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IS SARS-COV-2 OR CORONA VIRUS A SIGN OF THE END TIMES?

23/3/2020

Many would say that with the China virus, COVID-19, Corona virus, SARS-CoV-2 or whatever name it is being called, and its effects, that the Lord could come for us any minute.

But there are many other events that must happen first. No temple has been built yet in Jerusalem. No Antichrist has risen to power. We do not even have a global government for him to rise up from. The Two Witnesses have not started a global ministry yet. The transgressors (spoken of in Daniel) while many, have not reached their fullness. And more.

I do believe we are in the early times of the apostasy. Many want to believe the apostasy is a time when many in the church backslide. This is not what the apostasy is. The terms mean a deflection from or forsaking of the truth. The apostasy that is coming on this world is of mankind and is global. It is much like we read about in Romans chapter 1. Mankind in general has chosen to exchange the truth of God for the lie. The lie has been the same lie since the Garden.

Romans 1:18b-25 … men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever…

While we still have a long way to go, we see the world becoming a darker place. At the same time, we see the true body of Christ becoming more consecrated. What is destined to be, will be.

Let us consider the Word of our Lord, recorded by the Apostle Mark.

Mark 13:7-27 "But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet.
8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.
9 But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them.
10 And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations.
11 But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
12 Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
13 And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
14 So when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not" (let the reader understand), "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. ***
15 Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his house.
16 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.
17 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!
18 And pray that your flight may not be in winter.
19 For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be.
20 And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days.
21 Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'Look, He is there!' do not believe it.
22 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
23 But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.
24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light;
25 the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
27 And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven."

*** I believe Mark 13:14b-18 is 2-fold prophecy. It happened 70 AD and it will happen again before the Lord comes. Verses 19 and 20 describe the severity of the tribulation that is yet to come.

The Lord has warned us what will happen before He comes for His church at the end of the current age. These verses are not pre-Armageddon and Second Coming or even pre-Great White Throne of Judgment. Most of Mark 13 is pre-rapture and rapture verses.

Is the COVID-19 virus a sign of the end times? I believe it has been allowed by God to be a wake-up call. Even harder times will come. We need to stay close to the Lord and if we are not in the right place with Him now, we need to get there. The Lord does not want anyone ever to perish eternally and He is calling out to all who can hear Him, “... behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2b ).

Eli Cockrell

Articles that relate to this blog:

THE APOSTASY - THE GREAT FALLING AWAY

CAN THE RAPTURE REALLY HAPPEN TODAY

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STANDING FIRM IN UNCERTAIN TIMES

16/3/2020

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How do we keep our peace and joy when the world seems like it is going haywire all around us? For sure if we listen to the media and additionally, those around us who are in “panic mode,” we can lose our calm very easily.

I have two key verses for today. The first is found in Isaiah.

Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."

It could also be put in second person like this, Because one trusts in the Lord and keeps their mind (focus) stayed on Him, the Lord will keep him in perfect peace.

If we allow our minds and hearts to focus on our problems and all the possibilities that fear can bring, we will not have peace. But if we will refuse frustration, worry and despair by trusting that the same Lord who took care of us when we had smoother sailing, knowing that He will still take care of us on the stormy seas, then we can have amazing peace.

If we need it, the Lord can multiply anything we have, including, bread, milk, fuel and even money. If we have nothing to multiply, He can send us whatever we need by way of someone or something else, even ravens if necessary like He did for Elijah (1 Kings 17:4-6) or the lady and her son the Lord sent Elijah to help at Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8-16) whose oil and flour never ran out, as long as the drought they were in lasted.

The world and the devil, would love for us to operate from a place of fear and panic. God wants what is best for us and to trust Him. To despair is to doubt God. To despair is an insult to our Father and His provision and puts us in a place of sin. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Faith is trust. With faith (trust) in God, nothing is impossible.

The second key verse for today is found in Nehemiah.

Nehemiah 8:10b “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

There is strength in the right mindset. There is spiritual strength too. When we choose to trust God, be thankful and praise the Lord, no matter how stormy life’s seas are, we can navigate our way through with peace, strength and the direction of the Lord!

A gloomy heart or fearful heart is not the place to be directed from. But a joyful heart which knows that the Lord knows better than us and trusts Him as our provider, is the greatest place for anyone to be directed from.

We are not mere flesh and blood. Our flesh and blood will pass, but our spirit beings are forever. And that spirit being, our inner man, should be feeding itself on the Word of God and trusting the Holy Spirit who has been given to us, to be our Comforter and Strength. He is God with us.

When we choose to rejoice and trust God, we are in the best place possible!

Why fear as though we have no hope and no God? We are not orphans. If we are born-again, we are the children of God Almighty!

So, let us live our faith. We must never forget this closing verse:

Matthew 6:31-34 ”So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

This is true when life has smooth or stormy seas, or anywhere in between. If we trust the Lord and seek His kingdom first and seek to do whatever He says is right, He will take care of us.

Eli Cockrell

Suggested additional articles:

Where Does Our Strength As Christians Come From?
Trusting In The Lord

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there is strength in jesus christ!

IS SARS-COV-2 OR CORONA VIRUS A SIGN OF THE END TIMES?

STANDING FIRM IN UNCERTAIN TIMES

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Archives

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there is strength in jesus christ!

IS SARS-COV-2 OR CORONA VIRUS A SIGN OF THE END TIMES?

STANDING FIRM IN UNCERTAIN TIMES

Authors

Archives

​​Dacă doriți să vă abonați la Newsletter cu noutăți, vă rugăm să completați adresa de e-mail. / ​To Sign Up for Updates please add ​your e-mail address.

Dacă doriți să vă abonați la Newsletter cu noutăți, vă rugăm să completați adresa de e-mail. / To Sign Up for Updates please add your e-mail address.