Plagues, Pandemics, and Prophecy

Coronavirus game changer was facing this whole pandemic thing feels like something we've read about in the Bible or to say it another way, this is the most apocalyptic thing that is ever happened to us.

Is there a connection between covert, 19, and the end time welcome to understanding the times radio brought to you by Olive tree ministries and Jan Markel radio for the remnant they would talk to a pastor whose new book suggested coronavirus reveals the greater groaning of a last days society. Mark Hitchcock is a ministry brand pastor space Bible Church in Edmond, Oklahoma. Here is today's program.

Is this pandemic that were in right now.

A sign of the rapture. Of course not. There aren't any signs for the rapture so it can be a sign of the rapture the rapture is a sinus eminent event. So is this a sign of the second coming of Christ. I cannot say with any sense of certainty that it is, but neither can I say with any sense of certainty that it is not. It could be the early evidence of number three on Jesus list becoming a pestilence. Did you see that I put it in red.

As I mentioned earlier some of the tribulation signs can spill over into the final years before the rapture.

Jesus refers to what will happen at the end of the age.

As a pestilence. He says there's going to be a pestilence.

Many women that's what we've got right now we've got pestilence the word pestilence in the Merriam dictionary is defined as a contagion or infectious epidemic that is virulent and devastating. That's a pretty good description of what's going on right now.

Welcome to the program the voice and thank you David Jeremiah talking a little bit amount. One of the themes of programming today and what year 2020 has been just a little over 1/2 into it now and we were invaded by an invisible enemy of virus and well, quite frankly, turn the world upside down.

Introduce new terms to us like social distancing disease killed tens of thousand infected several million ongoing life as we have known it has been altered for sure church as we knew it was stopped for a season, and still churches and what we knew before February of this year pastors including my guest today preached to empty auditoriums but to ever-growing virtual audiences and the disease has crashed economies strain healthcare systems global travel has been slowed and in some cases shut down at least in the early phase. It has disrupted modern society like almost nothing.

We have known and by 1 June. We thought we could move on, only to learn that it was going to surge again and maybe just maybe life as we knew it will never come back. Conferences including my understanding at times conference were canceled because of uncertainty and speaking personally.

Here we just could not plan and prepare for months only to have our very shut down obsessed Minnesota governor close down everyone for who knows how long.

48 hours before annual event here in Minnesota.

My guest today, Dr. Mark Hitchcock says, quote disease and disasters are groans of the sin weary world and the groans are getting deeper and longer.

I've worked with Mark Hitchcock now for many years and when I saw that he had a new book talking about this scenario called Corona crisis plagues pandemics in the coming apocalypse.

I asked him to get a programming date on his calendar so he joins me today. He's pastor of Faith Bible Church in Edmond, Oklahoma.

He spoken at numerous understanding the times conferences here in the Twin Cities.

Welcome Mark Hitchcock back to the program revenue gentle is wonderful to be with you. You state setting up whole Mark that over 44% of poll respondents state they think that this Corona crisis is a wake-up call for us to turn back to faith in God that it could be signs of coming judgment, or both. And then as you quote someone who has stated this. This isn't the end of the world but I think we can see it from here going back here poll signs of the coming judgment call to turn back to faith in God are you talking the people who sound like that yes people. I think every word would feel that way people look up to something premises. A major wake-up call and I think a lot of pastors were excited to bother service is made up of been online with numbers of been way up washed is terrific. The numbers were staggering for many people number people at work shaking true. So I think certainly it's a wake-up call Arctic. A lot of people believe it's a sign of the times as well.

Even people don't know anything about the Bible have the sense of the world getting their closing time.

The people in America, not Poland that the poll also 29% believe that this crisis that were living a million times over the last dozen I think it's probably pretty accurate poll of working poor, the pulse of what's happening in our country to the and I still gotten emails I get one right before programming today stating their church still will not visit the topic of eschatology, etc., that's not our topic today, but all I'm saying is you're saying folks are asking more questions and are even more intrigued and I'm saying most pulpits remain pretty quiet to the topic. At least that's the email response that I'm getting Mark.

We know that these kinds of plagues happen big time in the tribulation were in the church age right now and there are several biblical references to plagues again. I said during that seven year time of Jacob's trouble, but not so much of a reference to these kinds of plagues in the church age troika for our rich pseudo-shoulders. Differences of opinion officer to prophecy teachers have when Jesus in Matthew 24 to his great sermon about two days before he died, talking told the many apocalypse, Reader's Digest version of the book of Revelation, Jesus gave signs of his coming said that there would be pulse messiahs will be wars and rumors of wars, nation against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. Considering various places will be famines and earthquakes pestilence in various places and when you look at the passage in Matthew 24. A lot of people look up and Jesus goes on by the whence is your birth time is of the birth pains of his coming. A lot of people look at data may apply.

That took took to this time we live in the church.

The look at the font default messiahs and wars in pestilence and earthquakes and all the when you go to Revelation chapter 6, which most people put in the tribulation. After Revelation.

