What in the World is Happening?
Several weeks ago as the reports on the Coronavirus began to mount in seriousness and intensity, I wondered if this could be a prelude to the end time events recorded in the Bible. While all sickness and disease can leave devastation in its wake, it does produce a positive effect in one respect. More people are forced to think about the reality of life and death and the things that really matter. Even questions about God and the future are posed by those who seldom give any thought about God and what is going on in the world. Questions abound: Is God responsible for this? Why has God allowed this? Is God sending judgment upon us? Even those who do not believe in God are asking these questions AND praying to Him. Whatever their motives might be for asking these questions, I am thankful that such questions are being asked. It provides an opportunity for Christians to offer God’s perspective on the matter. God is sovereign in all matters. Listen to the words of the prophet Isaiah:
I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, 6 that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other. 7 I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things. (Isa 45:5-7 )
So, what is God doing? Are these current events a prelude to end time Bible prophecy? Honestly, I do not know. But they could very well be. What I know for sure is that when that end time approaches, events like the current one will increase and even be worse. Before Christ comes for His church things will get worse rather than better. Too many speculate about the future and go beyond what the Bible predicts.That is dangerous business. Such conditions become a hay-day for psychics and gullible people who have no interest in what the Bible says on these matters. So, save your money and resist the temptation to buy the latest book of predictions for next year. Rather, read your Bible instead! God’s prophets in the Old Testament gave many predictions concerning the first and second comings of Christ. (The Bible records serious warning about those who were false prophets. See Deuteronomy chapters 13 and 18.) But all of those prophecies offered by God’s prophets concerning Christ’s first coming were fulfilled accurately. I have full confidence that those prophecies which have not yet been fulfilled will be fulfilled in God’s time and plan. Consider some of the prophecies yet to be completely fulfilled.
* The gospel will be preached throughout the whole world and growth of the church will be the result. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Mat 24:14)
* As we approach the end times we will see an increase in religious apostasy. While apostasy has always existed, in the end times there will be an increase in sin and lawlessness. Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4)
* Consider what the Bible says concerning the coming of Christ. These are words of comfort for the true Christian. But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
* Additional words of comfort are offered when the Day of the Lord is addressed. Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11)
* The Bible also predicts the establishment of a New World Order that will be brought about by the Antichrist and false prophet. And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. 2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. 4 And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?" (Revelation 13:1-4) Continue reading Revelation 13 for more description of the Antichrist and the activity of the false prophet.
* As we approach the end of the end times, Christ will return with His church to defeat the Antichrist and bind Satan for 1000 years. Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. (Rev 19:11 ESV)
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while. (Rev 20:1 ESV)
* Christ will set up His kingdom on earth and will rule and reign for 1000 years of peace and prosperity. Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. (Rev 20:4 ESV)
The Bible also makes some general statements about the conditions of the world as we approach the end. It warns of selfishness, skepticism, and unbelief concerning the return of Christ. (See 2 Timothy 3:1-6; 2 Peter 3:3-4) While there may be differences of opinion concerning the timing of all these events, it is certain that “history is going somewhere.” History will culminate in a grand conclusion that God determined before the beginning of time. Whether the time is short or long, we need to be ready for His return. In the meantime we need to make sure our relationship with our heavenly Father is real and unhindered by sin. We need to spread the gospel message far and wide. We need to grow deeper in our walk with Christ and “make disciples of all nation” as Christ builds His church. Above all, we need to remain faithful until he returns.
Blessings and Peace,
Pastor Wayne