LSN: Is a new world war about to begin?

While Israel and Hamas are at war, there are various anti-Israeli protests going on around the world:

21 October 2023

Pro-Palestine protesters declared they were standing on the right side of history, marching for justice and humanity, as they turned out in their thousands at rallies across Australia on Saturday.

Thousands marched through the Sydney CBD on Saturday after police green-lit the event, with rallies also held in Perth, Hobart and Brisbane as more information emerges from conflict-stricken Gaza.

Protesters at Sydney’s Town Hall chanted “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” and “in our thousands, in our millions, we are all Palestinians” as a significant police presence watched on.

Tens of thousands of people in Muslim countries held demonstrations in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Friday, calling on Israel to stop its airstrikes on the territory in response to an attack by Hamas militants. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/21/thousands-to-attend-pro-palestine-protests-across-australia

Protesters gathered in Arab nations and beyond, including Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Yemen, Morocco, Malaysia and Indonesia.

In Egypt, where the military usually bans public gatherings, thousands took to the streets of Cairo and other cities in a public outpouring of anger.

Demonstrators chanted, “The people want the fall of Israel,” modifying a common chant from the Arab Spring: “The people want the fall of the regime.”

In Bahrain, which has normalized relations with Israel, several thousand people marched, chanting slogans such as, “No to normalization!” 10/20/23 https://www.voanews.com/a/thousands-in-middle-east-and-beyond-rally-for-palestinians/7320417.html

Let me add that the statement, “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” means that the area from the Jordan river to the Mediterranean Sea is to be Palestinian and not Israeli. The comment for the “fall of Israel” and the “No to normalization!” one are pointing to a hope for a massive war that will eliminate the nation of Israel. So, the intent of many of the protestors is not peace.

Nor does the nation of Israel want to currently stop is military actions in Gaza, as well as with sporadic attacks into Lebanon against Hezbollah or into Syria against various ones.

Israel has vowed to shrink Gaza, yet Bible prophecy points to Gazans gaining territory that Israel now controls (see ‘Israeli foreign minister says Gaza territory will shrink after war’).

Might the current conflict escalate into a regional war?

Yes.

Some wonder if World War III is about to begin::

Is a new world war about to begin?

October 21, 2023

The globalist cabal behind The Great Reset plan desperately wants war — the bigger the better — as this will facilitate the transition into their “new world order”

War destroys supply chains, the energy sector, food supply and the workforce, which creates dependency on government, which in turn will be taken over by private interests and central banks through the collapse of the global economy

Putting an end to the Ukraine war could go a long way toward thwarting that plan, but instead, American leaders are adding fuel to yet another war

October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israeli civilians. American war hawks are calling for retaliatory strikes not only against Palestinian civilians in Gaza but also Iran, suspected of funding Hamas forces

October 8, 2023, a top Hezbollah official, Hashem Safi al-Din, warned that Lebanon will join the Palestinian resistance unless the U.S. and Israel cease to “violate” Muslim holy sites. Evidence suggests Hezbollah has been using Mexican cartels to smuggle terrorists into the U.S. for well over a decade, raising the possibility of terrorist attacks on U.S. soil, should we enter the war in the Middle East …

October 8, 2023, a top Hezbollah official, Hashem Safi al-Din, said that the U.S. and Israel’s violations of Islamic holy places and “crossing of all lines” are what led to the latest attack. Moreover, he warned that Lebanon will join the “deluge” on Israel if the “foolishness” continues.³

Already, Hezbollah forces have shelled Israeli military sites along the Lebanon border “in solidarity with the Palestinian resistance.” Israel reportedly responded with a drone strike against “Hezbollah infrastructure” in the area. …

The Biden administration is also endorsing Israel’s escalation against Iran,⁸ which raises the stakes even further, and risks terror attacks on American soil. There are no easy answers to time-hardened conflicts such as those in the Middle East, but aggressively calling for retaliatory actions is clearly not in the best interest of anyone, least of all the American population.

Yet here we are, seemingly powerless to prevent being dragged into what could progress into a multi-front world war. https://lifesitenews.com/analysis/is-a-new-world-war-about-to-begin/?utm_source=featured_news&utm_campaign=usa

The Biden regime is urging Israel to exercise caution and restraint, and to follow all international laws of war, to prevent civilian casualties. It is also urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to delay the invasion in order to allow more time for civilian evacuations.

