More than 5,000 people have died from the deadly COVID-19 virus and almost 140,000 affected worldwide, in what the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared a pandemic. Yesterday saw the worst day in the stock market for 30 years, following a stand-off between Saudi Arabia and Russia over oil prices, in the wake of panic brought on by the virus outbreak. As many countries go into lockdown, Christian pastors Marko Kiroglu and Mark Osborne say these are just some of the signs prophesied in the Bible that Jesus Christ will return.
Speaking on YouTube channel Countdowntochrist this week, Mr Osborne said: “If you turn to Matthew 24 and start at verse four, Jesus is talking to his disciples and they want to know when the end is going to happen.
“So Jesus starts giving some signs – and we must be careful because he’s talking about his Second Coming.
“He starts by saying ’you will hear of wars and rumours of wars’ are we not hearing that?”
Mr Osborne continued, pointing to some of the world tensions we see today as well.
He added: “There is so much tension between nations – China and the US, Saudi Arabia and Russia, Turkey and Syria – so all these wars and rumours.
“But, it is more specific than that – ‘see that you are not alarmed for this must take place, but the end is not yet, for nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom and there will be pestilence and earthquakes’.
“What did the World Health Organisation say about the coronavirus?”
Mr Kiroglu answered: “Yesterday, the World Health Organisation declared it to be a pandemic.”
Mr Osborne explained the idea of the Second Coming being like giving birth, that the signs would intensify and become more frequent.
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He said: “The other thing is that look at the last couple of weeks, the entire world economy is crumbling into pieces because of wars, China, Russia and Saudi Arabia are fighting over the oil price.
“Sanctions nations are putting against each other, the building of armament is costing billions too.
“These are all increasing in intensity and frequency.”
Mr Osborne does not think the coronavirus will mark the Second Coming though, instead, he says it is just the start of the End Times.
He continued: “I believe, in the midst of all that, is this pestilence – the coronavirus – is part of the sign of the End Times.
“There have always been these things [pandemics], but it seems to be coming on more and more frequently, and more intense.
“It’s pointing to the coming of Jesus.
“The question is whether we should be fearful of the coronavirus, or live perfect.
“My view is, be careful, don’t be silly, but don’t be afraid of it, because the virus is not the end, we don’t live in fear.”
