The current
coronavirus outbreak is not an event prophesied in the Bible for the seven-year
Tribulation. The world simply hasn't entered that time period yet. However, it
is significant to bible prophecy, because it sets the stage for the near-term
fulfillment of many end times bible prophecies.
This isn't surprising.
Politicians take advantage of times of turmoil, disaster, and fear to implement
changes people otherwise wouldn't accept. Here are just a few things to expect
in the days ahead:
1) Calls for a Strong
European Union Leader
As of this writing,
the coronavirus has hit the United States harder than any other nation.
However, if you count the European Union as a single nation and add up the case
total and fatalities of all its member nations, the coronavirus has hit the
European Union harder than anyone else.
Early on, EU leaders
and many individual nations pushed back on the idea of closing borders. This
allowed early infections in Italy to spread all over continental Europe. Many
believe this could have been avoided with a strong executive.
With
centralized authority, a single European leader could have closed borders and
instituted a shutdown much earlier. Instead, each individual nation enacted its
own policies. When the coronavirus pandemic ends, many will point to the EU's
leadership failure and use it as an excuse to push for the creation of a strong
executive office to head the EU.
This
is the position many prophecy experts believe the Antichrist will hold. If it
is, he will likely take charge of a more unified and powerful EU. Why? Because
the coronavirus will likely lead to further unification of the EU.
2)
Calls for Further European Union Integration
The
coronavirus has devastated Italy. The fourth largest economy in the European
Union, and the eighth largest in the world, the Italian economy has effectively
been closed since March 9th. Unlike the United States, which can print money
for business bailouts and stimulus checks, Italy doesn't control its own
currency.
Like
other EU countries, Italy uses the euro, and that means their national debt is
denominated in euros. The only way Italy can pay its debts is to collect taxes.
If the economy tanks, so does tax collection. This means Italy will soon be at
the epicenter of a massive debt crisis.
Remember
the Greek debt crisis? In 2010, Greece needed a €110 billion bailout. They
couldn't make their debt payments, and they couldn't print euros. The prospect
of default almost caused a second financial crisis, coming on the heels of the
2008-2009 recession. Yet Greek debt remains at unsustainable levels.
As
of the third quarter of 2019, Greek debt was 178% of its gross domestic product
(GDP) - the worst debt-to-GDP ratio in the EU. The second worst? Italy at 137%.
But Italy's economy is ten times as big as Greece's economy. If Italy defaults
on its government debt, some of the largest banks in Italy and Europe will
become insolvent.
The
event will send widespread financial contagion throughout the global financial
system. The subsequent collapse of global markets will trigger one of the
greatest economic depressions in history. One way to avoid this catastrophe? Do
something many EU nations vowed never to do - share debt.
In
other words, further integration and the creation of a United States of Europe.
I believe this is inevitable, and I believe it will create the final world
empire Daniel envisioned (Daniel 2, Daniel 7).
3)
Calls for Increased Tracking of People
With
shutdowns all over the world bringing the global economy to a standstill, calls
are getting louder to re-open the economy and get people back to work. But how
do you get people "back to work" without causing a spike in new
coronavirus cases?
Some
people are pushing a solution that involves increased tracking of people. They
believe the government should track everyone's mobile phone. When someone gets
the coronavirus, the government can easily retrace their steps and find
everyone who came within a few feet of the infected person.
Then,
they'll place those people in a mandatory quarantine. Some nations, such as
South Korea, already do this. Other people favor giving "papers" to
those who have recovered from the coronavirus. These official papers will allow
you to travel in public or go back to work.
Some
warn this is the road to authoritarianism, but it isn't. Once we do this, we'll
already be there. This level of government control over the individual is no
different than what we read about in Revelation 13.
4)
Calls to Replace Paper Currency with a World Cryptocurrency
The
use of paper currency has declined dramatically in this new era of online
ordering and social distancing. Paper currency is a haven for bacteria and
viruses, and it could accelerate the spread of coronavirus. Because of this,
look for politicians to call for an end to using paper currency. Meanwhile,
governments have struggled to quickly deliver stimulus payments to the
unemployed.
This
provides the perfect cover to implement a government-sponsored virtual wallet
and cryptocurrency. Getting people to sign-up will be easy. They'll offer a few
thousand dollars to everyone who signs up to the government's virtual wallet
program. Once everyone signs up, the government will eliminate use of all
currency except its own crytocurrency.
