John Piper: “The coronavirus is a God-given wake-up call to be ready for the second coming of Christ”

The well-known theologian says that the“Birth Pains” that mark the end times are meant to keep Christians awake.

“The coronavirus is a God-given wake-up call to be ready for the second coming of Christ,” he says.

Piper points out that while church history is full of failed predictions about when the end of the world will be, what remains true is that Jesus Christ will return.

“For those who are not ready to meet Christ, that day will come suddenly like a trap,” said the theologian through an article published by the Crossway ministry.

He points out that in Matthew 24, Jesus said that there would be indicators for his coming, such as wars, famines, and earthquakes; which he called “Birth Pains”.

“The image is of the earth as a woman in labor, trying to give birth to the new world, which Jesus would bring into being at his coming,” he said

Based on the book of Matthew and Romans

According to Piper, the apostle Paul also referred to these events in Romans 8:22, citing current sufferings (such as the Coronavirus) as “birth pains”.

“He pictured us in our diseases as part of the labor pains of the world. We groan as we wait for the redemption of our bodies at the coming of Jesus,” he explains.

“My point is this: Jesus wants us to see the birth pains (including the coronavirus) as reminders and alerts that he is coming and that we need to be ready,” he added.

The theologian quotes Matthew 24:44, motivating the church to be alert, since the coming of Christ can happen at the least expected moment.

“You don’t have to be a date setter in order take seriously what Jesus says. And what he says is unmistakable: ‘Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come,” he said.

“But, oh, how many people are not awake! For all their frenzied activity, they are sound asleep in regard to the coming of Jesus Christ. The peril is great. And the coronavirus is a merciful wake-up call to be ready.”