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Coronavirus (COVID-19) and End-Time Lessons

Coronavirus (COVID-19) and End-Time Lessons

Over the past several weeks, as the COVID-19 pandemic has swept the world, I have received multiple inquiries regarding how this crisis relates to the end-time events of Revelation.

The Bible says that the “gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14 NIV84). Many have wondered how everyone will hear the gospel. Could this pandemic be a catalyst that helps spread the gospel to the world? How will everyone be brought to the point of choosing between God and Satan, between the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of this world?

Have you heard end-time scenarios that describe human armies battling each other in the Middle East, or religious groups controlling governments to pass laws enforcing certain doctrines or religious practices? In these scenarios, it is suggested that the world is brought to the point of having to choose which army to back, or which doctrine to believe, or which religious practice to embrace.

But I want to suggest that the final presentation of the gospel and the final test that every person will face will be much more basic and simple. It will be a test, not over correct doctrine, but of character: Do we love others or do we love self more – this will be the test. Do we choose godly, self-sacrificial service, or do we choose to protect self, even when it hurts others?

Two weeks ago, I posted a blog about viruses and described how viruses were not part of God’s creation, but are manifestations of selfishness. Viruses seek only to replicate themselves – me, me, me, and more of me, without regard to anything but their own replication, ultimately killing the host and itself. Viruses are the physical manifestation of the law of sin and death, of selfishness, of the principles and methods of Satan’s kingdom. It is the opposite of God’s kingdom of love, which is the principle of giving, of service, of self-sacrifice. Jesus said:

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends (John 15:12, 13 NIV84).

John wrote:

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers (1 John 3:16 NIV84).

God’s kingdom is the kingdom of love – a kingdom not driven by fear, not focused on self, not exploitive of others, but a kingdom that serves, that gives, that heals and restores. Revelation describes the end-time people of God, who are ready to meet Christ when He returns: “They did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death” (Revelation 12:11 NIV84). These people are not driven by fear. They don’t seek to protect self. They refuse to run from doing what is right, in order to save their own lives. This is the opposite of this world of selfishness, opposite of the survival drive – and it is possible only for those who have God’s law of love written on their hearts (Hebrews 8:10).

As the world moves ever-closer to the second coming of Christ, the Bible describes that the people of earth will be caught up in the business of life: putting food on the table, building houses, getting married, and entertainment, such that they don’t realize that the world is nearing its end (Matthew 24:36–39; Luke 17:26–30).

God wants all to be saved (2 Peter 3:9), so to wake people up, He mercifully allows the four angels, who hold back the winds of strife, to loosen their grip – to give people the opportunity to think and to act, to test their character, and to choose which kingdom will be theirs (Revelation 7:1–3).

  • Will they love others, or will they harden their hearts in selfishness?
  • Will fear take control of their hearts, or will love cast out fear?
  • Will people choose God’s kingdom of love or Satan’s kingdom of fear-based survival of the fittest?

When a pandemic occurs, will people choose to wait until they have a need to procure a limited resource, or will they stockpile what they don’t need and, thereby, deprive others, who do have a need, of lifesaving resources?

Will people seek to price gouge and take advantage, or will they seek to give what they have to those in need? This week, one of my patients gave me two N95 masks that he had at home; he was concerned for me and thought I would have more use for them than he did. This was godly love in action!

Godly love does more than share; it puts self in harm’s way to help others: Doctors, nurses, first responders, and many others care for those in need, despite risks to themselves.

Godly love shines more brightly still; it leads to a willingness to sacrifice self for others. Amid the rampant fear caused by the corona pandemic, Don Giuseppe Berardelli, a 72 year-old Italian priest who contracted coronavirus, chose love and rejected the fear-driven survival drive. He did not love his life so much as to shrink from death (Revelation 12:11) and gave up his ventilator, so a younger patient could have one. And yes, sadly, this kindly priest died. He chose God’s kingdom of love over the ways of the world. His test was not about denominational affiliation, creeds, or religious rituals, but about character. And oh, how brightly his life of love shines!

