LAST DAYS BEFORE
           THE GREAT TRIBULATION
                            by Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

     The Bible states: "And I looked and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat upon him was Death, and Hell followed with him.  And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword (war), and with hunger (famine), and with death (tsunamis, war, earthquakes, mudslides) and with the beasts of the earth (Mad Cow, Monkey Pox, West Nile Virus, Sars, Avion, Ebola)."  (Revelation 6:8)

      Are we living in the Last Days before the Great Tribulation? Is the Coronavirus Pandemic another harbinger of the Last Days Scenario before the Return of our Lord Jesus Christ and the White Throne Judgment? What must we do to be ready for any eventuality?

      Throughout history, plagues have attacked human beings as well as animals. The 1918 Flu Pandemic killed between 20 to 50 million in two years. The HIV(AIDS) killed 36 million between 1976 to 1981. The Ebola Virus in 2014 killed 11,315 people in 21 months. In March 2020 the Coronavirus Pandemic has infected 37000, with 3,000 deaths, across the world!

                  MANY PEOPLE ARE ON EDGE!

      People are fearful, nervous and anxious.  Our world is becoming more and more unsafe.  We are living in a world full of terrorism, wars, new frightening diseases and viruses and startling weather disasters that are wiping out thousands of people in seconds.

       On September 11, 2001, the world changed.  On September 11 - Satan was rejoicing.  On September 11 - Satan scored a victory.  But I am here to you that SATAN can be defeated and will be defeated!

     Yes - the world changed drastically on September 11, 2001.  What was a relatively safe, comfortable existence turned instantly into a world of terror. The tell Islamic terrorist group al Qaeda and its leader Osama bin Laden accomplished something very important on September 11. 

     The terrorists took away our freedom, the freedom to feel safe, the freedom to feel secure. And September 11 was only the beginning.  The world is dealing with so many issues that it’s hard for people to cope.

      Our world is literally falling apart.  We have seen the tragic increase in Islamic terrorism, a great backsliding in Evangelical fervor for Christ, an alarming state of departure from Biblical standards of protecting the family and the unborn and putting the unnatural before the sane and sensible!

    And we are experiencing earthquakes, tidal waves, tsunamis in places that are totally unexpected and at the greatest magnitudes ever recorded.  The new diseases and viruses we are seeing in animals are alarming. And now with a new and deadly virus sweeping the world, we must remain focused on the Word of God and remain in the Peace of God and do everything to protect ourselves and others!

                           WHAT IS COMING NEXT?

     The question on people’s minds is: What is coming next? The whole creation, including the earth and all living creatures therein, the cosmos and all universes that our Lord has created, are groaning and travailing in pain and travail "together until now."  

     The earth is "running down", as science teaches it will.  Man has polluted the air, polluted the water and the earth.  The earth is polluting and destroying itself through earthquakes, tidal waves, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions.

      Nature, through solar storms, falling meteors, black holes, white holes and worm holes is doing damage to the universe.  Tornados, cyclones, tsunamis and severe electrical storms cause great bodily harm and death to people and animals, as well as destroying millions of acres of timber annually through forest fire.  

     The animals and wildlife are themselves polluters, spreading disease amongst themselves, as well as being purveyors of many deadly diseases to the human population.

                   SARS,  EBOLA, CORONOVIRUS!
     What have all these to do with End Time Prophecy? Are these diseases and viruses the starting point of what is coming next during the Great Tribulation? 
    I believe that the outbreak of AIDS, SARS, Ebola virus, Lyme disease, Mad Cow disease (BSE), Foot and Mouth disease (FDM), West Nile Virus, Hanta Virus, Monkey Pox and the latent TB and drug resistant TB that is now rampant (2 billion world-wide) is surely Bible prophecy being fulfilled.  

     There are also so many new viruses, bacteria and parasites spread by animals, rodents and pests to human beings.  Are these new viruses from animals also a precursor to the awful things which will happen during the Great Tribulation?

New Viruses Appearing at Faster Rates Scientists Believe!

A headline that appeared (August 2003) in the Washington Post, must have sent shock waves through the Medical Community and the general population.  From a theological perspective, the connection between Biblical eschatology and the phenomenal parade of new emerging viruses being passed from animals to humans, this new report is very significant.

     Are the news diseases Sars, Mad Cow Disease, West Nile Virus, Bird flu and many others biblical prophecies?  Are these world disasters, extreme weather changes, world disasters and mounting hatred, wars and nations turning against nations world-wide Bible Prophecy coming to pass?

