Look at the profiles of current leaders of key nations on earth which will likely be involved in a coming world conflict. What is the message each one is conveying to their respective countries?

Major leader profiles

In 1979, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, a Shia cleric, took over Iran and overthrew Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi. He then installed an Islamic revolutionary government. It has had one supreme ambition, to be the predominant player shaping the future of the Middle East. It wants to destroy Israel and wants the United States to be gone from the region after decades of primacy.

Russia will be a key player on the world stage. It has been battling over Ukraine since February, 2022. Not since Joseph Stalin has anyone ruled over either the U.S.S.R. or Russia as long as Vladimir Putin. He has held continuous high positions since 2012; as either president or prime minister since 1999, as prime minister from 1999 to 2000 and from 2008 to 2012, and as president from 2000 to 2008.

Putin has shown himself to be a man of vision and action. What is his endgame? His invasion of Ukraine appears to be a continuation of his efforts to regain territory. In 2014, he illegally moved to seize Crimea. Prior to that, on August 7, 2008, Russia launched a full-scale land, air and sea attack against its tiny neighbor, Georgia, across an internationally recognized border. His colossal vision is clearly the goal of regaining control of the entire former Soviet Union sphere of power. 

The Red Dragon of communist China is another key contender vying for expansion of its influence and power around the globe. China is like the mythological monster, Hydra with multiple heads; they have their nose just about everywhere in the world. Xi Jinping became the president of the People’s Republic of China in 2013. He could rule indefinitely as a lifelong dictator over China. "He will be looking at redoubling everything that he has been doing," Professor Tsang of the University of London said. "He is a man with a mission, and the mission is to make China great again in the mythical path of China."

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been the President of Turkey since August, 2014; he served as Prime Minister before that from 2003 to 2014. Erdogan is often cast as an Ottoman revivalist. His critics suggest he wants to establish Turkey as a modern secular republic and bring back the Ottoman Empire. 

Then there is the European Union (E.U.) which has aspirations of becoming a United States of Europe with a cohesive political union that acts as one and a powerful military. They have come a long way toward that end. Thanks to the single market, people, goods, services and money can move around the E.U.’s 27 countries almost as freely as within a single country. What is the holdup that keeps them from accomplishing their vision? Perhaps they do not really know the answer, but prophecy provides the answer. A powerful seductive political figure must come on the scene. He will have a vision of restoring the Holy Roman Empire. He will successfully consolidate Europe, and through trickery establish a one-religion state in cooperation with a religious leader. Nations around the world will join his cause.

Leaders refuse to see the truth

As we look around the world, there are leaders who arise in every major nation who have visions of grandeur about the future greatness of their country and the rebuilding of long past empires. However, for the most part, God is left out of the picture. In the case of the coming beast power, the leader will in fact be knowingly working against God. 

God looks down from heaven and He laughs at the ways of foolish leaders of this world with their grand imaginations about themselves and their plans. King David was inspired to write, “Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, ‘Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.’ The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them” (Psalm 2:1-4, New International Version).

The leaders of the world should know unequivocally that God exists in the heavens, but they deny Him (Romans 1:20-21). They fail to realize, though they could know, it is God Who raises up leaders and deposes them according to His will, and no one can prevent it (Daniel 2:21). 

The Good Shepherd Is coming 

One is coming who will depose all the kings and rulers of this world, and He will install righteous leaders who will always honor God. We are nearing the time of the coming of this valiant King of kings. The prophet Isaiah spoke of the coming of this great leader:

“A voice of one calling: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God… O Zion, you who bring good tidings, get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, you who bring good tidings, lift up your voice with strength, lift it up, be not afraid; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” Behold, the Lord God shall come with a strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him; Behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him’” (Isaiah 40:3, 9-10). 

He is depicted as the Good Shepherd who gently cares for and leads His flock, taking the lambs with His arm into His bosom (Isaiah 40:11).

The time will come when this chaotic world will be changed forever, when the seventh trumpet will sound, and loud voices will proclaim from heaven the good news: “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (Revelation 11:15).

When Christ returns, He will also reward the prophets and saints—and those who fear His name small and great (Revelation 11:18). May our great Father in heaven hasten the coming of His glorious Son!