Is COVID-19 an End Times Plague?

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This question also is on the minds of some believers. Charismatic Christians are ever on the look-out for signs of the Antichrist. While we are told to watch and stay alert for our Master's coming, certain people are fixated on finding out when they'll be "raptured

Christ's parables certainly show what we should be doing. He told one regarding three servants who received money while their master was away obtaining a kingdom. Luke 19:15-17 (BBE) says, "And when he came back again, having got his kingdom, he gave orders for those servants to whom he had given the money to come to him, so that he might have an account of what business they had done. And the first came before him, saying, 'Lord, your pound has made ten pounds.' And he said to him, 'You have done well, O good servant: because you have done well in a small thing you will have authority over ten towns.'"

What is this investment we are to make? It is to bring in many people into Christ's kingdom. That is done by preaching the gospel, not by obsessing about who will be the antichrist.

All Christians should be doing what Paul wrote in Romans 10:14 (BBE). "But how will they give worship to him in whom they have no faith? and how will they have faith in him of whom they have not had news? and how will they have news without a preacher?"

One of Satan's successful strategies is infiltration of the churches. That's why Jesus told the parable of the wheat and the tares in Matthew 13:37 (BBE) which reads, "And he made answer and said, 'He who puts the good seed in the earth is the Son of man; And the field is the world; and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom; and the evil seeds are the sons of the Evil One;"

By getting Christians distracted with the minutia of prophecy, the Devil has taken people's eyes off the main reason we're still here in this world. We must preach the gospel as well as expecting  Christ to return. I know he might not come back in my lifetime but I'll do what I can to get the truth out into the world.

If Christ delays his return by Saturday, I hope to post about not being fooled again. Fool me once; shame on you. Fool me twice; shame on me.

Why Christians Accept Death, Even From COVID-19

This is a topic which the people of the world don't discuss unless they must. The Grim Reaper stalks us all but people put that thought far away from their daily lives. Only when a dreaded disease takes a loved one do folks realize their own mortality.

We followers of Christ place our trust in him and his omniscient will. He knows what we need in order to grow in our faith. And when it's time, he'll take us home to be with him.

Saint Peter understood this, having been warned by Christ years earlier. John 21:18 and 19 (BBE) reads, "'Truly I say to you, When you were young, you made yourself ready and went wherever you had a desire to go: but when you are old, you will put out your hands and another will make you ready, and you will be taken where you have no desire to go.' Now this he said, pointing out the sort of death by which he would give God glory. And after saying this, he said to him, 'Come after me.'"

When Peter knew he would die soon, he wrote his second epistle to remind believers of eternal things. As he wrote in 2 Peter 1:15 (BBE), "And I will take every care so that you may have a clear memory of these things after my death."

Likewise, Paul wrote his final letter to his prodigy to remind him of the things he must teach. As we read in 2 Timothy 4:6-8 (BBE), Paul knew it was his final hour. "For I am even now being offered, and my end is near. I have made a good fight, I have come to the end of my journey, I have kept the faith: From now on, the crown of righteousness is made ready for me, which the Lord, the upright judge, Will give to me at that day: and not only to me, but to all those who have had love for his revelation."

We know also of the greatest statement of confidence in the Old Testament. Job 19:26 (KJV) says it well. "And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:"

If worms don't destroy my body and Christ doesn't come by Thursday, I hope to post about the end times fixation some believers have.

Saturday Song: Weird Al, "Pancreas"

I've heard that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Therefore, The Beach Boys must really be pleased with this spoof of their mid-sixties style of music. In fact, any Beach Boys fan would be thrilled, or so I believe, with this playful homage to the group.

Listen to the song here:

The Apostle Paul likened each believer as part of the body of Christ. As he wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:22 and 23 (BBE), those parts of the body we don't see are necessary for the whole to run properly. "No, those parts which seem to be feeble are the more necessary; And to those parts of the body which seem to have less honour we give all the more honour; and to those parts of the body which are a cause of shame to us we give the greater respect;"

And though only Weird Al would sing about his, diabetics know full well the problems caused by a non functioning or poorly-functioning pancreas.

