Jesus was the answer to all pandemics

JESUS WAS THE ANSWER TO All PANDEMICS
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
Question:"What does the Bible sayabout pandemic diseases/sicknesses?"
Answer: Various outbreaks of pandemic diseases,suchas the coronavirus,
have prompted many to ask why God allows—orevencauses—pandemic
diseasesand whether such illnesses are a sign of the end times. The Bible,
particularly the Old Testament, describes numerous occasionswhenGod
brought plagues and diseasesonHis people and on His enemies “to make you
see my power” (Exodus 9:14, 16). He used plagues on Egypt to force Pharaoh
to free the Israelites from bondage, while sparing His people from being
affectedby them (Exodus 12:13; 15:26), thus indicating His sovereigncontrol
over diseasesand other afflictions.
God also warned His people of the consequencesofdisobedience, including
plagues (Leviticus 26:21, 25). On two occasions,Goddestroyed14,700 people
and 24,000people for various acts of disobedience (Numbers 16:49 and 25:9).
After giving the Mosaic Law, Godcommanded the people to obey it or suffer
many evils, including something that sounds like disease:“The Lord will
strike you with wasting disease, withfever and inflammation . . . which will
plague you until you perish” (Deuteronomy 28:22). These are just a few
examples of many plagues and diseases Godcaused.
It’s sometimes hard to imagine our loving and merciful Goddisplaying such
wrath and angertoward His people. But God’s punishments always have the
goalof repentance and restoration. In 2 Chronicles 7:13–14,Godsaid to
Solomon, “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command

locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people,
who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my
face and turn from their wickedways, then will I hear from heavenand will
forgive their sin and will heal their land.” Here we see God using disasterto
draw His people to Himself, to bring about repentance and the desire to come
to Him as children to their heavenly Father.
In the New Testament, Jesus healed“everydisease andevery sickness,” as
well as plagues in the areas He visited (Matthew 9:35; 10:1; Mark 3:10). Just
as God chose to use plagues and disease to show His powerto the Israelites,
Jesus healedas an exhibition of the same powerto verify that He was truly the
Son of God. He gave the same healing powerto the disciples to verify their
ministry (Luke 9:1). God still allows sicknessfor His own purposes, but
sometimes disease,evenworldwide pandemics, are simply the result of living
in a fallen world. There is no way to determine whether or not a pandemic has
a specific spiritual cause, but we do know that God has sovereigncontrolover
all things (Romans 11:36) and will work all things togetherfor the goodof
those who know and love Him (Romans 8:28).
The spreadof sicknesses suchas the coronavirus is a foretaste of pandemics
that will be part of the end times. Jesus referredto future plagues associated
with the lastdays (Luke 21:11). The two witnesses ofRevelation11 will have
power“to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want”
(Revelation11:6). Sevenangels will wield sevenplagues in a series offinal,
severe judgments described in Revelation16.
The appearance ofpandemic diseasesmayor may not be tied to God’s specific
judgment of sin. It could also simply be the result of living in a fallen world.
Since no one knows the time of Jesus’return, we must be careful about saying
globalpandemics are proof that we are living in the end times. Forthose who
do not know Jesus Christ as Savior, disease should be a reminder that life on

this earth is tenuous and canbe lostat any moment. As bad as pandemics are,
hell will be worse. The Christian, however, has the assurance ofsalvationand
the hope of eternity because ofthe blood of Christ shed on the cross for us
(Isaiah 53:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 9:28).
How should Christians respond to pandemic diseases? First, do not panic.
God is in control. The Bible says the equivalent of "do not fear" over300
times. Second, be wise. Take reasonablesteps to avoid exposure to the disease
and to protect and provide for your family. Third, look for opportunities for
ministry. Often when people are fearful for their lives, they are more willing
to have conversations abouteternity. Be bold and compassionatein your
sharing of the Gospel, always speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).
Jesus in (Not Instead of) the Pandemic
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March 24, 20203minute readJonMathieu
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The prophet Habakkuk, writing during the desolationof his people and
homeland, askedtwo questions that haunt every believer in crisis: “How long,
Lord, must I call for help … Why do you make me look at injustice?”
Habbakuk 1:2-3
How long will this global pandemic spread, robbing us of health, freedom,
resources andeven life? Why does God allow catastrophes to visit towns and
nations—orin this case, the entire world? Like the ancient prophets, we may
not be able to respond to these questions. The wisestamong us admit that they
simply do not have all the answers.
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But another question rises to the surface during hardship: where is Jesus in
the midst of this crisis? And this question is one that many people seemto
have answers for—some more helpful than others.
People are very different from eachother, a feature of God’s manifold
wisdom in creation. So different people will connectwith Jesus in different
ways. Whether in crisis or not, millions of people engage withGod through
prayer, musical worship, journaling, Scripture, silent meditation and
countless otherspiritual practices. In doing so, people seek andfind the living
Savior.
The particular challenge of this season, though, is that for many people, these
spiritual connections are more difficult in the face of a pandemic and its
attendant fear, isolation, disheartening news, illness and death. This, I think,
is what we must closelyexamine: the relationship betweenspirituality and
suffering. It is possible that we are getting this very wrong.

