear warheads assigned to missiles, all of which are capable of reaching the United States. The United Kingdom has 225. I could go on and give you the list. I am just telling you that we live in a time when armament is like it has never been before. Someone says, "What about Israel?" and the answer to that is, Israel never discusses its nuclear capabilities. But you can be sure they're ready for whatever happens. Now the Lord has given us a vision into the future in Matthew 24 and in the book of Revelation.

He says that at any moment, Jesus is going to come for his church, and then the events of Matthew 24 that have been growing in intensity and frequency will give birth to a series of wars like nothing has ever happened before in human history. I'm not trying to be negative; I'm not trying to scare you. What I'm trying to do is help you understand that we live in a perilous time. That's the context in which I want to give you the major message from this particular story. We have conflicts, but we have confidence.

I don't like war any more than you do. I wish there was something I could do. I wish I could do something. There isn't anything I can do to stop war. There's not anything you can do to stop war. And there's no reason to worry about it because there's nothing you can do about it. But here's what you can do, and this is what this is all about, and this is what I hope you will get today: you can become the person of God that he created you to be so that no matter what happens, you're ready to stand up and be God's person.

Our confidence becomes so powerful because Jesus summarized all that he wants us to know. In fact, I kind of skimmed over it because I didn't want to give it away too soon. But I want you to hear what Jesus said. We would have expected him to say, "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, so be prepared for trouble." Or we would have expected him to say, "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, keep an anxious eye on the times. Expect to feel uneasy and prepare for the many foes and the woes to come."

But that is not what Jesus said. Jesus said, "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled." Are you kidding me? I just gave you a pretty dire report, and Jesus is saying to us at the end of this report: "Y'all don't be troubled." Sometimes the scripture just almost makes you laugh. The Greek word for "troubled" means to be terrified, means to cry aloud, it means to scream. Jesus is telling us not to panic, even when we are surrounded by wars and rumors of wars.

How is that possible? How can you live in a world like we live in today and not be troubled? Well, here's the answer. It's all wrapped up in the peace that you find in God's promise, in God's presence, and in God's plan. Peace from God's promise. I feel grieved by the conflicts that harm and destroy so many people, especially so many innocent people. We may ask good questions about why these things happen, but here's God's promise. One day, it's all going to end.

Promise comes to us in Psalm 46:9: "He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth." One day, King Jesus is going to stop war, and it'll never happen again. Isaiah spoke of the days when the kingdom of Jesus will reign from Jerusalem and all the tribes of the earth will hear his teachings and learn his ways. And Isaiah says, "They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore."

We've joked about it over the years that there aren't going to be any preachers preaching in heaven because we will know everything we should know. So when I get to heaven, I'm out of work. But I'm not the only one. All you military guys sitting out here, all you military families that live every day in preparation for the defense of this nation, the Bible says one day King Jesus is going to stop all war, and you and I will sit down and figure out what to do next. But there won't be any war.

I have a wonderful quote from M.R. DeHaan. He said: "Can you imagine a time when war will be utterly unknown? There will be a day when not a single armament plant will be operating, not a soldier or sailor will be in uniform, no military camps will exist, and not one cent will be spent for armaments of war. Not a single penny will be used for defense, much less for offensive warfare. Can you imagine such an age when all nations will be at perfect peace? This is not merely imagination; it is certain, unquestionable as certain as the sun rises and sets."

But in the meantime, though there is warfare in the world, let's meditate on where we're going with all this. One day, it'll all be over. If you're a Christian, that should bring hope to your heart. You're not going to have to live with war for eternity. The King of Peace is in charge. I don't think it will be long before he will set up his kingdom on this earth. In fact, sometimes we need to just give you the numbers so you realize this is not pie in the sky by and by.

This could happen within seven years. Just think about this: if Jesus were to come tomorrow, we'd go to heaven and the tribulation would take place for seven years. At the end of that seven years, he comes back and sets up his kingdom and war will be over. Let me just put it this way: we could be seven years away from there ever being any more war again for eternity. If that doesn't crank you up, I don't know what will. I'm just glad I'm on the right side of the equation.

