judybarrettblog

Dana Coverstone’s Prophecy and My Response

My thoughts on Dana Coverstone’s prophetic dreams…
His dreams are entirely probable in this volatile environment.
So what does this mean for us as Christians?
A prophecy about the future in the Bible serves a few different purposes. The main purposes include a warning of what is to come and a reassurance that God is in charge (since He knew what was to come and told His people about it). Some prophecy does not have to come true. If the people repent, and change their ways, the things foretold do not have to come to pass. (Jer 26: 19, Jonah 3:10, Rev 2:5) At other times, greater or lesser fulfillment of a prophecy is seen depending on the people’s response. (Dan 9:18) So while the prophecy is fulfilled, it may not be as severe as it could have been if the people ignored the warning. At other times the prophecy is inevitable, and God is preparing his people so they understand what is to come and are prepared for it. This occurs when Jeremiah prophecies about the coming events that will result in Jerusalem being captured and the people dispersed. At other times a prophecy is fulfilled at separate times. The first fulfillment is a mild, or lesser fulfillment, while a later fulfilment is more severe, or significant. (Is 7:14, Mt 1:23)
I believe this prophecy is a warning. If the Christians do not stand up, our nation is in trouble.
So what do we do?
We behave meekly- we are strong and immovable, but always respectful and gracious to those who do not agree even if they are not nice to us. If we behave like jerks and idiots, our cause is lost. Do not defend a side just because it is your side, instead do what is right and compassionate no matter what. No sinner repented when the pharisees looked down on them and excluded others. Be like Jesus, not the religiously arrogant ‘sons of vipers’ and ‘white-washed tombs’ of His time.
We stand firmly against lawlessness and hate (wherever it occurs). We protect people’s rights, including their right to support themselves and feed their families. We support other’s rights to worship and for free speech- for everyone. Jesus did not silence the pharisees and leaders of his time, he debated them and showed them the flaws in their arguments with sincerity. He was a guest in their homes. While there is a time to clean the Temple, there are more examples in both the gospels and the letters of reaching people through reason and love.
We right wrongs. When you hear about someone being treated poorly and have checked to make sure the story is true, make sure they are treated well, especially if they were treated poorly by someone calling themselves a Christian! And stand up and say something when people are being mean. Don’t be afraid to speak up, but gently and with love. Many people do not know that they are being cruel. Educate instead of going for the jugular. A win is when someone learns to do better, not when you eviscerate your opponent!
We stop the fear mongering. God has instructed us not to fear and to be strong and courageous many, many times in the Bible. We need to counteract the media and some politicians’ message of fear and replace it with reassurance that although times are tough, we will get through this together- and mean it! Help your neighbors and encourage others to do the same. Redirect the people who would take advantage of others as well, as this will impede real help and cause others to stop helping when they would be otherwise willing. Ensure your help is real and encourage the people who are receiving it to pay it forward when they can.
We are also not stupid about it. COVID is real. We need to protect our most vulnerable, but, unless our scientists are closer to a vaccine and/or cure than I am aware of, that means herd immunity so the elderly and weak can get out of their homes without fear. Trying to keep the young and healthy from getting the disease is unfortunately just going to keep it around longer and increase the risk that the old and weak will become infected. The quarantine is not the answer for the healthy, but for those at risk. What we need to do is to work with health providers and public officials to come up with an actual common-sense plan for our area that keeps fatalities low. We need to stop the fear mongering, as well as the ‘no one is going to tell me what to do’ and get on the same page so our people are as protected as possible, our children are educated and safe and our economy does not collapse. Every church has people in healthcare in it. Get them together and then push for what is best for your area. Make sure your data is accurate and your plan flexible in case you are wrong, so plans can quickly change. In short- be the leaders God called you to be!