By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #163 ~
In a number of recent posts, we have focused on the Coronavirus Pandemic, and that’s because it’s a major, global problem, one that relates to your life and the lives of people all over this planet. But it’s vitally important that we see how this God-ordained plague is part of God’s plan in the end-times. My goal in this post is to summarize what will be happening from this present pandemic up to the coming of Christ, and how then you should live.
* This coronavirus, this present plague, is a sign given by God to wake us up, to alert us to the fact that we live in the end-times, and that it won’t be long before Jesus Christ returns to rapture the church. Luke 21:11, Rom. 13:11, Heb. 10:37
* This coronavirus will be followed by more plagues in the future. These plagues are one aspect of what Christ calls “birth pains” – others being false christs, earthquakes, wars and famines that will also be taking place in the years leading up to Christ’s coming. Matt. 24:4-8
* Jesus told us ahead of time that these birth pains would occur. That’s because He doesn’t want us to be surprised or fearful when these things happen, but to be at peace, and to be encouraged by the fact that He will soon appear to rapture the church. Mark 13:23, 1 John 3:2
* These birth pains will not be taking place all over the planet but will be happening in various parts of the world. For example, COVID-19 will not affect every single person on this earth, and neither will any of the other birth pains. Matt. 24:7, Luke 21:11, Rev. 6:8
* One result of these birth pains is that many people will die. Jesus soberly says, “Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather” (Matt. 24:28). Rev. 6:8 sadly states, “It’s rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind, and they were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague.”
* These signs and events are beginning birth pains. They are just the beginning of great difficulties this world will experience before the coming of Christ. (Matt. 24:6, 8; Luke 21:9). There will also be a great apostasy, a falling away of so-called believers from so-called churches. We will see increasing sin, evil and lawlessness. False christs and false prophets will mislead many. The Antichrist will be revealed, desecrating the temple in Jerusalem. There will be a great persecution of both Christians and Jews. All over the world, Christians will be hated, betrayed, and even martyred. Matt. 24:9-26, 2 Thess. 1-9
* Preaching the gospel to the ends of the earth should be uppermost in our minds. Even now, in the midst of this pandemic, God will give you opportunities to be a light to the lost, to proclaim the gospel, to tell people how they can escape God’s wrath, be forgiven of their sins, and become children of God. Matt. 24:14, Luke 21:12-15, Acts 1:8
* God’s end-time work with the church is in conjunction with and coinciding with His end-times’ work with the Jewish people. Side by side passages in Matt. 24:9-26, Luke 21:12-24 and Rev. 7, 10-13 show how God’s work with both these groups will culminate in Christ coming to rapture the church and then redeem a large remnant of Jewish people.
* Daniel’s 70th week, a 7-year prophecy-filled time-frame, is marked by five major events, the signing or confirming of a peace treaty at the beginning of this week, the revealing of the Antichrist at its mid-point, the rapture of the church happening during the 2nd half of the week, God’s wrath being poured out on the earth during the very last part of the week, and the salvation of the Jews taking place at the end of this week. It’s important to see that the rapture occurs after the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, after the Antichrist is revealed, and before God’s wrath. Dan. 9:24-27; 2 Thess. 1:5-10, 2:1-10; Rev. 8-9, 13
* Thinking about the difficult, dangerous and death-darkened days ahead might cause you to be afraid. But God has commanded you to not fear the coronavirus or any enemy, but to fear Him, to be strong and courageous, and to be an overcomer. Call out to God, trust Him, believe His promises, and do His work, always remembering what Christ told you, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matt. 28:20, Psalm 91, Luke 12:1-8, Rev. 12:11
* All things now taking place in the world are leading to the restructuring and realigning of countries and economies (United States included), leading to a God-ordained future global order that must be in place before the Antichrist begins his rule. God has predestined all of history, and even this present pandemic is part of God’s divine plan, leading to the coming of Christ, the day of the Lord, and His reign over the earth. Dan. 2, 7-12; Eph. 1:9-12
* Some people, even Christians, believe in conspiracy theories regarding the occurrence of world events at this present time. I am not dismissing man’s attempts to conspire, deceive and kill so as to gain power and control over people and countries, but we must know that God is always sovereign. Everything that happens in this world is ordained by God, leading to that point in time when Christ will appear in the clouds to rapture and glorify the church and then take her home to heaven. Eph. 1:9-12; Ps. 2:1-2, 33:10-11; 1 Thess. 4:15-17
* God gives you all you need to live for Him in these days and years leading to the coming of Christ. He gives you His Word so you know what to think, say and do. He gives you His Spirit, who leads, comforts and encourages you. He gives you grace, the power and ability to do all that He wants you to do. He gives you His peace when there are problems. He gives you His joy, a gladness in your soul, even when life is hard. He gives you hope, a guarantee that you will be perfect, and in heaven with Jesus and all the other believers. 2 Cor. 9:8, 12:9-10, 13:14
We are in the midst of this global pandemic and what’s most important is knowing you are saved, are forgiven, are children of God (John 3:16). It is essential that you have a good relationship with God and are daily walking with Him (John 17:3). During your life on earth, you are to be living, not for yourself, but for Jesus Christ (Gal. 2:20). You must know what God says about the end-times we live in, and how He is sovereignly directing all leaders, all countries, and all people, in accordance with His eternal purpose, leading to that time when Jesus, His Son, will return at the end of this age to rapture the saints, pour out His wrath, and begin His 1000-year reign over this world. Phil. 2:9-11, Is. 6:3, Hab. 2:14
P.S. In the middle of this pandemic, you need perspective, you need to see where we are at in history, and where God is taking us. Be encouraged for God, in general, tells us in His word what will be happening. Read these posts for they will also give you the big picture of our lives as Christians – “What Needs to Happen Before Christ’s Return” and “Bible Prophecy Enables Us to See the Future.”