Thoughts on War, part 6
“Christ of the Breadlines” by Fritz Eichenberg, 1950
A few weeks ago, there was a rumbling about our military leaders’ emphasis on end-times, and that the war with Iran would bring about the Second Coming of Jesus. After the comments of our Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon’s monthly worship service (?) , it has been called a “Holy War.”
Now, I don’t believe any war is holy, but religion has been used to justify so many. And I don’t adhere to beliefs about the end-times and the prophecies that foretell it’s coming. The scripture from the gospel of Matthew details Jesus talking about the end of this age, saying “Be ready, because the time is unknown.” Matthew 24:23 says, “At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.”
So, why do people become obsessed with prophecies about the end-times especially when natural disasters (earthquakes and hurricanes) and wars begin? Maybe people are looking for some “bright spot” in all this tragedy. Maybe human nature is such that we look for confirmation of our wild theories. 2 Timothy 4, verse 3 says:
For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. (2 Timothy 4:3)
Russel Moore from Christianity Today explains it this way:
“At times, the Bible speaks about those “itching ears” as wanting heresy or the justification of sin… Itching ears don’t imply a group of people who necessarily want something evil, but it does point to those who want something interesting. To have the code that unlocks what’s really going on, to know that one is part of the terminal generation left standing at the end of everything—that can be exhilarating and terrifying all at the same time, like a horror movie or a roller coaster.” (1)
Why do we look for the Second Coming of Jesus, when Jesus tells us where he is? In the parable of the Sheep and Goats, Jesus tells the story ofthose who care for the poor and their reward: ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (2) The block print above is called “Christ of the Breadlines” by Fritz Eichenberg, created in 1950 and it shows Jesus waiting in a food-line amongst those in need. Jesus tells us where he is, he is among the people. Why do we look for him to come? He is here.
Our mission team is called “Love Thy Neighbor” and we’ve esatblished a long-term relationship with the day laborers at the Van Nuys Job Center. Our LTN team will assure you that Jesus is there; in the food lines among the people, in the stories from the day laborers, in the spirit of love and compassion. He is here.
“Don’t Blame Bible Prophecy for a War with Iran” by Russel Moore, https://www.christianitytoday.com/2025/06/bible-prophecy-war-iran-apocalypse-russell-moore/
Matthew 25:40