I hope to not be out of line with this...but
What if this COVID thing was wunna the 7 last plagues?
I've thought about this lately
And I like that thought
Being sealed is a good feeling for me
No panic
Just relief
God has done some obvious works in this sinner's life in the last few months
I rest in that
Interesting idea.
But there are a few problems.
1. The Gospel has not yet gone to all the world -- Christ said it will before the end (see Matt 24:14)
2. Christ is still our High Priest in Heaven (Heb 8:1-4) in the sanctuary in heaven - and that process stops (Rev 15:8) before the Rev 16 plagues are poured out. So if we were in the time of the plagues - nobody would have forgiveness of any sin committed at this time.
3. The mark of the beast in Rev 13 and 14 has not happened. And we know from Rev 14 that it will be set up and that all the world will be warned about it - before the plagues take place.
======================================
First problem:
1. Matt 24 "this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the entire world... and then shall the end come"... that has not happened yet.
==============================
second problem:
2. Rev 16 is the 7 last plagues... notice what happens in Rev 15.
7 And one of the four living creatures gave the
seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives for ever and ever; 8 and the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power,
and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were ended.
So that means the sanctuary in heaven is shut down for the time that the 7 last plagues are poured out.
Currently the heavenly sanctuary is fully functioning with Christ as our High Priest mediator in heaven
Christ is our mediator in heaven in the heavenly sanctuary - pleading His blood for our sins
Heb 8:1
Now the main point in what we are saying is this:
we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty
in heaven, 2 a minister in the sanctuary and the true tent which is set up not by man but by the Lord.
Heb 4:
14 Since then
we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,
but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
1 John 2:1 My little children, I am writing this to you so that you may not sin;
but if any one does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;
So then
Question: what happens when the Rev 15:8 event takes place, sanctuary in heaven shut down?
Answer: Christ ceases His ministry as high priest and mediator in heaven's sanctuary. The "one mediator between Christ and man" 1 Tim 2 -- ends His work is intercessor and so then the wrath of God is poured out in the 7 last plagues.. upon mankind.
Rev 15
Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous:
seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.
So during the time of the 7 last plagues the saint stand in the presence of God
sealed, and without a Mediator pleading for forgiveness for sins committed in that time... that means no more sinning for the saints during that time ... they are sealed. This has not happened yet.
that has not happened yet.
=======================================
We live in the time where the 4 angels are still withholding the four winds of strife and plague
Rev 7:
7 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel ascend from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees,
until we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads.”
We live in the time of the Rev 14 proclamation of the 3 angels messages to the entire world - the last and final warning to mankind.
========================
But when the sanctuary in heaven does shut down, and the saints already sealed - and Christ ceases to mediate for sins -- What are the first two plagues? Rev 16:2-3
2 So the first angel went and poured his bowl on the earth, and foul and evil sores came upon the men who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.
3 The second angel poured his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a dead man, and every living thing died that was in the sea.
This has not happened yet.