How sad it is too that certain church people covet flashy gifts like working miracles and speaking in tongues. Romans 12:5-7 (BBE) says that all gifts are important. "So we, though we are a number of persons, are one body in Christ, and are dependent on one another; And having different qualities by reason of the grace given to us, such as the quality of a prophet, let it be made use of in relation to the measure of our faith; Or the position of a Deacon of the church, let a man give himself to it; or he who has the power of teaching, let him make use of it;"

And isn't hospitality an important gift to have? We read about this in 1 Peter 4:9 and 10 (BBE). "Keep open house for all with a glad heart; Making distribution among one another of whatever has been given to you, like true servants of the unmeasured grace of God;"

Generosity also is a noble gift. We read how Paul was helped in Philippians 4:15 and 16 (BBE). "And you have knowledge, Philippians, that when the good news first came to you, when I went away from Macedonia, no church took part with me in the business of giving to the saints, but you only; Because even in Thessalonica you sent once and again to me in my need."

So if you feel your work for the Lord is insignificant, please consider what Scripture says. We're all important to Christ.

On Monday, if the Lord doesn't return before then, I hope to post about why we should accept death from even contracting COVID-19.

Should Christians Take The COVID-19 Vaccine

This is another question hotly debated by people in certain quarters. Some say that vaccines cause more harm than good. Others say vaccines do more good than harm. What then should we Christians do?

This is one of those questions which is answered by a person's conscience rather than any specific statement in the Bible. Since the apostles didn't have inoculations back when the scriptures were being written, we need to consult similar passages where conscience is concerned.

For example, some first-century Christians struggled with the idea of meat offered to idols. This is how Paul answered the matter in 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 (BBE). "So, then, as to the question of taking food offered to images, we are certain that an image is nothing in the world, and that there is no God but one. For though there are those who have the name of gods, in heaven or on earth, as there are a number of gods and a number of lords, There is for us only one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we are for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we have our being through him."

But if somebody has a weak will and might be triggered by such actions, Paul answered that matter in 1 Corinthians 8:9 and 10 (BBE). "But take care that this power of yours does not give cause for trouble to the feeble. For if a man sees you, who have knowledge, taking food as a guest in the house of an image, will it not give him, if he is feeble, the idea that he may take food offered to images?"

We can apply this to vaccines as well. Our governments might impose a law saying everybody must be vaccinated for COVID-19. Should we disobey it? Romans 13:5 (BBE) does say, "So put yourselves under the authority, not for fear of wrath, but because you have the knowledge of what is right."

I personally wouldn't want a vaccine made in China as their government started this whole pandemic. If it is made mandatory, I'd have some serious praying to do about the matter. But since this doesn't effect our worship and obedience to our Lord, I can't advise either way if a person should refuse the vaccine or not.

And if Christ hasn't returned by Saturday, I hope to post about a hilarious song and how the least of us is still valuable to our Lord.

We Went to the Moon but We Can't Cure the Common Cold

Today is the fifty-first anniversary of the Apollo moon landing.  How is it possible that scientists have discovered cures for so many sicknesses but conquering the common cold eludes our best minds?

To put it simply, God is the one with all the knowledge. We humans act like we're gods and all creation must bow before us.

Here's one reason we humans haven't received the wisdom we need. Most doctors don't place their trust in Christ. Though James 1:5 (BBE) refers to spiritual wisdom, Christians have prayed for prudence and help in all situations. "But if any man among you is without wisdom, let him make his request to God, who gives freely to all without an unkind word, and it will be given to him."

But this is the reason those who reject the Lord can't reason properly. Romans 1:28 (BBE) explains, "And because they had not the mind to keep God in their knowledge, God gave them up to an evil mind, to do those things which are not right;"

If only these people could understand where to find true wisdom. Psalms 14:1 (BBE) declares, " The foolish man has said in his heart, 'God will not do anything.' They are unclean, they have done evil works; there is not one who does good."

