With the advent of COVID-19 pandemic, many Christian sects are predicting that the end of the world is at hand. Of course, Christian prophecies about the coronavirus, about locust swarms, about a socioeconomic pandemic, or the consequent era of humility are worthy of attention. Prophet TB Joshua, the Bishop of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, (SCOAN), Lagos Nigeria, has spent considerable time drawing the attention of the world to what God has been showing to him. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has infected more than 25 million people globally since it emerged and has been branded a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). Several conspiracy theorists and some Christian groups have responded by flooding social media in recent months with their versions of warnings of the world’s fiery demise. Hence both Christians and world scientists believe that they have a say on world affairs, especially as relates to the end-time plagues. Nevertheless, there is still no convergence of opinions so far but that the coronavirus shouldn’t be viewed as the end-time plague. The giant swarms of locusts which are also devastating, extremely unusual storms, earthquake and volcanic activity are both on the rise, and other very dangerous diseases that are sweeping across the globe are referred to as other signs that are confounding human knowledge.
The situation which Prophet Habakkuk faced in his time was the imminent invasion of the Southern Kingdom of Judah by the Babylonians, also known as the Chaldeans. This invasion eventually happened and Jerusalem fell to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The Lord revealed to Habakkuk beforehand that Judah was going to be punished for her sin by the Chaldeans. Unlike prophets Joel, Zephaniah or Amos, Habakkuk did not even mention the possibility that destruction could be averted by repentance. He did not call for national repentance. It was too late. Instead, he predicted the destruction of Judah, and beyond that the doom of the Chaldeans themselves. Prophet Habakkuk promised that the only way to preserve our life through the judgment was by faith. Hence, even though destruction is decreed for all the nations of the world now, there is hope for individuals who hold fast their confidence in God. The full-blown doctrine of justification by faith, taught by Apostle Paul in Romans and Galatians, is the seed here and for our instruction. The just (righteous, faithful, true and obedient follower of Jesus) shall live by faith. There is hope for those who will hold firm their trust in God as the calamity comes, COVID-19 or otherwise.
Prophet TB Joshua’s measuring instrument of the just, the righteous, the true obedient servant of Jesus is in his or her degree of “letting go any offence, then constant meditation on the Word, and praying without ceasing”. The world is truly passing through a big storm and uncharted terrain but there is hope for those who will hold firm to their unshaken faith in Christ Jesus. We have two messages from Prophet Habakkuk. The first message is that proud person, people whose strength or ingenuity is their god (Habakkuk 1:11, 16, 2: 4, 19), will come to a woeful end, even though they may enjoy prosperity for a season either as God’s chosen ones in Judah or as the victors over Judah. All the proud, whether they are Jew or Gentile, men or women, they will perish in the unending ongoing judgment of God. The second message of Prophet Habakkuk is that the just shall live by his faith as a principle (Habakkuk 2:4). Finally, the prophet celebrates it as his song in (Habakkuk 3:16–19). Prophet Habakkuk says, “Even when all the fruit and produce and flocks and herds are destroyed and my very life is threatened, yet will I rejoice in God.” Hence banking our hope on God no matter what and all shall be well. Emmanuel
Prof. R. A Ipinyomi, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
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