The day and age we are in...

Life has changed. It does not matter where you live, which of the 7 continents you live on, your life has changed in ways that many of never could have even imagined. Thoughts currently:

• If you had told me 2 weeks ago that churches in America would shut their doors to gathering, I would have laughed.
• If you would have told me 2 weeks ago that there would be lines outside grocery stores in an effort to curb mass hoarding, I would have laughed.
• If you would have told me that San Francisco would be in lock down, I would have reminded you that the homeless population is to great for it to work.
• If you would have told me 2 weeks ago that a majority of the schools in America would be closed, and teachers providing lessons from home, I would have told you that you are crazy.

Yet, here we are.

Church Cancellations

Houston Area School Closings

San Francisco Required to Stay Home

SF Gov: Stay Home

HEB and Walmart Change Hours

I remember in early January hearing about this virus in a part of China that I had never heard of. And if not for this virus, I probably never would have heard of Wuhan, or learn how to spell/pronounce it.

And even as the weeks went by, and seeing the virus spread to Europe, and seeing China lock down its society, I don't think I ever thought it would come to America. Even after it did hit the shores of America, I don't think I rationalized it spreading like it has, and as fast as it has. Add in the media parroting that it is just like the flu - I kept pondering why were people freaking out.

We all know China is communist, and if you have ever studied any history you know that:

Communism = No rights, No opinions, Much oppression

So seeing Communist China take draconian measures against their own people is not out of step with who they are as a country/government. It did prompt me to pray more for the people of China, as their already questionable quality of life was drastically changed even more. 

But then Italy....

Lock down of all citizens, their healthcare infrastructure crumbling from the burden, over 35,000 cases confirmed, with over 3,000 deaths. This made me realize that maybe something bigger is going on. In my regular shopping I picked up some extra rice, the next size up on toilet paper from what I usually buy, an extra box of my kids favorite snacks. I have been doing this now for a few weeks. And honestly, I live on the Gulf Coast of Texas, hurricane season is knocking at the door, so if nothing comes of the virus, I will be prepared a bit early...I thought to myself.

Then came Spring Break.

We stayed home, had a staycation, because we have been faithfully working to pay off debt. My kids knew no different, I sent them outside to play, we read, my daughter learned to use her rubber-band loom (and we are all now sporting some fabulous creations). Wednesday night we went to church, but that is when this virus started to change us in noticeable ways. Instead of meeting in our chapel, a more intimate setting for the smaller service we hold weekly, we met in our very large worship center. Doors were open so people didn't have to touch them. And notes were posted about stepped up cleaning practices, and please use the available hand sanitizer that is available.

The news media started informing us each state having confirmed cases, then the deaths.

The next day schools started talking about not being open the next week. Then it became action, many schools would close the week after Spring Break in hopes to stop the spread of CoVID-19. My own place of employment followed suit, and we had to implement distance learning. All while this is going on, cases of the virus hit every state but West Virginia, which 2 days ago confirmed its first case. 

Our church then announced no in person services, all church functions and events cancelled for the immediate future. Many churches have followed suit. I am thankful we live in the day and age we do, this past Sunday I was able to steam online and hear my Pastor preach out of Psalm 46.

Psalm 46  (NASB)

God the Refuge of His People.

For the choir director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah,set to Alamoth. A Song.

46 God is our refuge and strength,

A very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change

And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;

3 Though its waters roar and foam,

Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah.

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

The holy dwelling places of the Most High.

5 God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved;

God will help her when morning dawns.

6 The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered;

He raised His voice, the earth melted.

7 The Lord of hosts is with us;

The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,

Who has wrought desolations in the earth.

9 He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth;

He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;

He burns the chariots with fire.

10 “Cease striving and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

11 The Lord of hosts is with us;

The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.

And the closures are now beyond a week. Many schools are closing through April 10th. The governor of Texas just mandated all schools (public/private) to switch to remote learning through April 3. Restaurants/Bars - dine in closed, carry out/delivery only. Gyms (which my husband owns one) now must close.

I cannot even say month by month or week by week life is changing. These past few weeks show that by the hour your life can change. I referred 3 people this morning to my husband's gym, and now we are having to lock the door.

To say these are uncertain times would be the biggest understatement.

BUT

God is control. God has a plan. God has a way. God loves us.

None of this caught God unaware.

What all is going on, God is allowing. For many, many years He has been trying to get the attention of everyone:

• to the unbeliever, He wants them to believe
• to the believer, He wants to grow their faith
• to the leaders, follow Him
• to the husband, love his wife as Christ loves the church

Folks, lets be nice. Let's pray for each other. Check on your neighbors. Give each other a break, be supportive.

