The Corona Virus: The Divine Pause Part II:
The Response
and
End-time Perspective
Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go,
that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines,
although that was near; for God said,
“Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war,
and return to Egypt."
Ex 13:17
As we have been in lockdown in California, we have found ourselves in the reality of a global phenomenon. As Watchmen, we have a mandate to seek to understand the times from an end-time perspective. We are writing to share some concepts to help us all understand how to respond to the events playing out before us.
In the past couple of decades, there have been regional disruptions, wars, and rumors of war, but nothing as globally disrupting since the attacks on the World Trade Center and US Pentagon, September 11, 2001. The attacks led to a global shift. Everything changed. How we travel, banked, communicated suddenly changed. COVID-19 is doing the same. Its outbreak has caused governments and economies of the world to shake, some are crumbling under the pressure. It is as if we have come full circle facing another global challenge.
There is no doubt this is, in part, a “Birth pang” spoken of in scriptures, Matthew 24:8. Like 9-11, COVID-19’s reach is carrying a supernatural message. What is the lesson? Having been forewarned of the 9/11 attacks, (for prophetic history click here) the passionate prayers that emerged from the attacks largely dissipated a few short months later. As the dampened response became evident, a study by Barna Research Group in December 2001 articulated the concern, “After the 9-11 attacks, religious activity surged, but within two months, virtually every spiritual indicator available suggested that things were back to pre-attack levels. (1)” Later, in 2006, Barna followed-up with a research focus on the lasting influence of 9/11 on America’s faith. The study noted, “That despite an intense surge in religious activity and expression in the weeks immediately following 9/11, the faith of Americans is virtually indistinguishable today compared to pre-attack conditions. (2)”
2nd time around: A Global Passover
Now, in the midst of a second global birth pang, what is our response? The lessons of the past are behind us. We have another opportunity as the Body of Christ to respond. The enemy is trying to push people into fear. God, on the other hand, has allowed this challenge to increase our faith. We are in a season of preparation to “Train our hands for war and fingers for battle,” Psalm 144:1. In essence, we are coming full circle and being prepared for the future. The challenge of this epidemic is releasing an invitation by God to crossover into the greater promises, the last frontiers of the global harvest, and the glory of the end-time Church. This is not a time to fall back, but to press forward. More global birth pangs will undoubtedly come. Like giving birth, they very well may be coming in more frequency and closer together.
As we enter the time of Passover, it is as if we are in a global Passover as the Lord of Hosts passes over us. We are being called back under the lintel of our homes. We are reminded of the plight of the Israelites after witnessing the Passover and the exodus that followed. God looked down upon their condition. In His divine wisdom, He initially took them on a much longer route to the Red Sea avoiding the land of the Philistines. Why? “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt,” Exodus 13:17. We too are now in preparation. If yielded to the hour, we are in a God-ordained time to meet with Him and strengthen ourselves in the Lord (Psalm 31:24; Is 58:11; Zech 10:12). More is coming, and the Lord wants to fortify us lest we fall back into patterns that will not yield fruit for the coming season. The hour has come to press forward into His promises in faith and not falter in fear.
How then shall we stand? An End-time perspective:
How then shall we respond to this test? By this time, many are talking about the end-times. Should we point fingers at China, at those nations succumbing to the epidemic, or provoke our leaders in a taunting array of accusations? As the issue of judgment and end-time eschatology has been in multiple conversations, we need to know how to respond to the challenges now facing us. Having been part of the IHOP End-time Study Group for the last three years, there are a couple of underlying themes that yield a perspective to help our response to these times. Whatever your eschatology is, these concepts are key and can be agreed upon by all. Here are key thoughts to share with you reflecting the nature this season:
Teaching Guides:
Whatever eschatological view you hold, may the Lord, in His majesty, be pre-eminent. Psalm 96 is a great study right now. It is a Psalm about God's majesty in the midst of judgment. Attached below are a couple of timelines that can help put biblical prophecies into a present-day context. We are sending them to you to encourage and hopefully put complex biblical prophecies in perspective. We hope they help inspire you. Also, there is a chart that describes four of the main present-day end-time eschatological views. This is for your benefit and reflection. IHOP teaches historic premillennialism and these timelines do reflect that perspective, however, there are some keys in it for whatever view you hold. These resources will simplify and condense prophecies within the OT and NT.
What is coming:
Why are we being prepared? Just as the Israelites faced tests in their wilderness wonderings to fight for and develop their faith for their full inheritance, so it is today, we are being tested to develop our faith and character for our full inheritance in Christ. This is a time of preparation, particularly our character and intimacy with the Lord. Just beyond the fear, a healing movement is in the wind. Will we allow healing to glorify Him, or will we seek to own it? Will our character truly emanate the compassion and love of Jesus, or will we want part of the glory? His judgments refine and remove the obstacles that keep us separated from His love. Take this time in the “Divine Pause,” to allow His love to penetrate all that we are, to behold His majesty in the fullness of who He is. May we be ready even now, to express the hope that is in us. Beyond this smokescreen of fear lie harvest fields ready to be taken. Healing and deliverance are in the wind. Already, it is emerging and more will come. Prepare, prepare, prepare.
In the meantime, get your rest, wash your hands well, rejoice for He is in control. We strongly believe God is parting the waters and making way for the new birth of things to come. We are seeing it happen before our very eyes. For a review and perspective go to "The Divine Pause for the Divine Edit, Part I."
