General Articles Archives

Millions of people throughout the world are praying for the COVID-19 Coronavirus to end. We make those prayers for legitimate reasons, and unfortunately, even for selfish reasons. Yes, I’m just as guilty as you.

The sad part of this is that so many are praying to false gods, idols of some fashion, but not to the one and only true God of Heaven. The God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, John, Peter and Paul is always listening to those who call upon His name in sincere repentance and with a sincere heart.

Maybe God just wants us to take a break from all the world’s distractions and sit down and relax. Now that we’re confined to our homes, maybe it’s the opportunity we need to just talk to Him, perhaps slow down and listen to what He has to say. Is it possible we have strayed so far from His will that danger could be lurking ahead? Maybe He desires to warn us, to give us a chance to repent.

Have you ever been traveling and gotten off on the wrong road? You realize what you’ve done, then turn around and go back until you’re on the right road again to get to your destination. That is ‘repent.’

God had a few words for Israel that are most appropriate for us also.

“If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword”; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. How the faithful city has become a harlot! It was full of justice; Righteousness lodged in it, But now murderers. Your silver has become dross, Your wine mixed with water. Your princes are rebellious, And companions of thieves; Everyone loves bribes, And follows after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, Nor does the cause of the widow come before them” (Isaiah 1:19-23).

Those words describe us so well. Can’t you just imagine God speaking to Israel, then looking over at us and saying, “Are you listening?” Reminds me when we were children. One child gets the lecture, and the others are expected to be listening in order to learn from their sibling’s ‘mistake.’

In the following verse God is speaking to Lucifer (Satan), who had it all and then pride destroyed him.

“Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee” (Ezekiel 28:17).

I fear that we as a nation have done the same. Let’s face it. We are not short on pride. We think we are the best of the best. We think we cannot fail or fall. Our egotism is unmatched. But what is our future if we don’t listen to God?

In the next verse God is telling Moses that those He led from slavery to freedom have sinned. They have corrupted themselves.

“And the LORD said unto me, Arise, get thee down quickly from hence; for thy people which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt have corrupted themselves; they are quickly turned aside out of the way which I commanded them; they have made them a molten image” (Deuteronomy 9:12).

Just as Israel sought freedom to worship their God, many years later Europe had a people who sought the same thing, so God led them to the shores of America. However, we have taken this freedom and used it to corrupt ourselves. No nation has been blessed as mightily as this nation, so what happened? We started looking inward instead of upward. We are now so far off the charts in our sins, judgment is a certainty unless we repent. Thankfully, God is longsuffering (patient).

“But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth” (Psalms 86:15).

In one respect, the COVID-19 Coronavirus could be a blessing instead of a curse, IF we would take the time to listen to God and obey Him. For most in this country, they may be so far gone, there may be no turning back, but maybe there are enough who will that God will delay His judgment. The words of God are:

“Come now, and let us reason together,’ Says the LORD, ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18).

Most Americans act like their sins are a right that is theirs to enjoy. We act like our actions, sinful or not, should be accepted by all and there is no piper to pay.

Others across this land do not believe in God. They’re too sophisticated, but God wants us to listen to these words very carefully.

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10).

Hopefully, some will take this time and use it wisely. Either way, He will be exalted.

Grant Phillips

Email: Phillip5769@twc.com

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

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

True Comfort :: By Edwin Tan

There is no letup in the slew of negative news that spews from print media, cyberspace, the airwaves and the “Telly” as the pandemic shows modest signs of easing. Tossing aside misinformation plus misinterpretation, the factual material is more than capable of severely straining multitudes of mentally exhausted souls to the point of a major freak-out!

Perhaps there are a fair number of similarities if there is a comparison with that which happened in the Somme and the Ardennes forest. Soldiers and civilians found no respite from incessant shelling plus seemingly never-ending rounds of bullets. Not quite different when the various media sources portray a grim reality almost 24/7. One could mount a temporary escapade by maybe the Tube or MP3, but the tenacious cognizance of the unavoidable still rattles many veins.

In places like New York or London, the ever-present nature of the sullen truth is even much harder to shake off. The ominous screech emanating from an emergency service vehicle which could be interspersed with loud chatter about mass burials cannot be shrugged off as just another bad dream. Finding respite in these hard-hit epicenters of the corona virus would sound more like a luxury.

For the frontline folks in the thick of the action, reality is more like getting involved in a furious firefight. The seemingly unending toll numbers in the form of seriously ill cases is quite like a ceaseless barrage in unison with fusillades of a smaller caliber. Outcomes are not very distant from the aftermath of an epic battle. Colleagues succumb, some to the point of mortality. Burnout which can lead to almost irreparable psychological damage is almost a certainty as coping capacities diminish in the face of mounting pressures!

While a significant proportion of the above-mentioned crowd could be walking in circles as they ponder and try to make sense of the malaise they are in, there are some who question the relevance of the Living Word in the light of the prevailing black hole. Cynicism could then cloud some minds as desperation seeps in. For those with a smattering where Scriptural knowledge goes, that urge to throw in the towel and totally give up hope appears to be the sole option.

No fault of theirs because nobody told them what they needed to know about hanging tough. Worst of all, misinformation in league with warped interpretations of the Truth probably placed them in this parlous position – the next step could be depression and even suicide!

Maybe their church skipped it because they were not comfortable with it or it crossed the mind which was in a state of disbelief, but here is the comforting Truth:

“For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, 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. Then we who are alive, who are left, 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. Therefore encourage one another with these words” (1Thess 4:14-18, English Standard Version).

It is in the New Testament and very easy to understand, but how many really believe that it will happen – let alone in their immediate lifetime! It even gets better; all that we witness currently points to the nearness of this great and wonderful happening. Luke 21:28 (quoting again from the English Standard Version) states this: “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Amidst the torrent of gloom and likely doom, there is a genuine hope. The only issue here is whether there is wholehearted belief. If the parting of the Red Sea and the feeding of the thousands took place, would it not be fair to say that the Rapture of the church is going to happen?

It is therefore straight and simple, the prospect of it being around the corner is real. A lot of individuals do not know it because they turned their back on Bible Prophecy. Knowledge makes a critical difference between a sound and resilient mind versus a psyche bent on self-destruction. In the past, there was this thing about Bible Prophecy being confusing and difficult to comprehend. Many have turned their backs on the book of Revelation, equating it with a horrific blockbuster!

Take a look at the current situation, which is much more frightening. The book of Revelation plus the prophetic sections of the Bible give hope versus the newsfeeds and the deteriorating nature of things.

All for His Coming Kingdom,

Edwin

edwinuk13@gmail.com