One of the characteristic signs of the coming Redemption, mentioned more than once by the Lubavitcher Rebbe SHLITA King Moshiach, is described in the words of our Sages as follows:
“If you see the kingdoms provoking one another, expect the Footsteps of Moshiach”
And, indeed, it is hard not to notice the manifestation of this sign in the events that are now taking place around the world. After all, amid the U. S. administration weakened by misguided progressivist ideas, indecisive and openly pandering to the world’s villains (especially the Iranian regime and its satellites), the number and intensity of provocations and conflicts between powers has recently increased dramatically.
1. Perhaps the most serious global confrontation has been the growing conflict in Europe between the Russia that attacked Ukraine and NATO. Amid these increasingly intense pressures, the NATO alliance has announced the largest exercises in decades. The exercises will gather a record number of 90,000 servicemen.
Germany announced that its army is ready to take part in the suppression of possible provocations and aggression from the Russian side next year. It should be noted that earlier Germany announced the allocation of a colossal sum of 100 billion euros for the rearmament of its army!
In turn, Great Britain announced that for the sake of increasing NATO’s combat readiness, it intends to deploy about 20,000 of its troops in various regions of the world.
2. The second serious epicenter of world tension is forming in the Far East — between North Korea on the one hand and South Korea and the United States on the other. Here, the number and level of provocations by the radical Marxist North Korean regime continues to grow steadily. A few days ago, Pyongyang conducted a nuclear test that, from the point of view of its neighbors, was a clear and deliberate provocation. We are talking about a test of an underwater nuclear weapon. Note that this is a significant achievement for North Korea and a serious new threat to South Korea and the West as a whole.
Afterward, the North Korean regime shelled South Korean territory, further escalating the situation. Western countries responded with large regional maneuvers involving the U. S., South Korean, and Japanese armies.
3. Meanwhile, another point of confrontation — the PRC versus Taiwan and the United States — has become increasingly tense. During the presidential elections held in Taiwan in mid-January, an open opponent of rapprochement with the Beijing regime won. In response, the PRC authorities have already made several harsh statements in the spirit that they will make all necessary efforts, including forceful actions, for the sake of “unification”, or, more simply, the seizure of Taiwan. The U. S., in turn, promises to support and even defend Taiwanese independence.
4. The situation in the Middle East remains extremely tense, where Israel, together with other countries (including not only the U. S. and Britain, but also some Arab states, even if it is not too much mentioned out loud), is confronting numerous satellites of the Iranian regime: HAMAS, Hezbollah, the Hussites, and various radical pro-Iranian Islamic groups in Iraq and Syria.
5. Finally, the confrontation between Iran and Pakistan is growing in Central Asia. The potential for escalation here after each country attacked “terrorist targets” on the other’s sovereign territory is very high. And given that Pakistan is also a nuclear power, it is extremely dangerous.
So, are we on the verge of a global thermo-nuclear war?
Our answer is a definitive “no”!
The fact is that several decades ago, the Lubavitcher Rebbe already explained to us that “the chains of Moshiach” — that is, the torment and suffering of mankind, accompanying the coming of Redemption, have already occurred during the First and Second World Wars. In other words, the well-known prediction of the war of “Gog and Magog” that inevitably precedes the coming of Redemption had already been fulfilled at the very beginning of the twentieth century.
Drawing on a verse from Psalm 145 of David: “His mercies extend over all His works,” the Lubavitcher Rebbe SHLITA King Moshiach also explained that all the nations of the world will also be granted the Redemption, not through terrible wars, G-d forbid, but in mercy and goodness. All the terrible prophecies about the crisis that befalls the nations of the world should be understood as predictions about the collapse of the hostile behavior of the nations of the world towards the people of Israel and G-d, Blessed be His Name.
Therefore, let us summarize. We are undoubtedly witnessing clear signs of approaching Redemption, about which our Sages said: “If you see the kingdoms provoking one another, expect the Footsteps of Moshiach”, but at the same time a new, G-d forbid, world war should not happen. The Redemption will come soon in goodness and mercy. All the signs and indications which are clearly happening before our eyes tell us about it. Therefore, let us raise our prayers to G-d, asking Him to bring this moment as soon as possible, right now!