The strategyof many Christians right now—if socialmedia is any
indication—is to focus on Godinstead of the suffering that afflicts us or
millions of others. The spiritual disciplines mentioned above are good, and it
is nourishing and healthy to practice them. But are they a retreatfrom this
world and its outbreaks, or a sustaining source oflife that energizes and
empowers us to see and respond to our own brokenness and the world’s
hurts?
To those who are currently suffering physically or financially, it can be easyto
look to Jesus as an escape from reality. I have done this myself, and I
understand the appealof this approach. It can mean praying about any and
every topic other than our suffering and how we feelabout it. But what if
Jesus, the crucified and resurrectedone, seeksto meet us in our pain rather
than pretend it’s not there?
To those who are not actively suffering, the call of Jesus is clear: to see and
respond to people’s needs. In the parable of the GoodSamaritan, the priest
and the Levite saw the wounded man, but since they did not want to tangibly
help, they pretended not to see!It is so easyfor us to do the same. To preserve
ourselves and our dwindling resources during this pandemic, we do not want
to think about helping others, so we choose not to see.
But to flee from the data, interviews, calls for supplies and stories of
suffering—evenif we turn to our trusted spiritual disciplines—is to turn away
from the place where Jesus is.
When Jesus declaredthat His ministry, prophesied long ago in the voice of
Isaiah’s Servant, was to preachto the poor, free the prisoners, give sight to the
blind and aid the oppressed(Luke 4:16-21), it was a strong hint to Jesus’
locationin our society. He canbe found at work among the needy, the
incarcerated, people with disabilities and victims of injustice. And, no doubt,
among those suffering from COVID-19 or unexpected unemployment.
Once we have seenthese pains and needs, it is time to respond. Formany, this
means giving financially to people who desperatelyneed help or to causes
meeting urgent needs. Some of us are not able to donate, but there are still
many ways to move toward, not awayfrom, the suffering. Many people really

need encouragementin the form of a phone call, video chat, text messageor
email. We canalso pray—not only for the sick and lonely, but for our own
opportunities to show them love.
As we look at those in pain and move in compassion, we willno doubt find
Jesus. “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the leastof these…”
https://relevantmagazine.com/god/jesus-in-not-instead-of-the-pandemic/

THE CATHOLIC PERSPECTIVE
This Sunday, Jesus Answers the Pandemic
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By Tom Hoopes, March 19, 2020
Why do people suffer affliction? Why does affliction threaten our whole way
of life? And what should we do about it?
The readings for this Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Lent Year A, are full of
insights that are directly relevant to the DeepLent of 2020, whenwe all face
difficulty and pain because ofthe coronavirus pandemic and the measures
takenagainstit.
It is uncanny how the readings of Holy Week have trackedwith the news of
the virus.
Lent’s Sunday readings are meant to prepare us to recommit at Easterto our
baptism in a world enslavedto Satanand sin. This time, they are also
preparing us to find hope in a world infected by virus and fear.
The First Sunday of Lent told the story of the curse of Adam and Eve and the
need to reject the devil. The SecondSunday shared the blessing promised to
Abram and to us at the Transfiguration. The Third Sunday focusedon the
waters of baptism — the life-giving water of Moses,and the living waterof
Jesus. This week, the blind man is cured; next week, Lazarus is raised.
In other words, we were warned that life is full of threats, we were promised
that it is founded in hope, and are given a cure that triumphs despite death.
This is exactly what we need to face the coronavirus pandemic as well as the
pandemic of sin in our life.

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus seesa man born blind and tells us what disease
is for.
When Jesus passesby the man, his disciples ask Jesus the question many
people are asking today: “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents?”
We might as well ask him, “Who sinned, us or China?” or, “Who is your real
target, here, Lord — America, Italy, or Iran?”
Jesus answers:“Neitherhe nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of
God might be made visible through him.”
So there you have it. The coronavirus is meant to show the works of God.
We know by faith that “Godis not in any way — directly or indirectly — the
cause ofevil.” That is from the Compendium of the Catechism, which next
says this: “Faithgives us the certainty that God would not permit evil if he did
not cause a goodto come from that very evil.”
As Jesus puts it in today’s Gospel, “We have to do the works of the one who
sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one canwork. While I am in
the world, I am the light of the world.”
We all see a little bit of what that “night” looks like right now, when “no one
can work.” Manyare dead, many are sick, many are out of work, and
everybody is scared.
But in this darkness, we canalso see more clearly the places where “the works
of God” are absent and where we need to stepthem up.
Jesus’s light illuminates a lot for us in the presentdarkness. A lot of it is not
good.
“Everything exposedby the light becomes visible,” writes St. Paul in the
SecondReading. “Takeno part in the fruitless works of darkness;rather
expose them, for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in
secret.”
This is the first thing we are learning: If we thought we could live a life blind
to God, a life without consequence orpain, now we know we can’t.

If we thought that we were invincible, now we know we were wrong, and we
long for faith in something more. If we thought that our lives were about
comforts and pleasures, now we see that they’re not, and what we really need
is hope. If we thought that we lived only for ourselves, now nothing will satisfy
us but love.
Christ’s light exposes it all.
But Christ’s light also shows us the way forward.
In the Gospel, whenJesus met the blind man, he “spaton the ground and
made clay with the saliva, and smearedthe clay on his eyes, and said to him,
‘Go washin the Poolof Siloam’ — which means Sent. So he went and washed,
and came back able to see.”
Jesus blessedthe material of the earth, applied it to the man, and it had an
interior effect. This is a sign of the sacraments, where we have a
transformational encounterwith Jesus in baptism, confession, and
communion.
The man is so utterly changedby his encounterthat his neighbors can’t
believe it is him, his parents are baffled, and religious leaders seekhim out to
interrogate him.
The sacraments do the same thing for us. They show us the dignity our lives
have in Christ.
God’s modus operandi is always the same. The blind man was a beggar,
dismissedby society, but Jesus Christ made him a disciple, a son of God. In
the first reading, David was the little brother, left behind to tend the sheep,
but God made him a king.
This is eachone of us, pulled out of the darkness ofa world infected by sin,
and chosento stand with God in Jesus Christ.
Our only possible response is the blind man’s — to say, “I was blind and now
I see,” and“I do believe, Lord,” and to worship. Our only prayer is David’s in
Sunday’s Psalm, “Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you
are at my side.”

