Want to know what the last days will be like? Why not go to Matthew 24 where Jesus Himself answers his disciples’ questions about end times. That chapter is rich in prophecy and well worth spending a half hour reading and studying.

Sitting on the Mount of Olives, overlooking the Kidron Valley and gazing upon the Temple, Jesus laid out events of the last days. Perhaps the most oft-quoted signs of which Jesus spoke comes from verse 6: And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. 

Undoubtedly, we live in a time and season when wars and rumors of wars are rampant. In fact, just this weekend, we witnessed those signs as both Iran and Russia launched very interesting attacks.

In the early-morning hours of Sunday, Iran fired 21 rockets at an American base and consulate in Erbil Iraq. The rocket attack wasn’t launched by Iranian proxies, but by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp. It was a direct action taken by the Iranians, and occurred at precisely the time of day that Iranian Revolutionary Guard General Qassem Soleimani and several top-ranking Iranian and proxy terrorists were assassinated in 2020. American Apache helicopters carried out the 2020 assault after it was learned Iranian leadership was plotting imminent attacks on American bases. That’s what strong American leadership does when threatened.

Fast forward to this past weekend and we see the exact opposite. Iran sent a clear message to the current American administration. While the Biden team has been hell-bent on pressing for another Iranian nuclear deal far more dangerous than the Obama version of 2005, Iran toys with them. Will Biden see this as a reason to cease negotiations, or will he continue to make his mark on history by bending to every Iranian demand and doing nothing about their attack on Americans and American bases?

The second interesting attack this past weekend was carried out by Russia on an international base just a very short distance from the Polish border in western Ukraine, far from current activity in central and eastern Ukraine. It was an unprovoked attack on a base reportedly used to train Ukrainians in peacekeeping missions. Russia apparently views it as an EU or NATO base and, supposedly, a threat to Russia. Again, lack of strong American leadership opens the door for Vladimir Putin to throw his weight around without consequence.

As US world domination continues to dwindle, we see the boldness of both Russia and Iran. Need we to be reminded that those two are key players in the war of Gog and Magog, described in Ezekiel 38?

Are we about to see the clash of Matthew 24 and Ezekiel 38 prophecies?

Luke 21 is a parallel gospel to Matthew 24, and Luke penned the words of Jesus, so critical for us to remember:

“Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

~Luke 21:28

Have no fear, friends. The signs we see today tell us that Jesus is coming for us soon!