In what many are calling a propaganda video, Israel released a video over the weekend claiming that it is only waging war on Hamas and not Gaza civilians.

“My fear is we’re being manipulated into WWIII,” wrote one concerned commenter about these latest developments. “The elites have been trying to depopulate the planet and a nuclear war would be the fastest way there.” https://www.naturalnews.com/2023-10-20-wwiii-israel-gaza-invasion-iran-earthquake-hezbollah.html

Yes, we may very well see a multi-front war involving Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, Syria, and others–perhaps also involving the USA and UK.

But that will not be World War III.

Why?

While a conflict involving Israel, Iran, Syria, and perhaps others is prophesied in Isaiah 22:6-9, that will not be the third world war.

As far as Iran goes, several months ago, we put out the following video:

15:03

Iran and Israel Conflict

European Union foreign policy chief, Josep Borrel, has been brokering the nuclear negotiations involving Iran and said that he thinks the deal is “in danger.” Iran blames the United States, whereas the USA says they are not delaying it. Israeli sources stated that Israel will stop Iran from getting a nuclear bomb. Joe Biden says the USA would use its own military power to prevent Iran from getting such a bomb if need be. In 2021, Iranian lawmakers have submitted a bill seeking the government by law to commit to Israel’s destruction by the year 2040. Does the 22nd chapter of Isaiah point to damage coming to Israel from Iran and possibly Syria? Might Iran be concerned enough about limited progress with the USA to launch some type of attack? Is Iran the prophesied ‘King of the South’? Is it reasonable to think that the prophesied peace deal of Daniel 9:27 will not happen until after a military conflict. like a regional war? Should Christians watch the Middle East? Dr. Thiel and Steve Dupuie discuss these matters.

Here is a link to our video: Iran and Israel Conflict.

Despite implications of the book cover shown at the beginning of this post (which warns of China beginning WWIII), WWIII will NOT begin in 2023.

What could be called WWIII would seem to align with what Jesus called the Great Tribulation in Matthew 24:21-22.

At this moment, it is now impossible that the Great Tribulation can begin in 2023 or 2024 or 2025 or 2026. The Great Tribulation will come relatively soon, but 2027 is the earliest possible start date–and that is probably too early at this stage (you may also wish to watch a sermon video titled The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives, as well another sermon titled: Great Tribulation: 2026 or 2027?).

Jesus’ disciples specifically asked Him how to know when this would happen (Matthew 24:3; Mark 13:4; Luke 21:7)–and He responded with details. Several of those details are yet to be fulfilled.

But sadly, even most who claim to believe the Bible overlook what Jesus taught, but instead try to point to other things.

Consider, for example, that although some claimed that the blood moons in 2014 and 2015 may have marked the beginning of the Great Tribulation, I correctly denounced that years ago (Blood Moons, Eclipses, and Prophecy; a related YouTube video is also available: Blood Moons, Prophecy, 2014, and 2015) and was proven right. I also denounced the so-called Shemitah year and the claimed devastation that was supposed to hit the world economy, etc. in late 2015 (see also 6000 years up and Jesus to return in 2016? and September ‘convergence’: a harbinger of potential disaster?), and again was right. On January 1, 2017, I blasted the idea of the claimed “Jubilee of 2017” would mark the end (see Can the Great Tribulation Start in 2017? Furthermore, I blasted the idea that the solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 (see Solar Eclipse and the Apocalypse) or Planet Nibiru would begin the tribulation or destroy the Earth (see Doomsayers: Planet Nibiru to destroy Planet Earth in four weeks). I also denounced the view that because of the formation of the tiny nation of Israel in 1948, that the Great Tribulation needed to start 70 years later, like in 2018 (watch Can the Great Tribulation begin in 2018?). Some wrongly claimed that something from the “Sabbatical Code” as well as a shemita-decree calculation or a message from Fatima predicted 2019 (see False ‘Great Tribulation’ predictions/calculations for 2019). Some pointed to astronomy and even John 20:20 as proof for 2020 as the beginning, but this was denounced as well (watch Could the Great Tribulation Begin in 2020?). Certain ones who claimed to be COG pointed to 2020 and/or 2021 were wrong (see PCG claims Revelation 17:12 prophecy can happen this year! James Malm wrong about 2021) and some pointed to Israel’s 1948 formation and the US presidential election in 2020 as pointing to 2021 (2021: The Great Tribulation or the Great Reset?)–which I also denounced. Also denounced were centuries old predictions supposedly pointing to 2022 by Nostradamus and Paracelsus as well as some from Muslims that pointed to Jesus returning in 2022 or 2023 (watch Can the Great Tribulation start in 2022 or 2023?).