The DeepLent of 2020 is meant to bring us to a place where we can recommit
to Christ. We hope we cando it in church at Easter. We know we can do it
right now in the darkness allaround us.
Four Catholic Answers to Pandemic Questions
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By Tom Hoopes, March 17, 2020
There are two ways to look at what is happening in the United States and
across the world with the coronavirus pandemic.
You can see it as a massive panic bordering on overreactionas people cut each
other off out of fear. Or you can see it as a beautiful exercise in solidarity,
where people who do not have much to fear from the virus are willing to go
out of their way to protect those who do.
St. Augustine saidGod “would never allow any evil whatsoeverto exist in his
works if he were not so all-powerful and goodas to cause goodto emerge from
evil itself.”
This is exactly what he is doing with the coronavirus. The Church that was
born at the crucifixion, lived through the age of martyrdom and the plague,
and remains a beaconof hope to the world, has a lot to say about situations
like this.
First: Catholics have the comfort their neighbors in need.

Christians uniquely offer “the very thing which the suffering person — every
person — needs:namely, loving personal concern,” Pope Benedictsaidin his
encyclicalon charity, Deus Caritas Est (God Is Love).
People are lonely and anxious and upset. They want to know why this is
happening, and what hope there is for the future. “There is not a single aspect
of the Christian message thatis not in part an answerto the question of evil,”
says the Catechismof the Catholic Church, 309.
We have faith. When God asks us to suffer, we know that he is not asking us
to do something he wouldn’t do. As Pope Benedict XVI put it, “Christ took
the lowestplace in the world — the cross — and by this radicalhumility he
redeemedus and constantlycomes to our aid.”
We have hope. There was a crisis of hopelessness inthe world even before the
virus. But Christians uniquely have hope. “We do not know what the [future]
has in store for us, but we are certain that it is safe in the hands of Christ, the
‘King of kings and Lord of lords’,” said St. John Paul II.
We have love. Catholics know that suffering is not a signthat God loves us
less;it is a sign that God wants us to love each other more.
Second:Catholics know that eachof us exists to serve our neighbor.
St. Jerome, who createdone of the first translations of the Bible, was one the
greatestscholarsofall time. But when a natural disasterin 404 meant that
refugees floodedhis region, he put all his scholarly work aside.
He became “completelyabsorbed in the duties that charity imposes on me,”
he wrote. “Todaywe must translate the precepts of the Scriptures into deeds.
Instead of speaking saintly words, we must actthem.”
What can we do?
Help vulnerable neighbors. One woman describedon Facebookhow she left
cards with her phone number on them in the mailboxes of elderly neighbors,
offering to do whateverthey need.

Help vulnerable businesses.One recommendation is to help hard-hit small
businesses by buying gift cards now to use later when the difficulty has
passed.
Donate blood. Less will be given as people stay home, and more will be needed
as more people go to the hospital.
Donate food. With all of the hording going on, people who have a tough time
getting food are having a tougher time than ever.
Third: Catholics know how to offer up inconveniences forothers.
For most of us, the coronavirus pandemic will mostly mean suffering
inconveniences. Offering these to Jesus cando real good.
“What does it mean to offer something up?” said Pope BenedictXVI in his
encyclicalSpe Salvi, In Hope We Were Saved. It means you “insertthese little
annoyances into Christ’s great‘compassion’ so that they somehow became
part of the treasury of compassionso greatlyneeded by the human race. In
this way, even the small inconveniences ofdaily life could acquire meaning
and contribute to the economyof goodand of human love.”
Fourth: Catholics caneven offer up the sacraments they love.
People all over the world have a hard time receiving the sacraments. In the
United States, we have an embarrassmentof riches.
As my friend Rebecca Tetiput it, when Masses, Adoration, and even
confessionare less accessible,we are invited to understand the pain brothers
and sisters suffer all over the world where the sacraments are not as available.
“Woman, why are you weeping?” two angels askedMary Magdalene as she
stoodby the empty tomb. “They have takenmy Lord, and I don’t know where
they laid him,” she answered(see John20:13). Rebecca saidwe canall relate
to her now.
Our faith was made for tough times.

