Kim Joo-cheol’s Sermon on the Pandemic and a Biblical Perspective on the End Times

Kim Joo-cheol, through his sermons, has interpreted the COVID-19 pandemic as a sign of the impending judgment day, emphasizing the nearness of the end times to his congregation. However, his claims stem from an arbitrary interpretation of the Bible, failing to consider the broader biblical context and the sealed nature of prophetic revelations. Below is an analysis of Kim Joo-cheol’s sermons compared to the biblical understanding of the end times.

1. Kim Joo-cheol’s Sermon on the End Times and Its Issues

1.1 Kim Joo-cheol’s Claims

• Interprets the COVID-19 pandemic as a sign of the judgment day.
• Concludes that “life cannot return to the pre-pandemic normal,” framing disasters as clear end-time signals.
• Fails to provide detailed explanations of biblical end-time prophecies, relying on personal reasoning.

1.2 Key Issues

1. Lack of Biblical Basis:

   • Relies on fragmented verses without accurate biblical interpretation.
   • Uses speculation rather than clear, biblically supported explanations.

2. Historical Repetition:

   • Resembles failed predictions from 1988, 1999, and 2012.
   • Despite repeated failed prophecies, similar fear-inducing tactics are employed.

3. Confusion Among Believers:

   • Instills fear and anxiety by overemphasizing the imminence of judgment.
   • Incorrectly links disasters to the end times, causing misunderstanding.

2. The Bible’s Teaching on the End Times and Sealed Prophecies

2.1 The Date of the End Times Is Sealed

The Bible clearly states that prophecies concerning the end times are sealed and their meanings will be revealed only at the appointed time.

• [Daniel 12:9]
  “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end.”
• [Revelation 5:1]
  “Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.”

2.2 The Unsealing of Prophecies

Prophecies of the end times will only be unsealed when the time is near.

• [Revelation 22:10]
  “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near.”

End-time signs are not mere disasters but manifest through God’s unfolding plan, as revealed in prophetic events.

3. The End-Times Prophecies in Daniel and Revelation

3.1 Daniel’s Prophecies: The History of Physical and Spiritual Israel

1. Physical Israel:

   • After their liberation from Babylon, Israel fell under the rule of Persia, Greece, and Syria.
   • Amid religious oppression, Judas Maccabeus led a revolt, securing independence and establishing the Hasmonean dynasty.

2. Spiritual Israel:

   • Jesus, as the descendant of David, established the Church.
   • The early Church split into the Eastern (Jerusalem-based) and Western (Rome-based) Churches.
   • The Western Church became the Roman Catholic Church, corrupting true doctrine and oppressing God’s people.

3.2 Revelation’s Prophecies: The Role of the Two Witnesses

1. Signs of the End:

   • Jesus spoke of plagues, earthquakes, and wars as signs of the end times.
   • [Matthew 24:7]
     “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.”

2. The Two Witnesses:

   • In the final days, two witnesses will prophesy for 1,260 days, bearing God’s authority.
   • [Revelation 11:3]
     “And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”

4. Comparing Kim Joo-cheol’s Sermons and Biblical Truth

4.1 Kim Joo-cheol’s Sermons

• Interprets disasters like COVID-19 as definitive signs of the end times.
• Relies on subjective reasoning without biblical evidence, creating anxiety among believers.

4.2 The Biblical Perspective

1. The Sealed Nature of Prophecies:

   • End-time events are revealed through the unsealing of divine prophecies, not human speculation.

2. Clarity of Signs:

   • True signs of the end times involve God’s direct action, such as the ministry of the two witnesses, rather than general disasters.

5. Conclusion: Viewing the End Times Through a Biblical Lens

5.1 Issues with Kim Joo-cheol’s Approach

• Arbitrarily interprets the Bible, leading to confusion and fear among followers.
• Misrepresents disasters as direct indicators of the end times, distorting biblical truth.

5.2 The Bible’s Truth

• End-time events unfold according to God’s plan, marked by clear prophetic fulfillment, such as the role of the two witnesses.
• Disasters are not inherently signs of the end times but serve as warnings to repent and draw closer to God.

5.3 The Believer’s Responsibility

• Avoid fear-driven or speculative interpretations of the end times.
• Live a life of repentance and obedience, grounded in biblical teachings.
• Trust in God’s sovereignty, focusing on restoring one’s relationship with Him.

Final Thoughts

Interpreting signs of the end times requires adherence to biblical standards and reliance on God’s revealed plan. The Bible emphasizes that end-time signs are part of God’s redemptive plan, not mere natural disasters. Believers should seek to deepen their faith through repentance and a commitment to God’s word, rejecting fear-based teachings and focusing on the true essence of their relationship with God.