The dejected disciples ask Jesus when He will return to restore the nation. Israel, that God established for His purposes.

“Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?… “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.” Matthew 24:3,6-8

In the three Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke when Jesus is asked about His second coming and the end of this age Jesus told the disciples that famines, earthquakes, and pestilences will be signs to watch for.

There are now an estimated 735 million people worldwide facing hunger, and Africa remains the most at-risk region when it comes to the global hunger crisis, according to the latest “State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World” report published Wednesday by five United Nations specialized agencies.

According to the report, some 691 to 783 million people faced hunger in 2022, with a mid-range of 735 million. This constitutes an increase of 122 million people compared to 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic began.

The five U.N. agencies that published the report — the Food and Agriculture Organization, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the World Health Organization and the World Food Program — are collectively warning that if the hunger crisis continues, one of the U.N.’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals of ending hunger by 2030 will not be reached.

“Hunger is rising while the resources we urgently need to protect the most vulnerable are running dangerously low. As humanitarians, we are facing the greatest challenge we’ve ever seen. We need the global community to act swiftly, smartly and compassionately to reverse course and turn the tide on hunger,” WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain said in a statement shared with The Christian Post.  

In addition to the global hunger crisis, the report highlights that more than 3.1 billion, or 42% of the world’s population, could not afford a healthy diet in 2021. This figure represents an increase of 134 million more people than in 2019.

With urbanization trends showing that nearly seven in 10 people will be living in cities by 2050, the agencies highlighted disparities between rural and urban populations and how urbanization influences agrifood systems.

The report warns of the growing consumption of highly processed foods in peri-urban and rural areas in some countries and that food insecurity is more prevalent in rural areas than urban ones.

A higher incidence of child malnutrition was noted in rural than urban areas, while overweight children were found to be slightly more prevalent in urban areas.

“Malnutrition is a major threat to children’s survival, growth and development. The scale of the nutrition crisis demands a stronger response focused on children, including prioritizing access to nutritious and affordable diets and essential nutrition services, protecting children and adolescents from nutrient-poor, ultra-processed foods, and strengthening food and nutrition supply chains including for fortified and therapeutic foods for children,” UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said.

“Child wasting remains unacceptably high and there has been no progress in reducing child overweight,” WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus added. “We need targeted public policies, investments and actions to create healthier food environments for all.”

We are fast approaching the Biblical prophesied time of a one-world government and a charismatic leader offering to bring peace to the Middle East, the Antichrist.

The Ram and the Goat of Daniel 8 are not the Persian Empire and Alexander the Great and the Little Horn, Antioch Epiphanes as most commentators state. The Angel Gabriel told Daniel three times that this vision concerned the time of the end. It has not taken place as yet. Note, the Goat that takes out the Ram (Iran) is located to the west of the Ram which is Turkey.

The Ram (Iran) is already doing what is prophesied: pushing with its proxies: westward and northward and southward.

And I saw in the vision; when I saw, I was in Susa the citadel, at the Ulai canal which is in the province of Elam (Iran). And I saw in the vision, behold, a ram standing on the bank of the canal. It had two horns, and both horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last. I saw the ram charging westward and northward and southward. No beast could stand before him, and there was no one who could rescue him from his power. He did as he pleased and became great.” Daniel 8:2-4

Next on the Biblical agenda is Turkey’s attempt to re-establish a revived Ottoman Empire prophesied in Daniel 8: the Goat (Turkey) comes against and defeats the Ram (Iran). Muslims the world over will be delighted to see a revived Ottoman Empire. However, we are told it is broken up into four probably by the United Nations forces, and out of the four will arise the Antichrist (Little Horn).

“Then the goat (Turkey) became exceedingly great, but when he was strong, the great horn was broken, and instead of it there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven. Out of one of them came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land… It became great, even as great as the Prince of the host. And the regular burnt offering was taken away from him, and the place of his sanctuary was overthrown.” Daniel 8:8-9,11

Jesus told us above all to watch as we see these prophesied events unfolding and then you will know God is in total control of all that is happening including the persecution of Christians that is taking place. God had to refine His church. Just look at the apostasy that is taking place in denominational churches: gay marriage, homosexual pastors, and even lesbian archbishops (Episcopalian).