In the May PTNews [Newsletter] Mike addressed the fact that the Bible predicts that the end of this age will encounter a world-wide food crisis. The recent pandemic crisis is a clear warning of this impending disaster. Even before the pandemic started, many voices were sounding the warning of an approaching global famine. In a recent article of Breaking News Israel, David Beasley, the executive director of the World Food Program, said, “The world is heading towards widespread famine ‘of biblical proportions’ due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the chief of the UN’s food relief agency warns. He added that we only have a small window to act before hundreds of millions starve …. Over 30 developing worldwide could experience widespread famine. In 10 of those countries, over 1 million people are on the brink of starvation” (Breaking Israel News, April 26, 2020).
Please read the May PTNews. In the June issue, Mike will share some practical insights from the Bible as to how we should respond to living in these last days. We need to cry out to the Lord for wisdom to know how to live, pray, think, hope, prepare, and plan in these unique days. He has promised to give us wisdom (James 1:5). As COVID-19 has illustrated, we are living in unprecedented times. We need to learn how to biblically “occupy” until Jesus comes.
During this coronavirus crisis, God is in control, and is doing some incredible things in the lives of many people. Recently, someone shared the following video with me. I was so blessed, I wanted to share it with you. It is about a young man in Ireland who had the virus and saw the Lord reach out to him. He sent him a special servant to touch his heart. Please watch the following video and let God bless you as He did me! youtube.com
I believe that the present circumstances in Israel are preparing the hearts of many Israelis to find salvation in Jesus as their Messiah and Savior. The effects of the coronavirus are having a big impact upon the tiny nation of Israel. Israelis have a great value for the sanctity of human life. Therefore, they have been taking great measures to protect their people for this very contagious virus.
The entire country is on a strict quarantine to remain in their homes. Presently, 25 percent of all the adults in Israel are unemployed. This ongoing condition is bringing many Israelis to their knees emotionally and economically.
Added to this is the political dilemma in Israel. Israel has been without an elected government for one full year and may now be facing an unprecedented fourth election in a little over one year. Furthermore, Israel continues to hear the call for their destruction from Iran and the other terrorist groups on their borders.
As a result of all of this, Israelis are being humbled and spiritually broken. They are seeking for help and many are turning to the Lord. Recently, many Jewish residents in the disputed territories gathered on their balconies to sing Psalm 54. To watch this go to
Looking at our present world conditions, it appears that our Lord could come at any moment. I remind you that the Tribulation Period will begin with a massive Jewish spiritual turning to the Lord for salvation (Ezekiel 39, 7, 22; Joel 2:28-32; Revelation 7). Salvation requires that people humble themselves and turn to the Lord for salvation. Could it be that we are witnessing the work of the Spirit that is preparing Israel for the great moment of salvation of tens of thousands of Jews at the opening of the Tribulation?
Once again, our world is facing the horrific scourge of a highly infectious, lethal disease. One of the trademarks of our modern culture in the last century has been the spread of these kinds of diseases. Jesus said that this would be one of the signs of the final generation before He returns. Read Matthew 24:7 and Luke 21:11.
In my lifetime our world has been plagued with Mad Cows Disease, Avian Flu, Sars, HIV (Aids), and Ebola. One of the most lethal of all pandemics was the Spanish Flu in 1918. This disease killed at least 100 million people around the world. That was about 5 percent of the global population.
One of the reasons why the coronavirus is so dangerous is because of its’ highly infections rate. The contagious rate of this disease is one reason why we must all do our part to limit our social contacts (keeping a distance of at least 6 feet away from others).
This is a new disease. The human body does not have any immunity with which to resist this disease. Therefore, the entire global population is at risk. It is estimated that 70 percent of the global population will contract this disease. The disease attacks the respiratory system. Therefore, the death rate among the elderly and others with respiratory issues is much higher. It is believed that the morality rate of this disease is about 3 percent. Therefore, that means that about 155 million people will die from this disease.