Why?

Because according to the Bible, other events needed to occur that had not yet occurred.

We must base the timing of the Great Tribulation upon what the Bible teaches.

Regarding the start of the Great Tribulation, the biblical reality is that necessary events that Jesus and Daniel mentioned, that will allow for that, have not happened.

For some scriptural proof, let’s look at the account in Matthew 24:

4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. (Matthew 24:4-16)

There is no possibility that the Great Tribulation can happen in 2023 nor 2024. Those who rely on the Bible have realized this, therefore WWIII is NOT imminent.

Consider that Jesus pointed to Daniel, who wrote of many events, such as the Kings of the North and South.

One reason that the Great Tribulation will not begin yet is that one known as the final King of the North (watch also Rise of the Prophesied King of the North) and King of the South (watch he Rise and Fall of the King of the South) need to rise up.

The Bible shows that the coming “King of the North” will make a deal of some sort with one called the King of the South just before the appointed time of the end:

27 Both these kings’ hearts shall be bent on evil, and they shall speak lies at the same table; but it shall not prosper, for the end will still be at the appointed time (Daniel 11:27).

Daniel chapter 11 tells much about the end times and it involves both a King of the South and a King of the North. And while there was a president of the South and a president of the North in the Union for the Mediterranean (see Deal Leading to Psalm 83?), these individuals have not held the type of power (nor prerogatives) of the prophesied King of the North and the King of the South. Nor will the current head of the European Union (Ursula von der Leyen) be the final King of the North, as she does not seem to fit that description and amongst other reasons.

Since the Great Tribulation will not start before there is an actual King of the South and an actual final King of the North Beast leader –it is not about to happen this year.

Now the Bible shows that a “prince” will apparently confirm a peace deal with Israel:

26 And the people of the prince who is to come
Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.
The end of it shall be with a flood,
And till the end of the war desolations are determined.
27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;
But in the middle of the week
He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,
Even until the consummation, which is determined,
Is poured out on the desolate (Daniel 9:26-27).

There are several reasons that this “prince” is referring to the leader of the developing European empire (see King of the North and Europa, the Beast, and the Book of Revelation). One is that it was the people of the Roman Empire of the 1st century that fulfilled the portion of Daniel 9:26 as they destroyed the city (Jerusalem) in 70 A.D. The European Union includes much of the land and peoples that were part of the ancient Roman Empire. And it is the “prince” coming from that people that verse 27 is referring to. Thus, this prophecy tells us that a lower level European leader will officially start to rise up about 3 1/2 years before the Great Tribulation (and yes, according to Jesus, some “tribulation” does happen prior to the start of the Great Tribulation). Another is the fact that the “beast of the sea” (Revelation 13:1) fits with the beasts from the “great sea” (Daniel 7:2)–and that is the Mediterranean Sea according to the Old Testament–hence this is an empire like the old Roman one (for more details, please see Europa, the Beast, and the Book of Revelation).

This portion of scripture in Daniel seems to be discussing some type of peace deal that the Europeans will either propose or at least one from Europe will endorse. Such a deal does not yet exxist, or at least has not publicly confirmed by the “prince.” A regional conflict, however, involving Israel is likely going to be a trigger for this. We look to be seeing something related to that beginning to happen.

Anyway, once the deal is confirmed, it will be broken 3 1/2 years later (Daniel 9:27; 11:31).

Yet, even though the Great Tribulation is coming soon, it will not begin in 2023.

Nor is WWIII a Russian-led attack against the USA, as some think. Nor is it as war led by China against the USA.

Because of various scriptures, it appears that Russia will likely provide Germany and Europe some support when WWIII begins.

