Volume 45         Issue One         January 2026

Last Trumpet Ministries · PO Box 806 · Beaver Dam, WI 53916

Phone: 920-887-2626   Internet: http://www.lasttrumpetministries.org

“For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” I Cor. 14:8

Wars And Rumours Of Wars

 

“And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

Mark 13:7-8

 

As we enter a new year, the world remains embroiled in conflict. Many of last year's headlines focused on wars and global tensions. Based on what we can discern from the world’s present condition, it is reasonable to expect this trend to continue in 2026. Indeed, there remains the potential for conflict in every region, and just as Jesus Christ warned us, there are constant “wars and rumours of wars.” In this issue of the Last Trumpet, we will thoughtfully consider how the current geopolitical tensions are reshaping the world and look ahead to what the future may hold.

 

Hotspots

    

The war between the State of Israel and Hamas in Gaza raged on throughout much of last year until a tenuous agreement brought an end to the fighting in October 2025. Both Israel and the United States attacked Iran in June, setting the world on edge as the masses watched with bated breath to see how the belligerent regime would respond. At the time, Iran conducted a muted retaliatory strike against the United States, and the Twelve-Day War abruptly ended. However, it is a safe guess that Iran has a long memory and will not soon forget the actions of Israel and the United States. The ongoing tension prompted Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to say on December 27, 2025, “We are in a full-scale war with the U.S., Israel and Europe; they don’t want our country to remain stable.” (1)

 

Meanwhile, a horrific civil war has been ongoing in Sudan since April 2023, and President Trump’s envoy to Africa, Massad Boulous, has called the conflict “the world’s biggest humanitarian crisis.” (2) At least 40,000 people have died since the war began (3) and more than 12 million people have been displaced. “The war in Sudan has been one of the most gruesome humanitarian catastrophes in world history. However, there has been frequent paralysis by world leaders and international institutions to solve it, in addition to reduced, fluctuating media attention on the conflict,” said Caroline Rose, director of Military and National Security Priorities at the New Lines Institute. (4)

 

In recent months, President Trump has ordered numerous attacks on boats originating from Venezuela said to be carrying illicit narcotics. After months of speculation that Trump might launch military action against the South American country, the President announced the first known attack within the Venezuelan borders in December 2025. “There was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs,” Trump explained. “They load the boats up with drugs. So we hit all the boats and now we hit the area. It's the implementation area. That's where they implement. And that is no longer around.” (5) The United States currently has 15,000 troops and several warships standing ready in the region, raising the specter of an expanded conflict. (6) The strikes on the dock came just days after Trump announced a blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers. “Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America. It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before — Until such time as they return to the United States of America all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us,” Trump wrote on social media. (7) President Trump has suggested that Venezuela’s President, Nicolas Maduro, should step down. “He can do whatever he wants, it’s alright, whatever he wants to do. If he wants to do something, if he plays tough, it'll be the last time he's ever able to play tough,” Trump said. (8)  In a recent statement, Maduro said the Venezuelan people must “stand like warriors … ready to smash the teeth of the North American empire.” (9) Both Russia and China are close allies of Venezuela, though Russia already has its hands full with its own war in Ukraine, and China seems preoccupied with Taiwan.

 

The “reunification” of Taiwan with China has long been an obsession of Chinese President Xi Jinping, and recent war games could be a preview of things to come for the disputed island state. In December 2025, China conducted its Justice Mission 2025 military exercises. The massive show of force involved eighty-nine Chinese aircraft, fourteen military vessels, and fourteen coast guard boats that circled Taiwan like vultures closing in on prey. (10) A day after the drills concluded, President Xi gave a speech declaring that “the reunification of our motherland, a trend of the times, is unstoppable.” (11) China has conducted similar exercises around Taiwan in recent years, but the latest demonstration was the largest one yet. These maneuvers are likely intended to intimidate Taiwan, but also make it harder to see an invasion coming.