We are being told that this virus may be with us for more than a year until a vaccination is found and produced in enough quantities that we can vaccinate the global population. Until that time comes the only course we have is to slow the contagious rate down by limiting our social contacts. In some cases, this will require us to make great sacrifices to self-quarantine ourselves to limit the spread of the virus.
Some people are not taking this virus seriously because they do not feel personally threatened. This virus is not usually fatal to people less than 60 years old. However, that is a very selfish approach to helping the world deal with this threatening disease. The fear is that if the coronavirus cases multiply too fast it will overwhelm our medical system. That would mean that there would not be enough facilities and equipment to help all those who develop the pneumonia like symptoms. Therefore, this would push the morality rate even higher. Let us look at it in a personal way. What if you do not limit your social contacts? You can contract this virus but not have any symptoms for 3-5 days. Data suggests you will probably come in contact with about 250 people during the time of your incubation of the disease. Therefore, you will have infected 250 people and about 7 of them will die. Do you want to be responsible for that?
The Bible tells us that we are to think more about the welfare of others than we do about ourselves. “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others” (Philippians 2:4). Your life and the lives of others are very important. Life is more important than things or wealth. As believers in Jesus Christ we are sending a message to the world about life and death.
As the Scriptures command us, let us pray for our government leaders. Read 1Timothy 2:2. Pray that they will have wisdom to guide us through this difficult time. We need to obey them. Read Romans 13:1-7.
As many of us are forced to take some time away from our busy schedules and are quarantined due to the coronavirus, we need to look at our situation from God’s perspective. As our world comes to a grinding halt, what is God saying to all of the inhabitants of earth? The answer to this question is no secret. The Bible gives a clear answer for us in Psalm 46.
In this psalm, the writer is faced with a major crisis that he describes as a time of “trouble” (verse 1). The original word could be translated “tight places.” In other words, the world of the psalmist was closing in on him and he felt threatened, just like we do in our current situation. The psalmist speaks of a time when his world was being destroyed by massive earthquakes that caused the mountains to be cast into the sea. This colossal geological upheaval created destructive tsunamis. All of this brought about destruction upon the earth. Furthermore, the psalmist invites us to “Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth” (Psalm 46:6).
The first thing that God wants us to know is that He is in control. There are no situations or events that transpire in our world that do not come from the hand of the Lord – the Creator of heaven and earth. This global crisis is not an accident.
We should not try to point the finger of blame at China or any other nation. The bottom line is that the Lord has chosen for this virus to march across the face of the earth at this point in time for His purposes. Long ago, King Solomon of Israel observed, “God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work” (Ecclesiastes 3:17).
God uses diseases and viruses for His divine purposes. Read Deuteronomy 28:21-22, 27-28, 35. Our life and health are in His hands for His purposes. Long life and good health are a gift from God. When Jesus walked this earth almost 2,000 years ago, He demonstrated that all diseases are under His authority. Read Mark 1:30-34.
In Psalm 46, the psalmist declared that one of the major reasons for the crisis in his time was to cause people to cease from being busy and get to know God. Through him, God shouted out to the people, “Be still, and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10). This is at the heart of what God wants from all of us. He wants all of us to fix our attention upon Him. We are to adore Him. Worship Him. Be in awe of Him. One of the major compelling desires of our lives ought to be to discover the truth about God and to respond to Him in worship and service from a pure heart for His glory.
Unfortunately, most of the inhabitants on earth never think about God during the day. Their thoughts are very far from Him. It is obvious that they do not know Him. This is the major problem in our world – people do not know God. During the days of the ancient prophet of Israel, Hosea, God spoke to the rebellious nation of Israel and said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6)
God wants the very best for each one of us. The real peace and joy we are looking for will not be found in plenty of food, money, entertainment, or our creature comforts.
God wants you. He created you for His purposes. He is a jealous God. Read Exodus 20:5-6. His goal is not to make you happy, but to glorify Him. When you walk with Him you will have what you are looking for. There is no greater joy than to know Him and serve Him. After all, that is what we will be doing in heaven for all of eternity.
Maybe in the next few days you can take the time to reflect upon all of this.
