AN UNSHAKEABLE KINGDOM
(Continued)
In Matthew 7:24-27, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus admonishes His hearers with these words: "Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
Never before in my lifetime has there been a crisis of international proportions, such as the one we are facing today with the COVID-19 pandemic - where whole nations are coming to a standstill, with tens of thousands losing their jobs, where all international travel by air or by sea has ceased, where strict social distancing measures have been put in place, where gatherings of more than two people are deemed illegal and subject to heavy fines and/or imprisonment.
Makeshift hospitals are being hastily erected in some countries, rolling out hundreds of ICU bed setups, ventilators are being manufactured en masse to meet the expected demands, and doctors and nurses and dentists scramble to find enough surgical masks to meet the demand.
As I stated in the first part of this blog, Bible believing Christians should not be too surprised that we are facing global health crises as the one now impacting the nations, in the form of the coronavirus. Jesus Himself prophesied that, in the last days, there would be many natural disasters and pestilences that would shake the planet before His return.
I shared with my wife recently that I cannot help but wonder if we are getting ever closer to the last days scenarios played out in the Bible, with the rise of a One World government, led by a "charismatic" leader, who the Bible refers to as the Antichrist. This one will come as a man of peace, with a strategy to bring a coordinated world response to conditions that affect nations around the world - to bring a sense of order to a world in disarray. Without going into detail, Bible teachers who have studied Eschatology - the doctrine of Last Things generally are in agreement that this man will be closely aided by a religious leader whom the Bible calls "the false prophet."
Regarding the Antichrist, the apostle Paul writes, describing him in 2 Thessalonians 2, where he is referred to as the Man of Lawlessness.
Now brothers, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and concerning our gathering together unto Him, we ask you not to let your mind be quickly shaken or be troubled, neither in spirit nor by word, nor by letter coming, as though from us, as if the day of Christ is already here. Do not let anyone deceive you in any way,. For that Day will not come unless a falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself as God. Verses 1-4
Evangelical Bible-believing Christians firmly believe that the Word of God teaches that the Lord Jesus Christ will return one day for the Church, those who are born again and fully trusting Him - in what is called "The Rapture" - the great "snatching away", as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
But I would not have you ignorant, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet call of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall ever be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Another passage in 1 Corinthians 15:50-55 throws more light on this wonderful event for expectant followers of Christ.
Never before in my lifetime has there been a crisis of international proportions, such as the one we are facing today with the COVID-19 pandemic - where whole nations are coming to a standstill, with tens of thousands losing their jobs, where all international travel by air or by sea has ceased, where strict social distancing measures have been put in place, where gatherings of more than two people are deemed illegal and subject to heavy fines and/or imprisonment.
Makeshift hospitals are being hastily erected in some countries, rolling out hundreds of ICU bed setups, ventilators are being manufactured en masse to meet the expected demands, and doctors and nurses and dentists scramble to find enough surgical masks to meet the demand.
As I stated in the first part of this blog, Bible believing Christians should not be too surprised that we are facing global health crises as the one now impacting the nations, in the form of the coronavirus. Jesus Himself prophesied that, in the last days, there would be many natural disasters and pestilences that would shake the planet before His return.
I shared with my wife recently that I cannot help but wonder if we are getting ever closer to the last days scenarios played out in the Bible, with the rise of a One World government, led by a "charismatic" leader, who the Bible refers to as the Antichrist. This one will come as a man of peace, with a strategy to bring a coordinated world response to conditions that affect nations around the world - to bring a sense of order to a world in disarray. Without going into detail, Bible teachers who have studied Eschatology - the doctrine of Last Things generally are in agreement that this man will be closely aided by a religious leader whom the Bible calls "the false prophet."
Regarding the Antichrist, the apostle Paul writes, describing him in 2 Thessalonians 2, where he is referred to as the Man of Lawlessness.
Now brothers, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and concerning our gathering together unto Him, we ask you not to let your mind be quickly shaken or be troubled, neither in spirit nor by word, nor by letter coming, as though from us, as if the day of Christ is already here. Do not let anyone deceive you in any way,. For that Day will not come unless a falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself as God. Verses 1-4
Evangelical Bible-believing Christians firmly believe that the Word of God teaches that the Lord Jesus Christ will return one day for the Church, those who are born again and fully trusting Him - in what is called "The Rapture" - the great "snatching away", as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
But I would not have you ignorant, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet call of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall ever be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Another passage in 1 Corinthians 15:50-55 throws more light on this wonderful event for expectant followers of Christ.
When the above-mentioned scenarios play out in real time is really not able to be predicted with any accuracy. God has given us some clues as to the signs of the times, but only the theologically foolish try to set dates - as many have done in the past, only to be left "with egg on their faces" so to speak.
It was interesting to read a few days ago that Gordon Brown, a former British PM floated the idea of having a temporary global government to tackle the twin health and economic crises caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus.
I couldn't help but think there must be those who are seriously contemplating the need for a "global government", which leads to the thought that there would need to be a "one world leader" to take over-all responsibility. Interesting stuff!
Maranatha! Even so, Come Lord Jesus!
If you would like to know how you can be assured of your eternal salvation in Christ, to become what the Bible calls being born again: Go to
www.vision.org.au Click on the Grow you faith tab, then "Looking for God?"
God Bless.
A good word and read!
ReplyDeleteThanks much Peter!
God bless