Will World War 3 Be the End of the World?

Katherine (age 11) asked,

Will world war 3 be the end of the world?

It can be scary watching the news—there’s always someone predicting that something bad will happen! And it’s hard to know if that person is right or not. After all, no human knows the future, only God does.

And that should give us peace! You see, God alone knows the future. And he’s told us that, whatever comes, we can trust in him.

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

Jesus is our good shepherd who guides us through everything, even the darkest valleys and hardest times:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. . . . Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:1, 4)

So when we look to the future, we don’t have to worry because our good God will be there with us and he will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5)—no matter what! That’s why Christians can always be strong and courageous (Deuteronomy 31:6).

And we also don’t need to worry that we will end the world by war or by wrecking God’s creation or anything else you might hear, because God has already told us how everything ends—Jesus returns in judgment and victory over sin, death, and all his enemies (2 Peter 3)!

Jesus told us that there will also be wars and rumors of wars but those won’t end the world (Matthew 24:6). He will return and set everything right, judging sin once and for all, and creating a new heaven and new earth where “righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13). Every single person who has put their faith in Christ will live with him forever!

So don’t worry about what might come tomorrow, Jesus says that won’t help us (Matthew 6:25–34). Instead, look to Jesus amid anything and everything and know that he is God (Psalm 46:10), he is in control (Isaiah 46:10), and he loves you more than you could ever know (Romans 5:8)!

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