In the encounter of the Divine Pause,
Susan Rowe
The Global Watch
Charts from the End-time study group, IHOPKC
In the past couple of decades, there have been regional disruptions, wars, and rumors of war, but nothing as globally disrupting since the attacks on the World Trade Center and US Pentagon, September 11, 2001. The attacks led to a global shift. Everything changed. How we travel, banked, communicated suddenly changed. COVID-19 is doing the same. Its outbreak has caused governments and economies of the world to shake, some are crumbling under the pressure. It is as if we have come full circle facing another global challenge.
There is no doubt this is, in part, a “Birth pang” spoken of in scriptures, Matthew 24:8. Like 9-11, COVID-19’s reach is carrying a supernatural message. What is the lesson? Having been forewarned of the 9/11 attacks, (for prophetic history click here) the passionate prayers that emerged from the attacks largely dissipated a few short months later. As the dampened response became evident, a study by Barna Research Group in December 2001 articulated the concern, “After the 9-11 attacks, religious activity surged, but within two months, virtually every spiritual indicator available suggested that things were back to pre-attack levels. (1)” Later, in 2006, Barna followed-up with a research focus on the lasting influence of 9/11 on America’s faith. The study noted, “That despite an intense surge in religious activity and expression in the weeks immediately following 9/11, the faith of Americans is virtually indistinguishable today compared to pre-attack conditions. (2)”
2nd time around: A Global Passover
Now, in the midst of a second global birth pang, what is our response? The lessons of the past are behind us. We have another opportunity as the Body of Christ to respond. The enemy is trying to push people into fear. God, on the other hand, has allowed this challenge to increase our faith. We are in a season of preparation to “Train our hands for war and fingers for battle,” Psalm 144:1. In essence, we are coming full circle and being prepared for the future. The challenge of this epidemic is releasing an invitation by God to crossover into the greater promises, the last frontiers of the global harvest, and the glory of the end-time Church. This is not a time to fall back, but to press forward. More global birth pangs will undoubtedly come. Like giving birth, they very well may be coming in more frequency and closer together.
As we enter the time of Passover, it is as if we are in a global Passover as the Lord of Hosts passes over us. We are being called back under the lintel of our homes. We are reminded of the plight of the Israelites after witnessing the Passover and the exodus that followed. God looked down upon their condition. In His divine wisdom, He initially took them on a much longer route to the Red Sea avoiding the land of the Philistines. Why? “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt,” Exodus 13:17. We too are now in preparation. If yielded to the hour, we are in a God-ordained time to meet with Him and strengthen ourselves in the Lord (Psalm 31:24; Is 58:11; Zech 10:12). More is coming, and the Lord wants to fortify us lest we fall back into patterns that will not yield fruit for the coming season. The hour has come to press forward into His promises in faith and not falter in fear.
How then shall we stand? An End-time perspective:
How then shall we respond to this test? By this time, many are talking about the end-times. Should we point fingers at China, at those nations succumbing to the epidemic, or provoke our leaders in a taunting array of accusations? As the issue of judgment and end-time eschatology has been in multiple conversations, we need to know how to respond to the challenges now facing us. Having been part of the IHOP End-time Study Group for the last three years, there are a couple of underlying themes that yield a perspective to help our response to these times. Whatever your eschatology is, these concepts are key and can be agreed upon by all. Here are key thoughts to share with you reflecting the nature this season:
- The purpose of God's judgment is to take obstacles out of the way of His love for us.
- One of the main focuses, in all end-time study, is to seek and glorify God in His Majesty.
- Judges carry authority to interpret laws
- Judges have the power to execute sentences to align people with the law
- Judges are entrusted to do what is good and right and deserve our respect
Teaching Guides:
Whatever eschatological view you hold, may the Lord, in His majesty, be pre-eminent. Psalm 96 is a great study right now. It is a Psalm about God's majesty in the midst of judgment. Attached below are a couple of timelines that can help put biblical prophecies into a present-day context. We are sending them to you to encourage and hopefully put complex biblical prophecies in perspective. We hope they help inspire you. Also, there is a chart that describes four of the main present-day end-time eschatological views. This is for your benefit and reflection. IHOP teaches historic premillennialism and these timelines do reflect that perspective, however, there are some keys in it for whatever view you hold. These resources will simplify and condense prophecies within the OT and NT.
What is coming:
Why are we being prepared? Just as the Israelites faced tests in their wilderness wonderings to fight for and develop their faith for their full inheritance, so it is today, we are being tested to develop our faith and character for our full inheritance in Christ. This is a time of preparation, particularly our character and intimacy with the Lord. Just beyond the fear, a healing movement is in the wind. Will we allow healing to glorify Him, or will we seek to own it? Will our character truly emanate the compassion and love of Jesus, or will we want part of the glory? His judgments refine and remove the obstacles that keep us separated from His love. Take this time in the “Divine Pause,” to allow His love to penetrate all that we are, to behold His majesty in the fullness of who He is. May we be ready even now, to express the hope that is in us. Beyond this smokescreen of fear lie harvest fields ready to be taken. Healing and deliverance are in the wind. Already, it is emerging and more will come. Prepare, prepare, prepare.
In the meantime, get your rest, wash your hands well, rejoice for He is in control. We strongly believe God is parting the waters and making way for the new birth of things to come. We are seeing it happen before our very eyes. For a review and perspective go to "The Divine Pause for the Divine Edit, Part I."
In the encounter of the Divine Pause,
Susan Rowe
The Global Watch
Charts from the End-time study group, IHOPKC
Four Views of the End-times at a Glance
|
Overview of Key End-time Events
|
Timeline of the Prophetic End-time Narrative
|