Eachof our churches has a crucifix in the centerdepicting the corpse of our
founder — and Stations of the Cross along the side, depicting the stages ofhis
destruction.
Eachof our lives has a crucifix in the center, also. When we face suffering, we
aren’t facing something unusual that should startle us. We are facing the
status quo of life on earth, the situation our faith was made to answer.
We were made for the cross. The first step is to acceptit. Then start moving
forward.
This appearedat Catholic Digest.
Image: Pope Francis blesses anempty St. Peter’s Square.
Tags:coronavirus pandemic
God Is ‘Up to Something’ in the Pandemic
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By Tom Hoopes, April 21, 2020
The coronavirus pandemic is demonic. And that means something greatis
about to happen.
To be clear, I don’t mean COVID-19 is literally the work of Satan;it’s a virus,
and part of our natural fallen world. What I mean is that it is doing exactly
what Satanwants done in our lives:

It is attacking faith, severing millions from the sacraments.
It is attacking love, cutting us off from eachother.
It is attacking hope, crippling us with fear of sickness, death, and hardship.
But Jesus uses the very things that most please the devil to thwart him.
“Almighty God,” says the Catechism, “wouldnever allow any evil whatsoever
to exist in his works if he were not so all-powerful and goodas to cause good
to emerge from evil itself.”
That ancient Homily for Holy Saturday expresseshow this works atEaster:
Satantricked Adam and Eve in a garden, so Jesus’burial tricked Satanin a
garden. They stretchedout their hands to a tree of life and got death, so he
stretchedout his hands on the cross ofdeath to give them life. Their sin exiled
them from Eden, so Jesus’mercy will enthrone them in heaven.
In the same way, Satandelights in the enormous grief the coronavirus has
causedby making people suffer and die alone — but Jesus Christ intends to
turn lonely tears into shouts of joy in the company of heaven.
I love seeing how Catholics are taking the very aspects ofthe pandemic that
please the devil and using them to thwart him.
The pandemic separatedus from Mass, but openedup a wealthof
opportunities for faith.
“If not for the pandemic, we wouldn’t have had a retreatlike this,” said
Father JayKythe on Eastermorning. The Monks of St. BenedictAbbey in
Atchison, Kansas, moved their retreat for Benedictine College students online
and hoped 100 people might participate. Three thousand joined, from six
continents, in part thanks to Aleteia.
Like many others around the nation, the AscensionPress Bible study my son
and I were attending had to disband. But instead, Jeff Cavins offered a free
online version that reachedfar more than the parish groups were reaching.
That kind of thing is happening over and over: We miss going to Mass and
will return the secondwe can, but we have gotten remarkable homilies from

Bishop RobertBarron and Father MichaelSchmitz instead. My children have
heard — and have been pondering and discussing — the fundamental
mysteries of the faith from the foremostpreachers of our time. What fruits
will this bear over their lifetimes?
Anxiety, fear, and strife are unfortunately part of the pandemic experience.
But so is love.
At Benedictine College, we noticedearly on that our students were responding
to the crisis by finding imaginative and energetic ways to reach out to others.
One student startedan organizationto run errands for at-risk groups. Others
turned a 3D printer into a wayto help medical professionals. Nurses educated
in our Mother Teresa Nursing Centerfollowedtheir patroness’s example,
risking themselves for others. We beganto collecttheir stories of hope, and
more, under the hashtag #RavensWillRise.
Just as the stories offirst responders rushing into burning buildings to save
others became the enduring narrative of the 9/11 terror attacks,stories of
medical professionals,truckers, and community volunteers are becoming the
enduring story of the pandemic.
“If not for the pandemic …”
Father JayKythe gave a remarkable testimony at that Abbey retreat. The
pandemic terrified and upset him at first, he said. But now, he found he could
say, “Even though times are difficult, people are dying, and there is sickness
and grief, God is up to something.”
“If it were not for the pandemic, we would not have had this retreat. If not for
the pandemic, we would not have connectedso well with so many of you,” he
said. “If not for the pandemic, well, fill in the blank for yourself …” he said.
So I did.
If not for the pandemic, my two-coasts-plus-Kansasfamily wouldn’t be
spending so much time togetherby Zoom.

If not for the pandemic, one friend’s children would never have seenJesus
Christ visit their very own streetin their pastor’s Eucharistic procession.
If not for the pandemic, another friend wouldn’t have introduced her children
to silent prayer daily togetherin the chapel.
Or — dare we hope? — the pandemic might spark fundamental change.
Maybe, because ofthe pandemic, we will stop encouraging overhyped
partisan journalism and value thoughtful credibility from the press again.
Maybe, because ofthe pandemic, we will stop taking the sacraments for
granted and, now that they have been taken awayfrom us, long to meet God
there again.
Maybe, because ofthe pandemic, we will finally realize that real life happens
awayfrom our screens, andthat loving others face-to-facemay be dangerous
but it is worth the risk.
Like Father Jay, if I could skip the pandemic I would — in a heartbeat. But
God allowedit, and he is up to something.
What Does the Bible Say about Pandemics?
By Thomas Overmiller | March 24, 2020
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The outbreak of the coronavirus disease calledCOVID-19 has surprised many
of us. Yet infectious outbreaks and pandemics are nothing new. They’ve
occurredthroughout history and the Bible mentions them a lot, especiallyin
the Old Testament(OT). So, what does the Bible sayabout pandemics?
Pestilence
English Bible translations frequently translate a related Hebrew word, dever
(‫ד‬ ֶּ‫ב‬ ֶּ‫,)ר‬ as “pestilence”or“plague.” This word occurs in the OT forty-six times,
including these instances:Exo 5:3; 9:3, 15;Lev 26:25; Num 14:12;Deut 28:21;
2 Sam 24:13, 15;1 Kings 8:37; 1 Chron 21:12, 14; 2 Chron 6:28; 7:13; 20:9;
Psa 78:50;91:3, 6; Jer 14:12;21:6, 7, 9; 24:10; 27:8, 13; 28:8; 29:17, 18; 32:24,
36; 34:17;38:2; 42:17, 22; 44:13;Eze 5:12, 17; 6:11, 12; 7:15(2×); 12:16;
14:19, 21;28:23; 33:27;38:22; Hos 13:14;Amos 4:10; Hab 3:5.
The New Testament(NT)Greek equivalent of this word is loimos (λοιμός). It
appears only twice, both in the teaching ministry of Jesus and both referring
to pandemic outbreaks that will occurbefore his secondcoming (Matt 24:7;
Luke 21:11).
Plague
Another more generalHebrew word, negang (‫ֶנ‬‫ג‬ֶּ‫ע‬), also occurs mostfrequently
translated as “plague.” A similar word appears forty-nine times in a verbal
form, nagaph (‫ֶנ‬‫ג‬ַ‫ע‬), and seventimes in a noun form, negeph(‫ֶּנ‬‫ג‬ֶּ‫ע‬), meaning to
be “struck” or “defeated.” This wordsometimes means to be “plagued” or
“afflicted” with a disease,though it often means to be struck or defeated
through violence or combat (as when God struck Egypt with ten plagues, of