When you look it up the first floor of the seal judgments or seals are open orders for horsemen of the apocalypse parallel what Jesus said in Matthew 24 have a rider on a white horse… Pulse messiahs of a rider on a red horse, which is the wars and rumors of wars in Iraq on a black horse, which is clearly in the context famine Jesus spoke up and you have the rider on the pale horse is fourth rider faces 1/4 of the earth will die from sword, famine in Memphis pestilence pledge and the wild beasts of the earth like that corresponds to what Jesus says there about pledging pestilential. I believe that Matthew 24. These birth pains are speaking about what's going to happen in the future. During the time of the tribulation.

So those are the birth finds that will be intensifying and getting closer together as the second coming of Jesus comes the one rider that I read that I really like this analogy. He said what were saying today though may become like the Broxton hicks contractions premature contractions before the real contractions began. I think what we see today is a foreshadowing Ensor shock, a precursor to what's coming, but I don't see what's happening today is the fulfillment of mountain range for in Revelation 6. I played that little clip of David Jeremiah in the point he was making is some of the activities of the tribulation are casting a shadow on the church age there fulfilled in the tribulation, not the church age were seeing signs of fraud and this is the precursor precursor for shock shall give the like. In Revelation chapter 6 where it says that 1/4 of the world is going to die from pestilence and then right after. This is in the wild beasts of your other different views on what that means but the fact pestilence is mentioned right there were these wild goose carries this idea to me that it could be pestilence and diseases that come from wild beasts or animals. That's what we see today happening three out of every four of the new infectious diseases in the world today are from animals prickled zoonotic diseases or spillover diseases come from animals to humans forcing today seems to be to shut up or the beginning of the precursor to that there been 30 new infectious diseases in the last 30 years.

Even now there's like a new coronavirus year I've been reading recently. There's a new swine flu training to know maybe coming out of China. It just seems like these things are accelerating and building even as we speak and you stay in 40 years we've had success in lots of things HIV SARS swine flu swine flu this back to 09 and 10, where millions were affected. Yet murderers get Ebola now Cove at 19 now the talking about coven 20 and the talking about another, as you say swine flu hitting us.

I'm going to read from your book and folks, we are carrying Dr. Mark Hitchcock's book Corona crisis plagues pandemics in the coming apocalypse. You say on page 17 people everywhere sense that it's palpable. The signs are multiplying their lining up global events are tilting and trending toward the end of days. Turmoil in the Middle East.

The rise of Russia and Iran. The threat of nuclear proliferation, globalism, natural disasters, and now the surging coronavirus pandemic and panic, but we've got multiple other kinds of illnesses and plagues and pestilence in the last nearly 40 years Mark we can go back to 1918, my goodness, the pandemic we had back in 1918 to 1920 makes what were going through now really almost a Sunday school picnic that affected millions killed millions. The world was changed in 1918 in 1924 Trotman 50 million people.you believe during that period of time. Obviously that was a devastating plug that happened that was the first plug the main pledge of the 20th century they were in the 21st century boarding out our first plug on 100 years later, in the spirit of top is plugged we see today that happening what it's done, though, I think, setting the stage and using that term is we have a much more global world and we had at that point of time and we see the move towards globalism really in all of this, you immediately Gordon Brown of former Prime Minister of the UK was going for some global body to come into kind of run over what was taking place resealed his track and trace technology should contact tracing all the technology we have today that people are promoting now to obviously protect people wanting a lot of people probably have good motives and it but ultimately all of these things are 24 discount of global world I think will receive today were something like over 19. It's not that it's killed more people than any plug but I think it's the things that it's triggering the things that is leading to that are signals to maybe stage setting a further setting of what's coming in the future for someone give a quote is years thinking of playing on the clip here you say this coronavirus is a global game changer that could be a kind of a prophetic shift of gears, with all its eventual fallout and then use same still quoting you Cove it is happening at the same time others. Storm clouds are gathering on the horizon crises on every front are converging and quickening from Scripture we see that God warns before he judges Cove 19 could be an early warning that something bigger is coming. It's a wake-up call for a sleeping world and we need to open her eyes and to look up and then you brought up something just a minute ago because you suggested that one of the things being affected is globalism's like here looking at my notes, I know you're not. This is radio, but you cited Gordon Brown and he and many others have said here recently in the last 3 to 4 months. The solution to a crisis is one world government is globalism market never fails because they never let a crisis go to waste. The globalists will try to not think it was Pres. Obama's Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. Her youngest wish that appears going on.

Never let a good crisis go to waste. To be fair literally all politicians in many ways to seize upon things these types of things that happen to sweep the globe and certainly tragic but they were seized upon by globalists and by others to try to hijack these findings, then to make them into what they want.

The end result would be about exactly what we see happening here were the show people immediately jumping on all kinds of global bodies to take over the relations truck and tries contact tracing all of this, stop to know where people are the technology obviously exists to know where people are and again I don't think any of this is the mark of the beast were not the tribulation. This is the kind of stuff. Some of you to control the world economically and politically. This is the kind of stuff you're going to have to how to make that happen.

