By Evangelist Peter Gee, Editor in Chief, Christianity News Daily
On February 28, 2026, the world crossed a geopolitical threshold when coordinated military strikes by the United States and Israel targeted Iran in a large-scale offensive that has since escalated into an ongoing regional war.
The operation, which struck multiple Iranian military and infrastructure targets, ignited a conflict whose ripple effects are now being felt across the globe. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks across the Middle East and retaliatory strikes against U.S. and allied facilities in the region.
Within days, the situation expanded beyond a localized military confrontation and began to impact the global economy, energy markets, and international shipping. The Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints — was effectively shut down by Iran, triggering immediate fears of a global energy crisis.
Oil prices surged, global shipping routes were disrupted, and tensions spread throughout the Middle East as nations braced for the possibility of a prolonged regional war.
Yet for Christians who study biblical prophecy and eschatology, such developments are not merely geopolitical events. They are also reminders of what Jesus Christ foretold nearly two thousand years ago.
In the Olivet Discourse, Jesus warned His disciples that wars and rumors of wars would characterize the period leading up to the end of the age. But He also made something very clear: these events are not the end in themselves.
They are the beginning of sorrows.
Evangelist Peter Gee has long taught that believers should interpret global conflicts through the prophetic lens provided by Scripture — especially the teachings of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew.
The current war in Iran offers a striking example of why that biblical framework matters more than ever.
The War That Began on February 28, 2026
The conflict began in the early hours of February 28 when coordinated air and missile strikes by Israeli and U.S. forces targeted Iranian military installations and strategic infrastructure.
The offensive was widely reported as one of the most extensive attacks on Iranian territory in modern history.
Key Iranian leadership figures were reportedly killed during the strikes, including the country’s supreme leader, triggering immediate retaliation across the region.
Iran responded by launching missile and drone attacks against U.S. military facilities and allied targets throughout the Persian Gulf.
Several Gulf states were drawn into the confrontation, while Iranian forces attacked shipping lanes and energy infrastructure across the region.
Within days, the conflict had expanded from a targeted strike into a wider regional war.
American forces deployed additional Marines and naval assets to the Middle East as the fighting intensified.
Military analysts warned that the war could escalate further depending on whether other regional actors become involved.
But perhaps the most immediate global consequence came not from battlefield developments — but from the sea.
The Strait of Hormuz Crisis
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most strategically important waterways on earth.
Located between Iran and Oman, the narrow maritime passage connects the Persian Gulf with the open ocean.
Approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes through this single shipping route.
After the February 28 strikes, Iran moved quickly to shut down the strait, threatening to attack any vessel attempting to pass through.
Shipping traffic rapidly collapsed.
Tanker traffic dropped dramatically as vessels anchored outside the strait to avoid potential attacks, effectively halting a major portion of global oil transit.
This disruption immediately sent shockwaves through global energy markets.
Oil prices surged above $100 per barrel within days, triggering fears of a new global inflation wave and economic instability.
Even countries that import little oil directly from the Middle East felt the effects.
Because oil is traded in a global market, disruptions anywhere affect prices everywhere.
As gasoline prices rose and markets became volatile, economists warned that a prolonged shutdown of the strait could trigger recession-level economic stress worldwide.
Economic Shockwaves Across the Globe
Energy markets are extraordinarily sensitive to disruptions in supply.
When nearly 20 percent of the world’s oil shipments are suddenly threatened or halted, the consequences extend far beyond the Middle East.
Since the beginning of the war, global markets have experienced:
- Surging oil and gas prices
- Shipping disruptions across the Persian Gulf
- Rising fuel costs for consumers
- Inflation pressures on global economies
Some analysts have even warned that oil prices could climb toward $200 per barrel if the crisis persists.
Meanwhile, several Gulf states have reduced oil production due to the instability surrounding the conflict.
The result has been extreme volatility in energy markets.
Countries that rely heavily on imported energy — particularly in Europe and Asia — now face the possibility of severe economic disruption.
Even humanitarian supply chains have been affected.
United Nations officials have warned that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is delaying food and medical shipments to vulnerable regions.
The war, therefore, is not just a regional conflict.
It has become a global crisis.
Retaliation and Regional Escalation
Iran’s retaliation has not been limited to shipping lanes.
Missile and drone attacks have targeted military bases and infrastructure throughout the region.
Several strikes have occurred in Kuwait, Bahrain, and other Gulf states that host American military facilities.
Civilian casualties have also been reported as the conflict spreads.
Israel has simultaneously launched operations against Iranian allies in Lebanon, where fighting with Hezbollah has intensified.
The conflict now involves multiple fronts across the Middle East.
Each new strike increases the risk that additional nations may be drawn into the war.
Military strategists fear a chain reaction that could expand the conflict into a much wider regional confrontation.
For the moment, however, the duration of the war remains uncertain.
No clear diplomatic solution has emerged, and both sides appear committed to continuing military operations.
The Words of Jesus in Matthew 24
For students of biblical prophecy, the current conflict evokes one of the most famous passages in the New Testament.
In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 24, Jesus delivered what is commonly known as the Olivet Discourse.
During this teaching, the disciples asked Jesus about the signs of His return and the end of the age.
