Plague and Prophecy
By Hal Lindsey
The study of end-times Bible prophecy can be controversial and it can be hard work. For those reasons among others, many churches have chosen the path of least resistance. They’ve decided to ignore the topic entirely. Sadly, this has left many believers ill-equipped in the face of global pestilence.
I hope you are in a church where pastors and others teach Bible prophecy as a part of their overall study of scripture. If so, you have a different perspective on the global pandemic. You may be frustrated by the lockdown. You may be concerned about your health, that of loved ones, and even complete strangers. The state of the nation and the world may have you praying fervently.
You may be feeling many things. But surprise is not one of them.
You knew this day would come. You studied the words of Jesus. You heard His warnings as well as His promises. But those who have not studied end-times prophecy were mostly caught off-guard. Believers without this knowledge tend to be struggling — many of them wondering how God could allow these things to happen.
It’s even worse if your church centers its teaching on the power of positive thinking, or it teaches that the world is getting better and better. Some teach that Christians will one day take over the world and then hand it to Jesus. But it’s time to admit that the world is in a downward spiral. In days like these, all the old worldly happy talk just makes for a deeper and more abiding despondency.
On the other hand, what peace it is to understand that God knew in advance about a coming time of pestilence. Not only did He know, He told us so that we could know, too. He said these things would happen more and more as Christ’s return grew closer. This is not a time for anguish, but for joyous realization that God’s word is again proving to be true. You can trust it. Jesus told us about these days two thousand years ago. And that’s a miracle!
The scripture clearly teaches that the worst of the end-time events will take place during the seven years of what theologians often call Daniel’s 70th week. It is popularly known as the tribulation. For Christians, I have good news. If you know Christ today, you will not be here for the tribulation. Either you will die before it begins, or you will be caught up with the Lord at the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51–54). The rapture will include the resurrection of those who have died in Christ.
In the meantime, there will be difficult days. We can face them with the sure and certain knowledge of God’s love and providence. Others face the difficulties with a hope only in science and the mind of man. Important as those things are, they are inadequate for our most important needs.
More than ever, we need to spread the word of Jesus. The world needs the Gospel, and we need to do everything we can to spread it. We need to use every communications platform, every highway, every opportunity. We need to give to ministries that are spreading the word. And we need to spread the word ourselves. The time is growing short.
In John 9:4, Jesus said, “We must work the works of Him who sent Me, as long as it is day; night is coming, when no man can work.”
