# 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 them from bondage. Instead, Christ taught that "the signs that they represent as tokens of their release from bondage are signs of their destruction" (
DA 628.3). ## Application to the Last Days Ellen White consistently applied this prophecy to her own time and the final generation. 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 Broader Prophetic Picture Ellen White placed wars and rumors of wars within a larger pattern of signs. She taught that Christ said: "Ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars.... Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows" (
Ed 179.4).
She described the world condition: "The nations are angry, and the time of the dead has come, that they should be judged. Events are changing to bring about the day of God, which hasteth greatly" (
2TT 369.1). ## The Restraining of Conflict Significantly, Ellen White taught that while nations are preparing for war, there is divine restraint: "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). She explained 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). --- 💡 **You might also want to explore:**
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