Global Crises and End-Time Conditions

The convergence of multiple global crises in 2025 presents a sobering picture of an Almighty God who is preparing the world for end-time events.

In the Middle East, the “epicenter” of biblical prophecy, the situation between Israel and the Gaza Strip has deteriorated dramatically since the brief ceasefire that ended in March. Israel has intensified military operations around Gaza City, declaring it a dangerous combat zone ahead of a looming offensive (“Updates: Israel presses Gaza City seizure, UN warns 1mn could be displaced,” Al Jazeera, August 29, 2025). Avichay Adraee, the Israeli military’s Arabic-language spokesperson, stated that forces were conducting intense operations around the perimeter of Gaza City and intended to “deepen our strikes” as the offensive continued (“Israel pounds Gaza City outskirts as military push quickens,” Reuters, August 29, 2025). Israel is relentless in its plan to seize control of all the Gaza Strip, beginning with Gaza City and eliminating Hamas.

This renewed violence has coincided with diplomatic tensions as the United States has restricted Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas from attending the United Nations General Assembly, where several allies planned to recognize Palestinian statehood. Additionally, the U.S. State Department announced plans to deny or revoke visas for individuals affiliated with the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority in advance of the U.N. General Assembly this September, citing their actions as detrimental to the pursuit of peace (“US blocks Palestinian leader from attending UN meeting in New York,” BBC, August 30, 2025). Anger against Israel, justified or not, continues to grow, as does the distance between the United States and its erstwhile allies.

Ukraine continues to face Russian aggression, with diplomatic momentum toward peace “at risk of rapidly fading” following attacks that killed at least 23 people, including four children (“Security Council Live: Push for peace in Ukraine could rapidly fade if large-scale Russian attacks continue,” UN News, August 29, 2025). The so-called “coalition of the willing” assembled by France and Britain in February has engaged in months of multi-level discussions aimed at outlining potential military contributions to help Ukraine deter future Russian aggression following a final truce. However, those deliberations have faltered as participating governments have emphasized that any European military involvement in or near Ukraine would require independent U.S. security guarantees—yet there has been little indication that the Trump administration would be willing to offer such assurances (“Western troops in Ukraine would be ‘targets’ for Russian forces,” Al Jazeera, September 5, 2025).

Natural disasters around the globe have compounded these man-made crises in 2025. While the catastrophic Los Angeles wildfires have exemplified this in North America, devastating natural disasters—including Typhoon Yagi, flash floods in Pakistan and Dubai, and various earthquakes—have simultaneously struck Asia, the Middle East, and beyond, creating a global pattern of environmental upheaval. Disaster costs now exceed $2.3 trillion annually, creating what experts call a “destructive cycle of disasters, debt, un-insurability and humanitarian need” (“Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction,” UNDRR, 2025).

For those “watching” for Christ’s return to establish His Kingdom, these simultaneous crises and a host of others represent changes in world conditions that one would expect as the events that will precede the Second Coming of Jesus Christ draw near. These are not, as some would scoff, “random” events or things continuing as they always have (2 Peter 3:1–3), and the time for complacency is quickly coming to an end.

You can be ready for end-time events! Learn more about what is to take place in the near future by reading our study guide Fourteen Signs Announcing Christ’s Return, and be sure to watch the insightful telecast “Humanity’s Last Hope!”