IS THIS THE END?
Living Stones Series: First Published in All Around Old Bridge Publication – June 2020, Pastor Lloyd Pulley
There seems to be no end to the controversy surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Disputes over its origins, its morbidity rate, flood the online and news media. The dissonance between specialist doctors and nurses who actually care for the sick and the academics of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, WHO and the CDC is profound. The growing gap between governors and enforcers of the law is of grave concern as well.
Are we headed for economic collapse while the debate rages? Are there shadowy influences behind the dominating powers moving toward a global government, with this virus serving as a useful crisis to propel the agenda? Is this the final human thrust for control as the Bible predicts will one day come before Jesus returns and sets up His Kingdom?
Only God knows the future and the Bible is the only book with God’s signature so you would know He wrote it, saying, "...For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done…" (Isaiah 46:9-10).
Perplexing times are often a motivator for students of the Bible, causing them to take a closer look at what they are experiencing to see if it aligns with what the Scripture says will take place in the end. The Bible predicts that the final kingdom on the earth will be unlike all other world-dominating empires before it. These used military force to bring the world into submission, but the last will do so by control of economy, under the reign and authority of the man referred to in Revelation 13 as the "Antichrist" or "The Beast." So could this virus be the catalyst which accelerates the nations into this global government possessing complete control? We have never seen anything like it with its power to kill the world economy and usher in a new world order. And unique in our time is the technology existing which is able to make this a reality.
Increasingly great natural disasters, pestilences, political unrest and religious persecution are also predicted preceding this era (Matthew 24). But with those always being present, what makes these signs in this time any different? Jesus likened the disasters of the end to the birth pangs of an expectant mother, increasing in frequency and intensity as time draws near for the baby to arrive. Other predictions have already been fulfilled which are spoken of as leading to the end: the return of the Jewish people to the land of Israel (Isaiah 35, Ezekiel 35-36, Zechariah 10) and having all the world distressed regarding this tiny nation (Zechariah 12). For two millennium many assumed this was not a literal possibility. We see it now, just as the Bible predicted. It may surprise many to discover that over one-quarter of the Bible is prophetic in nature.
And among all these signs, Jesus warned of false teachers and prophets which would arise and deceive many in the end. Look how many have given up on the Bible because of some erroneous idea or prediction that was ludicrous, or are following some self-proclaimed prophet without testing everything with what the Bible says! We need to test everything. I am greatly encouraged when someone notices a mistake I may have made in my teaching. It shows me they are as the Bereans in Acts 17, searching the Scriptures to "find out whether these things were so."
We can settle that the Bible is a supernatural book, the Word of God. And since many predictions in its pages have already happened literally, we can trust the rest will happen literally as well. Nothing minor happens outside of God’s ultimate authority, let alone a major world-changing virus like COVID-19.
Jesus told his disciples concerning His coming, "of that day and hour no one knows." The people of Noah’s day were largely oblivious of the impending destruction, having dismissed his preaching. Let’s not make that same mistake! Those who believe in Jesus are not looking for this final human world empire. They are ready, waiting for their Bridegroom to come from heaven and rapture them. But those not anticipating Him will be left behind to face that evil period called the Great Tribulation, "…a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation..." (Daniel 12:1). Are we truly nearing the end? Or will this just be another birth pang, soon settling down? In either case, the baby is coming! The Bible will be fulfilled. Will you be ready?
I invite you to take another look at Jesus. Read your Bible. Dig into what God says about these times for yourself and be "transformed by the renewing of your mind." I invite you to a hope with substance and surety, a Savior, Jesus Christ. I encourage you to tune in to our livestream services and explore many valuable resources on our website at www.ccob.org. And in the meantime, let’s continue to be laser-focused on serving and helping hurting and vulnerable folks in this present crisis!