This is a continuation of yesterday's synopsis of the first sign given by Christ alluding to His return in the last days.  Today, we go on to the second sign Jesus told His disciples about in Matthew 24:6, "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars; do not be troubled, for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet."  He said, "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars..." and these are signs that His return is very near, but not quite yet.  Since we can now see the signs indicating His return is near, we need to realize that the rapture of the saints could happen at anytime, because the rapture precedes the Lord's return.  There are more wars and rumors of wars throughout the nations than there ever have been throughout history. 

Since this article was posted, I continue to find wars that were left out of the original article through additional research.  There are also disputes and varying opinions as to what constitutes an actual "war," or just a civil dispute.  As I prayed about this fact, the Lord reminded me that throughout the Old and New Testament scriptures, wars that were mentioned in the Word of God were centered around Israel.  Therefore, I am going to edit this article to focus on the current "wars and rumors of wars" surrounding and within Israel.  
 

In recent history, it is interesting to recognize that we have never heard of "rumors of war," such as we hear of today against Israel.  We hear consistently how Iran is building nuclear arsenal in order to "wipe Israel off the face of the map."  Ahmadinejad, president of Iran, has made it clear that he intends to annihilate Israel, but he denies Iran is creating nuclear power for that purpose.  We also hear news about "when Israel is planning a preemptive strike against Iran in their own defense," before Iran can create the bomb.  It is obvious that there are more rumors about war in Israel than any other time in recent history.  Generally, the countries surrounding Israel make a surprise attack. 

This is what we should focus on, not only the consistent rumors of war surrounding Israel, but the recent wars against Israel. 
It is amazing to see how Israel has defeated all of his enemies by the hand of Almighty God. View the miracles below:

1948:  Arab - Israel War:  Victorious PartyIsrael.  Defeated Party:  Egypt, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Syria, Transjordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Pakistan, as well as a militia of former Nazis (from Yugoslavia and Bosnia) and the Muslim Brotherhood.  Are you able to visualize the miracle of the hand of God here?  All of these massive nations surrounding tiny little Israel, but they are all defeated!

1950s - 1960s:  Retribution operations:  Victorious PartyIsrael.  Defeated Party:  Syria, Egypt and Jordan.  Israel was bombarded with fedayeen terror attacks by these three nations throughout the 50s and 60s, yet Israel remains undefeated!

1956:  Suez Crisis:  Victorious PartyIsrael, Britain, France.  Defeated Party:  Egypt.  Although the US and USSR forced Israel to retreat, Israel and his allies were successful in reopening the Straits of Tiran, after Egypt attempted to nationalize the Suez Canal.

1967:  War Over Water:  Victorious PartyIsrael.  Defeated Party:  Syria, Lebanon.

1967:  Six Day War:  Victorious PartyIsrael.  Defeated Party:  Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Kuwait, Tunisia, Sudan, Mauritania, (PLO [Palestinian Liberation Army]).  Israel gained significant territories after this attack, including the Temple Mount in East Jerusalem!  A blind man with a walking cane can clearly see how Israel is consistently victorious against all the nations who dare come against him!  This is because God said, "I will plant them (Israel) upon their land and they will no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord your God" Amos 9:15.

1967 - 1970:  War of Attrition:  Victorious PartyIsrael.  Defeated Party:  Egypt, USSR, Jordan, Syria, (PLO).  There was a ceasefire signed in 1970, after Egypt attempted to recapture the Sinai since Israel gained control of it during the Six Day War.  The Sinai remains with Israel.

1973:  Yom Kippur War:  Victorious PartyIsrael.  Defeated Party:  Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Libya, Kuwait, Algeria, Lebanon, Sudan, Pakistan, North Korea, Cuba, Soviet Union.  Wow, why don't they just add the rest of the world against that tiny little country Israel!  They are still going to lose!

1975 - 1990:  Lebanese Civil War:  Victorious PartyIsrael, Lebanese Front.  Defeated Party:  Syria, (Amal, PLO, Hezbollah). 

1978:  South Lebanon Conflict:  Victorious PartyIsrael.  Defeated Party:  (PLO, LNM [Lebanese National Movement]).

1982:  Lebanon War:  Victorious PartyIsrael, Lebanese Front.  Defeated Party:  Syria, (Amal, PLO, Hezbollah, Al-Tawhid).    

1982 - 2000:  South Lebanon Conflict:  Victorious PartyIsrael.  Defeated Party:  Syria, (Amal, Hezbollah). 

1987 - 1993:  First Intifada:  Victorious PartyIsrael.  Defeated Party:  (PLO, Hamas.)

2000 - 2005:  Second Intifada:  Victorious PartyIsrael.  Defeated Party:  Iraq, (Hamas, Fatah, Islamic Jihad).

