In relation to the current world-wide coronavirus pandemic, a Christian pastor on You Tube said recently, “This is a dress rehearsal for what is coming.” What did he mean? Was he saying there’s another one of greater intensity following on the heels this of one? Not particularly, he was referring to what is to come upon the world at the close of this age. When does this age close? It closes when Jesus Christ comes to remove the biblical church from the earth. When will that be? Nobody knows; it could be anytime. In Bible Christian terms this event is known as the rapture – a term not directly mentioned in the Bible, but caught up together is mentioned and it means the same thing.
Although Bible Christians differ as to the timing of the forthcoming rapture, all agree such an event is clearly taught in the Scriptures. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18. My personal view is that the rapture will take place before the time of Jacob’s trouble Jeremiah 30:7 – God’s judgment upon Israel; known too as great tribulation Matthew 24: 21 – God’s judgment upon the world.
Speaking through the prophet Jeremiah, regarding Jacob’s trouble (Israel’s judgment), God said, We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Ask now, and see, whether a man is ever in labor with child? So why do I see every man with his hands on his loins like a woman in labor, and all faces turned pale? Alas! For the day is great, so that none is like it…… Jeremiah 30:5-7. That’s one Old Testament scripture; Prophets Isaiah, Daniel and others have more. Jesus spoke of world judgment similarly, For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been seen since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor shall ever be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved Matthew 24:21-22.
Whatever the great sadness and devastation the current pandemic has produced thus far across the globe, it is nothing in comparison to what lies ahead based on those two Scriptures. So yes, the pastor is correct, this is a dress rehearsal for what is coming. The grand problem being however, 95 out of a 100 people perhaps, reject what the Bible says is coming. They would have done the same with this pandemic too though, had they been told of it in advance. Imagine if they were told in January that the entire world would be in near total lock-down by March – everything shut down except for a few essential services; no school, no job, no sport, no socializing, no traveling, no weddings, no funerals. “You’re off your head!” they would say.
Yet when the real thing hit, they hit the panic button, as unredeemed human nature always does when calamity strikes close to home. Remarkable too, how easy it was for the authorities and the media to take control of the people’s thinking, emotions and behavior. People often wonder how totalitarianism gains its foothold. Very easy – create calamity, control the thinking, control the emotions and behavior. “You’re off your head!” That’s one of the kindest responses from such people towards Bible Christians proclaiming the forthcoming judgments of God. “Moron!” “Idiot!” “Brain-washed fundamentalist!” “Self-righteous ——–!” “Judgmental ——–!” “Religious nutcase!” These, and similar responses are more the reality.
So then, what is going to happen after the biblical church is gone? Keep in mind that these are God’s judgments upon apostate Jews, apostate Christians and wickedness in general. The following are known as the 7 Seals Judgments Revelation 6.1). A global ruler dictator comes on the scene. He’ll make Hitler and Stalin look like Sunday school kids! 2). Mayhem, murder and slaughter at levels previously unheard of. 3). Unimaginable famine. 4). Death and starvation at levels never before witnessed. 5). Persecution, slaughter and martyrdom of Jews and Christians. 6). Cosmic and ecological calamity. 7). One hour’s silence in heaven and great fear on earth as the people wait, not knowing what follows next Revelation 8:1.
What does follow next? The 7 Trumpets Judgments Revelation 8; 9. 1). Vegetation disaster; hail and fire; one third of the trees burned up, all green grass burned up. 2). The seas are struck with fire. One third becomes blood; one third of sea creatures die; one third of ships destroyed. 3). A burning star falls from heaven poisoning one third of the world’s rivers and springs; multitudes die. 4). One third of sun, moon and stars struck causing global darkness. 5). Plague of demonic locusts attack, torment and torture people for five months; they seek death but don’t find it! The locusts spare plant life. 6). 200 million man/creature army, slaughter, calamity. 7). The earthly Kingdom of God proclaimed in heaven; Jesus soon to reign! Revelation 11:15-19.
And finally, the 7 Bowls Judgments Revelation 16. 1). The pandemic of all pandemics; foul and loathsome sores come upon all who take the mark of the beast. 2). The sea contaminated with blood; every living sea creature dies. 3). The rivers and springs of water become blood. 4). The ultimate global warming; people scorched with fire and great heat. Instead of repenting, they curse God. 5). Darkness, physical pain and sores poured out on the beast, his kingdom, his followers. 6). The Euphrates river dries up; unholy trinity on the move: the dragon, the beast, the false prophet, leading a world of demon-possessed people; Armageddon battle. 7). A great earthquake; islands, mountains gone; a hail of 100-pound stones or boulders fall on people.
There are primarily, 4 “schools” of interpretation with regards the Book of Revelation. I’m in the 4th school – The Futurist school. In other words, from Revelation 4 onward, I hold that all speaks to the future. Quote: “The futurist scheme of interpretation insists that, for the most part, the visions of this book will be fulfilled toward the end and at the end of this age. The futurist view was long ago excellently defined as that scheme which ‘looks for the fulfillment of these predictions in the events which are immediately to proceed, to accompany, and to follow the Second Advent of our Lord and Savior.’ ” – W. Milligan? Too, this is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, given to the apostle John, it is not the revelation of John himself.
Sin … what is it? It is rebellion towards God; sin is lawlessness, sin is wickedness. God’s judgments on sin must come. God does not wink at sin; God cannot look at sin. That is why He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die in our place. For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes (commits, entrusts) in Him should not perish but have everlasting life John 3:16. What happens to those who don’t and won’t believe, commit and trust in Him? The soul who sins shall die Ezekiel 18:4, 20. That’s not God’s will for anybody! It never was, it never will be; but there is only one Savior. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord Romans 6:23.
Will there be another dress rehearsal for what is coming? Probably, but it will be due only to the mercy of God. It is a hard heart and a spiritually dark heart that cannot see this current world-wide pandemic as a wake-up call from God. I’m not saying God sent it, but He didn’t stop it. There can be only one reason why He didn’t and that was because He wants to grab our attention. Sadly though, from what I can see, most people are paying no attention. They’re focused on everything getting back to normal. However, the fear they expressed at the beginning has not gone, it’s simply being suppressed. It’ll surface again when there is another major calamity of some kind. It always does!
Observations during this dress rehearsal: 1). We observed the best from people and the worst from people; people who put their lives on the line and people who wouldn’t dare do so. 2). The mainstream media went into overdrive, milking every opportunity given it. 3). How difficult it was/is to discern opinion-driven medical reports from those which were/are factual. 4). Conspiratorial fear-mongers had a field day. 5). The peoples of the world are desperately looking for a global or one-world leader to solve the world’s problems. They will get him! After the rapture of the biblical church, he will show up. He’ll be a god for 3½ years; he will be a devil for 3½ years. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes Psalm 118:8-9.