His answer included a warning that remains profoundly relevant today:
“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars.
See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.”
— Matthew 24:6
Jesus then continued:
“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
— Matthew 24:7–8
These verses form the foundation for how many eschatology teachers understand world events.
Jesus did not describe wars as the final event.
Instead, He described them as birth pains — early indicators that history is moving toward its prophetic climax.
The Prophetic Framework of the Olivet Discourse
Evangelist Peter Gee has repeatedly emphasized that the Olivet Discourse functions as a prophetic blueprint.
In his teachings, he explains that Jesus provided the church with a “yardstick” to measure the progression of end-time events.
According to this framework, the early stages of the end-time timeline include:
- Wars and rumors of wars
- International instability
- Economic upheaval
- Natural disasters
- Rising deception
These developments, Jesus said, should not cause believers to panic.
Rather, they should confirm that history is unfolding exactly as God foretold.
The key phrase Jesus used was “the beginning of sorrows.”
This term refers to birth pains — the contractions that precede the birth of a child.
Just as birth pains increase in frequency and intensity before delivery, Jesus indicated that global turmoil would increase before the culmination of God’s prophetic plan.
Why Jesus Said “Do Not Be Troubled”
One of the most remarkable aspects of Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 24 is the instruction He gave immediately after mentioning wars.
“See that you are not troubled.”
This statement reveals an important spiritual posture that believers should maintain during times of global crisis.
Christians are not called to ignore world events.
But neither are they called to live in fear.
The reason is simple: God remains sovereign over human history.
No war, conflict, or geopolitical upheaval unfolds outside of His knowledge or authority.
While wars may appear chaotic from a human perspective, Scripture teaches that history ultimately moves according to God’s predetermined plan.
The events of the present age may be turbulent, but they are not random.
A Sermon That Addressed This Scenario
Long before the events of 2026, Evangelist Peter Gee preached a message explaining how wars fit into the prophetic timeline.
The sermon, titled “Differences Between the Rapture, the Day of the Lord, and the Second Coming,” explores how believers should interpret major global conflicts through the lens of biblical prophecy.
Below is the message referenced in this article.
In this teaching, the distinction between several key prophetic events is carefully explained.
These include:
- The Rapture
- The Day of the Lord
- The Second Coming of Christ
Understanding these distinctions helps believers avoid confusion when interpreting world events.
Not every war signals the immediate end of the world.
But every war reminds us that the world is moving toward its prophetic conclusion.
The Danger of Misinterpreting Wars
Throughout history, many people have mistakenly assumed that a major war meant the end of the world had arrived.
During World War I and World War II, countless observers believed the apocalypse had begun.
Yet those wars, devastating as they were, did not mark the end.
Instead, they served as reminders of the prophetic pattern Jesus described.
Wars occur.
Conflicts escalate.
Global instability rises.
But the final sequence of end-time events has its own specific timeline.
This is why Jesus warned believers not to panic.
Prophecy requires discernment, not speculation.
The Moral Dimension of War
Beyond geopolitics and prophecy, wars also raise profound moral questions.
Conflicts bring immense human suffering.
Civilians are displaced.
Families are torn apart.
Cities are destroyed.
Regardless of political perspectives, the human cost of war is always tragic.
Christians are called to pray for peace, justice, and wisdom among leaders.
Scripture repeatedly urges believers to pray for those in authority so that peace may prevail whenever possible.
War reminds humanity of its fallen condition.
It exposes the destructive consequences of pride, power struggles, and political ambition.
But it also reminds believers of humanity’s need for redemption.
The Gospel in a Time of War
Ironically, periods of global instability often create moments when people become more open to spiritual questions.
When the world appears fragile and uncertain, many begin searching for answers beyond politics and economics.
This is why the mission of the church remains urgent.
The gospel message does not change during wartime.
In fact, it becomes even more relevant.
Jesus Christ came to reconcile humanity with God.
Through His death and resurrection, He provided a path of forgiveness and salvation for all who believe.
While wars reshape nations and economies, the gospel transforms human hearts.
What Believers Should Watch For
According to the prophetic framework taught by Jesus, wars alone do not complete the end-time timeline.
Instead, they serve as part of a broader set of developments.
Believers should remain attentive to the broader pattern Jesus described, which includes:
- Increasing global instability
- Widespread deception and false teaching
- Persecution of believers
- Global proclamation of the gospel
Jesus concluded the Olivet Discourse by emphasizing one central truth:
No one knows the exact day or hour of His return.
But believers are called to remain spiritually alert.
Conclusion: The Beginning of Sorrows
The war that began on February 28, 2026, may continue for weeks, months, or even longer.
Its outcome remains uncertain.
What is certain, however, is that the world is once again witnessing the kind of turmoil Jesus described nearly two millennia ago.
Wars and rumors of wars.
Economic upheaval.
Global anxiety.
Yet the words of Christ remain as relevant today as when they were first spoken.
“See that you are not troubled.”
For believers, these events serve not as a cause for fear but as reminders that history is moving toward its ultimate fulfillment.
The conflicts of our age are not the end.
They are the beginning of sorrows.
And beyond those sorrows lies the hope that Christians have held for centuries — the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of His kingdom.