By the way, so she suggests telling me you're listening to understanding the times radio and Jan Markel. I have on the line from Edmond, Oklahoma Dr. Mark Hitchcock because were carrying his newest book, the Corona crisis plagues pandemics in the coming apocalypse, you find that in my story you can give my office a call. You can sign it our website. Olive trees use.org I'm going to play quick clip here David Jeremiah because Mark I want to go back to the timing and we opened Candace saying that the coronavirus is not necessarily a sign of the rapture. More likely would be assigned the second coming in here. Dr. Jeremiah gives such a clear illustration of how we can perceive the timing of all of this if all the signs are not signs about the rapture and after the rapture.

I want to be in heaven. Why should I be concerned about the signs at all. Why should I care whether there's any sign about an event that I am not going to be worried about because I want to be in heaven well the broad answer to that question is this. Future events test their shadows before them the best answer is that these things that are going to be happening in the tribulation proves that signal. The second advent of Christ. Some of them are probably going to be going on incipient form long before the rapture takes place they're going to spill over back into the world in which you and I live.

When you have a sign for the second advent, and in essence it's almost like a subtle sign for the rapture. Here's the best illustration of ever heard to help us understand that Dr. John Wahlberg use to share this illustration of how signs relate to the rapture and the second coming is what he said there are all kinds of signs for Christmas there are lights everywhere decorations Christmas trees music even Santa in the mall but Thanksgiving can sneak up on you. There are no signs for Thanksgiving. Dr. Wahlberg noted that the second coming of Christ is like Christmas will be preceded by many specific signs that Scripture outlines the rapture, however, is like Thanksgiving.

There are no specific signs for its coming yet it's fall, and you begin to see the size of Christmas everywhere you realize Thanksgiving is somewhere around the corner to Thanksgiving must be very near the signs of Christmas seem to be appearing all around us today, do they not the coming of Christ to rapture his church couldn't be very far away. Mark one thing I learned in your book and learn a lot of things but the thing that had gotten behind me is you bring out there's even a playing that is a part of Gog Magog, the war of Ezekiel 38, 39, I had missed that. But you're right there is there is a reference to plugs or pestilence.

And Ezekiel chapter 38 in reference to a group of nations that will come down and Israel in the last days during the tribulation period and are living under this covenant with you.

In chapter 38 or near the end of the chapter that highlights the various things God is going to use to destroy this invading army to be in fighting the fire from heaven, but one of the things it's much health plugs the got his gun and flick these invading armies with to destroy them and wipe them out that another mention of plugs in the end times that God is used to specifically judge those who are his enemies. In the end times. Do you think that war could be an extended war safer weeks or months if were talking about time enough for a plague to set in, or do you think that's going to be a quick 24 hour war it could be either obviously of God can send a plug to stop immediately deadly take very long to take. It seems like the destruction there. In this chapter Shirley rapid because the other things are far from heaven, and the infighting of the Army should begin putting it armies will take a little bit of time. This could be things that are God's range.it seems like it's just up terrible plague in disease. It mentions with pestilence and blotto entered into judgment with them streaking up there so it seems like something that God may bring very quickly upon them in your book of Zechariah, mentions the same kind of thing in conjunction with the second coming of Jesus as well a terrible plague to God going to send upon all those who were gathered in Armageddon, you mentioned in the book Corona crisis is on page 37 you say the Lord graciously warns before he judges so that's a whole another topic here as a concerned Corona crisis is in the judgments. Here's the thing.

This isn't an American dilemma. This is the world dilemma is hit just short of 200 countries Detroit in almost every country of the world now on we think about God's judgment with plagues like this we know that in the past in the Bible and I do a lot of illustrations in the book of how God used pledge to judge people in the last so we know that God has done. Not that we also know that really just sickness in general is due to man Sam there would be sickness if there were some we live in a groaning world because of Sam all sickness in the world and all disease ultimately comes from Shambaugh were talking about is this specific plug or pestilence of direct judgment from God. And really there's no way for us to know that again their places in the Bible in the past versus this was a plug from God. There are instances in the future we been talking about in Matthew 24 and Ezekiel 30 Revelation 6 or so. Some future pestilence replied will be the judgment of God. But when it comes to coronavirus today. The Bible doesn't tell us, saw, got a Maxima go by when God saw that we need to be silent when God and so since God hasn't told us directly. We can't say for sure all this is a direct judgment from God, but I think at a minimum we can at least say.

Certainly, this appears to be a wake-up call that God is affording his humanity an opportunity to turn to him and to realize how fragile and how fleeting this life really is.

I think it's out, at least. And again I think that there have been a lot of people who have used this wake-up call to turn to the Lord and to turn the Scriptures and begin to discover what's going on in the world and what life is all about, but that's a good thing that I think has happened in many quarters what was obviously very sad for the loss of life. It's taken place but God can use. Even those things ultimately forgot to turn people to himself. Talk to some folks is this in my goodness this is not a picnic. As were recording marked here were into July 2020 and honestly I think I don't know if I set this interview up for 56 weeks ago and I cannot thought things would be pretty much blown over or at least a whole lot better.