Another force also keeps the wisdom of God hidden from humanity. As 2 Corinthians 4:3 and 4 (BBE) reminds us, "But if our good news is veiled, it is veiled from those who are on the way to destruction: Because the god of this world has made blind the minds of those who have not faith, so that the light of the good news of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, might not be shining on them."


Fortunately for us who place our trust in Christ, the reign of wickedness won't be forever. Revelation 22:3 (BBE) assures us, "And there will be no more curse: and the high seat of God and of the Lamb will be there; and his servants will be worshipping him;"

If our Lord doesn't turn up by Thursday, I'll post about the matter of taking COVID-19vaccines. Some Christians have qualms about such things.

Saturday Song: Yellow, "She's Got a Gun"

Much has been published about gun control over the years. Proponents say that crimes involving guns would seas if only the police had them. Others say it's the gangs and criminals who misuse guns who are the problem.

A Swiss band called Yellow recorded a song back in 1981 about a man who's attracted by a woman and follows her. But as the title says, she's got a gun. Here's the link to the song.

Nowhere in the New Testament does it say we're to go on the offensive, taking vengeance in Christ's name. Even so, he did advise in Luke 22:36 (BBE) that his disciples can use weapons in self defence. "And he said to them, 'But now, he who has a money-bag, or a bag for food, let him take it: and he who has not, let him give his coat for money and get a sword.'"

Swords are used for two purposes, offence and defence. The Philistines removed all the swords during the reign of King Saul for the reason of sword control. As 1 Samuel 13:19-21 (BBE) explains, the Philistines had a monopoly on sharpening iron tools. "Now there was no iron-worker in all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, 'For fear the Hebrews make themselves swords or spears:' But all the Israelites had to go to the Philistines to get their ploughs and blades and axes and hooks made sharp; For they had instruments for putting an edge on their ploughs and blades and forks and axes, and for putting iron points on their ox-driving rods."

Now some folks will point out Romans 13:1-7 which proscribes the use of the sword. But the Apostle Paul was making the point that we mustn't take vengeance because that belongs to the Lord. It doesn't mean that we can't defend ourselves and our loved ones if attacked by criminals.

And as for the swords which King Saul and prince Jonathan had, those two weapons helped gain a victory over the Philistine garrison. As 1 Samuel 14:13 and 14 (BBE) tells us, Jonathan and his Armour berror defeated Israel's enemies with the help of God. "And Jonathan went up, gripping with his hands and his feet, his servant going up after him; and the Philistines gave way before Jonathan when he made an attack on them, and his servant put them to death after him. And at their first attack, Jonathan and his servant put to the sword about twenty men, all inside the space of half an acre of land."

Of course this doesn't mean we should kill for the Lord. Remember how Jesus rebuked Peter in Matthew 26:52 (BBE) for cutting off the high priest's ear? "Then says Jesus to him, Put up your sword again into its place: for all those who take the sword will come to death by the sword."

So we know that vengeance is the Lord's but he does allow us to defend ourselves in extreme cases. Otherwise he wouldn't have told his disciples to sell a garment to buy a sword.

On Monday, provided Christ hasn't returned, I hope to post about the 1969 moon landing and the common cold.

Will God Help Doctors Find a COVID-19 Vaccine?

The Bible doesn't say anything either pro or con about doctors discovering cures. Even so, we can find instances where God prescribed treatments for diseases in Scripture.

One of these prescriptions was for leprosy. Leviticus 13:1-3 (BBE) starts the whole chapter on treating diseases of the skin. "And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 'If a man has on his skin a growth or a mark or a white place, and it becomes the disease of a leper, let him be taken to Aaron the priest, or to one of the priests, his sons; And if, when the priest sees the mark on his skin, the hair on the place is turned white and the mark seems to go deeper than the skin, it is the mark of a leper: and the priest, after looking at him, will say that he is unclean.'"

This is why Jesus said what he said to ten lepers in Luke 17:12-14 (BBE). "And when he went into a certain small town he came across ten men who were lepers, and they, keeping themselves at a distance, Said, in loud voices, 'Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.' And when he saw them he said, 'Go, and let the priests see you.' And, while they were going, they were made clean."

