How the Coronavirus Sets the Stage for the End Times :: By Britt Gillette

Published on: by RR7 Category:Britt Gillette, General Articles

The current coronavirus outbreak is not an event prophesied in the Bible for the seven-year Tribulation. The world simply hasn’t entered that time period yet. However, it is significant to Bible prophecy, because it sets the stage for the near-term fulfillment of many end-times Bible prophecies. This isn’t surprising. Politicians take advantage of times of turmoil, disaster, and fear to implement changes people otherwise wouldn’t accept. Here are just a few things to expect in the days ahead:

1) Calls for a Strong European Union Leader

As of this writing, the coronavirus has hit the United States harder than any other nation. However, if you count the European Union as a single nation and add up the case total and fatalities of all its member nations, the coronavirus has hit the European Union harder than anyone else. Early on, EU leaders and many individual nations pushed back on the idea of closing borders. This allowed early infections in Italy to spread all over continental Europe. Many believe this could have been avoided with a strong executive. With centralized authority, a single European leader could have closed borders and instituted a shutdown much earlier. Instead, each individual nation enacted its own policies.

When the coronavirus pandemic ends, many will point to the EU’s leadership failure and use it as an excuse to push for the creation of a strong executive office to head the EU. This is the position many prophecy experts believe the Antichrist will hold. If it is, he will likely take charge of a more unified and powerful EU. Why? Because the coronavirus will likely lead to further unification of the EU.

2) Calls for Further European Union Integration

The coronavirus has devastated Italy. The fourth largest economy in the European Union, and the eighth largest in the world, the Italian economy has effectively been closed since March 9th. Unlike the United States, which can print money for business bailouts and stimulus checks, Italy doesn’t control its own currency. Like other EU countries, Italy uses the euro, and that means their national debt is denominated in euros. The only way Italy can pay its debts is to collect taxes. If the economy tanks, so does tax collection. This means Italy will soon be at the epicenter of a massive debt crisis.

Remember the Greek debt crisis? In 2010, Greece needed a €110 billion bailout. They couldn’t make their debt payments, and they couldn’t print euros. The prospect of default almost caused a second financial crisis, coming on the heels of the 2008-2009 recession. Yet Greek debt remains at unsustainable levels. As of the third quarter of 2019, Greek debt was 178% of its gross domestic product (GDP) – the worst debt-to-GDP ratio in the EU. The second worst? Italy at 137%. But Italy’s economy is ten times as big as Greece’s economy. If Italy defaults on its government debt, some of the largest banks in Italy and Europe will become insolvent. The event will send widespread financial contagion throughout the global financial system. The subsequent collapse of global markets will trigger one of the greatest economic depressions in history.

One way to avoid this catastrophe? Do something many EU nations vowed never to do – share debt. In other words, further integration and the creation of a United States of Europe. I believe this is inevitable, and I believe it will create the final world empire Daniel envisioned (Daniel 2, Daniel 7).

3) Calls for Increased Tracking of People

With shutdowns all over the world bringing the global economy to a standstill, calls are getting louder to re-open the economy and get people back to work. But how do you get people “back to work” without causing a spike in new coronavirus cases?

Some people are pushing a solution that involves increased tracking of people. They believe the government should track everyone’s mobile phone. When someone gets the coronavirus, the government can easily retrace their steps and find everyone who came within a few feet of the infected person. Then, they’ll place those people in a mandatory quarantine. Some nations, such as South Korea, already do this. Other people favor giving “papers” to those who have recovered from the coronavirus. These official papers will allow you to travel in public or go back to work. Some warn this is the road to authoritarianism, but it isn’t. Once we do this, we’ll already be there. This level of government control over the individual is no different than what we read about in Revelation 13.

4) Calls to Replace Paper Currency with a World Cryptocurrency

The use of paper currency has declined dramatically in this new era of online ordering and social distancing. Paper currency is a haven for bacteria and viruses, and it could accelerate the spread of coronavirus. Because of this, look for politicians to call for an end to using paper currency. Meanwhile, governments have struggled to quickly deliver stimulus payments to the unemployed. This provides the perfect cover to implement a government-sponsored virtual wallet and cryptocurrency.

Getting people to sign-up will be easy. They’ll offer a few thousand dollars to everyone who signs up to the government’s virtual wallet program. Once everyone signs up, the government will eliminate use of all currency except its own cryptocurrency. This will give the government detailed knowledge of every sale and purchase you’re involved in. It will also give them the ability to control the terms and conditions of all those transactions. And if they don’t like something you’re doing? They can cut off access to your virtual wallet, locking you out of all commerce.

The technology to implement this system already exists, and the Bible tells us it’s coming. It says the Antichrist will implement this system: “He required everyone — small and great, rich and poor, free and slave — to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark…” (Revelation 13:16-17).

