Invasion, or Apocalypse?
Is the Russian assault on the Ukraine a sign of the end?
March, 2022
War is never anything but a tragedy. It should grieve believers in Christ. Recently, Russia began an outright invasion of Ukraine. Naturally, this inspired many questions to our ministry. Two of the most common topics involve how this relates to the "end times," and how a Christian ought to respond, in general. Our ministry revolves around interpreting and applying Scripture; we don't claim expertise on the nuances of geopolitics. Since situations change, and change quickly, a broad response is all we can offer.
The clearest Biblical mandate applicable to the invasion of Ukraine is to pray for peace on behalf of the Ukrainian people (1 Timothy 2:1–2; Romans 12:18). We should ask for cooler heads to prevail, and that leaders would resolve to end fighting as soon as possible. It's appropriate to pray that death and ruin will be limited—even as we realize both will likely be severe. Prayers for spiritual perspective are also important. Hardship can make us more aware of our spiritual needs; one of the few good things which can emerge from tragedy is a people's renewed trust in God.
Christians not suffering in this conflict should also pray for renewed perspective. Social, economic, and personal issues exist everywhere. Those are still meaningful; a war elsewhere in the world does not make local problems disappear. All the same, we should recognize that not all problems are equally extreme. The controversies being faced by most of the United States, for instance, pale in comparison to what the Ukrainian people are experiencing.
The urge to pray should also be felt on behalf of the people of Russia. Few Russian citizens are involved in their government's decisions in this matter. As it happens, a noteworthy number of Russians are openly protesting this aggression. That's no small news in a culture which famously suppresses dissent. Clearly, the Russian people are not suffering as badly as are those in Ukraine—yet they will suffer consequences for their government's actions (Proverbs 29:2), including loss of life and international sanctions.
In so far as we can ease the suffering of those caught in such conflicts, we should do so (Matthew 25:34–40). Of special emphasis should be Christian brothers and sisters caught up in military violence. Fortunately, multiple Christ-centered relief organizations are rising to meet this need. Believers should prayerfully consider giving aid where we're able.
So far as the end times are concerned, this event most likely falls under Jesus' reminder in this month's spotlight verse (Matthew 24:6). Almost every major world conflict has sparked fears of the apocalypse: WWI, WWII, multiple Persian Gulf wars, and so forth. Jesus' point in that passage is relatively simple: when "the end" comes, there will be no doubt. No one is going to miss it. In broad strokes, what's happening in Europe is a routine part of human history. An especially pertinent example is Judges chapter 11. In that passage, an Ammonite army prepares to attack Israel, claiming the region was taken from them centuries earlier (Judges 11:12–13). Israel extensively explains how this is false, but the enemy ignores that response (Judges 11:28).
It's also crucial to remember that God is ultimately in control. Believers should not respond to these events with panic. Even if such things are literal fulfillment of the "end times," those affairs are already part of God's plan. We cannot change events which God has decreed will happen. All we can do is prepare our hearts, and tell the truth to others, so we'll be as ready as possible. Christians should always be praying, serving, and seeking as if the end was imminent, with confidence rather than despair (James 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:7; Matthew 28:20).
Russia's role in the end times is mostly described in connection to attacks on Israel. The current conflict does not appear—as of this writing—to be related to the "Gog and Magog" references in the Bible. Ezekiel's references imply an attack on Israel from the north which will end in the invader's catastrophic defeat. When Revelation speaks of Gog and Magog, it's in an entirely different context, and that event happens after the millennial reign of Christ. Russia's renewed aggression could be a precursor to literal fulfillments of Ezekiel. However, for now, what's happening in Ukraine doesn't look like something directly predicted in the Bible. Likewise, there seems no reasonable evidence linking Vladimir Putin to the figure known as Antichrist.
For additional background, please see our podcasts and articles about Russia, the end times, and so forth:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jv_Vppk9oPc
https://www.gotquestions.org/wars-and-rumors-of-war.html
https://www.gotquestions.org/Russia-end-times.html
https://www.gotquestions.org/Gog-Magog.html
https://www.gotquestions.org/living-in-the-end-times.html
https://www.gotquestions.org/world-war-3.html
-- Editor