     The Bible states: "And I looked and behold a PALE HORSE: and his name that sat upon him was Death, and Hell followed with him.  And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with SWORD (war), and with HUNGER (famine), and with DEATH (tsunamis, war, earthquakes, mudslides etc), and with the BEASTS of the earth (Mad Cow, Monkey Pox, West Nile Virus, Sars, Ebola, Coronavirus).”  (Revelation 6:8)

      For a very long time Bible scholars were unable to understand this verse.  Everyone had serious questions about beasts being a source of so many people dying.  When S.A.R.S. struck the world with a vengeance a few years ago, the meaning of the Scripture became very evident.  St. John's prophecy became absolutely clear!

          CONVENTIONAL WISDOM WAS WRONG!

     The prevalent thought was that when famine came, the wild beasts from the forests would enter the cities and towns and kill people for food.  Some translations of Revelation 6:8 placed the words 'wild beasts' in their study notes.      

     Now we know how wrong that interpretation was!  God's Word is absolutely perfect!  As a Minister of the Gospel who has studied the Holy Bible Scriptures for over 50 years, I believe this to be pre-Tribulation more and more, as the truth in revealed through events that happen round about us.

     In my research, I found that SARS, Lyme Disease, Foot & Mouth disease, Mad Cow disease, Hanta virus, Monkey pox, Ebola virus, Aids, West Nile Fever and Coronavirus are diseases that have all come from animals (beasts) or rodents and insects (pests).  

     Jesus warned:  "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and Pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places." (Matthew 24:7).

     Rob Stein wrote: "It happens again and again.  Strange and frightening new infections seem to appear out of nowhere, such as Lyme disease, Ebola and of course, AIDS.  With Monkeypox coming on the heels of Sars, which emerged not long after West Nile, it is a phenomenon that seems to be happening at an accelerating rate. Scientists agree that the trend is alarming and appears to be gathering speed.  In the coming years, they say, dangerous new pathogens emerging."

               WE ARE SURROUNDED BY DEATH!

      The world has become uncertain and fearful. We are surrounded by death and destruction. The Bible states that, "the whole world lieth in wickedness."  (1 John 5:19); "And the world passeth away and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever." (1 John 2:15-18)

       Not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, that is to say, the redemption of our body. St. Paul states that when this life is over, we will be resurrected and a glorified body! (Romans 8:14-28)

       Satan is hard at work and his corrupting influence is present everywhere. Satan’s filth and stench can be seen, heard and felt across the world.  His evil, unholy and corrupting influence is everywhere present in homes, communities and nations, as well as in academia, the government, commerce, judicial systems and in the church.

     The truth is that the whole world lies in wickedness and Satan is the "prince of the power of the air."  Satan is the author of the "spirit of disobedience" that pervades society today.  This spirit of disobedience is affecting millions of people across the earth. (Ephesians 2:2; 5:6, Colossians 3:6)    

      Even though we as Christians are filled with the Holy Spirit and have fellowship with Jesus and each other, we live in a flesh and blood body.  We are constantly being bombarded with temptations.  We have Christ's promise of divine healing, but we are still subject to ageing and death.

      St. Paul states that we groan inwardly because of our limitations and desire to be clothed with a glorified body, knowing that one day we will be changed and receive a glorified body similar to Christ's. 
                          WHEN HE SHALL APPEAR! 

     The Bible says: "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore, the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not."

     "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is."  (1 John 3:1-2).

     Death and corruption have been present on this earth and in the cosmos since the terrible 'fall of man' in the Garden of Eden.  Everything is subject to the 'Second Law of Thermodynamics' - that of ageing, deteriorating and corruption. 

    There is no escaping it.  Everyone that is born dies eventually and will go back to the dust of the earth.  All great men and their empires, small or great will deteriorate and go to ruin.  The universe is running out of steam and Bible Prophecy is being fulfilled and will continue to be fulfilled as time goes on.

     JESUS demanded: “…Whosever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the gospel’s the same shall save it.

    “For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8: 34–38).

      Christ’s Victory and Satan’s Defeat is our Liberty for time and eternity! Amen.

     Dear Friend:  Please write with your prayer requests.  We will pray for you and I will write you back!  When you write, please ask for a free prayer cloth over which we have prayed with faith in Jesus' Name, for your deliverance and salvation.  - Pastor Max Solbrekken