COVID-19 - What is really going on?
| Update 3 April 2020 |
A weekly reflection on current global affairs concerning Israel and
the Jewish people from a Biblical perspective.
Dear friends,
The world is being gripped by the fear of death. Fear is driven by perception. As Christians, we are called not to be led by fear. Rather, we must look beyond the superficial symptoms, in order to understand the spiritual significance of the natural world. We are called – and equipped – to look through a spiritual lens at what is really happening “behind the veil”. And it is the Bible that gives us that lens. In Revelation 3, Jesus speaks about the “eye salve” that the church of the last days needs to have in order to understand what is going on around us, and to realize our own utter helplessness and dependence on God in times of crisis. It is the Holy Spirit who empowers us to spiritually understand and interpret the physical world.
First, the symptoms. As the number of cases and deaths rises, the World Health Organization and other scientists have convinced governments around the world to go into lock-down. The results are catastrophic. The world economy is literally being crushed.
There is already massive unemployment. The poor, the marginalized, ordinary employees and small and medium-sized businesses are the hardest hit. Large global financial, high-tech and pharmaceutical corporations will benefit. Governments will go further into already astronomical debt.
Many say the rapid spread of COVID-19 requires a global response. Influential leaders like former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown advocate global governance. In the desperate effort to “avoid more deaths”, Bill Gates, Dr. Anthony Fauci and others are urging an even more radical shutdown of the entire economy, increased compulsory testing, and a coordinated global plan for development and implementation of a vaccine.
Already there is a widespread prohibition on use of cash, and proposals for further implementation of the cashless society, and introduction of global currencies.
I leave open the causes and the question whether or not this has somehow been planned or orchestrated. The fact is, the old economic and social order is collapsing as we speak. Millions of people are being impoverished, and an ever-diminishing number of unelected individuals and organizations are gaining an exponentially-increasing level of power and influence over the lives of the masses. This intensification of global economic and political power far outstrips anything previously seen.
It is surely no coincidence this scenario corresponds exactly with the conditions the Bible describes as preparing the way for the Anti-Christ to reign.
The Apostle Paul reminds us that Satan is at work in the world. We are not fighting against flesh and blood, but against “the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).
This crisis is a warning to us as church to repent and wake out of our spiritual “luke warmness”. It is because we have utterly failed in our mission that the Lord removes His protective hand over the nations in the end times, allowing Satan to have more power and influence, preparing the way for the Lawless One. In His letter to the last of the seven churches, the church of Laodicea, Jesus says:
“So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.”
(Rev. 3:17-18)
In addition to our undoubted responsibility as good citizens, let us put on the “eye salve” of the Holy Spirit as a church, get on our knees and look to the Lord alone. In all things, thank God that He is in control, and we have the victory in His Son Jesus Christ. He will protect those who place their hope in Him alone. And He is coming soon.
Fear not, but trust in the God of Israel, who “neither slumbers nor sleeps”.
Shabbat shalom,
Andrew Tucker
Editor-in-Chief - Israel & Christians Today
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COVID-19 – what are the implications?
Dr. Lawrence Franklin writes at Gatestone: “Any hope that the West may have harbored in the past about China evolving into a member of the liberal-democratic international order, should by now be considered dead, expired, extinct.” Read more..
One of the remarkable aspects of the COVID-19 story is that it hit Iran so quickly, and at a high level. Col Coughlin writes in Gatestone: “The Iranian regime's failure to grasp the significance of the outbreak in its own country has led 16 other countries in the region to claim that their own outbreaks originated in Iran. These include Iraq, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates.” Read more..
Helping the Jewish community in Ukraine: Meals on wheels
Now that corona restrictions forbid opening the soup kitchens, many Jewish communities in Ukraine are faced with a challenge: how can they still provide for the poor members of the community – often Holocaust survivors – in these circumstances.
Christians for Israel’s team in Ukraine is very creative and used this opportunity to continue to support the Jewish communities in Ukraine. In the coming two months, our goal is to deliver over 300,000 Meals on Wheels all over Ukraine.
Watch this video impression:
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Impression Meals on Wheels in Ukraine
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“Requests keep on coming as the news of our service is spreading,” Koen Carlier, the organization’s Ukraine director, told The Times of Israel Wednesday. “Food prices in the stores have risen by up to 40%, and these elderly people have no income and very small pensions.” Read more..
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Politics in Israel
Gil Hoffman reports in JPost: “A coalition agreement between the Likud and Blue and White parties will be finalized no later than Friday afternoon, sources from both parties said Thursday evening. A deal must be reached by Friday to enable parties in the coalition to bring the agreement to their institutions on Sunday and allow a vote in the Knesset to approve the government on Monday. The Knesset does not meet during Passover, which begins on Wednesday evening and lasts for a week. Blue and White leader Benny Gantz’s mandate to form a government, and the leverage that comes with it, ends during the holiday.” Read more..
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“Focus on the future” -
Video teachings by Rev. Willem J.J. Glashouwer
Rev. Willem Glashouwer helps us understand God’s prophetic word, and how prophecy is being fulfilled in our generation.
Volume 3 episode 10:
When you look at the map of the world you see many countries. There are over two hundred countries spread all over the world, all with their own boundaries and so forth. In these lands there live people.
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“Separation – land for peace”
- Video teaching by Johannes Gerloff
Episode 18 in the series of teachings by Israeli-based Bible teacher and journalist Johannes Gerloff:
Increasing conflict marred the life in the Promised Land. The land was not able to bear the quarreling brothers. Abram offered Lot land in order to restore peace.
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Weekly Roundup from Amir Tsarfati
With the outbreak of the Coronavirus and the rising global pressure to push vaccinations, the move to cashless economies and stimulus plans with digital currencies, how close really are we to the mark of the beast and is it truly an issue for the believers to worry about?
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SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK:
Revelation 3:14-21
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!
16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
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Newspaper Israel & Christians Today
The goal of Israel & Christians Today is to help Christians to take God’s Word seriously, and study current events in the world in the context of the Bible.
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