# Wars and Rumors of Wars Ellen White addressed the phrase wars and rumors of warsfrom Christ's prophecy in
Matthew 24, teaching that it has both historical and end-time applications. She explained that "while these prophecies received a partial fulfillment at the destruction of Jerusalem, they have a more direct application in the last days" (
LDE 19). ## Historical Context: Jerusalem's Destruction In her commentary on Christ's Olivet discourse, Ellen White explained the original context: "Prior to the destruction of Jerusalem, men wrestled for the supremacy. Emperors were murdered. Those supposed to be standing next the throne were slain. There were wars and rumors of wars" (
DA 628.3). She noted that Christ warned His disciples not to be deceived when the rabbis interpreted these signs as tokens of the Messiah's coming to deliver Israel. Instead, Christ taught that "the signs that they represent as tokens of their release from bondage are signs of their destruction" (
HLv 422.2). ## Application to the Last Days Ellen White consistently applied this prophecy to her own time and the final crisis. She wrote that "the judgments of God are in the land. The wars and rumors of wars, the destruction by fire and flood, say clearly that the time of trouble, which is to increase until the end, is very near at hand" (
3TT 286.1). She repeatedly emphasized that "today the signs of the times declare that we are standing on the threshold of great and solemn events" (
PK 536.4,
Ev 194.1,
Ed 179.4). ## The Holding of the Four Winds Ellen White connected wars and rumors of wars to the prophetic imagery of the four winds being held back. She taught that "while already nation is rising against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, there is not now a general engagement. As yet the four winds are held until the servants of God shall be sealed in their foreheads. Then the powers of earth will marshal their forces for the last great battle" (
2TT 369.1).
Similarly, she wrote that "although the nations are mustering their forces for war and bloodshed, the command to the angels is still in force that they hold the four winds until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads" (
3MR 313.1). ## A Sign of Christ's Soon Return Ellen White saw wars and international conflict as part of a larger pattern of signs indicating Christ's imminent return. She taught that everything in our world is in agitationand that "before our eyes is fulfilling the Saviour's prophecy of the events to precede His coming" (
Ev 703.3). These signs, including wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes, were understood as "the beginning of sorrows" (
DA 628.3) that would intensify as the end approaches. --- 💡 **You might also want to explore:**
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