This is Daniel Whyte III with the Second Coming Watch Update. This is update #912. Let’s take a quick look at today’s prophecy-related headlines which point towards the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and the end of the world as we know it.
First, today, under the Sign category of PESTILENCES & FATAL EPIDEMIC DISEASES — According to USA Today, The U.S. topped 1,000 coronavirus deaths in a single day for the first time, a daily death toll more than double that of two of America’s most deadly illnesses – lung cancer and the flu. Death counts from the virus are difficult to keep up to date, but the Johns Hopkins coronavirus database shows that the U.S. hit 1,040 cases Wednesday at 10:25 p.m. Since the virus’ first appearance in the U.S. in late January, 5,116 people have died and more than 215,000 have been infected. Some researchers say the daily death toll could more than double – to 2,200 or more – by mid-April. That figure would eclipse heart disease, the nation’s No. 1 killer with about 1,772 deaths per day.
Second, today, under the Sign category of FAMINES — According to The Economic Times, The heads of three global agencies warned of the risk of a worldwide “food shortage” if authorities fail to manage the ongoing coronavirus crisis properly. Many governments around the world have put their populations on lockdown causing severe slow-downs in international trade and food supply chains. Panic buying by people going into confinement has already demonstrated the fragility of supply chains as supermarket shelves emptied in many countries. The joint text signed by heads of UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Health Organization, and the World Trade Organization, said: “Uncertainty about food availability can spark a wave of export restrictions, creating a shortage on the global market. In the midst of the COVID-19 lockdowns, every effort must be made to ensure that trade flows as freely as possible, specially to avoid food shortage(s)” from developing.
Third, today, under the Sign category of PESTILENCES & FATAL EPIDEMIC DISEASES — According to NBC News, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is self-isolating for a week after the country’s health minister and his wife tested positive for the coronavirus. Netanyahu’s office said the prime minister was put in isolation on the advice of his personal physician and following instructions from the Health Ministry. The ministry has earlier confirmed that Health Minister Yaakov Litzman [YAA-KOV LEETZ-MAN] and his wife tested positive for the coronavirus, and are feeling well.
Fourth, today, under the Sign category of EARTHQUAKES IN DIVERS PLACES — According to The Associated Press, An earthquake struck north of Boise [BOY-SEE], Idaho, Tuesday evening, with people across a large area reporting shaking. The U.S. Geological Survey reports the magnitude 6.5 temblor struck just before 6 p.m. It was centered 73 miles northeast of Meridian, near the rural mountain town of Stanley. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. More than 2 million live in the region that could feel the Idaho quake, with reports of shaking coming in from as far away as Helena, Montana, and Salt Lake City, Utah.
Fifth, today, under the Sign category of TURMOIL IN THE MIDDLE EAST — According to Israel National News, Syrian media reported on Tuesday evening an attack allegedly carried out by Israeli aircraft on Syrian territory. According to the Syrian news agency SANA, Israel Air Force fighter jets fired missiles from Lebanese skies towards an area near the city of Homs in western Syria. The report said that Syria’s air defense systems were activated against ‘hostile targets’ over the Homs sky. At the beginning of March, Syria’s official news agency claimed that Israel had carried out strikes in both Homs and Quneitra [KUU-NY-TRAH]. Israel did not comment on those reports.
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The prophetic passage of Scripture that we are looking at today is Ezekiel 20:33-36. It reads: “As I live, saith the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you: And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God.”
Allow me to share with you some commentary on this passage from Exploring Bible Prophecy from Genesis to Revelation, by Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson.
In this text a time of judicial deliverance is predicted through the figure of the Lord’s “mighty hand and outstretched arm.” This divine intervention will result in God’s theocratic rule being reestablished over Israel. The process of reestablishing theocratic rule begins with a regathered remnant of Israel being brought to national repentance and restoration and the rebuilding of the temple on the Temple Mount and the restoring of the sacrificial service. The reason for God’s restored rule over a restored Israel is two-fold: 1) as a witness to Israel and the nations of God’s sovereignty, and 2) to give Israel grounds for glorifying God’s grace throughout the age of the millennial kingdom.
The time of fulfillment is in the future (eschatological) age rather than in the near return from the Babylonian captivity in the Persian period. This can be seen from the description of the events of redemption and restoration in verses 40-44, where the redemption is universal (“the whole house of Israel,” not a portion, as in the return to Jerusalem). Also, the regathering is worldwide (“from the peoples and…from the lands,” not localized, as from Babylon). Moreover, the deliverance here is not effected by a human king (such as the Persian king Cyrus), but directly by God Himself. In keeping with the primary usage of the deliverance figure in verse 33, the historical pattern for this event is the divine deliverance from Egypt, with its climax in the possession of the land of Israel.
If the Lord tarries His Coming and we live, we will continue looking at the prophetic passages of the Bible in our next broadcast / podcast.
Our Second Coming quote for today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, “The only way to wait for the Second Coming is to watch that you do what you should do, so that when he comes is a matter of indifference. It is the attitude of a child, certain that God knows what he is about. When the Lord does come, it will be as natural as breathing. God never does anything hysterical, and he never produces hysterics.”
Let’s Pray
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If you are not ready for the return of Jesus Christ, may I encourage you to get ready today by receiving Him as your Savior. Here is how.
First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”
Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Now that is bad news, but here is the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will. Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Keep looking up for your redemption draweth nigh. Let us join in the prayer of John the Revelator — “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” God bless you.
BCNN1 WP 