None can deny these are unpleasant and difficult times. They are also the times shortly before the return of Jesus. In just a few short weeks a frightening but erroneous lethal forecast for a new virus coupled with decisions by the leaders and experts throughout the world to ignore established rights of the people has led to near disaster for America’s and the world’s economies. Thankfully the model’s death forecasts for this coronavirus were terribly wrong. And yes we still of course do need to be cautious about that disease and to use the wise preventive steps that have been advanced.
Something most of us seldom see or hear when this virus is discussed anywhere is real solid facts. Mostly what we hear is hype. Below are the facts of our current situation.
- The USA leads the 200+ countries in the world by a lot in the number of deaths attributed to covid-19 coronavirus: more than 81,000 deaths.
- In second place is the UK with more than 32,000, closely followed by Italy at more than 30,000, and France and Spain each with more than 26,000.
- Then there is a great drop to the next country, with Brazil filling that spot at more than 11,000.
- Surprisingly, none of the remaining 190 + countries on earth has even 10,000 deaths from this disease. Not Russia. Not China if we believe China’s numbers. Not the giant India or the huge Pakistan or Nigeria.
- In fact, the majority of the world’s countries have very few deaths, far less than they have deaths from other diseases like tuberculosis and malaria and so on. About sixty-five percent of the world’s countries each have less than one hundred deaths from coronavirus. Many have far fewer than that, totals in the ten to twenty range.
- Even in the USA the death total for coronavirus is way below the annual level for cancer (600,000), heart disease (650,000), respiratory, stroke, and so on. Using recent full year figures from the CDC, coronavirus would rank as the sixth or seventh greatest killer.
- In the USA, almost half of the deaths are in New York and New Jersey, with a huge amount being right in New York City. Why is that? Why haven’t we seen huge numbers of deaths in other great international cities like Tokyo, for example?
- A great number of US states have little coronavirus. A few never closed down.
- The overwhelming majority of deaths from coronavirus are in older people, people over seventy, and most of those have preexisting conditions (esp. obesity and diabetes). There are few deaths for younger adults and nearly zero for anyone under 18.
- In the US a significant portion of the deaths have occurred in nursing homes where the elderly were sitting ducks and obviously those giving the care were not prepared. If we back out those figures, the US figures drop greatly. Even including those figures, the percent death rate in the US from this disease is only two hundredths of one percent of the population.
- Look how focused the impact of this disease has been. Is this God’s judgement on Western culture?
- Is this somehow a targeted disease from China against the western powers – the USA and western Europe?
- Why is so much of the rest of the world so little affected? Why don’t we see more in the media questioning all this?
- And why has the rest of the world nevertheless caused such severe harm to itself by shutting down just like the USA and Europe?
- Why everywhere have people under at least sixty not been allowed to continue working and traveling about as normal, just observing the basic prevention rules of handwashing, social distancing, and perhaps wearing a mask? That would have averted the great destruction of the economy throughout the world and who knows how many persons suffering and even dying from starvation, increased suicides, and such.
- The USA government took the steps of encouraging the shelter at home policy, the lockdown, after medical experts presented forecasted deaths of over 2 million (from a model). The same model projected deaths of 500 million in the UK.
- Is this lockdown of the world’s economies the greatest mistake in the history of the world?
- Why are certain governors and other political leaders continuing to oppress people with stringent controls when it is obvious they are not warranted?
- Regardless of how the coronavirus came about, is the subsequent reaction of the various governments and the hyped actions of many in media and other fields an effort to break down the strong western economies and maybe even the world, putting the world’s nations in a much more subdued state easily organized into that one world government of the end times, the government run by the antichrist?
- Will we ever see a return of the basic rights of Americans to the citizens? A full return? Why did Americans so readily give up their rights, rights like freedom of speech, freedom to assemble, freedom of religion, and so on?
- Is there much more going on today in the governments, the media, and more than just the fighting against a serious disease? (Come on – you know the answer to that one. Of course.)
Why such a reaction to this disease? One religious writer I just read cites the great lack of faith among so many people, the incessant chatter of the social media, and the endless focus on bad news by the media itself. I would add to that the behavior of several politicians who seem to jump right into the mainstream of shutting things down and exerting ever more power. All of this creates every more fear, and as believers know, fear is not from God. It is demonic, a tool of the devil.
