There is a lot of speculation about the meaning of the COVID-19 event. Some see it the hand of God judging America for all its sins. Others see it as a prophetic end time event and are trying to justify that the world is in its final days. First and foremost, America is not the center of Biblical prophecy. The Bible is a Middle Eastern book, written from the geographic perspective of the table of nations found in Genesis 10. The Bible relates how Christ was sent for the salvation of the world through the Hebrew people, how gentiles were grafted in to the salvation plan by Christ’s death and resurrection, and how He will return to and rule from Israel. Finding prophetic meaning in COVID-19 requires a look well beyond America.
Matthew 24 speaks of wars, earthquakes, pestilences and famine as precursors to the “beginning of sorrows.” There have been events such as COVID-19 in the past. In 2005, I documented in my book “Warshod” that in the previous 100 years, small pox killed 300 million people, and influenza millions. In 1918, for example, a worldwide flu epidemic attacked about 20% of the global population, leaving some 50 million dead, 675,000 deaths in the US. Do you not think that those who were alive then believed the end times were upon them? In a 14-year period from 1991-2005, earthquake frequency had increased 88%, and in the 1900s, 165 wars and tyrannies contributed to 180 million deaths—100 million attributed to communism. This was a 125% increase in war-related deaths over the previous century. Famine follows war.
Many have tried to make the case that China’s coronavirus is one of the bowl judgments in Revelation. It is not. Read your Bible. The bowl judgments come AFTER the beast (antichrist) has taken control in the last 3 ½ years of Jacobs Troubles, commonly referred to as the Tribulation. We have not seen such a figure as yet. We can, however, through this virus example, see how the entire world can be impacted by a single event and how a leader might arise. Our response—First, as Christ said, do not be deceived. Second, this is an opportunity, not to place blame and be angry, but to show the love of Christ to others. Bond together. Help one another. Pray for one another. Have empathy.
This COVID-19 is a type and shadow of things to come, a prophetic fire drill if you will. It is showing us just how fast our freedom can be shackled. It demonstrates how quickly the world can be locked down in response to a crisis. As we look at this prophetically, watch carefully for leaders arising out of the Middle East, especially from Turkey and Iran. Study Daniel 8, Ezekiel 38-39, and Matthew 24. Don’t get caught up in the wild-eyed claims and conspiracy theories—they are only there to deceive. Be wise. Take care. Show the love of Christ as your testimony. Remember, you are still here and you will be until the Lord decides to remove you. As Christ said in Matthew 24:13, “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” You have been given a spirit of power, love and a sound mind. Do not fear.
