Articles

Is the covid19 “pandemic” Conspiracy, hoax, or judgment?

While this event may be manmade, we must remember that God works all things together, both evil and good, for our redemption.

Who but God would have ever thought of such a device to make us all stop what we are doing and to take stock of our lives and consider the things that are truly important in life?

Maybe it wasn’t God’s doing but a manmade device that got out of hand and is now wreaking havoc around the world. Maybe it was even a plan to subdue the entire planet and make it submit to the diabolical “One World Government” (that hopes to be in place within the next twelve years). If so, then they’ve gotten a pretty good start.)

There are many conflicting reports and conspiracy theories today concerning the so-called pandemic – Novel Coronavirus 19 which has held us captive for two long months. With Americans getting itchy to leave the house, this is not going to end well. We will be finding a whole new world out there. One where you can’t shake hands or even approach someone within six feet. (Lovers beware.)

Many people will experience sleepless nights worrying about the immediate future, something they were sure they could handle somehow until this virus put an end to our bold self-assurance. But still, most of us won’t seek God – instead we look to our often-crooked leaders and wacky self-seeking scientists. We seem to forget that all of humanity is tainted with sinful behavior and ambitions. Yet we look to them for answers instead of looking to the one who created us and all our surroundings.

Most churches will underplay this event in hopes of quelling mounting fears in their congregations – but will not mention repentance. When was the last time you saw a pastor or deacon cry out in abject humility before his congregation? Even God would be surprised if that were to happen here in America. We are too proud a people to ever drop to our knees and beg God’s forgiveness and intervention – in complete and utter repentance. But, as the noose gets tighter, I venture to guess that some would rather die than cry out to God and truly repent; and as things become more and more uncertain, patience and endurance is running out for many of us – with some even taking their own lives.

If indeed this virus is only a manmade calamity and can be rectified – either way, it will only serve to prove that humanity is incapable to keep things on an even keel. As things continue to destroy our self-assurance and if you’re looking for more things to despair about – consider the following.

Prices are going up on meat and dairy products; and with hungry people out of work and no place to go or little to eat, things could easily get out of hand.

These days, it’s hard to come to a concrete answer to our physical and monetary problems, but Jesus has the answer, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (food, clothing and peace of mind)

Rather than worry about tomorrow, we should do all we can to reap the harvest of human souls that are ripe and ready for harvesting. One positive way to do that is to contribute funding to www.raptureready.com where spirit-filled Christian writers make it their business to impart truth to a lost and dying world. Do this and you can rest assured that you are doing the right thing.

Beyond other pandemics, which appear regularly every decade or two, there are other major threats on the horizon. If, like the Bible says, these are God-planned events, then here’s what’s coming for us next.

Extreme lawlessness

food shortages

famine for a third of the world

severe earthquakes

Signs and wonders and portents in the skies

We Christians should do all we can to preserve life, but instead we chose to worry about things that might never happen. In worrying about the future, again, Jesus has the answer, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

On another note.

A funny thing happened when witnessing to a young man at Publix supermarket as to whether he is a Christian – his reply was “I try to be.” When I asked him what he thought about the craziness going on around the world, he replied, “It’s like the four horsemen of the Apocalypse!” As I left, I handed him a small Bible which he accepted greedily. As I left, I felt sure that this was a mission God had sent me on specifically for that fine young man.

Well, that night I read this on the internet: “Bible scholars have sensationally claimed the end of the world could be upon us as they believe the Four Horsemen, who bring about death, war, famine and disease before the return of Jesus Christ in the holy book, have all been released.” The writer goes on to say, “This virus is the pale horse and Horseman; but regardless of what we may experience or feel about our current situation – We need to repent. And remember, God is still in control.

YBIC

Jim Towers

You can contact me at:

jt.filmmaker@yahoo.com and www.propheticsignsandwonders.com

Dr. J. Vernon McGee once asked the question in one of his Bible studies, “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”

So far, this country does not arrest people for being a Christian. However, in other parts of the world, that is not the case. Christians in some other countries are arrested, imprisoned, tortured, their property taken from them, and many times even their lives. Often their families suffer the same fate.

It isn’t always easy for a Christian to tell if another person who claims to be a Christian is actually a Christian, but the Bible does say, “You will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16a). The thought is continued in the remaining verses of this passage, that we don’t go to a pear tree to pick apples. We go to an apple tree to pick apples, strongly asserting that we know what kind of tree it is by the fruit on the tree.

Then there are those folks who insist they need no works as long as they have faith, and that is true if they mean that works cannot save anyone, but Jesus comes along and says through James, “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17). So, what is God saying in this passage when He made it crystal clear in Ephesians that only faith saves?

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

To put it simply: God is speaking to non-believers about how to be saved in Ephesians 2:8-9, and He is speaking to believers in Matthew 7:16f and James 2:17f about what He expects after they are saved. In other words, if I am an employer and I hire Mr. X to do a certain job, Mr. X got the job because of what I did and through no credit of his own. However, now that he is hired, I expect to see the ‘fruit’ of my ‘grace’ in his ‘work.’

To be found guilty of being a Christian is all about identification. Mr. X is identified as my employee because of what I did for him. I hired him. I am identified as a Christian because of what God did for me. He saved me. The plum is identified as a plum because of what the plum tree did for the plum. It produced plums.

So the question begs the answer, is there enough evidence (fruit) in me to convict me if I were arrested for being a Christian?

Think about this:

If you had been there when Peter was in the courtyard when Jesus was arrested, would you call him a man of God (Christian)?

If you had witnessed Paul and Barnabas arguing about Mark, would you call Paul a man of God (Christian)?

If you had been there and watched David plot an affair with Bathsheba, would you call him a man of God (Christian)?

The Bible says God’s children produce good fruit and do not produce bad fruit (Matthew 7:18). How can that be, “do not produce bad fruit?” It is possible because our sins are covered by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, whether we lived prior to the cross or afterwards.

Let’s face it. The court of public opinion isn’t always right. Even though the Bible says we should be able to identify our brothers and sisters in Christ, it also says we are not to make ourself a judge (Matthew 7:1).

However, there is one qualified to judge us all, and He says,

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27).

“Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2 Timothy 2:19, emphasis mine).

If I were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict me? Many of us who call ourselves Christians are going to smell like smoke when all that wood, hay and stubble are burned up at the judgment seat of Christ (1 Corinthians 3:12).

Obviously, we can’t always tell for certain if someone is a Christian. Even if we were arrested for being a Christian, the court could also be wrong (Matthew 7:21-23).

I think at this point it makes a lot of sense to just take a long hard look inside ME.

“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified” (2 Corinthians 13:5).

Grant Phillips

Email: Phillip5769@twc.com

Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com

Rapture Ready: https://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html

Are You Confused Yet? :: By Jim Towers

Am I Guilty? :: By Grant Phillips