Before going nuclear, there is a divine rescue. On the 1st of Tishri (Trumpets) in September, Jesus Christ snatches away His children. The context of the Rapture is the beginnings of World War III. Like Noah and Lot, God rescues His people before judgment begins.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up [raptured] together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

The Tribulation begins as World War III worsens. The battlefield widens from China to India and Iraq. China's army crosses the Euphrates River and controls oil in the Middle East. The US, devastated by ~50 million citizens disappearing (rapture), uses tactical nuclear weapons and the war turns MAD (Mutual Assured Destruction). China, India and United States sustain the most casualties (~2.5 billion). The war ends 3½ years later in Nisan (April) and the crowning of Antichrist.

If I [the Lord] shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; if my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:13-14).

The coronavirus is a pestilence that signals the beginning of the end. China, United States and India will  fight World War III. The British lion/German leopard/Russian bear of the European Union will not participate but rule the world. The only question is when? The Rapture occurs on the new moon on the Feast of Trumpets (September) but what year? There is a reason why the world is on the edge of the Tribulation. See Timeline. All nations fall and Jesus Christ reigns.

References: 21st Century Revelation: World Wars, Iraq Wars & End Wars: Chapter 20 - Players in the Game, Chapter 21 - Four Horses on the Run, Chapter 23 - World Wars, Cold Wars, Chapter 25 - World War III, Coronavirus Outbreak, Potential Superpowers

On November 17, 2019, coronavirus 2 (COVID-19) was discovered in Wuhan, China. Corona is named after the "crown" of receptors that cover the virus. It spreads through cough or sneeze. As of July 2021, there are 183 million confirmed cases and 3.9 million deaths. Belgium, Bosnia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Czechia, Hungary, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Peru, Slovenia and Slovenia have the most deaths per population. On January 31, 2020, the US Health and Human Services Secretary declared a public health emergency and then March 13, 2020, President Trump declared a public health emergency.

Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven (Luke 21:10-11).

China

The Coronavirus outbreak began with a cluster of mysterious pneumonia in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei in China. On December 27, 2019, a Wuhan hospital notified the local center for disease control and National Health Commission in Beijing. In January, 2020, a new coronavirus was identified. Cover-up by Wuhan and Hubei authorities failed to contain the outbreak in the early stage. By the end of January, the virus spread to all provinces of Mainland China. Public bus and rail services were suspended, airline flights stopped, Chinese New Year celebrations cancelled and fifty million people were quarantined. The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency and later a global pandemic. As of March 2020, 750 million Chinese were quarantined which results in the second largest economy in the world coming to a halt. Cases have stabilized. China suppressed the extent of outbreak and greatly reduced their reported cases and deaths.

* Counts reported by April 1, 2021. Countries are behind on cases, count severe hospital cases but miss asymptomatic cases. Authoritarian countries are significantly undercounted.

Italy

Italy is 48th with infections but 12th with deaths at 2,113 per million. Tests show that people were infected in December. On January 31, 2020, the first case of coronavirus was confirmed. On February 21, two clusters were found in Lombardy and Veneto. As a result, 60 million Italians were locked down. With open borders, the epicenter of the pandemic moved to Europe. As of April 2021, Eastern Europe is being hit hardest. Belgium, Italy and United Kingdom have more deaths per million than the US.

Iran

Iran is 87th with infections but 53rd with deaths at 992 per million. Government health officials are drastically undercounting cases. On February 19, 2020, the first case of coronavirus was confirmed in Qom, eighty-five miles south of Tehran, Iran. Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi said Iran had the virus under control while he was coughing and sweating at a briefing for ministers and journalists. He tested positive for the virus and later died. Vice President Masoumeh Ebtekar, Deputy for Women's Affairs, was the 7th Iranian government official to get the virus. Schools and Friday prayers were canceled but the government refused to quarantine entire cities.

Japan

Japan is 132th with infections but 141th with deaths at 117 per million. On January 23, 2020, the first case of coronavirus was confirmed. On February 3, 2020, the Japanese Ministry of Health quarantined the Diamond Princess Cruise ship in Yokohama, Japan. The closed environment served as a petri dish for spreading the disease. Of 3,711 passengers and crew, 705 passengers tested positive. In July-August, 2021, the Tokyo Olympics occurred. Delayed one year and during a COVID outbreak, the only spectators in the stadiums were athletes and coaches.

South Korea

South Korea is 156th with infection rate but 1550th with deaths at 39 per million. On January 20, 2020, the first case of coronavirus was confirmed. By February 20, cases jumped because one person spread the disease at a cult in Daegu, South Korea. Public gatherings in the cities were cancelled. Through aggressive testing and tracking, the nation attempts to control the virus.

United States

The United States is 1st in tests, cases and deaths but when factoring population, the US is 11th with infections per million and 18th with deaths at 1,864 per million. On January 20, 2020, the first case of coronavirus was confirmed. Many cases started with international travel but now are from community spread. By the end of February, large clusters developed in New York, Detroit, New Orleans and Seattle. New Jersey (2,979), New York (2,777), Massachusetts (2,611) and Rhode Island (2,577) lead in deaths per million. International flights, imports/exports and the global economy have impacted the US economy. Over 94 percent of states and cities ordered stay at home orders and 57 million applied for unemployment. Local communities closed schools, churches, bars, restaurants and public events to stop the spread of the virus but liquor stores and pot dispensaries are essential businesses. Since the pandemic began, 502,863or 78 percent of deaths are from seniors 65+ and a third of deaths are from nursing homes. Schools should be open for in person learning as 412 children 0-17 or 0.06 percent died from the disease.

World War III

China's goal is to replace the United States as the superpower. They have implemented an economic and military plan that started with the Far East, adds the Middle East and ends with the world. Bible prophecy tells of an army numbered two hundred million (China). India enters the war with the US. The war probably begins between the 9th of Av and Trumpets (July-September) and escalates from limited to regional to world war.

The sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice ... saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. The four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, day, month, and year to slay the third part of men. And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred million (Revelation 9:13-14, 15-16).