# Wars and Rumors of Wars Ellen White understood Christ's prophecy about wars and rumors of warsto have both a historical fulfillment and an ongoing application to the last days. She wrote 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 that before Jerusalem's destruction, "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). 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, Ellen White noted 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 period leading to Christ's second coming. She declared that "the signs of the times declare that we are standing on the threshold of great and solemn events. Everything in our world is in agitation. Before our eyes is fulfilling the Saviour's prophecy of the events to precede His coming: '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'" (
Ev 194.1). Writing in 1904, she stated plainly: "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 already in the world" (
4MR 89.3).
She emphasized that these events would intensify, noting that "the time of trouble, which is to increase until the end, is very near at hand" (
3TT 286.1). ## The Restraining of the Winds Ellen White connected these prophetic signs to the vision in Revelation 7, where four angels hold back the winds of strife. She wrote: "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...
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). This theme appears again in her later writings: "The nations are angry, and great preparations for war are being made. Nation is plotting against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. The great day of God is hastening greatly. But 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). ## Practical Significance Ellen White saw these signs not as cause for panic, but as urgent calls to preparation and mission. She emphasized that "everything in our world is in agitation" (
PK 536.4) and that these events signal we are "standing on the threshold of great and solemn events" (
Ed 179.4). The increasing frequency of wars, along with famines, pestilences, and earthquakes, serves as evidence that Christ's return draws near and that God's people must be ready. --- 💡 **You might also want to explore:**
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