In this deeply reflective edition of The Crawford Stand, Don Crawford examines the growing violence, instability, and uncertainty facing the modern world through the lens of biblical prophecy and Christian faith. Drawing from Christ’s warning that there would be “wars and rumors of wars,” Crawford asks whether the world is witnessing the signs of the end times foretold in Scripture.
The commentary explores the terrifying evolution of warfare throughout human history, from ancient hand-to-hand combat to nuclear weapons, chemical attacks, biological warfare, terrorism, mass shootings, and modern technological threats capable of devastating entire cities and nations. Crawford reflects on how
The Crawford Stand with the president of Crawford Broadcasting Company, Don Crawford.
SPEAKER 02 :
There will be wars and rumors of wars, and then the end will come. That means, my fellow Christians, that the end will come to everything, everything that is, and perhaps everything we know. I think that’s the definition, the biblical definition. What do you think? The great teacher and minister of the gospel, Dr. David Jeremiah, asks this poignant question. Is this the end? Is it? I wonder. For all the signs of the end are here, are they not? War of one kind or another exists almost everywhere in this world. And rumors of war, two of the critical signs of the end times— Do you believe the end of this world is about to happen, however our Lord defines it, and do you believe it is imminent and soon to occur? And will it be the end of everything? Kind of hard to visualize that, is it not? What in this day and age is the definition of war? Wars and rumors of wars will happen when the end times are near. Again, what is the definition of war? In olden times, biblical times, war was hand to hand, sword and shield and horses. But today, war is nuclear. We saw the devastating effects of the age and use of a nuclear bomb in Japan, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Unbelievable. If you haven’t seen it, you can. witness what happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the effects of a nuclear explosion. Devastating, devastating indeed. And tens of thousands of Japanese were killed or severely maimed. The nuclear bomb in this day and age is far more lethal and destructive. Entire cities can be wiped out with one nuclear explosion. Well that’s scary, isn’t it? And more. War can be chemical. The effects of chemical warfare are simply devastating, disastrous. And war can also be biological and can kill thousands of people at one time. The sword of old killed one, and the wars of today can kill tens of thousands in one fell swoop. And there is a new kind of war, a new kind of war. The new kind is terrorism. One man or woman can kill many. A shooter can assassinate innocent children in a school. Another shooter can shoot thousands in churches and synagogues. An airliner can be hijacked or blown out of the sky, or flown into a building, destroying not only the building but thousands within. Witness the attacks of 9-11 by the vicious murderer and assassin Osama bin Laden. My fellow Christians, it is simply unbelievable the violence which exists in this world today. Evil runs rampant, and violence with it. Human love and concern decline daily. Weapons are the most sophisticated they have ever been, and they are available illegally or even sometimes legally to so many, and those with murder in their hearts have access to weapons which can kill one or thousands. And we the people in our beloved America have been spared so much mass violence, some to be sure, and that’s awful. But mass violence, terrorism in the extreme, so far, we have been spared. But we have seen evidence of the hate which rules in this world, with killings and shootings, as mentioned, in schools and churches and other public places, and assassination attempts on our public figures and President Trump. and in so many other ways. Security, security exists everywhere, and it is growing, even as the fear of death and violence seem to grow exponentially. What do you think about this day and age? Are you concerned? Do you live in fear, or do you live in the comfort and the protection of our Lord Jesus Christ? The signs of the times can provide a ready answer to the question, is this the end? But, you know, try as we may, there really is no solution except one. Only one. And that is the coming and the rule of the Prince of Peace. That’s the only real, ultimate, lasting answer. Everything else is temporary. And I do hope and pray that you know who that is. We can buy a gun, or we can believe, now more than ever, in the power of His love. and in His second coming. Boy, I choose that alternative, and I hope you do as well. And do you believe that He is the solution, the Lord Jesus Christ, the only real, permanent, eternal solution? Do you? I sure do. I believe that He is the only one who can prevent a nuclear or biological war, the only one, and the only one who can really establish on a permanent basis peace, peace and goodwill among all mankind, not death by chemical weaponry, but life eternal from belief in Him. That is the abundant life He promised, for the Christ of glory told us clearly and emphatically that He was the way, the way, the truth, and the life, here and hereafter. So, fear not. If you believe in Him and what He has promised, fear not. And even though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, which this world seems to be becoming, Trust with all your heart in Him and fear no evil. In fact, even in the face of this unspeakable evil which exists today, never forget that He, He came that your joy might be full. Don’t ever live a day without experiencing that joy. And rejoice in that fact no matter what else happens. We live in times of bitter persecutions of Christians everywhere in the world. and even to some extent in America. But no matter, be glad and be blessed in the face of persecution. For blessed are those who endure these persecutions for His sake. We the American Christians experience the very minimal and low-level sense of persecution, even if it is only the beginning. It is He. It is He. who will prepare a table in the face of our enemies, and make certain that our cup at that table runs over. And, my fellow Christians, in the face of those persecutors, he says, make peace, make peace, and get along with those enemies. Boy, that’s hard to do. He also says you should love your enemies, and that’s even harder to do. But he also reminds us, our Lord does, that blessed are the peacemakers. Blessed are those who make peace. So I say, be one. Be a peacemaker. And do remember that real belief in him requires you and I not to kill. Thou shalt not kill. Boy, that’s hard. That’s hard to accept because there are so many Christians who would defend their families and friends with all their might, and that might mean killing an enemy. It’s a hard call, a hard choice, is it not? So again, our Lord reminds us that we should turn the other cheek. That’s another extremely difficult thing to do. Don’t fight back. Turn the other cheek. Boy, that’s hard to do. Really, really hard to do. And most importantly, he says, we should be willing to lay our all on the altar. Are you willing to do that, everything you have, everything you are, even your own life, if that be necessary for his sake? For he says very clearly, there is no greater love, there is no greater love than that of a man or woman who lays down his or her life for someone else, even as Jesus himself did lay down his life for you and for me. My fellow Christians, there will be no permanent peace on this earth until the Prince of Peace comes a second time. There will come the peace which the world cannot give through him. And with that hope and belief, we should never be afraid, never. For God has not given us a spirit of fear. No, he hasn’t. And when that second coming happens, it will be the end of the end times and the beginning of the times of eternal peace, the so-called thousand-year reign of peace. And weapons of war will be no more. Life will be brand new on this earth, even as it is in heaven. The Prince of Peace will rule. And all nations, all men, and all women will live under His loving authority. Oh, what a day that will be! And that day may be coming soon, it may be near, and then there will be no more wars, and there will be no more evil, and the evil one will have been defeated. And none will ever be afraid again, never. For all will be endowed with power, says the Lord God, with power, and with love, and with sound minds, but especially with love. Is this the end? Are we in the end times, the end days? Perhaps. But with that end, with that end comes the new beginning and the eternal rule of the Prince of Peace, our Lord Jesus Christ.
SPEAKER 01 :
So what are these times of the signs telling you? Mr. Crawford would love to know. Tell him in your email to stand at CrawfordMediaGroup.net. When you write, be sure to tell Mr. Crawford on what station you hear the stand. His email address again is stand at CrawfordMediaGroup.net. When you want to review what you hear, go to our website, CrawfordMediaGroup.net. The Crawford Stand is a public affairs presentation of Crawford Broadcasting Company and this station, serving God and country. I’m Bill McCormick.