 

The dispute over Taiwan has inflamed tensions between China and Japan. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who recently became the first woman to hold the position, enraged the Chinese government in November 2025 when she said Japan would likely intervene on Taiwan’s behalf if China ever invaded the island. Takaichi warned that if the Chinese used “warships and the use of force, then that could constitute a situation threatening [Japan’s] survival, whichever way you look at it.” She then continued, “The so-called Taiwan contingency has become so serious that we have to anticipate a worst-case scenario.” (12)

 

With so many hotspots around the world, this dramatically increases the chances of new wars, or even a global war, breaking out. The Holy Scriptures make it clear that wars will continue to plague the world right up to the very end. While organizations such as the United Nations claim to want peace, you cannot have true and genuine peace without the Prince of Peace. If the whole world followed the teachings of Jesus Christ, there would be no more wars. In fact, if the world at large used Christ’s Sermon on the Mount as its instruction manual, it would put an end to all conflict. Consider our Saviour’s words in Matthew 5:43-45, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”

 

While Jesus Christ is the way to peace, the Scriptures tell us that global powers are going in the opposite direction. According to the Book of Revelation, the armies of the world will gather at the end of the world to fight against Christ the Lord. Revelation 19:19 declares, “And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.” Although the global populace as a whole will not know the peace that comes only from our Saviour, we can have that precious peace abiding within us. Jesus tells us in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

 

What Is Happening In Ukraine? 

 

As has been the case since 2022, Russia has continued its relentless invasion of Ukraine. This prolonged war of attrition has had a devastating impact on Europe, with ramifications that will continue to be felt long after the conflict ends. According to a report from BBC News published in December 2025, Russia has suffered an estimated 1.1 million casualties since the war began, including 250,000 fatalities. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has said that 25,000 Russian soldiers are killed each month. BBC researchers believe Ukrainian fatalities may be as high as 140,000. (13)

 

American President Donald Trump has sought to end the brutal war since he returned to the White House in January 2025. These efforts culminated in a highly publicized summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in August 2025 at a military installation in Anchorage, Alaska. (14) At the time, it was hoped that the meeting would be fruitful and lead to peace in Eastern Europe. Although negotiations have been ongoing since that time, there is still no agreement as we enter 2026.

 

The Trump Administration presented a 28-point peace plan to Ukraine in November 2025. A key provision in the plan stipulates that some areas of Ukraine become Russian territory, including Luhansk and Donetsk. The plan further stipulates that Ukraine will never join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and will limit its military to 600,000 soldiers. In return, Ukraine is promised “reliable security guarantees,” which include European fighter jets stationed in Poland. (15) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected parts of the plan, reducing it from its original 28 points to 20. As would be expected, Ukraine has shown extreme reluctance to cede land to Russia. “We can't just withdraw, it's out of our law. It's not only the law. People live there, 300,000 people... We can't lose those people,” Zelensky insisted. (16) On the other hand, Putin has threatened to continue the war if he does not get what he wants. “If the authorities in Kyiv don't want to settle this business peacefully, we'll resolve all the problems before us by military means,” Putin declared. (17)

 

While President Trump and the Russian government insist they are “at the final stage” of reaching a deal, (18) whether or not it happens remains to be seen. In a development that could derail the negotiation process, Russia has accused Ukraine of launching a drone swarm attack on Vladimir Putin’s residence in the Novgorod region south of St. Petersburg. (19) Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claims Russia shot down ninety-one drones headed for Putin’s home and warned there would be consequences for the alleged attack. “Such reckless actions will not go unanswered,” Lavrov insisted. (20) Ukraine claims the attack never happened. “This alleged ‘residence strike’ story is a complete fabrication intended to justify additional attacks against Ukraine, including Kyiv, as well as Russia’s own refusal to take necessary steps to end the war,” President Zelensky said. (21) President Trump expressed his disappointment over the allegation, stating, “It’s a delicate period of time. This is not the right time. It’s one thing to be offensive, because they’re offensive. It’s another thing to attack his house. It’s not the right time to do any of that.” Nevertheless, Trump did admit that the allegation might be false. When a reporter asked if there was any evidence that Ukraine had really launched the attack, Trump replied, “We’ll find out. You’re saying maybe the attack didn’t take place? That’s possible, I guess, but President Putin told me this morning.” (22) An assessment by the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) concluded that Ukraine had not targeted Putin’s residence. (23)

 