Here's the second thing: get peace not only from the promise of God but from his presence. Do you know nothing is more important or more confidence-boosting than the promise that God will be with us? There's nothing we ever face, men and women, as followers of Jesus Christ that we have to face alone. The Lord God doesn't say to us, "I'll wait here, you go on." No, he says, "Let's go," and he goes with us. Deuteronomy 20 says it this way: "Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, for the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies and to save you."

In 31:8: "The Lord, He is the one who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you nor forsake you. Do not fear and do not be dismayed." Joshua 1:5 and 9 to General Joshua: "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will never leave you, I will never forsake you. Haven't I commanded you to be strong and of a good courage? Don't be afraid or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Isaiah 43:2 says: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you."

Hebrews 13 says: "He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So that we may boldly say: 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?'" The promise of the presence of God in our lives, especially in what could be scary times like the ones in which we currently live, is so important that when he sent his Son into our world to provide for our salvation, one of the names he gave him was this: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, which is translated, God with us." Say that with me: God with us.

God is with us. Every day I get up and I'm reminded I'm getting ready to face this day, but not by myself. God is with us. I have issues that I've been dealing with as you know, but not by myself. God has been with me, and he's with you. And when you don't know what's going to happen and when the skies look dark and you're a little bit frightened, just remember God's promise: "I will be with you. I will never ever leave you or forsake you."

Jim and Marina Noyes were in Ukraine when Russia invaded. They spent the first ten days of the war in Kyiv, where they had planted a church. They wanted to stay in Ukraine, but they had two grandchildren and one was a special needs child. She's a little girl who uses a walker to move about. And one day, Marina heard the child talking to her baby doll that she has, and she said, "Don't worry, don't panic, sweetie. All will be well. Mommy is with you."

From the lips of children. Jim and Marina, their son and daughter-in-law, and the two children wound their way around conflict to escape Ukraine. And when they arrived in the United States, they shared their story. Here's what they said: "When trouble comes, we cry. When it gets bad, we pray. And when it becomes unbearable, we sing." She said the Ukrainians have written thousands of songs since the war began over there. Ukraine has always been religious, but now Ukraine is really turning to God because of what's happening.

Our peace amid conflict, our ability to sing in the storm, comes from the one who is with us. We don't have the strength to do that on our own. How many of you know you don't feel like singing when rockets are flying overhead? But God gives you the power to do that. It's Jesus who said, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

John 16:33 has become one of my favorite passages. "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." Jesus didn't say, "In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome tribulation." He didn't say that. He said, "I've overcome the world." Jesus doesn't just overcome the tribulation in the world; he overcomes the world in which tribulation happens. He's in charge. Almighty God is on the throne, and you can count on the fact when he promises to be with you, he will be with you. This week, this day, this very moment in your life.

So you have peace from God's promise and peace from his presence. And then peace from God's plan. Look again at Matthew 24. "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass." All these things must come to pass. I love it when Jesus says "must." It indicates the indisputable, inexorable decree of Almighty God in things large and small, which Jesus controls.

Because he knows the things that are going to be fulfilled, we can rest in him, we can trust in him, we can know that his peace is ours no matter what's going on in the world he's promised. On a certain level, all of human history feels like a chess game between God and the devil. But there's no question about who has won and who is winning and who will always secure the victory. That's why Jesus told us we will hear of wars and rumors of wars but not be troubled.

The only way to do that is to trust. Who are you trusting in? The one who controls everything. He's the sovereign God. He's the Almighty. Isaiah said it this way: "You will keep him in perfect peace." How? "Whose mind is stayed on You." When things are swirling around so unconventionally and uncomfortably, the Bible says concentrate on Jesus. Let your mind be filled with who he is and his power and his strength and his sovereignty.

Peace is found in trusting the person who controls all the things you don't understand and who knows the mystery behind all. How do you experience this remarkable peace? You experience it by keeping your mind stayed on the Lord. Do you ever take some time during the day to just stop and think about who Jesus really is and what he has done? You say, "Well, I'm worried about the future." Well, the Lord's already taken care of your ultimate future if you've put your trust in him.