By mid July and here we find things are just gearing up again. This thing isn't going away quickly. Know the people settle. This is the second wave, but most experts are saying all this is still the first wider rent. This is getting off the subject course of Scripture, but the problem with this is you can't keep people locked up forever the economy dies little kind of other social problems that come about as a result of it. But then when people are out minutes from sprouts, which put us on the horns of a dilemma. It's not going away. No one knows how soon the vaccine will be developed in some type of cure. I heard someone say the other day. Almost everyone but end up getting it but IF there is room for her to get frustrated and yell all of us.

We listen to different experts and what they say someone assignment for vaccine development next year, so it may be that almost everyone gets the people are asymptomatic only to find it's not overt aggression work, how many people have died of to this point, but it could obviously become much, much greater than it isn't every day my prayers.

I pray that God will help fishing to abate and to lessen elation to become less severe than it is to mutate into a milder form like we all want to be praying for the supper God is sovereign in control of it and if she allows it to do whatever he chooses to do. We need to just be here responding to God in a way where we can bring honor and glory to him in the midst of whatever happens through and we can get into vaccines were not but that's another can of worms. Kaczynski to present as many problems as any solution. Folks, we are carrying Mark's new book Corona crisis plagues pandemics in the coming apocalypse, it's in my store you'll find it in my printing E newsletters. If you sign up for those online olive trees use.org give my office a call and will get a book out to you within a very short period of time.

I can just transition a little bit were not leaving this topic as I'm transitioning will still be touching on Corona but I watched the message of yours online and happen to be called American prophecy was excellent, met an hour that you had given another church. I want to talk about that for just a few minutes because I think my audience has a distinct interest in just how does America fit into the end time scenario.

Now we see America being so terribly harmed economically in other ways by Corona in listening to your message obviously were not in their time directly and let's just touch on a few of the options of where we might be if we were to be in there in a symbolic manner. You first of all state that we are not the 10 lost tribes of Israel that would be British is realism. Besides those 10 lost tribes aren't lost but then you raise.

Isaiah 18 and that's the land divided by a great river and state. We are not the land divided by the great river in Isaiah 18.

Give us a second on that.

That's excellent in the context of this passage owes proposition her about Damascus and the following prophecies about Egypt.

It's right in between there is an unnamed nation. Most of the scholars I've been able to study God really trust think this is probably the kingdom of Kush which was a notion to the south of ancient Egypt, which is modern-day Suydam.

If you read the passage in its context, and I don't think it has any reference whatever to America because I think if God were trying to let us know that America, which obviously is the greatest political economic power ever to exist.

God would do it in a much clearer way veiled reference like this that this kind of cryptic and very difficult to understand God would make it a lot clearer if you were really wanting us to know that a miracle in Bible prophecy, and I would agree with that, then you indicate about the Eagles wings of Daniel seven know that's not America. And then the young lions of Tarshish, that would be Ezekiel 38 that's intriguing because they are somebodies objecting to the battle that's going on.

Gog Magog.

If that were America. I don't think it is what it could be we have to have a very pro-Israel president, certainly not a leftist in office is not can care. Give me your thoughts on the young lions. Yes, some translations say the merchants of the young lions but the nations that come out of Tarshish in court that then requires defining where was Tarshish there was a Phoenician colony in Spain ancient Spain. It was Tarshish. Some people try to identify Tarshish as Great Britain the course of its Great Britain emotions that came out of Great Britain.

One of those obviously would be the United States if it's Spain, it would seem to include more European countries all the people. So a lot of countries came out of Spain as well if she done himself in Central America and of course America herself was discovered by Columbus so it requires you to go back and take several steps in the thing about different interpretations like fellow was our if you're wrong in one place all the conclusions you're basing that wrong conclusion are also wrong is I think if you wanted to find America somewhere in the Bible and some symbolic reference probably Ezekiel 38 verse 13 the young lions of Tarshish would be the best candidate, but to me it's still just too tenuous to make an identification there with the United States.

All were doing if census would be protesting this invasion of Israel. I think we have to have a pro-Israel president to get involved in any degree. Perhaps a Donald Trump type president, but will say and then you bring up another and I'm going to discuss this on the other side of my break but then you bring up an issue as it concerns. Could this be where we find America could we be Babylon. Revelation 17 and 18 and I want to spend just a moment on that because I get so many emails saying of course this is where America is where Babylon found in Revelation 17 and 18 one Dr. Mark Hitchcock doesn't quite think so.

I am pretty skeptical on that myself and we will discuss it. I need to take a break right now. I'm when a come back in a couple of minutes were going to pick up on this topic so don't go away.

We always like to hear from our listening audience and also how you listen. If you're listening on one of our 900 radio stations.

Let us know which one let us know if you are listening to one of our online option. Contact us through our website follows three views.org that's followed three views.org you can call it simple time at 763-559-4444 763-559-4444 or mail when you like to olive tree ministries and John Markel Fox 1452 Grove, MN 55311, Box 1452, Maple Grove, MN 5531 90 to. You feel helpless as they see America once called a shining city on a hill becoming weakened and attack from within and without people asking near despair. What did I do to turn the tide. How can I intervene on behalf of the greatest nation on earth. That is why this ministry is carrying Dr. Robert Jefferson's new book, praying for America.

