The end is close...but not yet

Let me say at the beginning of this article that I have absolutely no intention of diminishing the threats and dangers presented by the coronavirus, particularly for the elderly and those with underlying co-morbidities. The potential is there for massive health devastation and death. However, the coronavirus has by no means reached the historic levels of past deadly pandemics, or even regional epidemics. Yet the projections presented to the world's public – an end-of-the-world prognosis, to keep within medical jargon – are questionable. We are certainly aware that the Tribulation judgements will bring confusion, death and destruction on an unprecedented scale. But globalists and wealthy elites are already trying to paint a bleak picture when the reality is that this time period is going to look like a church picnic compared to the time after the rapture.

I agree that Australia as we've known it up until last year has changed to the point where our founding fathers wouldn't recognise it. It is certain that most of them wouldn't believe how it has turned out in terms of cultural and societal immorality, but to those who observe what's going on now through the prism of Bible prophecy – particularly the pre-tribulation view of Bible prophecy – seemingly random events are certainly under the control of our Sovereign God and this is all leading to the period of judgement that God will bring upon the world. That is, tremendous change is taking place that portends the soon-to-come period of the Antichrist regime. This is what must come to pass in order for Jesus Christ to return and put an end to human government, which has so totally failed at every turn.

However, it is not the end . . . not yet. As one commentator has remarked in respect to Bible prophecy: Things aren't falling apart – they are falling together. We are privileged as Christians to live at this time to watch the end-times stage being set for all things to unfold exactly as God, through His Holy Word, says they will.

C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) is considered to have been one of the greatest defenders of the Christian faith during the 20th century. He committed his life to Christ when he was 32 years old, and he proceeded to write many insightful and inspiring books about Christianity. In 1943 he published an essay titled “On Living in an Atomic Age” which is very relevant to the coronavirus pandemic with which we are dealing today. As you read the following, simply substitute “coronavirus” for “atomic bomb”. We think a great deal too much of the atomic bomb. When asked how we should live in the atomic age I reply . . . “as you would have lived in the 16th century when the plague visited London almost every year . . . or as you are already living in an age of cancer, syphilis, paralysis, an age of air raids, an age of railway accidents and motor accidents. Believe me, dear sir or madam, you and all whom you love were already sentenced to death before the atom bomb was invented. If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb let that bomb, when it comes, find us doing sensible and human things: praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music or chatting with friends: not huddled together like frightened sheep. Bombs may break our bodies, but they need not dominate our minds”.

The Bible says that one of the reasons Jesus came to this earth was to free people from their bondage to the lifelong fear of death (Hebrews 2:15). Those of us who have put their faith in Jesus should live with confidence and not in fear because we have hope – the promise of living forever in new, glorified bodies in a new Jerusalem on a new earth.

The devil and his minions, both human and supernatural, have tried to accomplish a coup d'état in many nations for almost two years. They are now, through the present crisis, determined to change the way we live through the many rushed fixes we've been experiencing: they hope to attach their tentacles through lockdowns and forced economic/business changes to accomplish their global ambitions. Even with the immense propaganda powers of mainstream and social media they have – so far – failed to carry out their attempted coup d'état. I firmly believe this is because the Lord has prevented their one-world plans to this point. This is due to the fact that it is not yet time for the Antichrist World Order to emerge, which can't happen as long as the Church – the bride of Jesus – is still on this fallen planet.

Though many have a casual understanding of the fact that Jesus said He would return to this Earth, many (including sincere believers) overlook the promise of the rapture of all believers which will take place before the Tribulation Period. The rapture will not necessarily be in a time of global chaos, but at a time when the world is focused on building, buying, selling, marrying and planting. The changes we are seeing at this time are profound: the world is being reconfigured in a way that will pave the way for what will take place following the rapture of the church. But this isn't the end. It is, however, to somewhat distort the paraphrasing of Churchill regarding the end of the Battle for Britain during World War 2, perhaps the end of the beginning of the end. Jesus said while sitting atop the Mount of Olives just before He died on the cross at Calvary and resurrected for the sins of mankind . . . and ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled, for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

As much as we may dislike and/or distrust our present rulers they're there for reasons we all too often fail to understand, particularly as it relates to how the Lord will direct all things according to His plan. In Daniel 2:21-22 we read that the Lord . . . changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings, and sets up kings: He gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He reveals the deep and secret things: He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells in Him.