which only some were medical in nature). When this word refers to illness, it
describes being struck with “a deadly pandemic disease.”1
The New Testament(NT)Greek equivalent of this word is plēgē (πληγή). Like
its OT counterpart, it is also a more generalword that may refer to hitting or
being struck in other ways, including with a pandemic disease – as in Rev
11:6.
WidespreadDestruction
Technically, these two words – pestilence and plague – are not the same thing,
though they often overlap. Pestilence oftenrefers to conditions like cholera,
dysentery, and typhoid, but plague often refers to things like the bubonic
plague, smallpox, and measles.2Regardlessofthese different nuances, both
words emphasize the widespread, destructive nature of the disease athand.
Why Did Infectious Outbreaks Occur in the Old Testament?
Scripture never portrays pandemic outbreaks as natural or capricious
occurrencesdue to fate or chance. They always correspondsomehow to a
judgment or punishment from God.3
Pandemics as Judgment for the Nationof Israel
God warned Israelthat if they neglectedtheir covenant obligations to him as a
nation, he would send pandemic outbreaks their way (Lev 26:25;Deut 28:21,
58-59). Forthis reason, laterprophets like Jeremiahand Ezekielmentioned
infectious outbreaks frequently.
These men served as “covenantlawyers” forGod, prosecuting the defendant
(the nation of Israel)for her crimes (violating her covenantwith God) and
announcing her sentence. Partof her sentence would be widespreadinfectious
diseases, whichGod intended not only to punish Israel’s sins but to encourage
her (the nation) to return to the Himself.
Pandemics as Judgment for Israel’s Enemies
God also unleashedpandemic outbreaks on Israel’s adversaries (e.g.,Psa
78:50;Ezek 28:23;38:22). In such cases, he did not judge these nations for

breaking a covenant relationship with him because he had no covenants with
them – only Israel(Amos 3:2). Instead, he did so to protect Israel, provide
justice for the mistreatment of Israel, expunge wickedness,and revealthat he
alone is Lord.
What about Pandemics Todayand in the Future?
Only once do the gospels recordJesus mentioning pandemics (Matt 24:7 and
Luke 21:11 refer to the same discourse). In this case, he referred to the
pandemics we experience today.
Pandemics Today
Jesus mentioned pandemics in conjunction with a proliferation of self-
declaredmessiahs, wars, rumors of wars, national and international
skirmishes, famines, earthquakes, persecution, lawlessness, anda scarcityof
love (Matt 24:4-14).
As believers, we easilymistake these kinds of events and developments as
“signs of the end,” becoming anxious or sensationalin our outlook. Jesus
jettisons this perspective, though, saying the opposite – that when these things
happen, “the end is not yet” (Matt 24:6).
Instead, events like this will be (and have been) the regular, recurring pattern
for centuries. They are the commonplace experience ofChristians from
Pentecostuntil now. Christ calls these events “the beginning of sorrows,”
which was “a common Jewishmetaphor to refer to an indeterminate period of
distress leading up to the end of this age,” justas birth pangs eventually lead
to the delivery of a child, but with no discernable timetable in mind.4
Jesus mentions pandemics as a simple matter of fact, but he doesn’t give a
reasonfor why they will happen. Since he mentions “the abomination of
desolation” immediately afterward (Matt 24:19), perhaps we should view our
pandemics as part of God’s overarching plan to judge sin and prepare the
hearts of all people for his ultimate return, final judgment, and everlasting
kingdom before the “abomination of desolationoccurs” (see Dan9:24;cf.
9:25-27;11:31;12:11).