40 inspiring stories and prayers for our nation, the most patriotic thing you can do for America is pray times of the vision of disaster our country has a long history of turning to God. This uplifting book is an inspiring story demonstrating the power of life of our nation.

Prayer relevant passage of Scripture, inspire and encourage you and praying intently for our country and these increasingly divided times praying for America will serve as a very necessary and timely reminder in God we trust in our online store all of three views.org just $16.06 dollars shipping and handling in the US or call our office Monday through Friday, 763-5594 763-559-4040 also find print magazine sign up online reviews are all.org not assignment God is going to judge you when those things are happening at assignment you already were certainly saying all of that here is a sign of God's abandonment wrath on our country got helpless and true. We have appreciated ring with Dr. Mark Hitchcock for over use a trusted theologian and part-time faculty member at Dallas theological seminary. His book in our online store and find three dozen cutting-edge products. Olive tree views.org that's followed three views.org there are Dr. Hiscock and John Markel wrap up today's when we look back and we see America's distinguished class. We look around, we see that of a distressing president and will be looking ahead.

Many people see dark future so we can't help but wonder, as Christians, where is America headed what is the future hold for this great country.

This is because many people to wonder if America is mentioned in the Bible does the Bible have anything to say about America's future. Is there any sure word in the Bible about the United States and will come back in and spending the hour with Dr. Mark Hitchcock, pastor of Faith Bible Church in Edmond, Oklahoma been on here with me. Probably a dozen times and been to half a dozen at least a mindful conferences here in Minneapolis-St. Paul 2020 had to be canceled because of one of the topics were dealing with.

This hour the Corona crisis markets a new book called Corona crisis plagues, pandemics, and the coming apocalypse. We offer this in our print newsletter and art E newsletter sign-up online Mont Schiller, central time. When you do send a financial gift which always tell us how you're listening to understanding the times radio it on one of our 900 stations are listening electronically. A listing on YouTube on his channel, or how do you listen to the program that helps us process things here in the office and got half of the program left and I want to continue talking about this intriguing topic. We been talking about the Corona crisis that kind of morphed into a discussion on American where is America and Michael prophecy. And honestly, before we even proceed with our discussion, I said I tease back in part one, I want to come back and talk about.

Could we be Babylon. Revelation 17 and 18 and before I do that I want to play another clip and here Mark brings out a fascinating historical piece of information about America in her early days going back to the very early days certainly present Washington and the monument in Washington DC that many of you have seen in his book what the world is going on.

David Jeremiah begins one of his chapters with these words. He says every day when the sun rises over Washington DC its first rays fall on the eastern side of the city's tallest structure. The 555 foot Washington Monument.

The first part of that monument to reflect the rising sun is the eastern side of its aluminum capstone for these words are inscribed Laos Deyo Latin for praise be to God. This compact prayer of praise visible to the eyes of heaven alone is tacit recognition of the nation's unique acknowledgment of the place of God in its founding and its continuance that I love that the very first rays of the song that hit our nations capital fall on the words of praise be to God, I love that about this country from the very beginning God is been recognized and feared and sought and honored in this nation, probably to an unparalleled degree in any other nation.

Certainly this great nation is flawed as all nations are but it's been uniquely favored by God, and I think of that there is no doubt God's good hand of providence is rested on this nation from its inception, bringing promotion and prosperity and progress to our nation. We all love this country deeply and we cherish the rich and godly heritage in the past but God has given to us were the beneficiaries of a great legacy. But what a contrast when we look from the past to the present. Just listen to the news or read the paper or surf the Internet, listen to our politicians today so ironic to me.

It's tragically ironic that the nation's first light that falls on its capital fall in the words. Praise be to God is actively pushing God now out of the national discourse. Praise be to God is the farthest thing from most people's minds in our nation today were witnessing a seismic shift in our country really on every front downward spiral, morally, politically, theologically, with increasing division and despair in our nation is one man I read recently said it succinctly, America is losing her soul. There seems to be a collective sense that the things are headed in the wrong direction something ominous is on the horizon.

Mark Hitchcock you gave that message about a year ago or so, you had no idea why, when I'm playing it here in July 2020. Our country is being ripped apart at the seams. It's hard to turn a news broadcast on more statues are coming down our history is being erased and they're trying to establish a new country rooted in Marxism.

Did you ever think you'd see the day one ever thought I would listing to those works from a sermon I preached to think about during a lot of monuments were notable Washington Monument constraint of those words your praise be to God upon it. And again I said earlier, the people found our country were flawed.

Just like we are to flawed country, but it's the greatest country that's ever existed and people from all over the world want to come here.

I never thought I would live to see the kinds of things are happening now in our country mix but we always have to remember to all the time you have in house and occupied Corona. We don't want to despair Christ in you the hope of glory. And that's ultimately are hoping we want to be salt and light while were here do what we can certainly it is discouraging and disheartening. What we see today.

But each one of us. We have to use the gifts and abilities God given a script occupied until Christ comes be doing business for him. So in whatever way we can do that. That's what we need to be doing this time what we were doing ending part one of the program was looking a little bit in American prophecy and I want to continue to do that. I just want to throw in that little inserts because again it's so tough to see what's going on here in July 2020 but indicated that I want to ask you about.

