Treasure Land

I wrote some weeks ago about “The Fear of Coronavirus is the beginning of Foolishness”. I am deeply amazed and troubled about the recent development, when the issue of 5G surfaced as the suspected cause for the outbreak. After the ravaging disease left no stone unturned, by touching every continent of the world with its deadly hand. This would not have been any serious matter, because, at least scientifically something must be traced to be responsible, so that a lasting solution can be found.

My concern came as a result of the way the news of 5G being implicated in Coronavirus spreads and the response of the Church to the news and some of the church leaders. To the extent that the issue is now controversial, where Men of God are arguing about it and expressing contrary opinion to one another. Why should this be a discuss that will distract us from the message of the CROSS?

Are these not lining up with end time events?

For a Bible believing Christian I wonder why this should be an issue for us, when none of the things happening is strange to the lineup of events that our Lord has earlier told us will precede the beginning of the end and His eventual coming. I am not going to attempt to do an escatological teaching in this article but closely looking at Matthew 24:6-9,12-14,20-22,29-31 KJV:

“And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. [7] For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. [8] All these are the beginning of sorrows. [9] Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. [12] And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. [13] But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. [14] And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. [20] But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: [21] For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. [22] And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. [29] Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: [30] And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. [31] And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

All the activities that people are posting and arguing about on social media are embedded in those events that will happen before we see the appearance of the Son of Man. The scriptures cannot be broken, our fasting and prayer cannot change this from coming to pass. There is a different direction we are supposed to be looking at once the scripture is being fulfilled. The course of events as highlighted must happen. We cannot stop government, people and powers that have been enlisted to prepare for the coming of antichrist. We should know better and think and respond differently. It is a distraction!

Here are my meditations over this:

1. The matter of the King requires urgency

If you look at verse 14, the only thing that will clearly signal the end, is the evidence of the gospel reaching all nations and tribes as a witness. Jesus said clearly, then the end will come. Do we have facts showing that we have reached all tribes and nations with the gospel? We are not strategizing about this; we are talking of 5G being responsible for Coronavirus. If the world is saying so, should people of the Spirit be distracted by this or rather be serious with the Great Commission. This is a time to collapse the wall of denominationalism in the Church. Jesus is not coming to rapture your denomination; He is coming for a Church as stated in Ephesians 5:27 KJV

“That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” And because of this goal, he gave gift unto the church at His accenssion explained by Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:10-13 KJV

Because of that;

“He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) [11] And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; [12] For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: [13] Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:”

The focus is till we all come to the UNITY OF FAITH and secondly to THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SON OF GOD.

It is a time to team up. Most part of the 10/40 window (28 Muslim, 2 Hindus and 8 Buddhist countries) still remain unreached and we are here arguing about events that we can practically do nothing about. Not to talk of one remote place closer to you not yet reached for Christ. Churches and Ministry groups should begin to strengthen one another’s calling, until we reach the last tribe, the last nation and the last man. There is no one or denomination that shall be rewarded as the largest church before the Father. So, our denomination, wealth and influence are of no use to the kingdom if we do not join force together now and reach the world. This is the reason why He left us here after we were saved. Saved to save others!

2. The Devil has a short time

Revelation 12:12 KJV

“Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.”

I read a post where somebody was saying the devil wants to give people the mark of the beast early enough. I just wonder what that is to you. When the Bible says he knows that he has a short time and you don’t want him to work as fast as he can, to take people with him? Common, we are only helping the devil to circulate fear and that is what he wants to achieve. However, let me sound this note of caution, the devil in no way, cannot change the calendar of the event of end time as laid down by God. The mark of the beast is coming after the trumpet has sounded and the saints, who being the firstfruits unto God and to the lamb has been caught up (Rev 14:1-9). We need to realize that as much as the devil has a short time, we should make it shorter by spreading the gospel as fast as we can. We should stop helping the devil to propagate his agenda and plan, which he must do. What is the church agenda to corner him and win more of the souls he has targeted to take with him to hell?

3. What would have been Jesus’ response if He is living now?

I will want to challenge us on this from John 13:21-22,26-27 KJV;

“When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. [22] Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. [26] Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. [27] And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.”

