A group of Christians believe that the invasion of Ukraine by Russia is a sign from God that Jesus is going to return to Earth to save the souls of the righteous and punish sinners. You can see what one pastor thinks in the below video:
Given the last few years we’ve had, would you confidently back against it?
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It didn’t take long for them to get involved this time, with only a day passing from the war beginning to evangelical pastor Greg Laurie from the Harvest Christian Fellowship in California claiming that it was to do with the return of Jesus.
On Facebook, Laurie wrote: “Is there any prophetic significance to what is happening in Ukraine right now?
“The answer is…Yes!”
Of course, this is far from the first time that this sort of thing has happened.
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In truth, very little of significance has ever happened that hasn’t been touted as the potential return of Jesus to Earth.
Then, in a short video, Laurie explained what he believes might be happening here.
“I believe that Christ could come back at any moment,” he said.
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“There are signs of times the Bible tells us to be looking for.”
Laurie’s idea – based on a piece of scripture from Matthew 42 in which Jesus describes the signs to watch for his return by – is that the increasing amount and frequency of unusual world events signals that the end of the age is near.
He ‘explained’: “Jesus likened it to labour [sic] pains in a woman who’s ready to give birth—the idea being the closer they get together the closer you are to the birth.”
Jesus said – Laurie interpreted – that there ‘will be wars and rumours [sic] of wars’.
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“War on a scale that we have not seen in a long time,” he added.
He also said that plagues are a sign of the end times.
Now, if only there was a comparison we could make there.
Laurie said: “If the coronavirus is not a plague, I don’t know what it is - a global plague.”
To be fair, it’s hard to disagree with that, even though we might not agree on it being a harbinger of the coming of Jesus.
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Here’s the important bit.
The pastor said: “The Bible warns of a world leader that will come and dominate and deceive people but ultimately reveal his true colours [sic] and he’s called the antichrist.
“I believe a lot of this government overreach - imposing themselves on their people is a sign of what is going to come later when the antichrist emerges on the scene.”
All of this is based on a prophecy from Ezekiel that suggest that a nation – known in the bible as Gog and Magog – from north of Israel will march on Israel and Jesus will return to fight on behalf of Israel.
Laurie pointed out that Israel was founded in 1948 after the Holocaust, and that Russia is to the north of Israel.
He said: “Israel officially became a nation on May 14, 1948. So that part of the prophecy has been fulfilled.
“Then Scripture says a nation from the extreme north of Israel will march on her, called Gog and Magog.
“If you look on any map you will see that is the geographical area of Russia.
“Ukraine used to be a part of the Russian empire - they broke off in 1991 - are they going to be part of Russia again? Could be, but the one thing that I think of is when I see the aggression of Russia or Magog - if you will - it’s a reminder that’s what we’re going to see when Magog attacks Israel.”
He concluded: “So Jesus said, when you see these things begin to happen, look up, because your redemption is drawing near.
Here’s the bottom line.
“Bible prophecies are being fulfilled in our lifetime.
“It seems like we’re seeing more things happen in real-time - closer together - as the Scripture said they would be.”
He did offer up his thoughts for the people of Ukraine when closing, adding that they’re ‘going through a time of great suffering right now’
On that, we can all agree.
If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: World News, Russia, Ukraine, US News