This reference to the “abomination of desolation” also indicates that these
things will occurnot only today, but during the first half of the Tribulation
period, which begins after the Lord raptures the church from the Earth.
With no clearguidance from Christ, we cannotsay for sure why any
pandemic occurs. Why? Becauseneither Christ nor any biblical prophet or
apostle gives us an answer. We canguess and we cansurmise, but we cannot
know for sure.
We are not the nation of Israel, the NT never teaches thatGod will judge
either the church or individual churches through pandemics (the epistles
never speak about this), and the pandemics we face are worldwide in nature.
Furthermore, we are not at liberty to pick and choose OT promises and curses
to Israel from God as being fulfilled either upon the church, the United States,
another nation, or any combination thereof.
For these reasons, andmaybe more, we should not speculate about the
underlying “spiritual” cause fora modern pandemic, neither should we
pretend to know the answerwhen one occurs. Byextension, we should also
dismiss anyone – a preacheror otherwise – who claims to have the “inside
scoop” onwhy a pandemic has occurred.
We know that pandemics happen because ofsin, but who’s sin and where?
We simply do not know. Instead, we should defer to Moses whenhe said, “The
secretthings belong to the LORD our God” (Deut 29:29). He made this
statementin the context of describing the ways that God would bless or judge
both Israeland the nations of the world.
Pandemics in the Future
Besides Jesus’reference to pandemics, the only other clearmention occurs in
Revelation(Rev 11:6). This case features two men who will be prophetic
witnesses forGod for three and a half years in the Tribulation period (Matt
24:21), sevenyears of intense, climactic judgment and purging before the
millennial (one-thousand-year)reign of Christ.
In various ways, these two men will resemble pre-church-age figures like
Moses,Elijah, and John the Baptist. God will give them unusual supernatural

abilities, including the ability to invoke pandemics on the world whenever
they choose (Rev11:3-6).
The occurrence ofpandemics – in such a dramatic, heightened way – during
the tribulation fits with God’s overarching plan for Israeland the nations.
Those who believe in a pretribulational rapture (like me) believe that the
church isn’t on earth during the tribulation but rather rejoices in the presence
of Christ in heaven before the Tribulation occurs. Thus, such pandemics do
not fall on the church – they correspondwith God’s sovereign plan for the
nations of the world.
In any case, these heightenedpandemics (and other cataclysmic events)do
signalthe end (Matt 24:14-15), unlike the commonplace pandemics that Jesus
described, which we encounter in history today.
How Should We Respond to Pandemics as Christians Today?
Thankfully, when Christ taught about the pandemics we would face today, he
also explained how to respond.
Don’t Panic
With pandemics and other newsworthyevents in mind, Christ said, “See that
you are not troubled” (Matt 24:6), and Luke records him as saying, “Do not
be terrified” (Luke 21:9).
To be “troubled” means to be “alarmed, disturbed.” It depicts a “state of fear
associatedwith surprise.”5 To be “terrified” means to be “terrified,
frightened, scared, and in a panic.”
These words portray something that happens to you as the result of hearing
bad news, whether it turns out to be as bad as it sounded at first – but
especiallyif it does. Since fearand panic is our natural response, we must
watchourselves carefully to avoid this response. If we aren’t deliberate about
it, then we will certainly be afraid.
I like what F. D. Bruner said about the way that Christians should respond to
a crisis. He said, “In times of crisis, Christians should be the calmestpeople on
the block because they have a dominical pax.”6 (Dominical means “Jesus is

the Lord” and pax means “peace,”so he is referring to the peace that comes
from having Jesus who is the Lord of all as your Lord. See Psalms 27:3 and
John 14:1)
Trust God
Though pandemics and other large-scale threats seemominous and feel
chaotic, we should rest assuredthat they occurwithin the sovereignplan of
God. The words “troubled” (Matt 24:6) and “terrified” (Luke 21:9) refer not
only to fear but to surprise.
When pandemics, natural disasters, unrest, and wars occur(and even stock
market uncertainty), they often catchus off guard; but they never catchGod
off guard. Forthis reason, we should not be surprised when things like this
happen.
Christ told us they would happen frequently. He displayed no alarm as he told
of them. He taught these things in a matter-of-fact manner, so we should
respond in a matter-of-fact way as well. When things like this happen, we
know that God is working out his plan.
Increase in Love
When things like pandemics occur, Christ teaches thatanother phenomenon
will be that “the love of many will grow cold” (Matt 24:15). This describes a
broad decrease in genuine love not only for Godbut for one another as human
beings. The general trend, literally speaking, willbe for brotherly love to
diminish greatly – it will cooldown. As believers, we should not shrink back
into a self-preserving, callous lifestyle with the “many.” We should
demonstrate the love of Christ instead and be the few who’s love for God, for
one another, and for others in the world (Phil 1:9-11). In times like these, our
worship and service to God should increase. Our words of kindness and acts
of compassionto others should increase as well.
Persevere
In his teaching about how to respond to pandemics and other newsworthy
events, Jesus said, “He who endures to the end will be saved” (Matt 24:13).

We callthis doctrine the “perseverance ofthe saints.” It describes the way
that true believers don’t bail out because the grace ofGod is genuinely at
work in their lives.
Excruciating, widespreadproblems like pandemics, famines, persecution,
uprisings, etc. have a purging effect. Professing believers who have not truly
believed on Christ as God and Saviorwill slip away(or run away!) from
Christ when trials come, but true believers will remain. They may stumble
and struggle at times, but they don’t quit.
So, when pandemics occur, persevere in your faith – in following Christ and
obeying his commands in private and in public. Don’t quit and even be
prepared to die. There’s nothing like a goodpandemic to get your heart in
tune with God.
Be a Witness
Finally, when we experience widespreaddifficulties in the world (like
pandemics), we should look for ways to be a courageous and compassionate
witness for Christ. Christ hinted at this (it was a big hint!) when he said that
in the middle of the many tragic events going on in the world throughout
church history, the gospelwould be spreading throughout the world at the
same time.
He said, “This gospelof the kingdom will be preachedin all the world as a
witness to all the nations” (Matt 24:14). Notlong after, he also assuredus of
his perpetual presence as we witness for him. He said, “All authority has been
given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the
nations … and lo, I am with you always, evento the end of the age. Amen”
(Matt 28:18-20).
No matter what we face, evenif it’s a pandemic, let’s be calm and persistentin
the face of difficulty. Let us continue to representand present the gospelin a
faithful, sensible, and Christ-honoring way.
Some Bonus Wisdom from C. S. Lewis