When the Lord saw that the time was drawing near, for all things shall go as it has been written. While the disciples were bothered about the announcement that one of them will betray him. They wanted to wash themselves clean, each one of them, that they are not the one. But what really touched me was, after Jesus gave Judas the sop to identify him, He said straight to him, DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO QUICK. Wow! I guess that would have been Jesus response if He were to be living in our time. And the writer of Hebrews supported this in Hebrews 12:2 KJV

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Jesus went straight for the cross. He was no longer bothered about it, because practically, there was nothing He could do about it, once it was the will of the Father. Jesus would have said to all those working for New World Order, One World Economy, One World Religion, and setting stage for the antichrist to do it quickly. And possibly He would have told us, to do our part of spreading the gospel quickly and let the end come.

4. You are timed

I sometimes wonder why we react the way we do, when we talk about the issue of death. In fact, I am suspicious of the kind of faith you have and your understanding of eternity. The world we are living in is timed and so the inhabitants of it. For it is appointed for a man to die. Apostle Paul said in Philippians 1:21,23 KJV

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. [23] For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:”

TO DIE IS GAIN!

I don’t know why Christians should be afraid of departing this world. Do you want to live here eternally? You need to recheck your faith to be sure you are not out of touch with eternity, if you are bothered with 5G killing people or afraid of dying. I know the underlining factors for some, is the fear that they may be infected and therefore die. What if you are? The question you should ask yourself is, are you really ready to go home? Any event that is bringing the coming of the Lord closer to us supposed to bring us joy, knowing the time is drawing nearer to see our Lord. I can’t wait for His arrival! Like a powerful chorus of a hymn state;

Oh, I want to see Him, look upon His face, there to sing forever of His saving grace, on the street of glory, let me lift my voice, care all past, home at last ever to rejoice. In my language  – (Ah, mo fe ri Jesu, kin ma wo ju re, kin ma korin titi nipa ore re, ni ilu ogo ni, ki gbohun soke, pe mo bo, ija tan mo de ile mi)

I don’t know if you will choose to sing this with me. This is my song this time too – The last stanza of IN CHRIST ALONE

No guilt in life, no fear in death,

This is the power of Christ in me

From life’s first cry to final breath,

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man,

Can ever pluck me from His hand

Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.

5. What should be our response in a time like this?

There are two things that can bring the end to come, so that we can be with our Lord on time as said by our Lord Jesus Himself.

• Take the gospel to all nations – Matt 24:14

Stop spreading the evil news, spread the good news. There is nothing we can do to stop the devil moving as fast as he can, but we can move ahead of him to leave him no soul to steal to kill or to destroy. Let us preach the holistic gospel, that saves, that heals and deliver from the shackles of the devil. Let us set the captive free with the word of God. Faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God, not what the United Nation or Bill Gate or any other person is doing. Preach the word with power. We still have to demonstrate the undiluted power of God, even to heal the sick which does not exclude Coronavirus.

• Pray that the Father will shorten the days of trouble – Matt 24:22

Jesus also knows how dangerous these times will be for the believers. Many will lose their faith this time and it will be so saddening to see that happening to anyone when we are closer home. But we can pray to the Father to shorten the days of trouble and send the Son quickly to take us home.

6. My encouragement to you

In the word of this hymn and scriptures, I want to encourage you during this waiting time. It may be a long waiting and it may be shorter. Don’t forget, a day with God is like a thousand years. Don’t let down your guard.

Revelation 2:24-25 KJV

But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. [25] But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

Revelation 3:10-11 NLT

“Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. [11] I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown.”

So, hold the fort! Sing this hymn by Phillips P. Bliss (1870)

1 Ho! my comrades, see the signal,

Waving in the sky!

Reinforcements now appearing,

Victory is nigh!

Refrain:

“Hold the fort, for I am coming,”

Jesus signals still,

Wave the answer back to Heaven,

“By Thy grace we will.”

2 See the mighty host advancing,

Satan leading on;

Mighty men around us falling,

Courage almost gone. [Refrain]

3 See the glorious banner waving,

Hear the bugle blow;

In our Leader’s Name we triumph

Over every foe. [Refrain]

4 Fierce and long the battle rages,

But our help is near;

Onward comes our great Commander,

Cheer, my comrades, cheer! [Refrain]

 

THE CROSS HANDLES IT ALL, HAPPY EASTER.

JESUS SAVES! JESUS SAVES!! JESUS SAVES!!!

 

The Revd Bamidele Oni

deleoni2002@yahoo.com