Editor’s Note: Below is a transcript of a message, posted to You Tube on May 22, from president of the Adventist Church, Ted N.C. Wilson. Elder Wilson will release a new video each week, during the Coronavirus pandemic, which you can view here.
Thank you again for connecting with us. You know, by God's grace, I hope you are doing well. During this coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic, it has been a tough situation for everyone, but be encouraged, Jesus is coming soon!
You know, our General Conference Session, which has been delayed now for approximately a year, has as its theme: “Jesus is coming! Get Involved!” Total Member Involvement. I'm going to ask each of you to ask the Lord for revealing to you, ways in which you can be connected with other people, in Total Member Involvement, helping them to know about this marvelous aspect, this prophetic understanding that Jesus is coming soon.
Yes, this COVID pandemic has created an amazing situation where people are worried— is this the last crisis of the world? Are we in the last days? Yes, we are in the last days. This is not the final crisis, but it is leading up to the very end of time.
Last week we reviewed very briefly, Daniel 2, and we are in the tips of the toes of that statue of Daniel 2, but I want to tell you, Jesus is coming soon. This is a wake-up call—this pandemic—to all of us. Jesus is coming. The prophetic messages from God are clear to us. I'd like to just spend a few moments in Matthew 24. In fact, for the next two or three weekly visits with you, we're going to be focusing on that particular chapter.
To begin with, I would like to look at the beginning part, verse three and on through verse 14.
It says that Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives and the disciples came to him: “Tell us, when will these things be, the end of time and all of this, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”
And so, Jesus begins to develop things, saying that “Many will come in my name,” verse five,
“saying, ‘I am the Christ’ and will deceive many. . .” My brothers and sisters, don't be deceived. Stay close to God's Word. Take time in God's Word to understand that the signs that are so specific will tell us, Jesus is coming, and He is the real one. Don't be deceived by false christs and prophets.
And then it talks about “wars and rumors of wars” and “nations will rise against nation.”
Of course, we've had that for centuries, but it will increase as time comes to an end, where things become so intense. And there are going to be famines and pestilences—and this is a pestilence—this terrible pandemic. And earthquakes in various places. All kinds of natural disasters have been happening recently in increased fervor, and it's just a challenge for all of us to understand this.
All these are the beginning of sorrows. And then they're going to deliver us up to tribulation, “kill you, and you will be hated by all nations, for My name's sake,” verse nine, “and then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Many false prophets will rise up and because there is lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold,” in verse 12. “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”
My brother, my sister, be faithful to God. Let the Lord guide you in a special way, because He will preserve you through His righteousness, and we will be saved through the precious mercy and grace and blood of Jesus Christ. And then the final verse that I want to share with you, verse 14, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
God is going to use you to spread this precious Three Angels’ Messages of Revelation 14, and the fourth angel of Revelation 18, to help people to understand the full message.
Let me just share with you a brief citation from The Great Controversy, a beautiful book. I hope you are reading it. My wife and I are reading it right now. Page 636: “It is at midnight that God manifests His power for the deliverance of His people. The sun appears shining in its strength. Signs and wonders follow in quick succession. The wicked look with terror and amazement upon the scene, while the righteous behold with solemn joy, the tokens of their deliverance. Everything in nature seems turned out of its course. The streams ceased to flow. Dark, heavy clouds come up and clash against each other. In the midst of the angry heavens is one clear space of indescribable glory, whence comes the voice of God, like the sound of many waters saying, ‘It is done.’”
Next week we'll talk a little more about this magnificent Second Coming of Jesus Christ, and our opportunity to prepare ourselves and others for that great event, all through the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
Let me pray with you. Father in heaven, be with our precious people around the world. Give them a voice that will be coming from heaven itself to share with others the wonderful opportunity of being prepared through the grace and the blood of Jesus Christ for the Lord’s soon return. Guide each of us now, Lord, and help us to remember You will deliver us if we are faithful. Help us to rest completely in Your hands, giving ourselves daily to You. Guide us now as we look forward to the prophetic unveiling of so many things in this near future, for truly Jesus is coming soon. Thank you, Lord, for hearing us. In Christ's name we ask it, amen.
