Many sermons have been preached on the passage including these words. Many times, the words have been quoted.

It’s not my intention to preach, just put forward an observation. As near as I can tell, things will unfold more rapidly from beginning to end.

As I look over recent history, I certainly see the wars and rumors of wars. Over the centuries, there have been a lot of them. A person could spend a lifetime doing nothing more than studying wars: what led up to them, the sequence of the war and results.

However, it does seem as if things have picked up some. If you look from 1900 on, there have been wars and rumors almost continually. Even during the time just before WWI threats were quickly building.

While there were no world wars for a while after the 1st war ended, there were skirmishes all over. In addition, no sooner did the first war end things started shaping up for the 2nd. In a little over a decade Hitler already started establishing his empire as did Mussolini. Hirohito was very close behind.

Though it was hoped peace would follow, Korea, Vietnam and revolution in China soon followed. Then the rumors of war came with the Iron curtain and the Bamboo curtain.

Then, suddenly, we marched into Afghanistan and Iraq, twice.

Israel has had it’s own wars. The seven day war, Yom Kippur war, a few skirmishes to the north and south.

And yes. How can a person forget nine-eleven. Maybe not a war but I think it does quality as a rumor of war.

I am sure I left some out.

As I said. Just an observation.