Is This World War III?

Answer

Here is a passage from Yalkut Shimoni, a collection of rabbinic teachings more than a thousand years old. It seems to describe events similar to what we are witnessing now.

In the year in which the King Messiah will be revealed, all the kings of the nations of the world will provoke one another. The king of Persia provokes the king of Arabia, and the king of Arabia goes to Aram to take counsel from them. And all the nations of the world tremble and are terrified and are gripped with agony, like the agony of childbirth. And Israel is distressed and panicking, saying, “Where do we go from here?”

This drama sounds familiar. Persia (Iran) and Arabia are in conflict. Arabia turns to Aram for support. Aram translates as “the superpower” (USA?). The whole world is frightened. And Israel bears the brunt of it.

The question is, what is the end of this story? After describing the fear gripping the nations of the world, and Israel’s panic, the passage continues:

And G-d says to them, “My children, don’t be afraid. All that I have done I only did for your sake. What are you afraid of? Do not fear, the time of your redemption has arrived!”

Fear and panic are exactly what our enemies want from us. That’s why they are called terrorists. There is a spiritual battle we are all fighting - to overcome fear, to have unwavering faith that everything that happens is a part of a bigger divine plan, and to be confident that goodness will win.

The prophecy compared the agony of this conflict to childbirth. Something greater is about to be born. There may be pain, but it will be good. We must be prepared for everything, and scared of nothing.