“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you aren’t troubled, for all this must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are the beginning of birth pains.”  Matthew 24:6-8

On the human level we have “nation rising against nation” with wars and conflicts between nations in many places throughout the earth. More importantly, we have huge power-blocks of the world (i.e. “kingdoms” in the sense of realms) rising against one another in covert full-spectrum warfare, each in a bid for global domination. We have had “earthquakes in various places” intensifying during this same period. As for “famines” – this originates in the original Greek from a word that means “..to fail or be absent, destitute, wanting, lack.” If this is to be understood on a global scale, then closed ports around the world, breaking the global supply chain and thereby causing a lack of everything from toilet paper to food items, and even medical needs, certainly qualifies as fulfilling that term.

As for “pestilences,” here is a current list of epidemics from WHO: Chikungunya, Cholera, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, Ebola, Hendra virus, Influenza (pandemic, seasonal, zoonotic), Lassa fever, Marburg virus disease, Meningitis, MERS-CoV, Monkeypox, Nipah virus infection, Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), Plague, Rift Valley fever, SARS, Smallpox, Tularaemia, Yellow fever, Zika virus disease - and let us not forget HIV (36 million deaths).

Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is, of course, the “pestilence” out of all of these that is currently shaking and reshaping the entire global system.

As the foundations of the global order are shaken, the tremors are felt by all, including the Remnant. Indeed, we are not immune to the effects of all these troubles, and must each deal with them accordingly. However, while being practical and Biblical in our response, we have no need to be in fear.

An Encouraging Prophetic Psalm For The Remnant

As we begin this new year, YHWH is turning our attention to Psalms 46:1-11. This Psalm is speaking of this very time in which we now live, moving through a series of global shocks, which will finally terminate in the return of Messiah and the institution of the Millennial Kingdom throughout the earth. This Psalm includes blessed reassurance for the Remnant, this year, and every year ahead, bringing us to the Return of the Lord. Let’s now look at this precious Psalm:

“Elohim is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we won’t be afraid, though the earth changes, though the mountains are shaken into the heart of the seas; though its waters roar and are troubled, though the mountains tremble with their swelling. Selah.” (v. 1-3)

The whole world system of mankind “the earth” is being shaken and changed. “Mountains” metaphorically refer to national governments. These are being shaken now, with other shocks to follow, the series of which will cause the individual nations to be “shaken into the heart of the seas” – “seas” here metaphorically meaning a new global order of mankind. Yes, a world government made up of all peoples. Just to be clear, I am not saying that will happen this year. I’m saying this will happen after the series of global shocks following up on the shock the world is presently experiencing, and continuing over a relatively short period of years just ahead.

In the face of these earth-shaking shocks and changes, the Psalm reminds us, His Remnant People, “Elohim is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we won’t be afraid.” Yes, we have no need to fear as the world does, because we are in covenant relationship with the True God and He is there to help us through the troubles ahead, as they emerge. This is a time we need to draw closer to Him than ever, to hear Him and to obey Him. If we do that we have nothing to fear, because He knows what we don’t know. He knows the details of what will happen next and how it will affect us individually. Therefore, if we obey Him we will always be ahead of the curve of events, out of harm’s way, with no reason to fear.

“There is a river, the streams of which make the city of Elohim glad, the holy place of the tents of the Most High. Elohim is within her. She shall not be moved. Elohim will help her at dawn.” (v. 4+5)

There is a “river of living waters” that comes forth from Messiah and the New Jerusalem that fills the hearts of the Remnant nation (His city) with joy and peace. Resting in Him and on Him, we shall not be moved from that place of security, regardless of the shaking of the world around us. Yes, we are going through a time of great darkness, yet, at the dawn, the end of it, Messiah will return and we will be with Him forever!

“The nations raged. The kingdoms were moved. He lifted his voice, and the earth melted. YHWH of Armies is with us. The Elohim of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Come, see YHWH’s works, what desolations he has made in the earth.” (v. 6-8)

The rage of the nations toward Elohim and His Messiah is the source of the shaking of the power-blocks of the earth (Ps 2). Yet, this is happening because YHWH “lifted His voice” to foretell these events in advance, which the nations are now living out. YHWH is in control! He is YHWH of armies! Many millions of powerful angels are at His command, and the armies of Israel fulfill His will in this earth! This all-powerful YHWH is with us, His remnant nation of Israel! Yes, “The Elohim of Jacob” is our refuge – His remnant nation rightly looks to Him as a place of refuge through these troubles because of the covenant YHWH made with Jacob and the patriarchs. Therefore, we are witnesses of the awe-inspiring desolations He is bringing upon the wicked, rather than being the object of those desolations.

“He makes wars cease to the end of the earth. He breaks the bow, and shatters the spear. He burns the chariots in the fire.” (v. 9)

Here YHWH reminds us of the end result of the shaking of the earth. Namely, the coming millennial Kingdom of Messiah, when Messiah will take all dominion away from the earthly rulers who bring wars and all these troubles upon Mankind, and then we shall have a new earth in which wars and all other troubles will be brought to an end. That’s where all of this shaking will end, giving us reason to accept these earth-shaking changes with patience and faith.

“Be still, and know that I am Elohim. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth. YHWH of Armies is with us. The Elohim of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.” (v. 10+11)

Finally, because of all the above, the Remnant People are urged to accept the Divine will for these days without fear or resistance, to “be still” from our own works. Know that “He is Elohim” – our Elohim in whom we put all of our trust. The shaking and all of the troubles that go with it will result in Elohim being lifted up and exalted in the earth, so that righteous people everywhere will be drawn to Him, to be saved out of this wicked world into His Kingdom. We need not resist the changes or be in fear of them, because YHWH of Armies is with us. This seems to infer a new and more intense level of angelic support for the people of YHWH as we face new troubles and obstacles we have never encountered before. The heavenly armies are sent before us, to make our way! As we identify with His nation Israel these words take on far greater meaning; “The Elohim of Jacob is our refuge.”