We're blessed these days with wonderful medical people. Even so, they still can't cure the common cold. COVID-19 is proving to be a particularly tough puzzle to solve.

Since this is so, we should take ailments such as these to the Lord like a certain woman did in Mark 5:25-27 (BBE). "And a woman, who had December 20, 2017had a flow of blood for twelve years, And had undergone much at the hands of a number of medical men, and had given all she had, and was no better, but even worse, When she had news of the things which Jesus did, went among the people coming after him, and put her hand on his robe."

We must also pray for others as this example in Genesis 20:17 (BBE) shows us. "Then Abraham made prayer to God, and God made Abimelech well again, and his wife and his women-servants, so that they had children."

So we can see that there are diseases we can't cure but we can always turn to our Lord and Master for help. Often times, he'll reply positively to our requests which are within his will. I'm sure that praying for a COVID-19 vaccine isn't wrong.

Provided Christ doesn't return by Saturday, and I hope he does, I'll post about self defence and a song by a Swiss rock band.

Is COVID-19 God's Judgement on America?

I've heard certain people claim that plagues, like COVID-19, are a judgement of God on America. They have the mistaken idea that the Bible was written to us twenty-first-century believers as well as to the people of earlier times. But is our modern world so important?

Certainly we should be expecting Christ to return. He urged his disciples in Luke 21:28 (BBE) to be watchful. "But when these things come about, let your heads be lifted up, because your salvation is near."

I personally remember how the false prophet of a house church I attended figured that Canada was mentioned in Holy Scripture. Psalms 72:8 (BBE) was his proof text. "Let his kingdom be from sea to sea, from the River to the ends of the earth."

Canada does stretch from the Atlantic to the Pacific and from the Saint Lawrence River to what could be called the ends of the earth. Little did that scripture twister know that this wasn't a precise description but hyperbole.

People need to recognize that the Bible is centered around the Middle East. That's because it's where God's nation of Israel and the Christian church began. Of course it doesn't ignore people in surrounding lands. Christ commanded his disciples in Matthew 28:19 and 20 (BBE) to, "Go then, and make disciples of all the nations, giving them baptism in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to keep all the rules which I have given you: and see, I am ever with you, even to the end of the world."

Some folks will argue that God punishes nations. That was true in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, Christ fulfilled the law and the prophesies concerning his incarnation. Luke 16:16 (BBE) explains, "The law and the prophets were till John: but then came the preaching of the kingdom of God, and everyone makes his way into it by force."

The whole purpose of redemption was, is, and will always be about God giving his son a people. We read in 2 Corinthians 15:28 (BBE) that Christ will someday submit himself to the Father. "And when all things have been put under him, then will the Son himself be under him who put all things under him, so that God may be all in all."

It really doesn't matter which nation we come from. A time will come when Christ will judge the entire human race in one massive sentencing session. Empires come and go but the gospel continues until that last sheep, metaphorically speaking, is brought into the fold.

On Thursday, if Jesus doesn't come first, I hope to post about God and a cure for the CCP virus.

Saturday Song: Gary Wright, "Stand for Our Rights"

It seems like every ethnic, racial, and political group wants their rights these days. In fact, I've noticed that these folks are keen on rights but never on their societal responsibilities.

A keyboard player named Gary Wright released a song on this subject in 1971. Check it out here:

Should we Christians claim our rights when we're wronged? We are fortunate to have the rule of law in many of the world's countries. This means that everybody is treated equally. It may not be perfectly practiced but we do have rights as citizens.

It's the rights of a citizen which the Apostle Paul claimed several times in his lifetime. One incident of this  happened when he was unjustly flogged and imprisoned. Acts 16:35-37 (BBE) tells us, "But when it was day, the authorities sent the police, saying, 'Let these men go.' And the keeper said to Paul, 'The authorities have given orders to let you go: come out now, and go in peace.' But Paul said to them, 'They have given us who are Romans a public whipping without judging us, and have put us in prison. Will they now send us out secretly? no, truly, let them come themselves and take us out.'"

