Rick Renner Podcast (Audio)

Episode: Thursday - Wars, Rumors, and Your Peace

Date: January 8, 2026
Host: Rick Renner

Overview

This episode, part of the series "How Close Are We to the End?", features Rick Renner examining biblical end-time prophecies, particularly focusing on Jesus’ predictions in Matthew 24 and Luke 21. He delves into the meaning and significance of end-time signs such as wars, rumors of wars, worldwide deception, societal upheaval, and ethnic and ideological conflict. The central theme is understanding biblical signs in current events—and, crucially, maintaining personal peace amid uncertainty.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Setting: Matthew 24 and Jesus’ Private Teaching

• Reference: Matthew 24:3
• Rick emphasizes the unique, intimate setting where Jesus privately answers his disciples’ questions about the "end of the age."
• The questions: “What will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the world?” (or "age" in Greek).
• Clarification: The world itself won't end, but this age (the "last days" or "Church Age") will.
  • "The world is never going to end, but this age is going to end." ([04:35])

2. Sign #1: Worldwide Deception

• Reference: Matthew 24:4
• Greek word: “planau”—describes a global wandering, especially a moral wandering from established truths.
• Rick elaborates on how this is evident today with confusion even over basic truths like gender identity.
  • "Who would have imagined that we would experience that in our lifetime?" ([09:00])
• Agricultural analogy: Like an animal wandering so far it can’t find its way back—society is losing its moral bearings.

3. Signs #2–6: Wars, Rumors, and Commotions

A. Wars and Rumors of Wars

• Reference: Matthew 24:6
• Greek words:
  • “akouo”: “to hear” (distinct from seeing)—Rick points out Jesus predicted we’d “hear” about wars endlessly, fitting for our age of constant news cycles.
  • “polemos”: plural, indicating repeated, ongoing armed conflict globally.
  • "It's the non-stop hearing of wars." ([13:10])
• Not just global wars, but continual battles, uprisings, and skirmishes.

B. Rumors

• Greek word: “akoa”—the sound in your ears; the implication is that news of conflict will be constantly in the background of people’s lives, building anxiety.

C. Response: Do Not Be Troubled

• Reference: Matthew 24:6
• Greek word: “therao”—an inward fright or anxiety, not just surface worry.
• Jesus’ instruction: "See that you be not troubled.”
  • Suggests believers aren’t to let cycles of crisis provoke inward panic.

D. Commotions

• Reference: Luke 21:9
• Greek word: Depicts large-scale upheaval—politically, socially, civil unrest, instability, and even anarchy.
• "Do we see upheaval in society around the world? Jesus said there’ll be a lot of it." ([17:40])

E. Terror and Terrorism

• Reference: Luke 21:9 ("Be not terrified")
• Greek word: Describes panic, terrorism, random acts of violence that create widespread fear—explicitly referencing terrorism in modern life.
  • "Terrorism is escalating in an increasing number of nations."
  • Rick reads from his book, noting that terrorism now affects daily life everywhere ([19:00]).

F. Not Yet the End—The Greek Word “Telos”

• All these signs indicate proximity to the end, but not the final moment of history.

4. Ethnic and Ideological Conflict

• Reference: Matthew 24:7 (“Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom”)

• Greek words:

  • “Ethnos”: ethnic groups, including races, religions, colors, and nations—now in violent or heated conflict.
  • “Epi”: a forceful rise against, indicating a crushing or decimating intent.
  • “Basileia”: kingdoms or spheres of influence, including political or ideological domains.

• Rick underscores the "crushing" nature of these clashes—groups trying to dominate each other, not just compete.

  “It is one political realm against another, one political party against another… they’re going to try to crush each other to get the superiority over the other.” ([21:30])

5. Seeing and Hearing: The Power of Media

• Repeated use of "hear" (not just "see") indicates these events will dominate the world’s consciousness via news and the internet.
  • "It's going to be buzzing in your ears. And of course this describes the advent of the news and the Internet." ([22:20])

6. Guidance for Believers: Peace and Leadership

• In spite of all these signs, believers are called to remain in peace.
  • “We can remain in peace. And we thank you for the peace of God that passes all understanding…” (Prayer, [24:47])
• Brief note: Leadership in the church means humility and service, modeled on Jesus’ example (Mark 10:44).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "When you don't even know what gender you are, you are really confused." ([08:40])
• "It's difficult to keep an accurate count of how many revolutions have occurred in recent years. There seems to be an unleashing of demonic forces into the earth with a fury that refuses to be pacified." (Reading from “Signs You’ll See Just before Jesus Comes,” [19:05])
• “It appears as if the lid has been taken off of Pandora’s box, and we seem to be coexisting in a warring, terroristic environment that is unprecedented in scope.” ([19:30])
• “Ethnic groups... are going to try to crush or even decimate... incivility on a scale like no one has ever seen.” ([21:15])
• “We thank you for the peace of God which passes all understanding. And even though we’re living in a world that is just seething…we can remain in peace.” (Closing Prayer, [24:47])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:20 — Introduction to “How Close Are We to the End?” series; context for this episode
• 03:25 — Discussion about the “end of the age” (Greek clarification)
• 06:50 — Sign #1: Worldwide Deception and its moral implications
• 09:30 — Greek word “planau” and society’s moral wandering
• 12:40 — Signs #2–6 overview; “wars, rumors of wars, commotions…”
• 13:10 — Detailed breakdown of “wars” (polemos) and hearing about them (“akouo”)
• 16:50 — Meaning of “rumors” and media saturation
• 17:40 — “Commotions” and present-day societal upheaval
• 19:00 — Terror and terrorism; reading from Rick’s book on the subject
• 21:00 — “Nation against nation, kingdom against kingdom”—ethnic and ideological conflict
• 22:20 — Role of media: “hear” vs “see”
• 24:47 — Prayer for peace in turbulent times and closing words on spiritual leadership

Final Thoughts

Rick Renner provides a scriptural and practical framework for recognizing the biblical "signs of the times" in today's world. The core message urges listeners not to succumb to fear amid escalating turmoil but to stand anchored in faith and enjoy God’s peace, regardless of surrounding circumstances.

Key takeaway: Even as “wars,” “rumors of wars,” and deep divisions fill our headlines and news feeds, believers are equipped to face these times with understanding and supernatural peace.

(For further study or requests for prayer, Rick encourages listeners to visit renner.org.)