Could we be Babylon.

Revelation 17 and 18.

There we read that Babylon full of immorality. Babylon is definitely a superpower.

Babylon is wealthy that helps other nations become rich. Babylon is destroyed in one hour in the world watches the smoke of her burning, similar to a 911 you and I don't feel that that's America wanting to talk to us as to why you don't feel that is America well early on in chapter 17 when Bob was a fighter, but oil and we decided to study the book of Revelation there are 404 verses in the book of Revelation 44 verses in the book about Bob Alonso 11% of the book of revelations about Babylon, but people don't realize that it's probably the most discussed topic. Whatever it is it's important in chapter 17 verse five. Speaking about one it's pictured here is this woman, this harlot is better for it. A name was written, a mystery, Babylon the great, now a lot of the old translation says, behold, was written, mystery, Babylon, but it's not mystery Bob launching a mystery Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth, not what this is showing your I believe it's whatever Babylon is and we milled about once a city so it's not really a nation because down in chapter 17 verse 18. This is the woman is the great city. The range of things in your a lot of people say will finish New York City you have to be a city without a nation at the city and it says that the city was the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth, so Babylon whatever it is was the mother or the source of all the abominations and idolatries on the earth with the source of all the idolatry in the abominations and really the only city that fits.

That is a literal Bible literal Babylon to go back to Revelation chapters 10 and 11 after the flood, people gather at Babel under Nimrod to build this great power to the heavens and gathered during collective rebellion against God, and then from there people's languages are confounded, are scattered all over the earth not wetting problem then became the mother of all the trees and all the abominations of the earth. Consult that's why I take this to be a literal reference to the city of Bible back in Genesis 1011.

At the beginning of the Bible you have a literal Babylon is like everything's coming full circle back there. It was under one man named Nimrod to be under one person the cross. Everything's coming full circle in the impound Dr. Babylon something is going to happen to America in this canon were trying to consider here as we've already referred the progressive movement is gaining strength here right now and their goal is to weaken this country and thank even bring her down. If they have to because they feel we don't deserve any power in her history is embarrassing, etc. mean we don't feel that way.

The leftist seems to feel that way. You bring out some other things that could harm us and even take us down.

We could have an economic implosion as we speak. Thanks to Corona.

Thanks to some other kind of turmoil in the land where trillions of dollars in debt. We have a debt bomb that causes a nation to die. Quite frankly, you bring out another's point and we could have massive terror attack, or as might be Bill Canning who suggested.

What if we had 20 terror attacks simultaneously across the country with that bring the country download certainly would weaken it beyond our imagination and then you bring out another option we can have a moral departure which we have and that brings on them the judgment of God. He Romans one scenario and Mark I think we have Romans one going on in America right now is no doubt about it, so sober and choppy and six of Dodge abandonment Ralph Reed about God's wrath in the Bible shortly. If no one's favorite topic to think about, but it certainly present in Scripture there is direct route like what God did with Sodom and Gomorrah. There's eschatological wrath in the day of the Lord in the future.

The China column 30 eternal wrath in hell but there's also this aspect of God's wrath, people forget about cold is abandonment.

Ralph work when people go to a certain extent and shame. God abandons them and just turns them over to the sham and that's what you have in Romans one were three times a schism God gave them over, God gave them up to their Senate start up during the passage with really a turning away from God in a sexual revolution in the homosexual revolution and basically people just applauding and celebrate his right, the sin of others and assist when that's happening that showed it's not a sign that God is going to judge you and those things are happening, it's a sign that you're already the judges were certainly saying all of that here is a sign of God's abandonment Ralph on our country.

And God help us if that's true, you bring out the point that there seem to be a turning point. If I could use that word. In June 2016 that opened the door to Pandora's box and that was the same-sex marriage ruling.

The White House then laid up in colors of the gay rainbow.

Many of us could hardly look at that site Mark back in June 2015. Is that not perhaps a turning point. Well, it is because in Romans chapter 1 when you get down to the end, it's the people, not only do these findings says they applauded celebrate. Basically those who do them in several really well known Greek scholars from years ago. It won't even dealing with what were dealing with now actually written in their the tops actually worse than committing the act itself. You've reached the bottom level to bottom wrong words not only being the actions being taken. But it's being applauded in our culture today. It's not even so much that we have to accept – but you actually if you don't applaud it in your considered one who hates people or homophobic or whatever and so really receive the Romans one trialing our nation tragically is right on track without a lot of the unrest in the other things were saying could certainly be the consequences of turning away from God. The man said years ago when a man loses God he loses himself, and I think the same thing to be said of a nation when a nation loses God he loses itself or loses its sole literal wishing happened in our country and most of us don't have the power to go change all of that. But what we can do is do what we can do in our own lives, our own families are own ministries or churches to try to do what we can to stem the tide that I want to go there in just a moment.

