As a Christian, I’ve read and studied the book of Revelation, sometimes called the “end times” narrative, but nobody knows what it ultimately means. I know that some prophecies have already come to pass. I know the setting is the Middle East. I know that it seems the United States isn’t part of the final scenario​, per New Testament scholars. But I don’t know that what is happening now in the Middle East is the beginning of the end. From what I understand, there have been periods of “relative” peace there (such as the Pax Ottomana-16th/17th centuries), but no lasting peace. This could be more of the same. ​Or not. We just don’t know. 

In the meantime, I love this Jesuit prayer.

“God of mercy and compassion, of grace and reconciliation,
pour your power upon all your children in the Middle East:
Jews, Muslim and Christians, Palestinians and Israelis.
Let hatred be turned into love,
fear to trust,
despair to hope,
oppression to freedom,
occupation to liberation,
that violent encounters may be replaced by loving embraces,
and peace and justice could be experienced by all.”
~Rev. Said

Some people reading this will roll their eyes over my naivete.​ Or my wrong theology.

​But…

compare that prayer to something else in the book of Revelation. The last two chapters. Food for thought.