​Armageddon 2026?
Part Two
Continuing on from where we left off at the end of Part  One . . .
The USA has been blessed not to have experienced the extent of homeland damage and civilian casualties that many other nations did during  World War 2, but never-the-less, has had its own history of bloodshed on its own land.
The shedding of innocent blood defiles the land on which it is shed (1), and calls out for divine retribution (2). 
Secular post-war accountability for “war criminals” is usually focused and imposed on members on the losing side of the war.  Rather history labels one as having been a commando, a revolutionary, a founding father, a terrorist, or a traitor is often determined by which side wins the war.
Defining what exactly qualifies as innocent blood, touches on a host of issues beyond the bloodshed taking place during warfare. 
For many, the bloodshed as the result of the millions of abortions taking place on American soil from 1973 to 2020 was no less despicable in the eyes of God than the millions of Jews who perished at the hands of the Nazis.  The greatness of a nation is its willingness and ability to defend its most vulnerable.
There was bloodshed on what would later become American soil during its colonial period, as a result of violent confrontations with the Native American tribes that inhabited the land before its European, uninvited, colonization on their land.
There was bloodshed on the North American soil during the American Revolutionary War,  the French and  Indian War, the War of 1812, War Between the States, and many wars with Native American tribes during its uninvited, westward expansion  across the North American continent, displacing the Native Americans who had lived there.
Other land and territories became the possessions of the USA as a result of war with, and a purchases from, foreign nations. The Native Americans that had been in these lands were systematically displaced through violence and broken treaties, as well.
This same pattern of war, violence, and oppression can be found in the history of virtually every nation throughout the course of  world history.  
God established the “Holy Land” of the Middle East through the Israeli military removal of the existing pagan peoples who had previously lived there, when their Acts 17: 26 time had come.
War, and rumors of war, have always  been a part of the fallen human environment, and according to Jesus, “…must take place (Matt. 24: 6  NASB2026).”
War will continue to be a part of the human environment, right up to, and including, the Battle of Armageddon.
The fact remains that there is not one square inch of land, belonging to any nation now in existence, that hadn’t previously been the property or domain of someone else, often seized and retained through bloodshed.
Many wars have been fought over land for access to or control over its natural and human resources, and or its strategic military location, as people, tribes, nations, and empires strive to promote their own survival, independence, and  prosperity, as they compete for their position or domination locally, or on a global level.
Scripture (3) Acts 17: 26) tells us that it is God Who determines the timing , the rise, the endurance, the extent  (if any) of international influence, the geographical borders, and the fall (or decline) of ALL nations.
History makes it clear that God has used the outcome of wars that were generated by both pagan and godly nations, religious organizations, coalitions, and empires, to slowly but surely, set the stage for what will be the  Battle of Armageddon and the Second Advent that immediately follows. The outcome of one war is what usually sets the stage for the next one.
Unless under attack, or ACTUAL threat of being immanently attacked, war should never be our first choice to address foreign policy. 
At the same time, Scripture (4) itself states there is a time for war.  Being in the position to make that choice is more than what the average person could handle, knowing that either way, many lives hang in the balance.
Praying for world peace sounds like a noble thing to do, but according to Jesus (5), before “Thy kingdom comes”  that Christians frequently pray for, war IS going to continue to be a part of the human experience. 
Many Christians do not believe that they should be a part of war, often times based on an errant translation and application of Exodus 20: 13.  This verse has been mistranslated, “Thou shall not kill” in  many English versions of The Bible. 
When accurately translated from the original transcripts, this commandment states that Thou shall not murder.  All murders involve killing, but not all killings involve murder.
Murder is sin. God cannot be God and command anyone to do anything that He has identified as sin.  
Numerous passages of Scripture documents God commanding (not an option) His people to participate in war and to carry out capital punishment for capital offenses.
Many of  the  modern-day doves who do not feel inclined to participate  in preparedness and actual warfare for what they consider to be moral reasons,, don’t seem to find any problem enjoying the freedom and benefits provided by the hawks who serve in their place.
All events, on the individual, tribal, national, and international level have a part to play as the world inches toward its climax of its last 1,000 years of history, before this present world is melted away (6) and replaced (7).
The good news is that when the Millennial kingdom is established, this period will be one of global peace, prosperity, and a restored environment, under the ruling authority of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The bad news is that before it takes place, the world will go through the devastating consequences of what Scripture defines as being the worst period in all of human history. 
In fact, it will be so horrific, that if it were not cut short by the Second Advent taking place, no life on the planet would survive.  It will only be for the sake of the “elect” (Tribulation Believers) living through the Great Tribulation) that this period will be shortened (8) Matt. 24: 22).
Nothing has ever or will ever take God by surprise, but much of what will happen will take humans by surprise that are not prepared.  
Only God knows when the Rapture will take place, but He has revealed what the human)  environment will be like in the End Times, leading up to the Rapture. Many believe we are in fact living in the End Times right now.
Along the way, nations rise, fall, or experience divine national discipline.  
The USA was founded by Christian men whose public lives reflected their private religious beliefs, but the USA also has a separation of Church and State strategy with a healthy respect for the existence and significance of both sides of the coin.
During the Church Age, God’s “people “ (born-again believers) will be found among the people of virtually every nation.  
There is a long history of Christians being on both sides of wars that Man generates.
There are  several levels of adversity that ANY nation, without exception, under divine national discipline can receive when it has chosen the way of gross immorality, and turns its back on God.  
The maximum level of divine national discipline takes place when a nation is removed from being among the recognized independent, sovereign nations in the international community.
God has used, is using, and will use both godly and pagan nations to accomplish His objectives.
There is not one nation, currently in existence, that did not establish and or maintain itself without force or threat of arms.  
There is not one tribe, nation, or empire, when at its peak of its prosperity and power, thought that its days, as an independent and sovereign people, were numbered.
But those with spiritual discernment, can read the handwriting on the wall (9).
End of Part Two
(1) Numbers 35: 33 (2) Gen. 4: 10 ( 3) Acts 17: 26 (4)  Eccl. 3: 8b (5) Matt. 24: 6  (6)  2Pet. 3: 10 (7) Rev. 21: 1 (8) Matt. 24: 22 (9) Daniel 5: 25-28