In 1 Corinthians 10:11 we are told that what was spoken and recorded in ancient times was preserved for the benefit of those living at the close of this world’s present age.  The Old Testament was designed to serve as a warning and a teaching tool for those who would see the signs that would foretell the return of Jesus Christ to the earth to establish the Kingdom of God in the Holy Land.  From His New Jerusalem headquarters He and His obedient saints will rule and reign, first over the earth for 1000 years, then over the entire universe forever.  But before that happens ….

This is where Old Testament prophecy steps in to warn a sinning world what will happen just prior to the Second Advent.  In verse 12 the Apostle Paul warns those uber-religious people who “know” they are saved, born again and rapture-ready, who “know” that they are in “good standing” with God to beware of the fact that they can fall.  So much for “once saved-always saved.”  Jesus warns us that most modern church people will be denied eternal life (Mat. 7:13,14/ 20:16), though they will have spent their lives “knowing” that they will live forever.  The entire Old Testament serves as the instruction book for those of us living in the “generation” that will see the return of Jesus Christ.  Read Matthew 23 and 24.

In chapter 24 Jesus warns His followers (then and now) about false Christianity, war, sickness, famine, pandemics and “natural” disasters that would befall the world.  These, He warns in 24:8, are merely the “beginning of sorrows.”  This is prophecy concerning the time in which we are now living.  COVID-19 is part of God’s “sorrows” prophecy His Son proclaimed 2000 years ago.  However, this is not new information for true believers.  We were warned about those “sorrows” and the terror that would follow them long ago in that portion of Scripture that was supposedly “nailed to the cross” and “done away with.”  With 1 Corinthians 10:11 in mind, let us return to the days of old and review some of those rejected and discarded passages that explain to God’s true children what is happening today and why it is happening.

In Isaiah 24:1 the prophet writes about the distant future using present tense language: “Behold, the Lord makes the earth empty (massive death) and makes it waste (massive destruction).  The KJV renders the statement, “turneth the world up-side down.”  And this, Isaiah says, will happen in “one hour,” meaning in a very short space of time.  The Apostle John issued a similar warning relative to the futuristic vision Jesus had given him: “Therefore her (the world’s) plagues will come in one day–death and mourning and famine ….  For in one day such great riches will come to nothing.”  Isaiah prophesied about the condition of cities and people in the distant future.  “The city of confusion is broken down; every house is shut up so that no man can come in or go out” (24:10).  Does this sound familiar?  Do we not have political leaders shutting down entire segments of the world’s nations?  Some governors and mayors are threatening to make everyone in their states and municipalities stay at home.  One political leader even threatened to send the police into the homes to make sure that people inside are wearing masks.  He threatened that anyone found not in compliance would be fined and jailed.  In 24:12 we find these words concerning the last of this world’s final days: “In the city, destruction is all that is left, even the gate is destroyed.”  No one can enter or leave.  The prophets and apostles warned about the destruction of every aspect of social life, including life itself. I’ve seen pictures of downtown areas of riot-infested cities.  They look like Isaiah was describing them.  In reality, he was.  Only in his version the entire city will look like that.

Remember the shock the world felt when God sent Muslim-guided airplanes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon–the centers of world finance and power.  Note that the planes hit the WORLD (global) TRADE (financial) CENTER (headquarters)–GLOBAL FINANCIAL HEADQUARTERS.  Every human being on earth was either directly or indirectly affected by the destruction of the world’s center of commerse and wealth.  Death and destruction at the Pentagon revealed the vulnerability of the world’s most powerful nation’s military establishment.  What if He had unleashed a dozen airplanes on the Pentagon?  The center of world power could have been left in a smoldering heap as did the center of world finance.  In His mercy GOD SPOKE TO US telling us to repent, be converted and obey Him.  DID ANYONE HEAR HIM?  Alas, only a minutely few heard His warning “voice” and knew why He was “speaking.  He attacks individuals the same as He attacks individuals–through destruction and death–and for the same reason–rebellion against His Word.  For example, we “know” that the Law (the Old Testament) was “done away with.”  This is the same Law that the Apostle Paul called “holy, just and good” (Rom. 7:12).  Church people profess to “love the Lord” while declaring that the Law was “nailed to the cross.”  This in spite of Jesus saying in John 14:15 and 23: “If you love Me, keep my commandments/words” and “If you want eternal life, keep My commandments” (Mat. 19:17).  This in spite of Him saying in Luke 10:16 that whoever rejects His Words/commandments/Law/Truth despises both Jesus and His Father.  Sin comes in a variety of forms, rejection of the Law is the founation of them all because the Law defines sin (1 Jn. 3:4).

Concerning the destruction of the world’s center of wealth, John prophesied in Revelation 18:15-17 that the world’s business leaders would mourn the fall the world’s commercial capital: “The merchants of these things who became rich by her will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple and scarlet and adorned with gold and precisous stones and pearls.  For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.'”  In Isaiah 24:7-9 the prophet prophesied that “… all the merry-hearted (will) sigh.  The mirth of the tambourine ceases , the noise of the jubilant ends, the joy of the harp ceases … strong drink is bitter to those who drink it.”

Those who know their God and His Word know that the closing of this world’s final age is rapidly approaching.  The final (Laodicean) era of church history is operating at full throttle (Rev. 3:14-20).  The first horseman of the Apocalypse (false Christianity) has been increasing in power and influence over the past 2000 years and is nearing the climax of his soul-destroying ride which will produce a one-world church under the dictatorship of the Beast of Revelation and the False Prophet..  The other three horsemen are also marshalling their curses for one final world-wide explosion of death and destruction.  The “Great Tribulation” (Rev. 2:22;7:14) is about to begin.  It will be followed immediately by the “Great and Terrible Day of the Lord” (Joel 2:11,31) which will make the Great Tribulation pale by comparison.  But before that time begins the world, specifically the United States, Britain and the Jewish state will suffer defeat, slaughter and enslavement.

Jesus called what the world is experiencing today “the beginning of sorrows.”  COVID-19 is the warm-up stage of the “beginning of sorrows.”   L.J.