And if he is capable of dealing with you for eternity, don't you think he can get you from here to there? So you trust in the Lord with your soul salvation. You trust in the Lord with the struggles and sorrows of life. You trust him with your service. He has work for you to do in these last days. And when you hit roadblocks, you find yourself in the midst of conflict, just say, "Now Lord, what do we do next? What is going to happen now that I need to do?"

I find myself more energized about serving Jesus Christ in these uncertain days than I have ever been before. And one of the reasons why we have structured this series so that it's directed at you and who you are and where you are and what you are becoming is because I believe with all my heart that's what God is saying to us during these days. God is not telling us that war's not going to happen. He's not telling us that there won't be devastation and sorrow and all the things that are happening in Israel.

But what he is saying is this: in Christ, you are sufficient. In Christ, you are strengthened. In Christ, you can be everything you need to be no matter what's happened. Let me remind you that this book that we love, this Bible, was written during a time of Roman domination that was way worse than anything you and I have ever experienced. It's a book full of promises, a book full of victory, a book full of Christians who are doing unimaginable great things, and it is a book written for such a time as this.

Bruce Belfrage was an English actor who became a reporter and a newsreader for the British Broadcasting Company. As the Battle of Britain terrorized London during World War II, the Germans bombed the city with unremitting air raids. The BBC headquarters were not spared. On the evening of October 15, 1940, the BBC took a direct hit from a 500-pound delayed-reaction German bomb and exploded during the nine o'clock news. Seven people were killed, but Bruce Belfrage was reading the news at that very moment, and the plaster and soot and smoke rained down on him.

To everyone's amazement, he didn't miss a beat. He calmly kept reading the news as if nothing had happened. And all the listeners at home heard was a dull thud and someone whispering, "Are you all right?" Belfrage's only comment was: "Carry on. It's all right." That's what Jesus is telling us in Matthew 24. These times are coming. Jesus is going to return. It could be before we meet the next time. But what are we to do? Just carry on.

Be the people God called you to be. Stand up for righteousness. Tell people that you love about Jesus Christ, invite them to church. Be the people God called you to be. That's what this is all about. It's not about sitting here wringing our hands over what's going to happen. It's about a new kind of strength that comes to our hearts when we realize that what God is telling us is this: as bad as war could be, as frightening as it might be, ain't nothing compared to the strength God puts in you when you put your trust in him. And that's what you need to do.

I'll sum it up like this: we live in a world that is warring from Armageddon to Armageddon. But we serve a Lord who is reigning from everlasting to everlasting. Amen? So let not your heart be troubled. Live in peace. In the midst of the storm, we can be like the center of the hurricane: quiet in the middle with everything swirling around us. Somebody is going to come up and say, "Why are you the way you are?" And you can say, "I've got the peace of God, which passes all understanding, because Jesus Christ is my savior." Hallelujah.

Do we need that truth today? That in the midst of turmoil and being afraid to watch the news in the morning to see what's happened overnight, we can have a peace in our heart knowing that God is in control, that he is reigning over things in heaven and on earth. The Bible pictures the Lord Jesus as sitting in heaven and his footstool is the earth. He's the sovereign God, and we can trust him. Tomorrow we're going to talk about "In a World of Disasters, Be Confident."

We are seeing many, many things happen that have to be included under the heading of disaster. Some things just happened as I was getting ready to produce these programs. Once again, every day a little bit of something like that happens, and some days a lot of things happen. What do we do when disasters are happening all around us? How do we get up every day with confidence and go about serving the Lord right here tomorrow on Turning Point? I hope you'll join us then. I'm David Jeremiah, and thank you so much for listening.

Guest (Male): Our message today originated from Shadow Mountain Community Church and senior pastor Dr. David Jeremiah. Will you take a moment to tell us how our ministry is an encouragement? You can write us at Turning Point, P.O. Box 3838, San Diego, California 92163. Visit our website at davidjeremiah.org/radio or call 800-947-1993. Ask for your copy of David's book, *The World of the End*, with a special "Be the Answer" bookmark, yours for a gift of any amount.

You can also stream more than 1,200 of Dr. Jeremiah's messages on demand on any screen with our streaming service, Turning Point+, for a monthly gift of any amount. Visit turningpointplus.org for details. That's turningpointplus.org. This is David Michael Jeremiah. Join us tomorrow as we continue the series "The World of the End" on Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah.