Are wars a sign that the Tribulation is near?

 Are wars a sign that the Tribulation is near?

Every century since the time of Christ has been marked by war, civil conflict, or invasions in various parts of the world. True global peace has never been a reality, but this is precisely how God said it would be.

Five centuries before the birth of Jesus, the angel Gabriel revealed to Daniel that wars and the accompanying sufferings are destined to continue until the very end.

Daniel 9:26 (NLT) “After this period of sixty-two sets of seven, the Anointed One will be killed, appearing to have accomplished nothing, and a ruler will arise whose armies will destroy the city and the Temple. The end will come with a flood, and war and its miseries are decreed from that time to the very end.

As Gabriel pointed out, wars have persisted throughout history. Jesus reassured us that we should not let news of conflicts trouble us, for these wars—and natural disasters—are not signs of the end.

Matthew 24:6 (NKJV) “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.

Here’s a compelling timeline that clearly illustrates that from the time of Jesus in the 1st century AD to the present day, there has consistently been war or violent conflict occurring somewhere in the world. For each century, I've highlighted several notable examples to emphasize this ongoing reality. Again, God told us it would be this way.

1st Century (0–100 AD)

• Jewish-Roman Wars: The First Jewish–Roman War (66–73 AD), including the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD.
• Roman military campaigns: Ongoing conquests and suppressions of rebellions throughout the Roman Empire.

2nd Century (100–200 AD)

• Roman-Parthian Wars: Conflict between the Roman Empire and the Parthian Empire (e.g., Trajan’s campaign in 114–117 AD).
• Bar Kokhba Revolt: Jewish rebellion against Rome (132–136 AD).

3rd Century (200–300 AD)

• Crisis of the Third Century: A period of military anarchy, civil wars, and foreign invasions within the Roman Empire.
• Roman–Persian Wars: Ongoing conflict with the Sassanid Empire.

4th Century (300–400 AD)

• Gothic Wars: Conflicts between the Roman Empire and various Gothic tribes.
• Constantinian and civil wars: Struggles over imperial succession.

5th Century (400–500 AD)

• Fall of the Western Roman Empire: Invasions by Huns, Vandals, and Visigoths.
• Battle of the Catalaunian Plains (451 AD): Romans and Visigoths vs. Huns.

6th Century (500–600 AD)

• Byzantine–Sassanian Wars: Long-standing conflict in the Middle East.
• Gothic War (535–554 AD): Byzantines reconquer parts of Italy from the Ostrogoths.

7th Century (600–700 AD)

• Early Islamic Conquests: Rapid expansion of Islamic caliphates through war.
• Byzantine–Arab Wars: Ongoing military conflict with the expanding Arab Empire.

8th Century (700–800 AD)

• Franco-Arab Conflicts: Battle of Tours (732 AD), where Charles Martel halted Muslim expansion in Western Europe.
• Internal Caliphate conflicts: Civil wars within Islamic realms (e.g., Abbasid Revolution).

9th Century (800–900 AD)

• Viking Raids: Widespread Viking invasions and warfare in Europe.
• Tang Dynasty Conflicts: Internal rebellions and border wars in China.

10th Century (900–1000 AD)

• Byzantine–Arab Wars continue.
• European Feudal Warfare: Local lords and kings waging frequent small-scale wars.

11th Century (1000–1100 AD)

• Norman Conquests: Including the conquest of England (1066 AD).
• Seljuk-Byzantine Wars.
• First Crusade (1096–1099 AD): Christians vs. Muslims over the Holy Land.

12th Century (1100–1200 AD)

• Second and Third Crusades.
• Feudal Conflicts in Europe and Muslim unity under Saladin.

13th Century (1200–1300 AD)

• Mongol Conquests: Devastating wars from China to Europe.
• Crusades continue.

14th Century (1300–1400 AD)

• Hundred Years’ War (begins 1337).
• Mongol conflicts continue.
• Ottoman Expansion begins in earnest.

15th Century (1400–1500 AD)

• Fall of Constantinople (1453 AD) by the Ottomans.
• Wars of the Roses in England.

16th Century (1500–1600 AD)

• European Wars of Religion (e.g., Protestant Reformation conflicts).
• Ottoman–Habsburg Wars.

17th Century (1600–1700 AD)

• Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648): One of the deadliest European conflicts.
• English Civil War (1642–1651).
• Mughal-Sikh and Mughal-Maratha Wars in India.

18th Century (1700–1800 AD)

• War of Spanish Succession, Seven Years’ War, American Revolution.
• Colonial Wars in Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

19th Century (1800–1900 AD)

• Napoleonic Wars, U.S. Civil War, Franco-Prussian War.
• Colonial Conquests and indigenous resistance worldwide.

20th Century (1900–2000 AD)

• World Wars I & II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Cold War Conflicts.
• Rwandan Genocide, Balkan Wars, Israel-Arab Conflicts.

21st Century (2000–present)

• War on Terror: Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria.
• Russian Invasions: Georgia (2008), Ukraine (2014, 2022–).
• Civil wars: Sudan, Yemen, Syria, Ethiopia (Tigray conflict), Myanmar.

God revealed important details to Daniel. One thing we should expect is a seven-year treaty with Israel. When we see that, we will know that the Tribulation is upon us. (Those who have asked Jesus to save them will be gone shortly before or after this treaty is signed.)

Daniel 9:27 (NKJV) “Then he {the antichrist} shall confirm a covenant with many for one week.”