Parousia Second Coming of Jesus: COVID-19 We Are Living in Unprecedented Times
The COVID-19 pandemic is a health crisis like we’ve never seen in our lifetime. It has affected not only our health, but so many other areas of our lives. The Bible gives us a frame of reference for the perilous times in which we live in, Matthew 24: 4-8:
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
6 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.
- Governments are scrambling to enact legislation to ensure social distancing, and billions of dollars in stimulus and survival packages are being handed out.
- Thousands are losing their jobs, with millions more worried about what this means for their employment, and how they’ll provide for their families.
- Restaurants, clubs, cinemas, bars and places of worship are forced to close.
- Travel worldwide has simply dried up; our national, state borders are closed. Let that sink in . . . Unprecedented!
This has brought anxiety and fear. Supermarket shelves are being stripped bare of essentials and staples.
We also have to do church in a very different way. Our church buildings are closed until further notice. Pastors find themselves preaching to cameras instead of congregations. Unprecedented.
In thinking about our unprecedented times, my mind has been drawn to Philippians 2. Paul’s overall attitude in Philippians is one of joy and it’s infectious. Spend enough time in Philippians and you’ll catch it—his joy rubs off on you. He has met Jesus Christ and it has made a dramatic difference in his life.
The first word in chapter 2 (NIV) is “therefore”. This is a reminder to discover the context of what led Paul to write these words. However, his circumstances are far from ideal when you read what comes before the “therefore” in chapter 1:
- He’s in chains in prison
- His work is under attack from competitors
- He’s getting old and weary
- The church is being persecuted
Despite this, he’s not worried about his current situation and is clearly not afraid of what is happening to him: “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (1:21). He encourages his readers: “Rejoice in the Lord always and I will say it again, rejoice” (4:4). He has a peace that passes all human understanding (4:7).
In the immediate context just before chapter 2, Paul says, “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” (1:27).
Whatever happens! Even if it’s unprecedented. No, especially if it’s unprecedented. Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.
In Philippians 2, Paul expands on this using words like “unity”, “love”, “tenderness” and “compassion”, which leads into this thought: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourself, not looking out for your own interests but each of you the interests of others” (2:3, 4).
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Early Christians Took Paul Seriously
Paul took this seriously, and so did Christians after him. What we have now is unprecedented in our lifetime, but there have been other pandemics throughout history. We know how Jesus followers acted in these times. Lyman Stone reminds us that:
- Historians suggests that the Antonine Plague of the 2nd century—which might have killed a quarter of those in the Roman Empire—helped the spread of Christianity because Christians cared for the sick.
- The same can be said for the epidemic known as the Plague of Cyprian in the 3rd Century. The name came from Bishop Cyprian who told Christians “not to grieve for [Christian] plague victims (because he believed them to be in heaven), but to redouble efforts caring for the living.”
- His fellow bishop, Dionysius, described how Christians, “heedless of danger . . . took charge of the sick, attending to their every need.”
- A century later, the pagan Emperor Julian complained bitterly of how “the Galileans” (followers of Jesus) would care even for non-Christian sick people.
- Sociologist and religious demographer Rodney Stark claims that death rates in cities with Christian communities may have been just half that of other cities.
We still Have a Role
The followers of Christ were willing to do whatever it took to care for others, to the point of giving up their lives. Christians created the first hospitals in Europe as hygienic places to provide care during the time of plagues. Caring for others means doing whatever it takes to stop the spread of the disease further.
“WHATEVER HAPPENS, CONDUCT YOURSELVES IN A MANNER WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.”
In our world there are now hospitals and medical staff and isolation wards, but it’s important that our actions don’t contribute to the spread of the virus. That’s why our churches were closed before it was mandated, and we emphasize hygiene and social distancing. But it’s also vitally important that we look out for others, love others and put them first. That’s following Paul’s counsel—to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel.
Where does the motivation for this come from? In Philippians, Paul calls us to have the same “mindset as Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage.” He took on the servant role, “being made in human likeness . . . he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (2:5-8).
Unprecedented!
With no thought for Himself, knowing that the sin virus was out of control on earth, and knowing the cost, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, left the throne of heaven, entered this sin-ridden world as a human, humbled himself as a servant and went to the cross for us. Now He ministers in our behalf in the heavenly sanctuary.
Jesus embraced sacrifice, not selfishness. As Christians we move toward, not away from, neighbors in need—like Jesus did for us.
It’s about looking out for each other. Like the two shoppers coming across the last packet of toilet paper together. When one of them suggested they buy the pack together and share it, the other burst into tears and broke the social distancing rules by hugging the other. Or the supermarket owner who decided to give a roll of toilet paper to any who needed it.
This is a time for us to embrace sacrifice, not self-interest. Just as Jesus showed unprecedented love, we’re called to show unprecedented love for each other and for those in our communities in these unprecedented times.
“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” The very atmosphere is polluted with sin. Soon God’s people will be tested by fiery trials, and the great proportion of those who now appear to be genuine and true will prove to be base metal. Instead of being strengthened and confirmed by opposition, threats, and abuse, they will cowardly take the side of the opposition. The promise is: “Them that honor me I will honor.”. . .
Already the judgments of God are abroad in the land, as seen in storms, in floods, in tempests, in earthquakes, in peril by land and by sea. The great I AM is speaking to those who make void His law. When God’s wrath is poured out upon the earth, who will then be able to stand? Now is the time for God’s people to show themselves true to principle. When the religion of Christ is most held in contempt, when His law is most despised, then should our zeal be the warmest and our courage and firmness the most unflinching. To stand in the defense of truth and righteousness when the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when champions are few–this will be our test. At this time we must gather warmth from the coldness of others, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty from their treason. . . .
The Captain of our salvation will strengthen His people for the conflict in which they must engage. . . .
Now is the time when we should closely connect with God, that we may be hid when the fierceness of His wrath is poured upon the sons of men.
All who will gather warmth from the coldness of others, courage from their defections, and loyalty from their treason, will triumph with the third angel’s message.
Ellen G. White “Sons and Daughters of God”, 201
Parousia Second Coming of Jesus: We Are Living in Unprecedented Times
Portions Excerpted From “Unprecedented:” Pastor Travis Manners