Then I want to get here to I think the most important point of your message and so's I'm playing off the message. You can find it on YouTube if you just type in Mark's name and put in American prophecy. Excellent hour-long message that he gave and combining that with summarizing and we did that briefly. One of his newest books Corona crisis plagues pandemics in the coming apocalypse and that's in my online store Dollar Tree views.org and give my office a call or as a secular newsletter list, but then as I was studying and preparing on Corona crisis I came across Mark's message on American prophecy well this is Corona crisis tie into American prophecy. My goodness, America's being weaken 2020 started off canon normal in January and then by early March.

Things are starting to fall apart and then die Memorial day here in 2020. I'm in Minneapolis everything sort of hit the fan with the tragic death of George Floyd and the policeman who well and outrageous act that was caught on camera and then the rioting and the looting and the burning began right after Memorial Day. That kind of unrest is gone right through and into the summer here of 2020 cell when I schedule this interview I thought would be talking only about Corona crisis, while little did I know that it was leading into all these other issues, therefore I am, as I know my audience interested in where does America fit in Bible prophecy.

Now Mark you come to the final conclusion.

America might be neutralized in what's known as the rapture of the church.

I'm going to play quick clip here and it summarizes how the rapture could really be the delightful issue that's going to be glorious for the church but not so glorious for America and the rest of the world. There's 1/4 scenario, or event one that's actually mentioned in the Bible that I believe best explains the scriptural silence about America. In the end times and that event is the rapture of the church.

One of these days. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, the Lord Jesus is returned to the heavens. All those believers roamed the earth relied caught up to meet the Lord in the air, the dead in Christ will rise. That is, their bodies and be rejoined with their perfected spirits that are with the Lord. Those of us are alive and remain to be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the arena receive an immortal, imperishable, incorruptible body perfected spirit in a moment of time. When that happens, if the numbers that are out there of, you know, about 8% of the people in America are evangelical Christians believe that salvation is by God's grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. That's about 30 million people that will disappear in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye say well, a lot of other nations will lose people as well, but if you go to the Middle East and Europe and most of those places.

It's less than 1% of the people would say that the believe that salvation is through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone correct this nation the salt and light will be gone in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye W dating voids left in every strata of society. Jeff Kinley has written a book called the end of America describes it really vividly. This is not a single believer will be left on American soil.

Imagine that for a moment with our country's soul now removed, shall become a zombielike nation wandering aimlessly toward her ultimate inevitable demise in this miraculous moment, the complete departure of Christians is not the only thing that will change everything will be altered. Following that split-second departure government states, communities, militaries, schools, churches, colleges, hospitals, universities, families, marriages, natural infrastructures, everything will be a single pocket of society remains unaffected is for all practical purposes, God will have left the building says with anarchy and chaos raining. America will be paralyzed and officially no longer a major player in world affairs like a heavy blanket darkness falls on the entire nation that is a scenario that is imminent. By the way, if you just join me your listing to understanding the times radio and I have on the line from Edmond, Oklahoma pastor Mark Hitchcock Faith Bible Church, Edmond, Oklahoma Mark Hitchcock your best website is Mark L Hitchcock.com in my right that's right – you learn a lot more Mark L Hitchcock.com your message is powerful, but let me ask you this, then, do we just morph into some sort of the Western Confederacy ruled by the Antichrist after the rapture the church is gone.seems to me like the most likely scenario minutes were with America sets her history. The front of our origins.

We know the Antichrist is Unicom and begin to come to power on this platform of peace Salt Lake the middle of the tribulation to take over the world to all nations without time will be under his control. Yeah, early awning that would seem to me like the safe harbor.

The place of refuge that America will go after the rapture. In the wake of the rapture. The other thing to talk about the rapture, being the trigger, but also the rapture could happen kind of inflatable combination with a lot of those other things we mentioned. Yes, terrorism and even Civil War and the unrest economic implosion.

All of those other things.

So you take all of those things in combination MSN got in an event like the rapture that will be the greatest event in human history since the flood that would pretty much render America.

The second writer of her great nation at the time would be seeking refuge with some other alliance of nations you feel strongly that the antichrist will not come from American which immediately rules out a bunch of people probably come out as Europe. I think I would agree with you in course I would even want to speculate but let's leave it at you feel the antichrist will come out of Western Europe yet so try to have reunited Rome in an apartment building part that include part of North Africa western part of Asia but from the confines of the old Roman Empire probably don't rise from my listeners are sitting thinking this is overwhelming you.

What can I really do to have an influence. I think we should talk about that for at least a moment or two here you actually go into that in this message is given you say don't be absorbed into the Wiccan culture and let shine our light in the darkness. The simplest thing we can do is be salt and light and tried to delay the DK while were here that's right. Most of us don't have any kind of international or even national or even a lot of local influence with politicians or others. The most powerful thing we can do is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and to live the gospel in whatever context God has placed us one of the most important things in our country are strong churches, strong local churches where the gospel is proclaimed the gospel is practiced, we can all do that. I pastor a church. People can be leaders and churches that can serve their it's the church of Jesus Christ promise that he would build on earth, and that the gates of Hades would not prevail against so we can do what we can do daily in the various places where God has put us to tell people about Christ to tell them that there's a virus a lot worse than the coronavirus others a virus that infected all of us on our soul which is Shannon Jesus came and bore it for us and we can trust in him and have that virus secured in our heart and life. So that's the ultimate answer really for us is to proclaim in the practice of the live out the wonderful gospel message of Jesus Christ as we await the coming of our bridegroom. After calling me just reach you an email Mark Hitchcock I just got it day go. It's from Nancy in Westerville, Ohio. That's the only identification I'm going to give since I didn't ask your permission and I'm gonna read it but keep it fairly anonymous and she says she and her husband listen to the Michele Bachmann programming here recently and she goes on to say, I can't tell you how troubled. This makes us feel.

