First sentence: On February 29, 2020, my wife, Cheryl, and I left our home in Edmond, Oklahoma, for a thirteen-day trip to Israel. We could never have imagined how drastically the world would change by the time we returned.
Is the Corona Virus (COVID 19) a sign of the end times? Is the end near? These questions (and more) are answered by Mark Hitchcock in his newest book.
He does several things in his book. (I list in no particular order).
He addresses the end times, theories about the second coming, signs of the times, the return of Christ, the coming judgement.
He addresses plagues and pandemics throughout history AND specifically the current crisis of Corona.
He addresses a greater crisis facing the world: SIN. Sin has an infection rate of 100%. He writes, "There’s another subject that most people avoid like the plague. It’s probably even more unpopular than a virus. What is it? Sin. Humans don’t like thinking about sin. Especially their own. I don’t, and you don’t. Spending too much time focused on sin can be downright depressing. Who wants to examine faults, failures, and flaws? We’d rather think of ourselves in a more positive light. Sin has never been a popular topic, and that couldn’t be more true today. Even many churches steer clear of ever mentioning the “S” word for fear of offending someone."
His approach is hesitation and caution when assuming that Corona is a huge, blaring sign of the end times. He writes, "we must shun a sensationalistic approach to current events and world headlines. Any time there’s a crisis or natural disaster such as COVID-19, a chorus of voices immediately begin to announce the advent of the Antichrist and imminent arrival of the Apocalypse. Wild speculation often spreads faster than the virus. Some prophecy teachers cry wolf about every event, no matter how insignificant, so often that thinking people turn off the noise and don’t listen to them anymore. For sensationalists, every earthquake, war, terrorist attack, disease, crime spree, famine, hurricane, or tsunami is a flashing neon sign pointing to the end. The problem with this kind of news headline exegesis is that if everything is a sign, then nothing is a sign. We can’t manufacture every current event into a sign of the times."
© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible
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