Evangelist Franklin Graham has warned that we are currently experiencing a "global epidemic of political and economic instability" which could signal the end times, but encouraged those who trust in Christ to refrain from worry and live in faith, as the earth will soon be made new.
In a lengthy Facebook post shared on Thursday, Graham, who is the president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse, first begged the question: "Is the world imploding?"
"While the United States is focused on its own politics, the world is unraveling," he cautioned. "The danger signals are everywhere."
Graham pointed to examples from around the world to demonstrate this point: "Beheadings, rapes, murders, bombings are taking place every day across North Africa through the Middle East, all the way to the borders of India," he wrote. "The U.S. military is deploying fighter aircraft to Finland to counter Russia's moves in that region; China is deploying missiles on an artificial island they have built in the south China sea over the objections of the international community; and North Korea has successfully test fired a long-range missile that has the potential of eventually reaching America with a nuclear bomb."
As the world is wallowing in "political and economic instability," it's not hard to realize that hope can only be found in Almighty God, Graham contended.
"It is imperative that we remember to pray for all 'those in authority' as God has commanded in His Word (1 Timothy 2:1-3)," he wrote. "One day He is going to wipe the slate clean and 'create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind' (Isaiah 65:17)."
However, Graham ended with a note of encouragement for those who have placed their faith in God: "There is an eternal future with Him to look forward to," he wrote. "Jesus left us words of reassurance and hope, 'Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me...I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also' (John 14:1-3)."
In October, the evangelist said that in light of the increasing number of natural disasters and global tragedies currently affecting our world, the second coming of Jesus Christ is definitely close at hand.
"We know from God's Word that earthquakes, famines, and wars will increase as the day of the Lord's return draws nearer," he wrote.
He argued that the numerous world conflicts people are witnessing today reflect passages in the Bible that talk about the end times and the "distress of nations: "The Bible tells us that in the end times there will be 'distress of nations with perplexity,'" Graham said, referring to Luke 21:25.
The passage reads: "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring." Graham added that "this is certainly the case today."
He offered as examples: "The meltdown of the Middle East. The rise of anti-Semitism in Europe and here in the America. China and Russia building their military at cosmic speed. The financial crises worldwide. The political crisis in Washington."
Billy Graham's son continued: "Israel is desperate to have peace, but the Bible says 'they will seek peace but there shall be none.' There is only one ultimate, eternal solution - Jesus Christ and Him alone."