How will every person in the world be brought to a decision point for God’s kingdom? By events just like this pandemic: Each person will be placed in situations in which they have to decide whether they will give into fear or will act to love others. Will they socially isolate or party on a beach? Will they hoard masks, disinfectant, toilet paper, medications, water, and food, or use only what they need and allow the supplies to go to those with the greatest need? Will they sacrifice self for others, or will they sacrifice others for self?

Most books written on end-time events argue that the final test people will face will be over the right doctrine or religious practice. But I believe that the final test will be over character – do we love God and others, are we willing to sacrifice self for them, or will we allow fear to harden our hearts and solidify our characters in selfishness, such that we refuse to help others in order to protect self?

In the future, regardless of whatever particular crisis, disaster, disease, or plague hits, the question will be who do you love, who do you trust, and whose character do you possess – Christ’s or Satan’s?

Jesus, speaking to the church, says:

I am returning soon. … Everyone who prevails by completing the treatment and lives in harmony with my methods of love until the end, I will make a pillar, a living stone, in the heavenly temple of my God – a community of holy beings. Their connection with God will never be severed and I will write in their beings the character of my God, and they will be marked by me as citizens of the New Jerusalem which is coming down out of heaven from my God. I will also write my name upon their hearts and minds (Revelation 3:11, 12 The Remedy).


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Testimony 8

Thank you for the ministry you are sharing with us, it is a real blessing to us and especially to my husband and myself! You are encouraging us to think for ourselves and not just to except everything, without thinking it through, with God’s word!

M.K., USA

 

Testimony 69

After reading your book, ‘Could It Be This Simple,’ someone was explaining Christianity in a way that made sense to me for the first time in my life. One morning, I simply prayed “I’m sorry and I love you.” As soon as I silently said that, I could literally feel God’s presence and light flood down on me from above and fill me up with love and joy. I sat there crying my eyes out, because I was so overpowered with this feeling of love and joy. It was just so incredible. I hope that more people can read this book and get a blessing from it. It’s really amazing.

Rachael H.

Testimony 5

We listen to your bible studies lessons in our class in Montana. You actually were the main reason I decided to get a laptop, so I can go to your site and listen, read, learn, and print the class notes. I am so grateful to learn the correct view of God and his character. Now, to just have others have an interest in knowing, so I can share it with them. Good thoughts your way.

R. N., MT, USA

 

Testimony 21

I am absolutly on fire with the message at Come and Reason! I can’t get enough! I’ve read your book, blog, and articles. I’ve listened to your Bible study podcasts, your radio show, and your series – all excellent! It wasn’t until the past couple of years that I have I like I’m becoming “healthy,” with more to share with others than just beasts and commandments! I used to be a Bible worker and preached when the pastors were gone until I had had enough. I didnt realize at the time what the problem was, but i know now… the message wasn’t properly focused. Now my flame is rekindled. All of your little examples are so perfect in explaining something “complicated” and making it easily understood! Now I’m trying to shape it into a life changing evangelistic series! Thank you!

M.T., USA

 

Testimony 25

I just want to say thank you so much for your conversations via YouTube. I regularly tune in to your lectures, “Let’s Talk” sessions, and many others. Through these I’ve found greater depth and meaning to God’s word. Thanks for all that you do and please continue. I’m currently working in the middle of Silicon Valley at Stanford University. I feel like God really has me in the right place right now and I’m sensing that your teachings might be part of it.

B. F., Silicon Valley, CA, USA

 

Testimony 4

I’m a youth leader in South Africa. We as a youth group are currently using a lot of the material on the Come and Reason site. Since we’ve started using the material, our youth group has grown.

R. V. N., South Africa

 

Testimony 29

Thank you for all of your work to correct misconceptions about God’s character. So many people that my husband and I have talked to seem to be against the natural law construct and view it as “errant” and “dangerous.” Having learned more about it through your blogs and lessons, I don’t really understand why they view it that way, except that it means they have to relearn theology they have known for their entire lives. But I’m so excited to relearn this. For the past few years I have been questioning how I could trust a God who punishes arbitrarily and is full of wrath for those who don’t obey His commands. That view made me afraid to “mess up” or “not be good enough,” even within my relationship with God. I really appreciated the point you bring out about God not wanting us to serve Him because we are afraid, but because we love Him.