This
will give the government detailed knowledge of every sale and purchase you're
involved in. It will also give them the ability to control the terms and
conditions of all those transactions. And if they don't like something you're
doing? They can cut off access to your virtual wallet, locking you out of all
commerce. The technology to implement this system already exists, and the Bible
tells us it's coming.
It
says the Antichrist will implement this system: "He required everyone --
small and great, rich and poor, free and slave -- to be given a mark on the
right hand or on the forehead. And no one could buy or sell anything without
that mark..." (Revelation 13:16-17).
5)
Decreased Demand for Oil
The
coronavirus has shut down factories, grounded airplanes, and caused a drop in
the number of cars on the road. Global oil demand has fallen by 29 million
barrels per day to a level last seen in 1995. The price of oil has fallen from
around $60 per barrel at the beginning of the year to around $20 per barrel
today after some crazy days of trading near $0. Needless to say, this has had
an unprecedented impact on the global oil industry.
In
March, OPEC attempted to coordinate a production cut with Russia. When Russia
said no, Saudi Arabia responded with increased production. Some think their aim
was to take market share, drive down prices, and force Russia back to the
negotiating table. Others think their aim was to harm U.S. shale producers, many
of whom can't survive at $20 per barrel oil.
Regardless
of their true intent, Saudi Arabia's actions had a profound and negative impact
on Russia. Earlier this month, they agreed to production cuts, but you can be
sure Vladimir Putin is not happy. Losing a high profile oil price war and
billions of dollars per day in oil profits won't be something he'll easily
forget.
While
Saudi Arabia has an advantage in oil reserves, Russia holds a greater advantage
in the military realm. What will happen if Russia invades Saudi Arabia? The
Middle East is home to approximately 40% of the world's proven oil reserves. If
Russia controlled the Middle East, they could control the world's oil.
Only
two nations stand in Putin's way - the United States and Israel. If a global
depression, the rapture, or another major event changes U.S. policy in the
Middle East, only Israel will stand between Russia and complete dominance of
the global oil market. The high stakes incentivize Russia to team up with Iran
and take out Israel. This will secure their collective grip on the
region.
The
Bible says this will happen. More than 2,600 years ago, Ezekiel revealed an
alliance composed of Russia, Iran, Turkey, and other regional nations will
launch a surprise attack on Israel from the north (Ezekiel 38-39). Since the
launch of the Syrian civil war in 2011, we've seen each of the major players
mentioned move their forces into Syria.
Russia
and its allies currently sit on Israel's northern border, which is the
direction from which Ezekiel said they'll attack (Ezekiel 38:15; Ezekiel 39:2).
We've been watching God set the stage for this conflict for several years. The
coronavirus-induced oil price war provides yet another reason to expect we're
getting closer to seeing fulfillment of Ezekiel 38-39.
The
End Times Approach
The
word "coronavirus" doesn't appear in the Bible, and what we see now
is not one of the events of the Tribulation. However, the coronavirus is one of
the general signs Jesus said to look for, and it sets the stage for the rapture
of the church and the arrival of the Tribulation. When asked to describe the
signs of His coming, Jesus cited pandemics just like the one we're experiencing
now as a major sign (Luke 21:11).
But
this wasn't the only sign He said to look for. He said to look for the Jewish
people back in the land of Israel (Jeremiah 23:7-8)... He said to look for the
Jewish people once again in possession of Jerusalem (Luke 21:24-28)... And He
said to look for the Gospel being preached to the ends of the earth (Matthew
24:14).
The
prophets also said to look for signs. They said to look for: A time when travel
and knowledge will increase (Daniel 12:4)... A time when Israel has "an
exceedingly great army" (Ezekiel 37:10)... The rise of the Gog of Magog
Alliance (Ezekiel 38-39)... The rise of a revived Roman Empire (Daniel 2,
Daniel 7, Revelation 17)... The rise of global government (Revelation 13:7)...
And the rise of a single global currency system (Revelation 13:16-17)... We see
all of these signs today, and Jesus commanded us to watch for them. He warned
us not to be found sleeping when the Master arrives without warning (Mark
13:36).
The
coronavirus is God's wake-up call to those who have been sleeping. It sets the
stage for the rapture of the church, the arrival of the Antichrist, and the
Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Make sure you're not asleep!
Britt
Gillette is author of the free ebook Coming to Jesus as
well as the books Signs of the Second
Coming & Racing Toward
Armageddon.
Source Credit: Prophecy News Watch
https://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=3998
Hmmm. The end is racing swiftly and speedily...
ReplyDeletePost a Comment