IS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC A SIGN OF THE END TIMES?

Many would say that with the China virus, COVID-19, Corona virus or whatever name it is being called, and its effects, that the Lord could come for us any minute.
 
But there are many other events that must happen first. No temple has been built yet in Jerusalem. No Antichrist has risen to power. We do not even have a global government for him to rise up from. The Two Witnesses have not started a global ministry yet. The transgressors (spoken of in Daniel) while many, have not reached their fullness. And more.
 
I do believe we are in the early times of the apostasy. Many want to believe the apostasy is a time when many in the church backslide. This is not what the apostasy is. The terms mean a deflection from or forsaking of the truth. The apostasy that is coming on this world is of mankind and is global. It is much like we read about in Romans chapter 1. Mankind in general has chosen to exchange the truth of God for the lie. The lie has been the same lie since the Garden.

• Romans 1:18b-25 … men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever…

 
While we still have a long way to go, we see the world becoming a darker place. At the same time, we see the true body of Christ becoming more consecrated. What is destined to be, will be.
 
Let us consider the Word of our Lord, recorded by the Apostle Mark.

• Mark 13:7-27 "But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet.
• 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.
• 9 But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them.
• 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations.
• 11 But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
• 12 Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
• 13 And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
• 14 So when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not" (let the reader understand), "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. ***
• 15 Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his house.
• 16 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.
• 17 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!
• 18 And pray that your flight may not be in winter.
• 19 For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be.
• 20 And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days.
• 21 Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'Look, He is there!' do not believe it.
• 22 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
• 23 But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.
• 24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light;
• 25 the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
• 26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
• 27 And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven."

 
*** I believe Mark 13:14b-18 is 2-fold prophecy. It happened 70 AD and it will happen again before the Lord comes. Verses 19 and 20 describe the severity of the tribulation that is yet to come.
 
The Lord has warned us what will happen before He comes for His church at the end of the current age. These verses are not pre-Armageddon and Second Coming or even pre-Great White Throne of Judgment. Most of Mark 13 is pre-rapture and rapture verses.
 
Is the COVID-19 virus a sign of the end times? I believe it has been allowed by God to be a wake-up call. Even harder times will come. We need to stay close to the Lord and if we are not in the right place with Him now, we need to get there. The Lord does not want anyone ever to perish eternally and He is calling out to all who can hear Him, “... behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2b ).


Eli Cockrell