First, I would like to commend Geri on her outstanding article recently titled “Covid-19 ID2020,” here on the Rapture Ready website. Very well written as usual, containing truth and solid Godly wisdom; what a Blessing it is to have her writing encouraging articles. I would like to emphasize my agreement and opinion with her, especially on her statement that “this Virus is a bio-engineered man-made weapon unleashed on the world at the appointed time.”
At this time, I’m still trying to come up with the appropriate title for this article, but one thing that is sure, I have plenty of time. Here in Tennessee, we are on a “state lockdown” along with others, and we aren’t supposed to go anywhere either, except for essential travel. We are definitely in dire times. This article is not particularly about the Corona Virus, but I do have my thoughts and opinions, as others. Here are a few:
*Is this the End of the World or something like that?
*Is this God’s judgment on mankind, etc.?
*Is this just another “humanity virus like Sars, Aids, H1N1, etc., like we get every so often globally?
*Are the Globalists out to wipe humanity off the earth?
I do not have the answer to that. I tend to go along with David on this: Psalm 131:1 “Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.”
God is on His Throne, and I am not! He is allowing this on the planet at this time; and hopefully soon, we will know what becomes of us. Our mandate is to continue to trust Him and His Word for all things. We all have our assessment of what this scourge might be with all the “theories” that go along with it. This is normal; we are human, and this is affecting people globally, and we don’t have an answer to stop it.
From a biblical perspective, this might be the “beginning of sorrows” that Jesus mentioned in Matthew 24:8. This is not the beginning of the Tribulation period mentioned in the book of Revelation. I believe in the Rapture of the Church, the Bride of Christ (believers that have placed their trust and faith in Him for Salvation ALONE), that could happen any second to take us to Glory. The Tribulation happens after the rapture of the Church.
No one knows the future except the Lord God Almighty, and everything is secure in His hands; He is not caught off guard with this; look at this Scripture and think about where “you stand.”
Psalm 11:4 “The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.”
No one can escape the sight of God. Yes, God has eyes and eyelids, and He sees everyone and all things. That’s one reason alone why you should believe and trust your Soul to Him and no one else. God alone is the only One who can give you eternal life with the rest of us who have bowed humbly and confessed that “Jesus is Lord.” There is no “Annihilationism” (the belief that when a person dies, that there is no more existence anywhere; there is nothing).
Also, some of you that believe in another god or idol have it wrong. Other gods that exist, whether spiritual, human, made of metal, dirt, clay, wood, stubble, etc., are false. They have no power in any way, shape, or form; they cannot do anything for you. The Christian faith and belief is in Jehovah-Yeshua. Our God has many names, and He is the one true living God.
Isaiah 43:11 “I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no savior.”
Vs: 13 “Yea, before the day was, I am he: and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?”
Vs: 14 “Thus saith the lord, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.”
No one or nothing created in any way can alter or delete these scriptures. This is the Word of God which will remain forever. You can place your trust in His Word. Here is an encouraging verse for all of us at this trying time that surely gives us hope:
Psalm 9:10 “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.”
Whether virus, famine, pestilence, etc., we should know that he will not leave us nor forsake us.
Maybe this is a testing at this time for believers, but also for unbelievers who do not know Christ, God’s only begotten Son, to come to Him. Maybe this is the last chance for the “world” to place their faith in Him before God takes His Saints home in the Rapture. I don’t know. Whatever He has planned, it will be Biblical, according to His word. I wouldn’t take that chance to let this time of Grace slip by. We are in the Church Age of Grace now. Like Jesus said: be ready, for you know not when the thief comes to the house. Don’t be caught off guard. This is my paraphrasing, of course. This might be the “last call,” so to speak. Don’t waste your opportunity.
We know how this virus is killing people in such a way that one dies a horrible death, really. You have probably seen the YouTube videos. For the ones that haven’t, the person basically drowns in their own blood and fluids building up in their lungs. They are on 100% oxygen, turned over on their stomach, unconscious and struggling to get air in their lungs. This is how the critical patients in ICU are handled. Death is horrible no matter the circumstance.
I say this to show you what the Apostle Paul, the thief on the Cross, and Job went through in their own providential way.
Paul suffered so much during his time in witnessing to the Gentiles and Jews about Jesus. It is believed he was beheaded.
The thief died by Crucifixion on the cross like Jesus did, but he had his legs broken by an iron bar to expedite the death of him and the other thief; Jesus was already dead (physically, in body only, temporally). But before he died, that thief trusted in Jesus and asked him to remember him when he came into His kingdom. Jesus replied, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” Hallelujah!
We don’t know how Job died, but the last verse in the book states, “So Job died, being old and full of days.” Job suffered tremendously in many ways as mentioned, but God restored him providentially. The verse I want to show you is this: Ch. 13:15 “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.”
No matter what we go through in life, trusting in Jesus all the way to our final breath, we know that when we open our eyes (hopefully we will be raptured before), we will be in the presence of the Lord. When our “eyelids” close for the final time, that is only the “first half of the eyelid blink.” The other half is the opening; we will be in the presence of our Saviour. Wrap your mind around that and go outside and marvel at God’s creation wherever you are and say:
“God, you are the One True Living Awesome God. You are mine, and I am yours. Thank You for saving me and giving me eternal life with you.”
By the way, go tell your family, friends, and anyone.
Be Blessed, and Shalom in Jesus’ Name.
Clay Smith
All Scripture is from the King James Bible.