- The coronavirus pandemichas many Christians wondering

are we living in the end of times.

A new Lifeway Research survey

that revealed nearly nine in 10 pastors

see at least some current events

matching those Jesussaid would occur shortly

before he returns to Earth.

And to delve deeper into that topic,

Chosen People Ministries ishosting a virtual discussion

called "Pandemics, Prophecy,and the Middle East"

Wednesday morning.

Dr. Darrell Bock of theDallas Theological Seminary

joins us now to share his thoughts.

Dr. Bock, you'll be participating

in the virtual discussion tomorrow.

What are you and the other leaders

going to be focusing on the most?

- Well we'll be talkingabout how this poll

of 1,000 pastors across the country

handle the area of eschatology.

And what's interesting about it is

we took this poll beforethe current pandemic,

and with the pandemic now appearing,

its results, I think,are even more interesting

because I suspect, if we retook the poll,

some of the results would be even higher

than they showed up in the original poll.

- Could this COVID-19 pandemic

actually be a sign of the end?

How does it compare to the plague

or other pandemics in the past?

- Well, I think, generally speaking,

pandemics or plagues are an opportunity

for people to be reflective

about their relationship with God.

Whether this is specificallyan end times sign or not,

I think is somethingthat could be discussed.

It isn't a guaranteebecause Jesus predicted

these kinds of thingswould happen periodically

throughout history, but still, it does,

along with some othersigns, indicate perhaps

that we could be drawingcloser all the time.

- What are other signs

that Christians leaders are pointing to

that would suggest thesecond coming is imminent?

- Well, the regathering of Israel

is certainly one of those features.

Fully 70% of the pastorsthought that was significant.

The rise of false prophetswas also significant.

That's about 83% in the pollthought that was significant.

The idea of believers' love growing cold

for the Lord is another one, 81%.

So false teaching is anemphasis that you're seeing

in both of those answers.

The moral collapse in society as a whole

also came in at 79% as a sign.

And when you put many ofthese things together,

famines, earthquakes,disasters were at 76%,

they all, in the combination,suggest to people

at least the possibilitythat we could be drawing

near the end, although, again,

I think the point of scriptureis we can't date the end.

Acts 1 makes this clear andour call is to be reflective

of our commitment toJesus until he returns.

- Dr. Bock, how shouldChristians be praying

during all of this?

- Well I think the main thing is to rest

in the comfort of the Lord,

not that this isn't a painful exercise

and nor should we deny theway we may be reacting to it,

but you take that tensionto the Lord in prayer.

You know, many of the psalms are laments

about what's going on around the psalmists

because circumstances are not good,

and he learns to takethat tension to the Lord

and rest in the assurityof the Lord's care.

And then the second thing

that I think we should beconcerned about as Christians

is living faithfully in themidst of these circumstances,

and particularly, beingprepared to witness to people

outside the faith who mayhave very little reading

on how to rest comfortablywith their mortality,

which of course something like a pandemic

certainly brings to the surface.

- Yes, and definitelywe need to be prepared

as far as our spiritual walk with Jesus

to make sure that we'reready for his return.

Thank you, Dr. Bock, so much for your time

and your insights.

Dr. Bock with the DallasTheological Seminary.

Again, we appreciate your time today.

- My pleasure.