Watch Therefore.

The Idea

This morning I want to arouse an awareness of the gravity of the problem that currently confronts all mankind.

I confess, it would not be an easy exercise. It might even offend some. But the servants of Jesus Christ are called to educate, even against the threat of being beheaded.

I will first present some facts about the novel corona virus 19. I will also make mention of Influenza.

Essentially, my aim is to highlight our response to the corona virus, the fear it is causing while contending, that believer’s must be aware of the swiftness of the hand and its tendency to decieve the eye. As my father would say: it is more serious than you think. Hence our Lord’s admonistion ---WATCH THEREFORE.

but first let me indemify myself a little.

I believe covid like other diseases present health issues and everyone should practice good hygene, adopt healthly lifestyles viz. exercise, rest, healthy diet ... build up their immunity. Covid’s only foot hold is - it strives in person with compromised health.

Vaccines address the symptoms. They still must depend on your body to build up the necessary immunity. Ordinarily, you can consider vaccines somewhat like a catalyst. The Health of the Body is the answer.

And that brings me to another very important link that must be made in the context of the Church.

If every there was a time, that the Body of Christ should pay attention to its health, it is now!

This is the time for fighting. Many of us are fighting, not against the enemy, but spurred on by the enemy. It is the time for the church to come together.

The wold has never loved us. will never love us. Jesus said, expect it, beacuse they hated me before they hated you.

Only one thing is expedient …that is, the Gospel needs to be preached.

The Truth

BBC in Article: How liars create the ‘illusion of truth’

“Repetition makes a fact seem more true, regardless of whether it is or not. Understanding this effect can help you avoid falling for propaganda, says psychologist Tom Stafford.”

President Trump has popularized the term - FAKE News - A term that has set the stage for a level of deception otherwise most unimaginable.

Repetition - Fake News weapons of mast deception most dangerous than Nuclear.

The world has been changed in a single year. They call it a New Normal. From the very onset of the disease they were saying that the only solution was a vaccine against Covid - this big enemy. Get a man afraid, and you will get him to do anything.

The fact is, right under our noses the New World Order has stepped up its game.

We have a problem with ..what is truth?

Is Covid the Real Enemy?

Covid is an highly contagous virus of the family of the common cold and the flu. My daughter died from Pneumonia.

“Pneumonia can range in seriousness from mild to life-threatening. It is most serious for infants and young children, people older than age 65, and people with health problems or weakened immune systems.”

CDC estimates that influenza was associated with more than 35.5 million illnesses, more than 16.5 million medical visits, 490,600 hospitalizations, and 34,200 deaths during the 2018–2019 influenza season. This burden was similar to estimated burden during the 2012–2013 influenza season1. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/2018-2019.html

Go to slides.

Is Man his Own Enemy?

The graphic picture of the downing of the world trade center in 2011 - the Flames and human figures falling from their windows remains a perfect imagery of the condition of mankind.

In these times believers need to be more discerning than ever.

The Advise to Believers

Know what the Scripture says

Mark 13: 34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

Definition: to watch metaph. give strict attention to, be cautious, active to take heed lest through remission and indolence some destructive calamity suddenly overtake one

1Thes 5: 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child*; and they shall not escape.

8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Mat. 24: 5-15

hear of wars and rumours of wars

shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places

All these are the beginning of sorrows.

then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

The Haven for Beilevers

2 Corinthians 5:14 KJV 1900

For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

possessed...

Matthew 4:24 KJV 1900

And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

straitened (hindered)

Proverbs 4:12 KJV 1900

When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; And when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

2 Corinthians 5:14 (CJB) For the Messiah's love has hold of us, because we are convinced that one man died on behalf of all mankind (which implies that all mankind was already dead),

2 Corinthians 5:14 (CEB) The love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: one died for the sake of all; therefore, all died.

John Gill Commentary

For the love of Christ constraineth us Or "containeth us"; holds and keeps us in our station and duty, as soldiers are held and kept together under a banner, or ensign displayed; to which the church refers, when she says, "his banner over me was love", ( Song of Solomon 2:4 ) . Nothing more effectually keeps ministers, or other believers, in the work and service of their Lord, or more strongly obliges and constrains them to a cheerful discharge of their duty to him, and one another, than his love displayed in his covenant engagements, in his assumption of human nature, and particularly in his dying for them, which is the instance given in the text:

And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

ev 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

Rev 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty

The Conclusion

Covid is the real problem - it is mankind’s evil

His greed for power and wealth

His rejection of Jehovah

Viewed for the world perspective Covid has killed only 0.033%

But that is nothing to the above 33 % or 2.6 billion, as mentioned in Revelations!

Revelation 8 KJv

the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

the third part of the sea became blood;

the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;

the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.l

9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

Revelation 9:20 KJV

20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

Revelation 3:3 KJV

3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.