THE LIVES OF THE PATRIARCHS #85 | THE LIFE OF MOSES #67
Pastor Christopher Choo
Lesson 3768
THE LIVES OF THE PATRIARCHS #85
THE LIFE OF MOSES #67
THE TEN PLAGUES OF EGYPT ( PART 8 )
The Christian author Mark Hitchcock - who wrote on Covid 19 - gave his views in an interview on how the world's current pandemic is a Sign of the Endtimes to come.
He says that the coronavirus and other crises in our world today are not the ends, but they are signs that point toward the end.
They tell us that Jesus’ coming may be near. In fact, Jesus can come at any moment, so we need to be alert and aware, making sure we’re living a life that pleases him.
Here are his answers to the questions raised by an interviewer:
1. What does the Bible mean when it says the world will someday come to an end?
Mark Hitchcock: When Jesus returns at his second coming, he’ll establish a 1,000 year kingdom of peace and prosperity that will fill the earth. That age is called the Millennium. When the Millennium ends, this present creation will be destroyed by God, or “uncreated,” and He’ll make a New Heaven and New Earth (Revelation 21:1-2).
That’ll be the end of the world as we know it, but the beginning of a brand new universe in which righteousness dwells.
2. What plagues are recorded in the Bible?
Mark Hitchcock: Most people are probably familiar with the Egyptian plagues in the book of Exodus, but there are several others mentioned.
Here are just a few of the main ones: the Philistines when they captured the ark of the covenant (1 Samuel 5:11-12), the nation of Israel for King David’s sin (2 Samuel 24:12, 25), the people of Judah for their disobedience (Jeremiah 27:4-8), and enemies who attack Israel in the end times (Ezekiel 39:21-22).
During the final days of this age, plagues are predicted that’ll have a devastating impact on the world (Revelation 6:8).
3. Is the coronavirus prophesied in the Bible?
Mark Hitchcock:
Coronavirus is not directly prophesied in Scripture, but I believe it foreshadows the end time plagues prophesied by Jesus (Luke 21:11) and in the Book of Revelation (6:8).
You write that, to survive this crisis, we need perspective, practicality, prayer, and proclamation.
4. Please explain.
Mark Hitchcock: When any crisis comes, we first need to remember God is on his throne in heaven. That’s our perspective. Heaven has an occupied throne.
Second, we need to love others in practical, everyday ways, doing what we can to help slow the spread of the virus.
Third, prayer for our health, our leaders, the economy and a cure or vaccine for the virus should be part of our daily spiritual lives.
Finally, we always need to leverage times of crisis to share and proclaim the gospel because people are often more open to the truth in times of uncertainty.
When we board a plane and hear the safety speech by the flight attendant most people don’t pay much attention. They tune it out. But if the pilot were to announce during the flight that two of the engines had just failed, and the flight attendant were to go over the instructions again, everyone would listen up with undivided attention.
In the same way, times of crisis make people more open to the gospel message.
5. What is the universal virus and its cure that you write about in the book?
Mark Hitchcock: The universal virus or pandemic is sin that infects the soul of every person. We’re all born infected, and there’s no human cure or vaccine.
The only remedy for the sin virus is the death and resurrection of Jesus who took the full force of the virus for us.
All we have to do for a complete cure is accept Jesus as our Savior.
6. What is a favorite Bible passage of yours and why?
Mark Hitchcock: My favorite verse is 2 Corinthians 5:21 which says, “God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in him.”
I love this verse because it captures the essence of the good news. Jesus took all my sin and gave me all his righteousness. I can’t think of anything better than that.
