“And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” (Matthew 24:6-8). For those who understand Bible prophecy, those words spoken by Jesus from the Gospel are familiar. The birth pains Jesus speaks of lead up to the Tribulation, and they find their ultimate fulfillment in the Tribulation period.

Sweden Prepares For War

As we reach the 1,000th day of war in Ukraine, things are starting to get concerning for other nations. As the government of Sweden just presented its seventh military package of weapons and supplies to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine on the Homefront, Sweden started to distribute copies of a 32-page booklet advising its citizens how to prepare for war. The booklet said, “We live in uncertain times. Armed conflicts are currently being waged in our corner of the world. Terrorism, cyber-attacks, and disinformation campaigns are being used to undermine and influence us.”

Officials in Sweden have warned if they are attacked, everyone must do their part to defend Sweden’s independence. Citizens are being told, “You are part of Sweden’s overall emergency preparedness.” Sweden has not gone to war in more than two centuries, but now Swedes have to mentally prepare for war. This 32-page booklet says: “Military threat levels are increasing. We must be prepared for the worst-case scenario, which is an armed attack on Sweden.”

Norway Prepares For War

Sweden is not the only European nation getting ready for war. A Norwegian newspaper recently reported that Norway’s citizens have also received pamphlets warning them of possible war because, in the worst case, acts of war could also affect Norway.

Finland Prepares For War

Finland’s government has released a digital booklet to prepare citizens for its worst possible threat: war. Finland reminded its citizens of their “national defense obligation” and recently launched a new information website. Finland is hosting up to 3,600 soldiers from 28 nations for an exercise called Dynamic Front. All this preparation and these pamphlets encourage citizens to be prepared physically. What is missing in this effort is telling people to be spiritually prepared.

Finland shares a 1,340-kilometre (830-mile) border with Russia, but after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, Finland announced plans to build a 200-kilometre (124-mile) border fence with Russia. This fence is designed to be three meters (10 feet) tall and topped with barbed wire, it is scheduled to be completed by 2026. In response to an influx of migrants, Finland has closed its eight border crossings with Russia. Leaders are saying this influx of immigrants was designed to be a hybrid attack orchestrated by Moscow.

Putin Considering Using Nuclear Weapons

The Daily Mail, a British news source, is reporting that European nations are gearing up for an all-out war as Ukraine launched US-made missiles into Russia, which led to, for the first time, Vladimir Putin officially considering using nuclear weapons. Moscow responded to Ukraine’s strike on an ammunition depot in Russia’s Bryansk region with those US-supplied ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) by calling this a “new phase of the Western war.”

According to a 1,000-page document entitled “Operationsplan Deutschland,” Germany would reportedly host hundreds of thousands of troops from NATO countries and serve as a logistics hub for sending vast quantities of military equipment, food, and medicine toward the frontline. The German army has already started advising businesses to create crisis plans detailing employee responsibilities and instructed businesses to stockpile diesel generators or install wind turbines to ensure energy independence.

US-Made Missiles

The Daily Mail cited sources saying on the same day that US-made missiles were fired into Russian soil, Putin signed off on an updated version of the Kremlin’s nuclear doctrine that broadens the scope for Moscow to turn to its nuclear stockpile. According to the updated document, the new version allows Putin’s forces to deploy these weapons if Russia or Belarus is threatened by a non-nuclear nation supported by a nuclear power. What does Russia consider a threat? Threats that could warrant a nuclear response from Russia’s leadership include an attack with conventional missiles, drones, or other aircraft. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said Ukrainian missile strikes deep inside Russia “would not go unpunished.”

Is Russia’s bark worse than its bite? Is war breaking out within the borders of other nations a real possibility? If so, how does this tie into the end-time battle Scripture has said will one day be coming? Russia feels the world is beginning to stand against it.

Archer 155-mm Self-Propelled Gun

For example, Sweden recently announced it is considering providing Ukraine with the latest 155-mm Archer self-propelled guns. What does that mean? The Archer 155-mm self-propelled gun is advanced technology. It can deploy from a retreating position to a combat position in just 1 minute and 15 seconds. It can fire 3 rounds and leave the position before the first shell hits the target. British troops have labeled these weapons a battlefield game changer.

No one knows if these modern-day weapons will be used in combat before or after the Tribulation. We know the four horses of Revelation, which are the first four seals, will result in war, famine, and massive death. Is the world stage being set for the pages of Revelation to become reality? Again, time will tell.

However, what we are seeing in Ukraine, Russia, Sweden, Finland, Norway, and now, once again, the events in Syria, should at the least cause people to consider carefully what Scripture has prophesied about the coming days of Jacob’s Trouble. Eventually, the Antichrist will war against the Jews and against Christians. Daniel 11 and Revelation 12 describe that future day in great detail. It’s one thing to read the pages of Scripture and know that these events will occur someday. It’s another thing to possibly be watching them begin to unfold right in front of us.

Urgency and a Message of Hope

The purpose of sharing what is happening worldwide and the possibility of war breaking out on multiple fronts is NOT to produce fear. Scripture is clear: we are not to operate in fear.

What good then does it do to have this information? I hope this sets in motion a sense of urgency to share the message of hope and the need to get serious about one’s study of God’s Word and one’s relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. We should all look forward to the day when we stand before Him and the beginning of our eternal journey.

David Bowen is a Teaching Evangelist for Lamb & Lion Ministries, co-host of the Christ In Prophecy television program, and the Founding and Senior Pastor of Standing Stones Community Church.