Interestingly enough, President Trump has tied a potential peace deal in Ukraine to his own salvation, suggesting that if he is successful in brokering a deal, he might go to heaven. In a phone interview with Fox & Friends on August 19, 2025, Trump expressed uncertainty about his eternal destination. “If I can save 7,000 people a week from being killed… I want to try to get to heaven if possible.” He then continued, “I’m hearing that I’m not doing well. I am really at the bottom of the totem pole. But if I can get to heaven, this will be one of the reasons.” (24) This perspective is at odds with Ephesians 2:8-9, which declares that we are saved by grace rather than our own works. In these verses, the Apostle Paul writes, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Months later, Trump suggested that heaven may be out of reach for him. In October 2025 while speaking to a reporter aboard Air Force One, he said, “I mean, you know, I’m being. A little cute. I don’t think there’s anything going to get me in heaven. I think I’m not maybe heaven-bound. I’m not sure I’m going to be able to make heaven.” (25)

 

Although the President may feel like he’s a hopeless case, we know that it is never too late to turn to God, repent of our sins, and obey the Gospel as long as we still draw breath and have a beating heart. In Revelation 3:20, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ tells us, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

 

The Future Of Warfare

 

The manner in which wars are fought has changed dramatically over the last century. Modern armies have fighter jets, ballistic missiles, submarines, aircraft carriers, and nuclear weapons. Yet, as the war in Ukraine demonstrates, modern warfare is undergoing a rapid transformation. When Russia first invaded Ukraine in 2022, they likely expected the conflict to be over in a matter of weeks or months. So, how has Ukraine managed to survive this long? Ukrainian forces have been bolstered by support from the United States and Europe, and have been given billions of dollars worth of military equipment and advanced weaponry. However, this ongoing support from the West only tells part of the story. It has been said that necessity is the mother of invention, and Ukraine has changed the way wars are fought in the modern world. Specifically, they have relied heavily on cheap drones that have been used extensively to attack Russian forces.

 

Shortly after the war began, Ukraine started using modified commercial drones produced by the Chinese manufacturer DJI. These drones, which cost $2,000 or less, are not intended for combat use, but Ukraine quickly figured out they could be used to drop grenades on the enemy. When Russia realized what Ukraine was up to, they began using drones to attack Ukraine. “Before this war, people mostly used them to play around with things for experimental purposes, like, 'Can I drop a water bottle?' You see these videos on YouTube,” said Faine Greenwood, a researcher who specializes in drones. Greenwood then went on to explain, “The Ukrainians, and the Russians too, have figured out ways to modify these devices they've purchased online to make more and more creative ways to drop explosives from these small consumer drones.” (26)

 

Ukraine has since moved on from drones intended for hobbyists and has built up a robust industry producing drones that have been used to knock out Russian tanks and aircraft and even sink Black Sea Fleet ships. Kateryna Bondar, a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), believes Ukraine would have lost the war long ago if they had not adapted drones for use in military applications. “It’s 100 percent accurate to say this. And we can see this especially by the numbers,” Bondar insisted. Patrick Shepherd, a former U.S. Army officer who fought in the Iraq War, marveled at how much drones have changed modern warfare. “It’s like gunpowder. That’s how insanely it’s changed the war,” Shepherd said. In reference to drones, he later went on to say, “If we had faced these in Iraq, it would have been terrible for us.” (27)

 

As the war has dragged on, Ukraine has scaled up its production of military drones. In 2023, the embattled country built 800,000 drones. By 2024, that number had more than doubled to over two million, and it is estimated that Ukraine might produce five million drones in 2026. (28)

 

Modern drones are becoming increasingly lethal. The most advanced models are equipped with artificial intelligence, which can identify targets and launch an attack in a split second. A company known as Auterion recently signed a $50 million contract with the US Department of Defense to provide Ukraine with 33,000 AI-equipped “strike kits.” (29) As drones with artificial intelligence grow in capabilities, we can only wonder how this technology might be used in the future. Could we see armed autonomous drones hovering in the sky in the coming years?

 

According to an article published by The Guardian in July 2024, the US Department of Defense currently has over 800 projects related to the development of artificial intelligence for military applications, including autonomous weapons. (30) Paul Scharre, executive vice president and director of studies at the Center for a New American Security, expressed grave concern over these projects. “There’s a risk that over time we see humans ceding more judgment to machines. We could look back 15 or 20 years from now and realize we crossed a very significant threshold.” He also warned that once these systems are in use, it is difficult to stop using them. “Once weapons are embedded into military support structures, it becomes more difficult to give them up, because they’re counting on it. It’s not just a financial investment – states are counting on using it as how they think about their national defense,” Scharre explained. (31)