Paul was also put on trial for preaching Christ. The Pharisees who hounded him every step of the way brought their charges before Governor Festus but the facts didn't support their claims.

In Acts 25:8 (BBE), we read of how Paul claimed his right of trial as a Roman. "Then Paul, in his answer to them, said, 'I have done no wrong against the law of the Jews, or against the Temple, or against Caesar.' But Festus, desiring to get the approval of the Jews, said to Paul, 'Will you go up to Jerusalem, and be judged before me there in connection with these things?' And Paul said, 'I am before the seat of Caesar's authority where it is right for me to be judged: I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you are well able to see.'"

Though we are to obey the God-ordained powers, there are times when we must disobey. Peter and John were imprisoned by the Pharisees for preaching Christ, But Acts 4:19 and 20 (BBE) gives us their answer to this dilemma. "But Peter and John in answer said to them, 'It is for you to say if it is right in the eyes of God to give attention to you more than to God: For it is not possible for us to keep from saying what we have seen and have knowledge of.'"

While we still have the right to appeal a wrong decision by the courts, we should do so. A time might come when we'll lose that right.

On Monday, providing Christ doesn't return first, I'll post about this virus and if it's God's judgement on America.

What Can We Do About COVID-19?

While scientists are scrambling to find a vaccine for this virus, we can take common-sense precautions such as washing our hands and wearing masks. But there are ways we can fight this CCP flu that aren't physical.

Prayer must be our first action. As James 5:16 (BBE) admonishes, "So then, make a statement of your sins to one another, and say prayers for one another so that you may be made well. The prayer of a good man is full of power in its working."

And since we aren't completely free to visit each other in person, we have all kinds of technology which lets us communicate and cheer up our siblings in Christ. We can even see each other through various online video conferencing tools.


The Apostle Paul didn't have such luxuries but he could write. After his first letter to the Corinthian church wrought many good changes, he wrote another. In it, he expressed his gladness that a member who had sinned was restored to the fellowship.

Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 7:12 and 13 (BBE), "So though I sent you a letter, it was not only because of the man who did the wrong, or because of him to whom the wrong was done, but so that your true care for us might be made clear in the eyes of God. So we have been comforted: and we had the greater joy in our comfort because of the joy of Titus, for his spirit had been made glad by you all."

We don't face the kind of persecution Paul did but we still need to trust Christ and his leadership in our lives. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:8-10 (BBE) "For it is our desire that you may not be without knowledge of our trouble which came on us in Asia, that the weight of it was very great, more than our power, so that it seemed that we had no hope even of life: Yes, we ourselves have had the answer of death in ourselves, so that our hope might not be in ourselves, but in God who is able to give life to the dead: Who gave us salvation from so great a death: on whom we have put our hope that he will still go on to give us salvation;"

Whether we live or die, we do both to Christ. Let's not fear this virus but embrace the chance to be lights and encouragers to everyone.

Provided that Christ doesn't return by Saturday, I hope to post about standing for our rights.

Why Did God Let COVID-19 Happen?

Those folks who lack understanding of God's character and omniscience will doubtless ask this question. After all, He's supposed to be loving and caring. Here are some reasons why the Lord allows plagues.

Firstly, he sent them to the descendants of Israel to punish them for disobedience. One example was when God answered their complaint for meat by sending quail into the camp as the Israelites journeyed. But the greedy wretches couldn't even wait to cook the birds.

Numbers 11:33 (BBE)showed how the Lord dealt with disobedient folks. "But while the meat was still between their teeth, before it was tasted, the wrath of the Lord was moved against the people and he sent a great outburst of disease on them."

God has also displayed his might through plagues, most notably those against Egypt. The death of the first-born males was the last and greatest of those. As Exodus 11:9 (BBE) says, "And the Lord said to Moses, 'Pharaoh will not give ear to you, so that my wonders may be increased in the land of Egypt."

