Following the news can be somewhat depressing when you read about what is happening in this world and our nations. The war is still going on in Ukraine, with bombs destroying residential buildings which have nothing to do with the war, and innocent men, women and children are killed who are also not involved in the war, but are victims of the senseless killing associated with war. The Iranian regime has killed over 20,000 of its people for protesting and wanting a better life. The Iran war is still dragging on, with no clear goal and no end in sight, and many innocent people have been killed in the process as well. The same can be said about Israel’s continuing war with Lebanon.
The brutality of how North Korea executes people with the use of hammers and other cruel methods, for as little as falling asleep during the leader’s speech, is appalling. A Senator questioned a pro-life activist and asked the woman which method of abortion she preferred, describing four barbaric and evil methods used by abortion clinics too gruesome to describe in this Editorial. It makes one sick to read about their methods of murdering the unborn. Every day you hear about shootings in some major cities where an innocent child was killed in the crossfire of gangs, and seniors are being pushed onto subway railway tracks. An innocent woman was stabbed to death on a subway train, minding her own business and just trying to get to her destination. There are no-go zones in some cities because of the danger of injury or death.
What is this world coming to?
Thankfully, one of the first things Christ will do at His return is to put an end to war by totally crushing the armies gathering around Jerusalem. The only language which this war-adoring world understands is overwhelming godly power. You can read the encouraging outcome in Isaiah 2:4: “He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; 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.”
Children will not be taught from their youth to hate people of other ethnic or national backgrounds they may feel superior to, including the Jews, the Muslims, the Americans, the Russians, the Germans, the Mexicans, the Japanese or the Chinese, just to name a few. They will turn their swords, battleships, tanks, war planes, and missiles into implements of peace. Nuclear bombs will be destroyed or perhaps neutralized, if possible, to put the metal to good use. Arms will be burnt.
In the book of Ezekiel, Far Eastern nations are described to invade the Promised Land shortly after Christ’s return. But Christ will make a swift end to that futile attempt. Ezekiel 39:9 states: “Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and bucklers, the bows and arrows, the javelins and spears; and they will make fires with them for seven years.”
The bombed cities will be rebuilt. Isaiah 61:4 says: “And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations.”
Instead of devising ways to kill people, mankind will use their energies and talents to rebuild the ruins and supply everything needed in houses to be functional for the use of families.
Will the streets be safe? Zechariah 8:3-5 tells us: “Thus says the LORD: ‘I will return to Zion, And dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth, The Mountain of the LORD of hosts, The Holy Mountain.’ “Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Old men and old women shall again sit In the streets of Jerusalem, Each one with his staff in his hand Because of great age. The streets of the city Shall be full of boys and girls Playing in its streets.’”
Quite a contrast from what we see today.
You can understand why it mentions the creation “crying out” for better things to come, as described, figuratively, in Romans 8:19-23:
“For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption [better: sonship], the redemption of our body.”
The creation “groans” for better things, and so do we. We look forward to the return of Christ to put an end to this madness in this evil world ruled by Satan.
Let’s not forget our crucial part in this future process by fervently praying to the Most High God, “Your kingdom come!”—which cannot come soon enough for us and the whole world.