Maybe turn the news off. Be mindful of what you read/share online. It is in times like these that many false messages spread - they do more harm then good. As believers, just remember, we are in the hands of the Father, and we cannot be snatched from His hand. EVER!

I leave you with some scriptures from God's word:

Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

Matthew 6:34  Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you;my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Psalm 55:22  Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Psalm 9:9-10 The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

Psalm 34:10b Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

People to Know: Two Prophets, Anti-Christ, False Prophet

When the church is gone, raptured to Heaven, the world is going to fall into chaos. As bad as things seems now, things are going to drastically get worse. But this is not yet the Tribulation. A man will arise, who will do what has not been done: Peace in the Middle East. Jerusalem will make a covenant and have peace.

They day this covenant is signed, there will be 2 prophets who will begin to prophesy in Jerusalem. Let's look at what the Book of Revelation says of these two individuals.

Revelation 11 (ESV)

The Two Witnesses
11 Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, 2 but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. 3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”

4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. 6 They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire. 7 And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, 8 and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, 10 and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. 11 But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13 And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

14 The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is soon to come.

Here is what we are told about them:

• Given authority by God (v3)
• They prophesy for 1,260 days (which is 3.5 years {based on the Jewish calendar year which is 360 days}) (v3)
• Anyone who would harm them, the two have the power to have fire pour from their mouth to consume the foe (v5)
• Power to shut the sky, no rain will fall while the prophesy (v6)
• Power to turn water to blood (v6)
• Power to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire (v 6)
• When they are done with their testimony (which is what they are giving while on earth) the Anti Christ will conquer and kill them (v7)
• Their dead bodies will lie in the streets of Jerusalem for 3.5 days (v 8& 9)
• The people of the earth (non-believers) will rejoice at the death of the two - they will give gifts to each other in celebration. The 2 prophets have tormented the unbelievers with their authority.
• After 3.5 days ta breath of life from God will enter them and they will return to Heaven (v 11 & 12)

There are theories on who these two men are. But they are just theories, God's Word does not sate who they are, so lets not worry about that. But these two men will be present for the 1st half of the tribulation. The beast mentioned in verse 7 is the man who brought about the "peace." At this point in the tribulation, the 1/2 way point, this man will reveal to the world who he really is. 

At the blowing of the 7th Trumpet (leading into the 7 Bowl Judgements) from Revelation 12-15 the following occurs:

* A Temple in Jerusalem 

* Mystery of God is finished (10:7)

* Kingdom of world has become Kingdom of God [on earth] (11:15)

* God has begun to reign (11:17)  

* Nations enraged  

* Gods wrath came 

* Time came to: judge dead / reward saints / destroy those who destroy the earth

* Lightening, thunder, EQ#4, hailstorm 

* War in heavevn; Satan thrown to earth (12:9) Woe to earth & sea

* NOW Kingdom of God & authority of His Christ have come (12:10) 

* Woman in wilderness 1260 days (time, times, 1/2 times)

* Beast (1) autority 42 months/image/mark/Beast (2)   

* 144,000 in heaven

The man of lawlessness will arise. The Anti Christ will show his true colors. He will be given the authority to rule the world for a short time (3.5 years). He, with the False Prophet, will deceive those on earth. In fact, the first "miracle" is that in the battle with the two witnesses the Anti Christ will receive a fatal blow that he will recover from. The False Prophet after this will create an idol for the world to worship of the Anti Christ, and implement the mark that all will be required to take. The False Prophet will get his authority from the Anti Christ and he will perform "miracles" to draw people to the Anti Christ - and many will be deceived. 

Revelation 13 (ESV)

The First Beast

13 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. 2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. 4 And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?”

5 And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. 6 It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. 7 Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, 8 and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. 9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear:

10 If anyone is to be taken captive,

    to captivity he goes;

if anyone is to be slain with the sword,

    with the sword must he be slain.

Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.

The Second Beast

11 Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. 13 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, 14 and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. 16 Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, 17 so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. 18 This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.

The 7 Seals and 7 Trumpets happen over the first 3.5 years of the tribulation. But with the reveal of the Anti Christ, the Wrath of God will be poured out on Earth. The 7 Bowl Judgements will be poured out during the last 3.5 years. The reign of the Beast (Anti Christ) will be during the fulfillment of God's Wrath.

Friends - you do not have to be on earth for the reign of the Anti Christ. There is still time. The church has not been raptured - believers are still here. You can be saved. Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Then, seek out a Bible believing & teaching church, and start devouring the Bible. Read the Scriptures, and find out what it means to have accepted the cost of following Jesus (there is a cost - but the eternal reward outweighs any trials on earth).