 

Another way modern warfare is changing is through cyberattacks. Each year, we hear about breaches by hackers that steal massive amounts of data, often putting the American people and even government agencies at risk. In many cases, these attacks are carried out by hostile foreign governments such as China, Russia, and Iran. According to a “Cyber Threat Snapshot” published by The House Committee on Homeland Security in October 2025, attacks launched at the behest of the Chinese government rose by 150 percent in 2024 in comparison to 2023. Attacks targeting financial services, media, manufacturing, and industry rose by a whopping 300 percent. One of the largest attacks in 2024, known as Salt Typhoon, targeted at least nine telecommunications providers, which allowed hackers to steal data related to law enforcement wiretaps and even access the phones of presidential candidates. More than eighty countries were impacted by the breach. Later, in July 2025, hackers backed by the Chinese government exploited a vulnerability in Microsoft SharePoint to compromise American government agencies, including the Department of Energy, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Homeland Security.

 

Chinese hackers have also targeted critical infrastructure in the United States, including the “water, energy, and telecommunications sectors.” The report then notes, “These intrusions appear intended to establish persistent access and pre-position capabilities that could be leveraged to disrupt services in the event of a geopolitical crisis.” Since most people, businesses, and government agencies use the Internet, this new type of warfare poses a grave risk to society. “Amid a heightened threat landscape, we must take a whole-of-society approach to countering escalating cyber threats from adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party, Iran, Russia, North Korea, and others,” warned Andrew R. Garbarino, a Republican from New York and the Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security. (32)

 

As we navigate the new dangers of this modern world, it is vitally important that we continue to watch and pray in these perilous times. While there are many dangers ahead, we know that our God will continue to be with us for as long as we are here. Our Saviour promises us in Matthew 28:20, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”

 

Thank you all for your kind support of this ministry. As always, we invite you to send us your prayer requests. Each request receives individual attention from our intercessors, and we know that God is able to help us in our time of need. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

 

Samuel David Meyer

 

This newsletter is made possible by the kind donations of our supporters. If you would like to help us, you may send your contribution to our postal address or donate online at http://lasttrumpetnewsletter.org/donate.

 

References

 

01. Associated Press, December 27, 2025, By Associated Press, apnews.com.

02. The Arab Weekly, November 16, 2025, By the Arab Weekly, thearabweekly.com.

03. Associated Press, December 16, 2025, By Samy Magdy, apnews.com.

04. Fox News, December 12, 2025, By Chris Masaro, foxnews.com.

05. ABC News, December 29, 2025, By Hannah Demissie, abcnews.go.com.

06. Ibid.

07. Bloomberg News, December 17, 2025, By Bloomberg News, bloomberg.com.

08. ABC News, December 29, 2025, By Hannah Demissie, abcnews.go.com.

09. Fox News, December 11, 2025, By Greg Wehner, foxnews.com.

10. Reuters, December 28, 2025, By Joe Cash, Yimou Lee, and Wen-Yee Lee, reuters.com.

11. The Guardian, December 31, 2025, By Amy Hawkins, theguardian.com.

12. The Guardian, November 10, 2025, By Justin McCurry and Helen Davidson, theguardian.com.

13. BBC News, December 30, 2025, By Olga Ivshina, bbc.com.

14. ABC News, December 16, 2025, By David Brennan, abcnews.go.com.

15. Axios, November 20, 2025, By Barak Ravid and Dave Lawler, axios.com.

16. BBC News, December 30, 2025, By Paul Kirby, bbc.com.

17. Ibid.

18. Ibid.

19. The Guardian, December 29, 2025, By Luke Harding and Sammy Gecsoyler, theguardian.com.

20. Ibid.

21. Ibid.

22. Ibid.

23. PBS News, December 31, 2025, By PBS News, pbs.org.

24. People Magazine, August 19, 2025, By Meredith Kile, people.com.

25. KTIV News, October 14, 2025, By Amanda Alvarado, ktiv.com.

26. National Public Radio, March 28, 2023, By Greg Myre, npr.org.

27. CNN, November 28, 2025, By Brad Lendon, cnn.com.

28. Ibid.

29. Ibid.

30. The Guardian, July 14, 2025, By Nick Robins-Early, theguardian.com.

31. Ibid.

32. The House Committee on Homeland Security, October 31, 2025, homeland.house.gov.