One great concern I have outside the disease itself is the way Americans readily gave up their rights in recent weeks. When the various government bodies started coming out with all their edicts and orders, they just acquiesced and closed their businesses, went home to stay. Governors and lower level government officials put into place more and more regulations that completely go against the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. You may not know this, but governors do not have the legal right to tell citizens to stay home, to shut down businesses, not to gather together, not to petition if they want. The government does not have the legal right to tell churches not to hold services. Some of this may have been wise for a while – generally during flu season many people try not to be in crowds for example. But you should know that there is no right given these leaders to take the steps they have taken. What is worse, lower level staff such as a few deputies and police and lower level judges have actually arrested and even sentenced people to fines or jail for disobeying such regulations. A woman letting her daughter play outside her house in one state was arrested. A man pitching a ball with his daughter in an empty field was taken away in handcuffs. Now we see some leaders asking people to snitch on others if they disobey the shelter in place rules.
I think all of us who may have never understood before now can see how easy it is for dictators to rise and seize power. All it took here was some fear blown up way out of proportion by the media and false projections.
One well known judge suggested recently that some of these governors and other officials could be prosecuted for their actions. Wonder if that will ever happen.
I am concerned about how quickly and if we will all get back the rights that our founding fathers and our military fought so hard to obtain and preserve. What do you think George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Patrick Henry would all think of the recent weeks. Or for that matter those who fought to save the world in WWII, like my father.
It goes without saying that this is a bizarre disease with bizarre symptoms. I may write on that in another piece. But right now the big concern is the bizarre way it has been handled by the world’s governments and the great fear people have shown in their personal responses.
There are more questions and more facts, but that is enough. At this time in our lives, we all must remain singularly focused on Jesus. Always seek to be guided by the Holy Spirit, using the great gifts of discernment and wisdom and more.
I suspect we have not seen the end of surprises to our way of life for this year. Be alert as Jesus warned in Luke 21:36. Watch that you are not deceived as he warned in Luke 21:8. And realize we are dealing with a lot of godless people who occupy pretty senior positions in our country and world – government leaders and staff, media, businessmen, others. No doubt there are some believers there too. Just be alert.
The Lord never said these would be easy times. We still have not seen the beginning of the Tribulation, for that starts when Israel signs a peace agreement they truly believe. That hasn’t happened. But we are surely well into fulfillment of the prophesies of things to happen before the Lord’s return. See our book WAKE UP AMERICA! for all on that. Pestilence is a prophetic sign Jesus gave in both Luke 21 and Matthew 24. And the fourth horse of the apocalypse in Revelation 6 brings pestilence as well.
There is much to think about and much to pray about.
May God bless you all and keep you in the palm of his hands.
May 2020
Copyright © 2020 by John Newlin
***********************
[NOTE: This article should be copied, printed, or forwarded by email to others so long as it is copied, printed, or forwarded in its entirety with appropriate attributions included (including the copyright and the ministry contact information). It may also be quoted in part as long as appropriate attributions are given. We in fact encourage you to do all this and to give printed copies to those who you know would benefit and do not have access to computers.]
*********************
GET OUR BOOK WAKE UP AMERICA TO ALL YOU CAN!
Giving this book to others is one way to reach those around you with the truths of the gospel and the imminent return of Jesus. Most people will take a book given to them. They may read it later, but at least you will have a book in their hands.
Order from our ministry by clicking here: JNMI LINK
Order from Amazon by clicking here: AMAZON LINK
Or directly contact our ministry by calling (910) 395 1465. If you are ordering ten or more copies sent directly to one address you will receive a special lower price. Anyone who has already purchased ten or more copies will receive this low price for all future purchases.
All contributions to John Newlin Ministries, Inc. – whether money or material goods or stocks or bonds – are tax deductible. John Newlin Ministries, Inc. is a 501 © 3 nonprofit corporation.
KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS!
JOHN NEWLIN MINISTRIES
P O BOX 1038
CARY, NC 27518
https://johnnewlinministries.org
email: john@johnnewlinministries.org
Twitter.com/johnnewlinmin
Blog: johnnewlin.blogspot.com
tel 910 395 1465
No comments:
Post a Comment