Here is how the old Worldwide Church of God tied in the Great Tribulation and World War III, as taught by the late Herbert W. Armstrong:

The Next World War

Now, all the pieces that have divided them over there, are beginning to fall into place, and it’s very shocking news. You’ll find it prophesied in the seventeenth chapter of Revelation and many other prophecies in the Bible. And it is going to trigger World War III, the feared, the unthinkable nuclear World War III. I want to read you what the Bible says about this World War III coming on; it’s in Matthew 24 and I’m going to show you how the time is now. And it begins, I’ll just begin in verse 21, it’s a prophecy of Jesus Christ Himself when He was here on earth and speaking of this time that we are in now He says:

“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be [that’s the time of trouble in the world, that’ll be far greater than World War I and World War II, much greater]. And except those days should be shortened [unless God Almighty Himself intervenes supernaturally to cut it short], …no flesh [should] be saved [alive]…”: (Matthew 24:21-22)

It’s talking not of spiritual salvation but saving humanity alive. In other words; every man woman, child on earth would be snuffed out. You, your children, myself, all of us. Humanity would be erased.

Matthew 24: “…except those days should be shortened, no flesh should be be saved [alive]…That great tribulation that is the nuclear World War III, (Armstrong HW. Tribulation. Radio Broadcast, 20th century. https://www.hwalibrary.com/cgi-bin/get/hwa.cgi?action=getbroadcast&InfoID=1567869049)

Daniel 11:31 and Matthew 24:15 … From this time (Daniel 12:11) to Christ’s coming will be 1290 days. Now, verse 12, “Blessed is he that waiteth, and comes to the 1335 days.” … We shall then be warned, and readied to be taken to a place of refuge and safety from the Great Tribulation. Forty-five days later “the beast’s armies” will surround Jerusalem. Thirty days later the Great Tribulation will probably start with a nuclear attack on London and Britain–and possibly the same day or immediately after, on the United States and Canadian cities. The GREAT TRIBULATION, we shall fully then realize, is the time of “Jacob’s Trouble,” spoken of in Jeremiah 30:7. And Jacob’s name was named on Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh (Gen. 48:16). At that time a third of the people in our nations will die, or shall have died, by famine and disease epidemics; another third will dies of the war–our cities being destroyed (Ezek. 6:6), and the remaining third will be carried to the land of our enemies as slaves (Ezek. 5:12). Armstrong, Herbert W. The Time We Are In, Now. Pastor General’s Report-Vol 1, No. 15, November 20, 1979, Page 2).

Herbert W. Armstrong referred to “the seventeenth chapter of Revelation.” In it, Mystery Babylon is mentioned along with two reorganizations in Europe–one which turns power over to the beast. The armies of the beast are prophesied to destroy the strongest military in Daniel 11:39. So, for WWIII to happen in the next decade or less, that would point to the USA itself getting destroyed–and that is consistent with what Herbert W. Armstrong was warning would happen.

The late Herbert W. Armstrong also taught:

World War 3 brings with it THE GREAT TRIBULATION. That is now next in order. But Jesus, in foretelling this chain of world events, said the GREAT TRIBULATION would be preceded by the world-wide proclaiming of HIS Gospel. “The GOSPEL must first be published among all nations,” said Jesus (Mark 13:10), or, as recorded by Matthew (24:14): “This Gospel OF THE KINGDOM shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto ALL NATIONS; and THEN shall the END (of the world) come.” (Armstrong HW. Brethren and Co-Worker Letter, May 22, 1953)

Yes, Matthew 24:14 must first be fulfilled. And while we in the Continuing Church of God are working on that (and even have had our English-language booklet, The Gospel of the Kingdom of God, translated into over 800 languages). This is not yet fulfilled, but that is something that all true Philadelphian Christians realize that they need to support.

That said, the third world war will not begin this year or next.

World events are not quite far enough along for that to happen then.

Here is a video related to Russia and WWIII:

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Nuclear WWIII from Russia?

Are we close to a nuclear third world war? Is Russia’s ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine the start of WWIII? what did Ukrainan Defense Minister Guido Crosetto say related to WWIII? Does Ezekiel 38 involves Russia? Are certain Protestant writers correct that it is for our day and that Russia will launch a massive nuclear attack against the USA? Did Herbert W. Armstrong say that Russia would not attack the USA? Is a direct military skirmish between the USA and Russia possible? If the Bible does discuss the destruction of the USA, is this from a power that borders the Mediterranean sea according to biblical prophecies in the books of Revelation and Daniel? Why has the military devastation in Ukraine been a “wake-up call” for Europe? Has Europe been taking military steps? Is Europe prophesied to dominate the world? Are there biblical prophecies pointing to Europe being attacked by Russia? Does the Bible describe anything that sounds like nuclear devastation? Steve Dupuie and Dr. Thiel address these matters.