Covid-19. Enough said.
Those five letters, a hyphen, and two numerals have put the entire world in fear. Economies have crashed, we’ve been made captives in our own homes, and the government (tyrannical or not) has taken total control of our lives.
Behind the masks, you can see fear in the eyes of many Americans. I made a trip to the grocery store last week one day at 7:00 a.m. There were not many people there, but those who were, would not make eye contact, would not speak to you, and on several occasions turned away to another aisle when they saw you at the other end. I think I know a little about how the leper felt who had to walk along saying “UNCLEAN” as he made his way outside the city.
If we’re naive enough to think that the world will magically go back to the way it was before this global pandemic, I’m afraid we’re sadly mistaken. The power brokers have gotten exactly what they wanted…control of the masses. We will become a nation of mask wearers and social distancing. The masses will be reluctant to assemble in large gatherings, fearful that the person sitting next to them, may have some dreaded disease. The controlled populace will follow the orders of the government blindly, and be appreciative for the crumbs they gladly receive from the Master’s Table.
Many small businesses will close, and the majority of manufacturing facilities will be owned by the government. As a matter of fact, most people will work for the government in one way or another.
With this picture of gloom and doom, you may wonder why the title of this article is Perilous Joy.
It’s joyous because I believe Jesus is coming soon! Think about it. If not this event, one very similar will usher in a One World Government, led by none other than the Antichrist. This man of sin will rear his ugly head during a time of worldwide chaos and offer the world peace and safety. People will be so desperate, they will gladly take his “mark” to be fed, clothed, and have a roof over their heads. Let’s take a look at 2 Thessalonians Chapter 2.
2 Thessalonians 2 King James Version (KJV)
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
In Verse 3, the man of sin we refer to as the Antichrist is revealed. In Verse 11, we find that those who inhabit the earth will believe his lie. Why? Because they refused to believe the truth of Jesus and had pleasure in unrighteousness.
You are probably thinking, that sounds terrible. Why would God allow that to happen to his children? He won’t. Go back to Verse 3, where we read that this won’t happen unless there is a falling away first. The falling away spoken thereof is the departure of God’s children along with the Holy Spirit.
You see, God will come get His children, prior to the Great Tribulation, the beginning of which is marked by the revealing of the man of sin….Antichrist. How can we know this? Let’s look to 1 Thessalonians 4 for the answer.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 King James Version (KJV)
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
In this passage, it tells us of a worldwide event where followers of Jesus Christ will be snatched from this earth and taken to be with Him. Those left behind that are found in 2 Thessalonians 2:10, refused to accept the truth about Jesus. They refused to become God’s child. Therefore, they were left behind. So you see, God is not going to allow His children to come under the rule of Antichrist.
Someday, we may post some articles regarding the Book of Revelation, and the terrible events set into action by Antichrist. For the Christian though, we’ll be gone. when the man of sin begins his reign of terror.
You may ask, “How can I be sure that I won’t be left behind when Jesus comes for His believers?” That’s really pretty simple. Let’s take a look at a few of these verses.
FIRST, you must accept that you are a sinner.
- Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
- Romans 3:10 – “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.”
- No one is perfect. No one has lived up to God’s perfect standard.
SECOND, you must accept that as a sinner you owe a penalty.
- Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death…“
- Ezekiel 18:4 – “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.”
- This death is described in the Bible as the second death, the lake of fire.
- Revelation 20:14 – “Death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”If we pay what we owe as sinners, we must spend an eternity in the lake of fire (Hell).
THIRD, you must accept that Jesus Christ has already paid your sin debt.
- Romans 5:6 – “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”
- Hebrews 2:9b – “…that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”
- Christ was not a sinner, and the Bible teaches that God took all of our sin and placed it on Christ. While Christ was bearing all our sins in His own body, God punished Him in our place to pay the debt we owe. This is not something God promised to do. It is something that God has already done.
- John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 – “He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
It is a FACT, Jesus Christ has already paid your sin debt.
FOURTH, you must accept by faith what Jesus Christ did for you. Ninety times in the Gospel of John the Bible says, “Believe.”
- John 3:36 – “He that believeth on the Son of God hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
- In this verse, Jesus divides the world into two groups: those who are believing and those who are not believing on Jesus Christ. Those who believe have everlasting life, and those who believe not shall not see life.
Remember…It is a FACT, Jesus Christ has already paid your sin debt.
The word BELIEVE means to trust, to depend on, to rely on. To believe on the Lord Jesus Christ means that you accept the fact that you are a sinner, that as a sinner, you owe the sin penalty, and that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the debt you owe. But it means going one step further. It means that you will completely trust Christ to get you to Heaven – that you will put the matter of your salvation in His hands and depend on Him for everlasting life.
The moment you do this, God promises you are not condemned but have everlasting life and you shall never perish.
- John 5:24 – “Verily, verily, I say unto you. He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
If you will trust Jesus Christ as your Savior, pray this simple prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner, and I deserve to pay my own sin debt, but I do believe that You died for me to pay the debt that I owe. Today, the best I know how, I trust you as my Savior. I will depend on You from this moment for my salvation. Now help me to live for you and to be a good Christian. AMEN.
So you see, there can be Joy in Perilous times. Jesus is coming soon! Will you be ready to meet him?
1 Peter 1:7-9 King James Version (KJV)
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
If you want joy and not fear during these perilous times, the answer is Jesus.