Melissa H., IN, USA

 

Testimony 51

I Love This Ministry!!!!!!! I see first hand how this message is desperately needed, how erroneous beliefs about God and His Character negatively affect humanity at every level. I thank God for your ministry, as I was searching on my own and was discovering some of your same beliefs and was blown away when I found your ministry. I know you hear it all the time, but it is truly life changing. May God continue to reveal His Will to you and Bless you!

Eric S., Sanford, FL, USA

 

Testimony 62

I would like to express my thanks to the C&R team for creating a platform from which people can learn to trust in God and grow. My life is a witness to the effectiveness of this ministry. Without believing the truth about God as you have shown, I don’t know what my life would be like. I had given up on God helping me with certain sins – it was all useless. Given that the scripture is clear and God is so good, how could I have betrayed him so many times? I was a yo-yo christian; spinning up and down. My faith and enthusiasm was driven by discoveries/threats that prophecy is about to be fulfilled. But when I watched your “Healing the Mind” seminar, it was like a light finally went on. I could see God had no plan to hurt me, the danger came from sin, and that He is working to protect me and strengthen me. Thank you for allowing God to use you. The message God gave C&R saved my life!

Antony N. – Hobart, Australia

 

Testimony 19

I truly believe that to know who God really is the first step to understand ourselves in a balanced and kind way, so the healing can take place. Your approach really makes sense – Thank you for your ministry!

A.M., Pittsburg, PA, USA

Testimony 24

I wanted to thank you very much for presenting your understanding of God. I’ve always been troubled by this question: Why did Jesus have to die? Since my conversion I understood that The Father & Jesus are one, I did not have issues with that. But was there not any other way to save us than for Jesus to die? I guess I actually had a question about God – if He is so wise, how come He did not find another way? I did not see the real ‘beauty’  in the cross. Only when you explained the picture in the medical context, Jesus providing medicine for my selfishness, have I started to finally ‘see the light’. Thank you so much. Your seminar, “Healing the Mind,” are absolutely marvelous & have shared them with my family and many other people, including colleagues at work. Thanks, thanks, thanks. May God bless you abundantly in your ministry.

M. W., Australia

 

Testimony 31

It was very touching to hear the testimony of your class share how viewing God’s true character has changed their lives. My feelings are the same – there is so much freedom in knowing that God LOVES me – regardless of my… just, REGARDLESS! I’m still blown away by the true gospel, the fact that God is not ready to strike us when we fail. He is not arbitrary. He simply loves us and warns of the natural consequences because He can’t stand to see us suffer. I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS GOD!!!

Ceil V.,  UT, USA

 

Testimony 61

I grew up in a prominent protestant church and had what I like to call religious anxiety. I’ve always had questions about God and Salvation that no one could seem to answer.  I didn’t know how to find resolution. During 2020, at the height of my anxiety, I fell to my knees and begged God to show me truth and light and to give me the hope that I’ve been longing for. Days later, I stumbled upon your online videos and it was like a veil was lifted and EVERYTHING made sense! For the first time in my almost 39 years of life, my religious/spiritual anxiety has lessened. I feel a sense of freedom and peace I’ve NEVER had before… and it’s all because my view of God has changed. Thank you!

Ashleighn C.

 

Testimony 58

I have been watching your videos in The Power of Love seminar and I must say these have liberated me and have improved my relationship with the Lord. I am no longer terrified of him as I was before following your teachings.

Thando N., South Africa

 

Testimony 32

The message [of Come And Reason Ministries is] for all Christians (and those who may become Christians) and not just Adventists or any other group. It is difficult to imagine why any [anyone] with intellectual and spiritual honesty could find fault with the way you explained the healing substitution concepts and the truth about God’s character, though I know some will reject and criticize. On behalf of those in our group near Tacoma, WA, thank you and your staff for all of the hard work and for sharing the Gospel in this manner. God’s message of healing love will be carried to the whole world and then Jesus will come – He promised it.

Terry U., Tacoma, WA, USA