The Lord also uses disease to bring people to repentance. King David wasn't supposed to number the Israelites but he did. God sent a plague to cause David to repent. In 2 Samuel 24:25 (BBE), we read, "And there David put up an altar to the Lord, making burned offerings and peace-offerings. So the Lord gave ear to his prayer for the land, and the disease came to an end in Israel."

Sometimes God uses sicknesses to encourage people's faith. Mark 5:33 and 34 (BBE) says of the woman with an issue of blood, "The woman, shaking with fear, conscious of what had been done to her, came and, falling on her face before him, gave him a true account of everything. And he said to her, Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be free from your disease."

I have no idea of what this COVID-19 pandemic is supposed to accomplish. But all of us who trust in the heavenly Father know it'll redound to God's glory and our eventual benefit.

If Christ doesn't return by Thursday, I hope to publish about what we can do about this disease.

Saturday Song: Amon Düül II, "You're Not Alone

The German rock scene was filled with amazing music during the early nineteen-seventies. Teens in that land didn't want to ape American and British bands so they created their own sound.

One band which produced amazing space-rock music was Amon Düül II. On their 1974 album Hijack, they included this encouraging tune about a man calling his girlfriend. Listen to it here:

One truth we followers of Christ can cling to in troubled times is that we aren't alone. Being his disciples, we can take comfort in what Christ said in John 16:7 and 8 (BBE). "But what I am saying is true: my going is for your good: for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And he, when he comes, will make the world conscious of sin, and of righteousness, and of being judged:"

We can also take heart in that Christ comforts us through the Holy Spirit which he sent. John 14:16 (BBE) reminds us who love our Lord, "And I will make prayer to the Father and he will give you another Helper to be with you for ever,"

Ponder as well how blessed we are to have one in whom we can depend on to hear our requests and help us pray. Ecclesiastes 4:1 (BBE) shows us how unfortunate unsaved folks are in this world. "And again I saw all the cruel things which are done under the sun; there was the weeping of those who have evil done to them, and they had no comforter: and from the hands of the evil-doers there went out power, but they had no comforter."

But the Holy Spirit is a comforter in ways we don't even realize. Romans 8:26 (BBE) reminds us, "And in the same way the Spirit is a help to our feeble hearts: for we are not able to make prayer to God in the right way; but the Spirit puts our desires into words which are not in our power to say;"

What an advantage we have over the unbelieving world. Let's let them know how they too may receive ultimate comfort now and in Eternity.

On Monday, provided that Christ hasn't returned, I plan on publishing about COVID-19 and why God let it happen.

Who's Responsible for COVID-19?

We live in an unprecedented time. Never before has the entire economy of the world been shut down due to a virus. The World Health Organization declared a pandemic on March 15th and everything we once took for granted ended.

John MacArthur made an astute observation when he said that enemy countries could control others with fear. Not a single bullet needs to be fired. since humanity's biggest fear is death, people complied willingly with the WHO's shut-down order.

But death is no terror to us who follow Christ and belong to him. As the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:55 (BBE), "O death, where is your power? O death, where are your pains?"

Why isn't death a terror to us? We go to our eternal home and meet our beloved Lord and Master. As Paul wrote in Philippians 1:21(BBE) about his work for the Lord, "For to me life is Christ and death is profit."

Paul further explained in 2 Corinthians 5:1-4 (BBE) that our spirits will wait in heaven for the resurrection. "For we are conscious that if this our tent of flesh is taken down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in heaven. For in this we are crying in weariness, greatly desiring to be clothed with our house from heaven: So that our spirits may not be unclothed. For truly, we who are in this tent do give out cries of weariness, for the weight of care which is on us; not because we are desiring to be free from the body, but so that we may have our new body, and death may be overcome by life."

I realize that there are some theories floating around the Internet about who originated this epidemic. The most credible one I've heard is that a virology lab in the Chinese city of Wuhan allowed the virus to escape. At this point, nobody knows for sure if this was deliberate or an accident.

But we can take heart in that our Lord is with us in all circumstances. If we live, that's good. If we die, that's even better.

If Christ hasn't come by Saturday, I hope to post about a song called You're Not Alone" and how it applies to us Christians.