The coronavirus pandemic has triggered many questions. At the top of the list for some are: Is end-time prophecy being fulfilled? Are we living in the end times? Will Jesus return soon?
I don’t believe Jesus is returning tomorrow. But it sure seems closer than ever. Like an airplane making its initial descent to its final destination, we are on the downward trajectory leading to the Lord’s glorious return. This period might be a decade, two decades, or even longer. Either way, there’s an urgency to get ready for the greatest time of glory and upheaval in world history.
Talking about the end times, Jesus described what the nations would be like prior to His return. He said “the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah” (Matt. 24:37). What, exactly, did He mean? Look closely at His words in Matthew 24:38-42:
For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.
The Days of Noah were not merely a decade or two. The Days of Noah were a 120-year period (Gen. 6:3). This timeframe began when God pronounced judgment. It ended after the flood came and destroyed every living creature except for Noah and his family. This perspective helps us interpret the days in which we live.
The End-Time Birth Pangs
The end-time Days of Noah are synonymous with the end-time birth pangs.
Jesus said, “All these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs” (Matt. 24:8). What things was Jesus referring to? What He listed in verses 4-7. Namely, deception, rumors of wars, actual wars, kingdoms and nations rising against each other, famines, and earthquakes. The NKJV also includes pestilence—a possibly reference to something like the coronavirus. All these things are the beginning of birth pangs.
In my opinion, the end-time birth pangs began in the 1900s, when the world experienced World War I, the Spanish Flu, the Great Depression, and World War II. In this 30-year time span, over 165 million people died. Then, from the ash heaps of devastation, the nation of Israel was reborn in 1948. This was the greatest fulfillment of prophecy since the first coming of Jesus. Numerous end-time prophecies in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel depend on Israel being a nation.
Though the end-time birth pangs have likely started, we don’t know how long they will last. It could last a few more years or a several more decades. The important thing to understand is we are living at the beginning of the end times. The clock is ticking toward God’s end-time judgments.
Back to our current situation. The coronavirus pandemic is a trial run for much greater challenges ahead. That is why, like Noah, we must begin now building an ark. Not a physical boat like Noah. But a place of immunity that comes from God’s presence.
The Place of Immunity
As the coronavirus weakens, now is the time to prepare for the greater challenges ahead. Before we start preparing, here’s what we must realize first: God’s presence is our only place of immunity.
Physical preparation has a place. It’s wise to store some extra food, water, and other necessities for uncertain times. But far more important is preparing spiritually. Only God’s presence will protect us from the increasing frequency and intensity of future birth pangs. Only God’s indwelling presence will shield us from the deception, plagues, wars, and natural disasters to come.
God’s indwelling presence is our only place of immunity.
The Blueprint for Building
The Lord gave Noah a blueprint to build the ark. Our blueprint for building an ark of His presence is Psalm 91.
If we make the Lord Himself our dwelling place—our ark in whom we take refuge—He will protect us from the chaos of this present crisis and the more challenging ones to come. Psalm 91 is one of the most relevant chapters in the Bible right now.
Here’s a quick summary of Psalm 91: If we will cultivate a lifestyle of dwelling in the holy of holies, God will protect us from deadly plagues, hostile enemies, and give us angelic protection.
Rethinking Psalm 91
Quite often, believers pray Psalm 91 verse by verse, pleading with God for His protection. This is certainly a valid way to pray. I certainly pray this way at times. I have also seen testimonies from those who prayed Psalm 91, both on the battlefield and in everyday life. Amazingly, God miraculously protected them. So, if you pray Psalm 91, keep doing it.
However, there’s a deeper place the Lord wants to take us. He desires to move us from outer court prayers for protection to a holy of holies dwelling with Him, where He becomes our protection. You see, the Lord didn’t say, “If you pray this prayer, I will protect you. If you quote this chapter, you will be safe.” He said, “If you dwell in My presence, in My glory, I will protect you.”
Specifically, the Lord said through David, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty” (Ps. 91:1). A few verses later, David wrote, “A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your hand, but it shall not approach you. . . . For you have made the Lord, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place” (Ps. 91:7,9).
Take note it is the Lord Himself, the Person of Christ through the indwelling Spirit, who is our dwelling place. Not a church service led by a worship team. Not a glory conference led by a prophet or apostle. It’s the Lord Himself who is our dwelling place.
Here’s what this means. Contrary to conventional wisdom, Psalm 91 is not a promise of protection for every born-again believer. It’s a promise of protection for those who make intimacy with God their number one priority. These wonderful promises only apply to those who regularly pursue God’s presence.
Turning Inward
David, who wrote this Psalm, would literally go to a tent, where God’s shekinah glory hovered above the ark of the covenant. In this tent, David would praise and worship the Lord. He would dwell in God’s glory. As he did, David had complete confidence the Lord would be his protection.
For us in the New Covenant, who are new creations possessing Christ’s indwelling life, we don’t have to go to a church service, a prayer room, or an anointed conference to dwell in God’s glory. We simply have to turn inward, go deep into our spirits where Christ dwells, and communion and fellowship with Him through the indwelling Spirit.
During this worldwide crisis, as fear, anxiety, and panic seek to cripple the world and the church, the Lord calls to us, “My beloved, turn inward. Come away with Me into the secret place, where I dwell in your spirit. Go deep into your spirit, into the holy of holies, where I dwell. Sink yourself into Me. Draw from My life. Let My life fill your heart so My life permeates your soul and flows outward to your body.”
God’s Promises to Protect Us
If we make intimacy with Christ our number one priority and begin abiding in the Lord inwardly, the following promises will be true in our lives:
- The Lord will sovereignly deliver us from hidden traps we didn’t even know about (3);
- The Lord will protect us from deadly pestilence, including the coronavirus (3);
- The Lord will assign angels to cover, protect, guard, and keep us from injury, harm, and premature death (4);
- The Lord’s faithfulness to us will be a shield of protection (4);
- The Lord will deliver us from all fear and terror of the night (5);
- The Lord will protect us from every weapon used in a physical war (5);
- The Lord will keep us from invisible pestilence, including Covid-19 (6);
- The Lord will shield us from destruction (6);
- The Lord will guard us from what is affecting the masses (7);
- No evil will come upon us nor will any plague, including the coronavirus, come near us (11);
- The Lord will give us a long life and satisfy our desires (16).
Theses incredible promises apply to those who make the Lord their dwelling place. This shield of God’s protection is for those who turn inward to seek Him, going deep in their spirit to commune with the indwelling Christ.
Intimacy with Christ Takes Time
It took Noah decades to build an ark. Some estimate it took between 20 to 75 years of blood, sweat, and tears.
In a similar way, it takes years to cultivate a holy of holies relationship with Christ. A deep, inward relationship with the Lord is not like getting fast-food at the drive through. Building an ark of God’s presence takes years of faithfully pursuing Him. You can’t have an inward relationship with the Lord overnight.
Like any great relationship, intimacy with Christ takes time, effort, focus, and most importantly, proper prioritization. An ongoing, daily relationship with Christ must become our highest priority.
This means we have to learn how to wait on Him. What does this look like? It’s an unhurried, agenda-free pursuit of a real Person. Not so we can get our prayers answered or solve a hidden mystery in Scripture. But simply to know Him and to fellowship with Him.
Before the next storms come—more severe, difficult, intense, and challenging than the coronavirus pandemic—begin now building an ark of God’s presence.