She says we are 82 and we have never in our lifetime seen anything like this that Mark means the turmoil in America right now. That's the context and then she goes on she says but why aren't churches across this nation having prayer conference calls or resume meetings with their people so we can pray and repent as a nation.

Why is the church silent. Thank you for informing us all leave it there. I think she raises a good point.

I mean America is in turmoil. Certainly I don't recall anything recently quite as tumultuous as America right now. How about if the church were to come together for some prayer and repentance and why the overwhelming silence in the church you as a pastor have any comment on Nancy's email while a very good one. Very thoughtful comment from someone is a mature believer, you obviously her registration goings. That's right thought I talked with a lot of my friends are pastors for large churches. We talked about different things. I actually met with some pastors yesterday.

We talked about some things that we can do, but I think praying. That's the most important thing I think a lot of us are praying individually. My wife and I tried regularly for our country and putting something on the larger scale. Maybe churches calling for a day of prayer just for country information would be a great thing to accomplish something like that. You probably need someone who's of the kind of a national status. The people over there like a Franklin Graham or someone like that. If I were to call for that. A lot of people don't know me that's a good thing I'm not some guys you know some of those people might suggest that you know Jack Hibbs well is one of Greg Laurie. Well John Graham done in dollars that person would doubtless that's a very good thought amino might talk to some of those men who have more influence than I do and some of those ways. Even though the president some of them to do that so that's a great thought.

I appreciate you sharing that it's given me something to think about the and then you cite some keys to blessing Mark, can you say the first key the blessing of course is that the nation our nation support Israel.

Genesis 12 three and this is one of the reasons why America is a blessed nation without a doubt as I speak.

We have a president who's the most pro-Israel president in Israel. 72 year history doesn't mean our relations with Israel are perfect but they are better than they have been. And then you say pray for our nation and for those in authority and practice godliness and don't contribute to the corruption that we see going on. I don't think too many of my listeners are but you never know. And sometimes we have unbelievers who literally stumble across the program in their car.

Can't believe what they're hearing and often are in disagreement.

But nonetheless, let's not be a part of some of the God less nests that were seeing happen what truck the Bible should righteousness exalts a nation. Sam is a disgrace. 20 people and we often decry the unrighteousness that we see happening in our country to wickedness the evil witch happening but at the same time we excuse the unrighteousness and the wickedness in our own lives. It's one thing to decry what's happening out there in the culture and speak against the public of Isaiah there in the first six chapters. You go along saying whoa you know woe to the nation of Israel well within you get to chapter 6 and he sees the Lord.

I lifted up because woe is me equipped to start with ourselves and make sure the were living a life of obedience whatever to be perfect with living a life of obedience. We do send a life of repentance in our families and our communities. That's where it begins with each one of us to do that and hopefully the melt will ripple out into our churches and our communities.

In other places, because that's ultimately what each one of us individually can do well against textbooks which we carry and I've read it cover to cover, because I was able to read it in about two hours. It's very informative and very helpful if you're wondering how on earth does this Corona crisis have anything to do with things that are talked about in the Bible, probably so Corona crisis plagues pandemics in the coming apocalypse by my guest for the our Dr. Mark Hitchcock. You can find him at Faith Bible Church in Edmond, Oklahoma. You can learn more@marklhitchcock.com you can find the book at olive trees use views as an viewpoint, olive tree views.org you can give my office a call. Probably best.

Monday through Friday and will get a book out to your real quickly. Again, I've read it cover to cover and yell what's going on with Corona crisis.

At least it's going to play out eventually. Whether or not that's mainly the tribulation probably that we've got is very open with a couple of clips we've got the tribulation casting a huge shadow on the church age as I speak. Letting a lot of the program just because I'm so out of time. Everyone listening loves and appreciates our wonderful country here America. That's the shining city on a hill, president Reagan called it, and let's remember that our true home is heaven that is much more than the shining city on a hill.

It's Re: eternal home that he waits all who name the name of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It represents perfection, no pestilence, no separation, no death, no tears. It is out of this world and I want to say to you, please don't miss it for the world and I want to thank you for listening. Talk you next week by we are in an age of fake news and holds teaching.

Thank you for trusting this radio outreach, and for supporting it for 20 years. You can listen electronically if you miss a radio program access.

Understanding the times radio on our YouTube channel under John Markel's channel.com at our website. Olive tree views.org and@oneplace.com: central time at 763559447635594 get her mail. When you write to all three ministries of John Markel, box 1452 group MN 55311, Box 1452, Maple Grove, MN 5511. All gifts are tax-deductible solar website and how to text. Join us next week as we remind you that everything is falling into place