5) Decreased Demand for Oil

The coronavirus has shut down factories, grounded airplanes, and caused a drop in the number of cars on the road. Global oil demand has fallen by 29 million barrels per day to a level last seen in 1995. The price of oil has fallen from around $60 per barrel at the beginning of the year to around $20 per barrel today. Needless to say, this has had an unprecedented impact on the global oil industry.

In March, OPEC attempted to coordinate a production cut with Russia. When Russia said no, Saudi Arabia responded with increased production. Some think their aim was to take market share, drive down prices, and force Russia back to the negotiating table. Others think their aim was to harm U.S. shale producers, many of whom can’t survive at $20 per barrel oil. Regardless of their true intent, Saudi Arabia’s actions had a profound and negative impact on Russia. Earlier this month, they agreed to production cuts, but you can be sure Vladimir Putin is not happy. Losing a high profile oil price war and billions of dollars per day in oil profits won’t be something he’ll easily forget.

While Saudi Arabia has an advantage in oil reserves, Russia holds a greater advantage in the military realm. What will happen if Russia invades Saudi Arabia? The Middle East is home to approximately 40% of the world’s proven oil reserves. If Russia controlled the Middle East, they could control the world’s oil. Only two nations stand in Putin’s way – the United States and Israel. If a global depression, the rapture, or another major event changes U.S. policy in the Middle East, only Israel will stand between Russia and complete dominance of the global oil market. The high stakes incentivize Russia to team up with Iran and take out Israel. This will secure their collective grip on the region.

The Bible says this will happen. More than 2,600 years ago, Ezekiel revealed an alliance composed of Russia, Iran, Turkey, and other regional nations will launch a surprise attack on Israel from the north (Ezekiel 38-39). Since the launch of the Syrian civil war in 2011, we’ve seen each of the major players mentioned move their forces into Syria. Russia and its allies currently sit on Israel’s northern border, which is the direction from which Ezekiel said they’ll attack (Ezekiel 38:15; Ezekiel 39:2). We’ve been watching God set the stage for this conflict for several years. The coronavirus-induced oil price war provides yet another reason to expect we’re getting closer to seeing fulfillment of Ezekiel 38-39.

The End Times Approach

The word “coronavirus” doesn’t appear in the Bible, and what we see now is not one of the events of the Tribulation. However, the coronavirus is one of the general signs Jesus said to look for, and it sets the stage for the rapture of the church and the arrival of the Tribulation. When asked to describe the signs of His coming, Jesus cited pandemics just like the one we’re experiencing now as a major sign (Luke 21:11). But this wasn’t the only sign He said to look for. He said to look for the Jewish people back in the land of Israel (Jeremiah 23:7-8)… He said to look for the Jewish people once again in possession of Jerusalem (Luke 21:24-28)… And He said to look for the Gospel being preached to the ends of the earth (Matthew 24:14).

The prophets also said to look for signs. They said to look for: A time when travel and knowledge will increase (Daniel 12:4)… A time when Israel has “an exceedingly great army” (Ezekiel 37:10)… The rise of the Gog of Magog Alliance (Ezekiel 38-39)… The rise of a revived Roman Empire (Daniel 2, Daniel 7, Revelation 17)… The rise of global government (Revelation 13:7)… And the rise of a single global currency system (Revelation 13:16-17)… We see all of these signs today, and Jesus commanded us to watch for them. He warned us not to be found sleeping when the Master arrives without warning (Mark 13:36). The coronavirus is God’s wake-up call to those who have been sleeping. It sets the stage for the rapture of the church, the arrival of the Antichrist, and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Make sure you’re not asleep!

Britt Gillette is author of the free ebook Coming to Jesus as well as the books Signs of the Second Coming, Racing Toward Armageddon, and The End Times. Receive his book 7 Signs of the End Times for free when you sign up for his monthly newsletter.

 

Second Time Around :: By Dennis Huebshman

Published on: by RR7 Category:General Articles

There are events taking place all over this earth at the same time that are unprecedented. A major pandemic; locusts; severe weather patterns; numerous earthquakes in diverse places (Matthew 24:7); famines; satanic activity increasing and out in the open, just to name a few. People are even arguing about what gender they are, or what they want to be referred to. We’ve always had issues, but the intensity today is over the top. (any emphasis mine)

Witnessing all this brought a Southern Gospel Song to my mind called “Second Time Around.” When I entered that title on YouTube, many songs with that same title were displayed; and the artists varied from Frank Sinatra to Lady GaGa. Needless to say, none of these were close to the one I wanted to hear. The song, released in 2000 by a North Carolina group called the Anchormen, is one that applies to what is about to take place at just about any moment now.

It starts by saying that there was “quite a happening, in a Little Jewish Town.” It speaks of angels and shepherds being there to mark the event. The end of that stanza states, “But He won’t be in a manger, The Second Time Around.”

The second part talks about an event taking place on a “hillside,” where the crowd that gathered there was calling for the Son of God to be crucified. The end of that stanza states, “He won’t be hanging on a cross, The Second Time Around.”