2000 - 2006:  Shebaa Farms Conflict:  Victorious PartyIsrael.  Defeated Party:  Syria, (Hezbollah). 

2002:  Operation Defensive Field:  Victorious PartyIsrael.  Defeated Party:  (Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad.)

2004:  Operation Rainbow: 
Victorious PartyIsrael.  Defeated Party:  (Hamas, Islamic Jihad.)

2004:  Operation Days of Penitence: 
Victorious PartyIsrael.  Defeated Party:  (Hamas.)

2006:  Operation Summer Rains and Operation Autumn:  Resulted in ceasefire between Israel and the PLO. 

2006:  Lebanon War:  Resulted in ceasefire among heavy Hezbollah casualties. 

2008:  Operation Hot Winter: 
Victorious PartyIsrael.  Defeated Party:  (Hamas.)

2008 - 2009:  Gaza War: 
Victorious PartyIsrael.  Defeated Party:  Iran, (Hamas, Islamic Jihad).

After all this, you would think the Muslims would understand who the REAL GOD is.
     

2010 - Present:  There are 53 ongoing wars throughout the world in the following countries:  Egypt, Yemen, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iraq, Colombia, Afghanistan, Somalia, Mexico, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, North Korea, Iran, Pakistan, Burma, Israel, India, Philippines, Indonesia, Mauritania, Morocco, Laos, Turkey, Senegal, Uganda, Congo, Africa, Angola, United Kingdom, Ireland, Algeria, Chad, Mali, 
Niger, Tunisia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Nigeria, Thailand, Cambodia, Russia, Kosovo, Serbia, United States, Bahrain, Libya. 

2000:  There were 36 wars in the world involving the following nations:  Sierra Leone, South Africa, United Kingdom, Nigeria, Liberia, Algeria, France, Ogaden, Nepal, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Columbia, India, Afghanistan, Somalia, North Korea, Burma, Israel, Syria, Philippines, Indonesia, Mauritania, Morocco, Western Sahara, Laos, Turkey, Iraq, Peru, Senegal, Uganda, Rwanda, East Timor, Australia, Yugoslavia, Russia, Sudan, Congo, India, Angola, Ireland, England. 
  

1990:  There were 31 wars in the world involving the following countries:  Nigeria, Mali, Columbia, India, Afghanistan, Somalia, Korea, Burma, Israel, Philippines, Indonesia, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Canada, Western Sahara, Laos, Turkey, Iraq, Kuwait, United States, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, Egypt, France, Syria, Peru, Senegal, Uganda, Sudan, Congo, Rwanda, Zaire.

1980:  There were 31 wars in the world involving the following countries:  Burma, Spain, France, Guatemala, Ethiopia, Cuba, East Germany, Soviet Union, Colombia, North Korea, Libya, Chad, Angola, Mozambique, Vietnam, Cambodia, Argentina, South Africa, Namibia, Zaire, United States, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Canada, China, El Salvador, Iran, Iraq, Eritrea, Zambia, Nigeria, India, Malaysia, Ireland, England, Papua, Afghanistan, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Philippines, Indonesia, Mauritania, Algeria, Morocco, Western Sahara, Laos, Turkey, Peru.

1970:  There were 27 wars in the world involving the following countries:  Iraq, Soviet Union, China, Portugal, South Africa, Rhodesia, Colombia, Thailand, Sudan, Nigeria, India, North Korea, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, France, Guatemala, Burma, Israel, Yemen, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iran, United Kingdom, Britain, Ireland, Jordan, Philippines, Indonesia, United States, Cambodia, Laos, North Vietnam, South Vietnam, Ethiopia, Cuba, Angola, Chad, Malaysia, Papua.

1960:  There were 11 wars in the world involving the following countries:  Nigeria, Burma, Israel, North Vietnam, South Vietnam, Soviet Union, Russia, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, South Korea, North Korea, United States, Philippines, Australia, China, Congo, Belgium, Cuba, Guatemala, Spain, France, Britain, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Southern Rhodesia, Fiji, Kenya, Sudan, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Syria.
Source:  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars
 
The obvious increase in wars throughout the world in the last fifty years is very telling.  We should remember that throughout the entire Bible, God's Word focuses on what is happening to Israel.  Yes, the Word of God applies to all of us, but God used Israel as an example in so many situations; examples of God's divine favor to the obedient, and an example of His wrath against the disobedient.  Look at Israel's history and literally see the hand of God and prophecies fulfilled, according to the scriptures.  The Old Testament prophets spoke of the nations that would fight against Israel in the last days (Ezekiel 38-39), and virtually every nation surrounding Israel is at war today - the second indicator His return is near, but the rapture will occur before His return!