What does the response to COVID-19 tell us about the end times? Could it be an omen of sort?
I would submit to you that the answer is yes. Let me explain.
In Rev 13:16-17 we read, “It also forced all the people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive on their hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark of the Beast or the number of it’s name.”
Further, Rev 14:9-10 tells us that all those that receive the mark of the Beast will face wrath of the Almighty God and will suffer eternal torment. So here are some points of observation concerning these Biblical texts;
1) It is all inclusive. Everyone will be required to receive this mark.
2) That in order to participate in doing commerce you had to have the mark.
3) That if you receive the mark you will be judged by God and be banished to Hell.
4) That “the number of man” indicates Humanism. Which simple put, means man can solve his own problems. He doesn’t need some devine being. Herein is the offense to God.
Back in the early 1970s our church showed a movie called “A Thief in The Night”. It was a movie about what life on earth would look like when Christ took the church out to be with him in Heaven.
I was a young teen back then and remember thinking that this is so unrealistic and could never happen. The movie was very poorly done and rather cheesy. One scene in particular showed a group of barefoot, hippie looking, teenagers frantically running and a large group of black clad soldiers driving minivans marked with the letters U.N. were in hot pursuit. As the scene unfolded these SWAT looking soldiers were chasing the teens on foot across a long bridge. As they were closing in on the teens from both ends of the bridge, they faced an ultimatum. Either allow themselves to be captured or jump off the bridge to their certain death.
Upon watching the drama I was laughing within myself. I’m sure a had a smirk noticeably on my face. I mean, there’s just no way that could happen in the United States. We have a constitution. We have freedom. The government just wouldn’t be permitted to allow some unfathomable one-world government to do that!
Fast forward to today. There are three problems, or obstacles, that have to be addressed before such a thing could happen; technology, abolishment of the U.S. constitution, and a major crises that would grant proxy power to the government.
The technology is already here. We can now buy and sell with a couple of clicks on our smart phones. I read article about a tech company that developed a micro chip about the size of a grain of rice that can be implemented just under the skin of your wrist. One such company has already tested it out on a group of volunteers. I recently watched a video of such where they had a few of these people buying things from a vending machine and accessing secure office buildings with a swipe of their wrists.
Now the crises. Although the COVID-19 pandemic was not enough to warrent something drastic enough to make a universal “mark” necessary, it is a foreshadowing. Let’s take the vaccine for example.
In reaction to Covid-19 we all had our lives dramatically changed. Such things as masks, social distancing, lock-downs, shelter in place, and vaccines. All were, or still are, mandatory depending on where you live. Even now you still can’t frequent certain places of business or medical facilities without a mask or proof that you’re been vaccinated. Infact, as I write this, laying on the dinning room table is a form that my daughter needs to sign before a notary, stating that she has decided not to get that vaccine due to her religious convictions. Ironically, the from is from her “Christian ” college.
Although the obstacle of complete abolishment the U.S. constitution hasn’t happened, certain rights enjoyed were, and still are, suspended.
How were they permited to do that? What are the justification?
The simple answer is safety and the mechanism employed was fear. “It’s for your own good.” “It’s to keep you and others safe.” In essence, it’s the governing authorities saying, “look, trust us and do what we tell you. We know better than you.” “And if you resist, we’ll take action against you. You vil comply!”
If this sounds like something that happens in a communist county with a tyrannical, autocratic, dictator…bingo! You’re right!
In conclusion, as you can see the prophetic scriptures I sighted suddenly don’t seem so implausible, do they? Now when I think of that corny 1970s movie, “A Thief in The Night”, there’s no smirk on my face anymore. Trust me, I am not laughing.