The chorus gives us a picture of harpazo (taking up), or also known as the Rapture:

“For He’ll be coming back as King of Kings, in His mighty power. Catching all the saints away, in the midnight hour. He’ll step on a big white cloud when the trumpet sounds, to take us Home when He comes – The Second Time Around.”

Though this song has been around for a while in human terms, we must remember that God is not bound by time as we are. To Him, this was released just a “finger-snap” ago. What He gave us through the apostle Paul will happen, and it’s getting closer by the hour. The Father knows the exact “second” that this world will be forever changed.

Consider 1 Corinthians 15:51-53, “Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep [die], but we shall all be changed; in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead [in Christ] will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable; and this mortal body must put on immortality.”

Two points here: “Twinkling of an eye” has been calculated by experts as taking place in less than 1,000th of a second – and yes, God is able to do that. Also, the “trumpet” mentioned has nothing to do with the trumpet judgments of Revelation 8:6 – Revelation 9. This is explained further in the next passages.

Going to 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers/sisters, about those who are asleep; that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope [unsaved]. For since we believe that Jesus died, and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep [their spiritual souls]. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a cry of command; with the voice of an Archangel, and with the sound of the Trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first [bodies to be reunited with souls]. Then, we who are alive, who are left [all believers only], will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will always be with the Lord.”

This will be the “Second Coming” of Jesus, but not to step foot on the earth. It’s to fulfill verses such as 1 Thessalonians 1:10, “and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.”

As stated, the souls that have been with Jesus from the time they died, will be reunited with their earthly bodies, no matter what is left of them. They will be converted into a forever, immortal body. Those who are alive at the time of the Rapture will be converted into their forever bodies on the way up to meet Jesus. We will be the absolute most fortunate ones, as we won’t be subject to the 7-year tribulation/wrath period, which will make today’s events seem easy. Our forever with Jesus will begin at that instant.

For those who remain, by the next time Jesus returns to actually step foot on the earth, at least 2/3 of the population will have been killed (Zechariah 13:8). This was presented to the Jews as to the fate of the ones who enter the Tribulation, but it will also apply to anyone who calls on Jesus to be saved during that time. Yes, people will still turn to Jesus to be saved, but with a very steep price to pay.

The “world leader” or final antichrist, will not tolerate any other worship as he will demand total submission of everyone. That’s where taking the “mark of the beast” will come in (Revelation 13:15-16).

During the Wrath, anyone who does not take the mark will be subject to martyrdom, and those who kill them will believe they’re doing the world a favor.

On the other hand, Revelation 14:9-11 tells what happens to all who willingly choose to take the mark, and swear allegiance to the beast; “And another Angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, ‘If anyone worships the beast and its image, and receives a mark on his/her forehead or on his/her hand, he/she will also drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of His anger; and he/she will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the Holy Angels, and in the presence of the Lamb’. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”

Their fate is sealed at the Great White Throne Judgment in Revelation 20:11-15.

There are steps being taken today to “chip” large amounts of the earth’s population, with the explanation given of being able to track disease, and other such excuses. Also, there are “chips” available to have a person’s information inside their bodies so that they can do transactions by just passing that area over or near a scanner. At this time, none of this is the Revelation “Mark of the Beast.” When that is done, the person who receives the mark will be told exactly what it is for. What’s being presented today could be viewed as a “prelude” to that mark.

All the technology today is being geared up by the New World Order for the coming of the New World Leader. At this time, anyone who is a true believer in Jesus as their Savior does not have to be concerned that they are being marked for the antichrist. When the time approaches for him and his false prophet to appear, we will all be gone. Paul tells us in 2 Thessalonians 2:7, “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work [and even more prevalent today]. Only He [Holy Spirit] who now restrains it [antichrist] will do so until He is out of the way.”

To remove the Spirit’s restraining power is to remove all those He indwells – true believers worldwide. You would think this would be a major portion of the population, but it’s estimated that only about 10% of the non-Jewish people, and only 1%-2% of the total Jewish population fit that category.

This is so sad, yet the Lord knew it would be this way (Matthew 7:13-14). He made the process of being saved so simple, yet humans try to add their own issues, making it hard. The “gift” has been totally bought and paid for by the precious sinless blood of our Jesus. Our part is to receive the gift and accept it as is; confess we are sinners and cannot save ourselves, or buy or earn that gift; and to call out to Him that we want Him to accept us as part of His Flock. We have the promise that “All who call on the name of the Lord, will be saved” (Acts 2:21 and Romans 10:13)

Jesus will turn no one away who truly calls on Him. God wishes everyone on this earth would accept His Son, as He wants no one to be condemned (2 Peter 3:9). To delay could cause a person to enter the worst time-period this earth will ever go through. Jesus could call for His “Church” today. He could just be here for “The Second Time Around” at any hour now.

Be Ready – Maranatha! (Come, Lord Jesus)

huebshman46@gmail.com