When speaking about the threat of an atomic bomb, he saidthis to followers
of Christ like himself and even mentioned the possibility of a pandemic as
well:
This is the first point to be made: and the first actionto be takenis to pull
ourselves together. If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let
that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things—praying,
working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing
tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts—nothuddled
togetherlike frightened sheep and thinking about bombs. They may break
our bodies (a microbe can do that) but they need not dominate our minds
From “On Living in an Atomic Age” (1948)in PresentConcerns:Journalistic
Essays.
Thomas Overmiller serves as pastorfor Faith BaptistChurch in Corona, NY
and blogs at Shepherd Thoughts. This article first appearedat Shepherd
Thoughts, used here with permission.
What does it mean that Jesus is the answer?
Question:"What does it mean that Jesus is the answer?"
Answer: “Jesus is the answer” is a popular slogan. Missing is the question.
Jesus is the answerto what? What are people trying to convey when they
claim that Jesus is the answer?

Jesus is the answerto our broken relationship with God. When God created
Adam and Eve, they enjoyedperfect fellowship with Him. But Adam sinned
by disobeying God, thereby bringing death into the world (Genesis 3:8–19;
Romans 5:12; 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:21–22). A significantpart of that death
is spiritual death. Humanity’s relationship with God is broken. God provided
a covering for Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:21)and promised a Redeemerwho
would defeat Satanand reconcile Godand man (Genesis 3:15). The Old
Testamentnarrative gradually reveals God’s plan to save people. The New
Testamentshows us that Jesus is the promised Redeemer. Jesusatonedfor
our sin and restores the possibility of relationship with God.
Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the
Father exceptthrough me” (John 14:6 ). Jesus is the answer—the only
answer—to our brokenrelationship with God. Apart from Him there is no
salvation(Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5–6). The biblical term for God’s act of
making peace with sinful humanity is reconciliation(see 2 Corinthians 5:18).
Romans 5:10 reminds us that, in Christ, God’s enemies were made His friends
and given life: “If, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciledto him
through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall
we be savedthrough his life!”
Jesus is the answerto the problem of our estrangementfrom God. It is Jesus
who makes it possible for our sins to be forgiven and for us to be children of
God (John 1:12–13). It is Jesus who mends our relationship with God so that
we can fellowship with Him during our lifetimes as well as eventually live with
Him for eternity.
Jesus is the answerto our guilty consciences. Evenafter we are saved, we still
sin and experience the temporal consequences ofsin. Sin keeps us from
fellowshipping with God fully. But we have God’s promise: “If we confess our

sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all
unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Jesus is the One who “washes ourfeet” of daily
impurities, even after we have been “fully bathed” (see John 13:10). Jesus is
the reasonwe canreceive forgiveness and be purified. He is the answerto our
sin problem both now and for eternity.
Jesus is the answerto our brokenrelationships with eachother. When Adam
and Eve sinned, not only did they break their relationship with God, but they
also damagedtheir relationship with eachother (see Genesis 3:12, 16).
Humans have been struggling in relationship to one another ever since (see
Genesis 4:8). This relational breakdownmanifests in various ways, including
the walls we erectbetweenraces. In the New Testamentera, there was a
major division betweenGentiles and Jews. Jesusis the answerto all types of
disharmony: “Forhe himself is our peace, who has made the two groups [Jew
and Gentile] one and has destroyedthe barrier, the dividing wall of hostility. .
. . His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus
making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the
cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to
you [Gentiles]who were far awayand peace to those [Jews]who were near.
For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit” (Ephesians
2:14–18;cf. Galatians 3:26–29).
Jesus instructed His followers to love one another humbly and sacrificially
(John 13:34–35). Jesus prayedfor unity among His followers (John 17), a
unity embraced by the early church (Acts 8 and 10). Becausewe have received
forgiveness in Jesus, we canforgive others. Jesus is the answerfor our
relationalturmoil.
Jesus is the answerto a meaningless existence.The writer of Ecclesiastes
bewails the meaninglessnessofworldly pursuits apart from God. When we
are spiritually dead, life is ultimately empty. Nothing in this world will fully

satisfy the deepestlongings of our hearts (see Psalm73:25). But, in Jesus, we
have purpose. He said, “The thief comes only to stealand kill and destroy; I
have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). The
Christian life is a fruitful life. We are invited to be part of God’s work in the
world, taskedwith sharing the gospeland making disciples (Matthew 28:18–
20). We can do nothing apart from Jesus, but in Him we bear much fruit
(John 15:5).
Jesus is the answerto our worries and doubts. Life involves hardship, and
with hardship come worries, fears, and doubts. Jesus told His followers, “I
have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world
you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John
16:33). Jesus reminded us of God’s love and care (Matthew 6:24–33). Jesus
also gave us the Holy Spirit to live with us forever (John 14:15–21;16:7–15).
Jesus is the reasonwe are not alone. Jesus is the answerto our fears and
heartaches. He is able to sympathize with us because He has lived a human life
in this broken world (Hebrews 4:15–16). Jesus gives us peace and equips us to
endure, and even rejoice in, the hardships of this life (James 1:2–5).
Jesus is the answerto the problems of the world. Experience tells us that the
world is broken and in need of repair—sometimes its brokenness is rather
obvious. Jesus is the answer. He has a plan to fix this broken world: “The
government will be on his shoulders. And he will be calledWonderful
Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Ofthe greatness
of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s
throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and
righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplishthis” (Isaiah9:6–7). World peace has proved an elusive goalin
our war-torn world, but one day Jesus will setall things right, and the Prince
of Peace willrule in true justice, ushering in a time of blessing and bounty the
world has never seen(Isaiah 11). Revelation21 predicts a new heaven and
new earth: “Look!God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will

dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them
and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no
more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has
passedaway” (Revelation21:3–5).
A day is coming when the world’s problems will be solved; everything will be
made new, and peace will reign. This is because of Jesus. We eagerlyawaitHis
return, trusting that “the Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some
understand slowness. Insteadhe is patient with you, not wanting anyone to
perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter3:9).
No matter what our individual needs, Jesus is the answerfor our lives today,
and He promises a better future to come.
https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-is-the-answer.html
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH ABOUT PESTILENCE,PLAGUES
AND GLOBAL PANDEMICS?
JoelC. Rosenberg
Founder and Chairman of The Joshua Fund1 March2020
While the term “pandemic” is a modern term and never used in the
Scriptures, the Bible does use ancientHebrew and Greek words for pestilence
and plagues at least127 times.

• The Hebrew word “dever” ( )‫בד‬ ֶֶּ‫ֶּר‬ – which is commonly translated in
English versions of the Bible as “pestilence” or“plague” – is used 49 times in
the Hebrew Scriptures (Tanakh/ Old Testament).
• The Hebrew word “nega” ( )‫ֶגנ‬‫ע‬ֶּ – which is mostly (though not always)
translated in English versions of the Bible as “plague” – is used 78 times in
Hebrew Scriptures (Tanakh/ Old Testament). It is specificallytranslated into
the Englishword “plague” 65 times in the King James Version (KJV) of the
Old Testament.
• The Hebrew word “makkah” ( )ֶַ‫מ‬ ֶַ‫כּ‬ ֶ– which is sometimes (though not
always)translatedin English versions of the Bible as “plague” – is used 48
times in the Hebrew Scriptures (Tanakh/ Old Testament). It is specifically
translated into the English word “plague” 11 times in the King James Version
of the Old Testament.
• The Greek word “plege” (πληγή) – which is often (though not always)
translated in English versions of the Bible as “plague” – is used 21 times in the
Greek New Testament. It is specificallytranslatedinto the English word
“plague” 12 times in the King James Version.
• The Greek word “loimos” (λοιμός)is used 3 times in the Greek New
Testament. It is specificallyusedtwice as the English word “pestilences”in the
King James Version.
While not every use of the words, pestilence and plagues, in the Bible refers to
a terrible, infectious disease, many of the references do.2 Throughout the
Bible, we see repeated

1 The Joshua Fund is a non-profit educationaland charitable organizationto
mobilize Christians to bless Israeland her neighbors in the name of Jesus,
according to the Abrahamic Covenant of Genesis 12:1-3. As part of our
educationalmission, The Joshua Fund seeks to teachthe Church and all those
who are interested about God’s plan and purpose for Israeland the nations,
the purpose and power of Bible prophecy & the relevance of the Bible to the
people of the Middle Eastand to all people around the world.
2 According to the Merriam-Websterdictionary, the definition of the English
word pestilence is, “a contagious orinfectious epidemic disease thatis virulent
and devastating,” or“something that is destructive or pernicious.” Likewise,
the definition of the English word plague is, “an epidemic disease causing a
high rate of mortality,” or “a disastrous evil or affliction.”
2
examples of Godusing diseasesto accomplishHis divine and sovereign
purposes. There are also Biblical prophecies that warn us that Godintends to
use terrible, infectious diseasesto accomplishHis divine and sovereign
purposes in the future.
What are God’s sovereignpurposes for using such terrible diseases?
• Executing divine judgment on an individual, a nation, or many nations for
chronic, unrepentant sin.
• Warning other individuals and nations that they, too, could face divine
judgment for chronic, unrepentant sin.

• Shaking an individual, nation, or many nations so that they will wake up
from spiritual slumber or rebellion, repent of their sins, and turn in faith to a
holy, personal, Biblical, healthy relationship with God.
Repeatedlyin the Bible, Godexplains that in His mercy He will shake
individuals and nations in a desire to get our attention and draw us to Him.
• In Amos 9:9, the Lord God says, “I will shake the house of Israelamong all
nations.” (New American Standard Bible, NASB)
• In Haggai2:7, the Lord God says, “I will shake allthe nations.” (NASB)
• In Hebrews 12:26, we read, “And His voice shook the earth then, but now He
has promised, saying, “YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY
THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN.” (NASB)
In the Gospels, the Lord Jesus Christ warns His disciples that “pestilences”
will be one of the signs of the “lastdays” of human history, a time of shaking
the world to wake up and realize that Christ’s return to judge and reign over
the earth is increasinglyimminent.
• Matthew 24:3-8 – “Now as He saton the Mount of Olives, the disciples came
to Him privately, saying, “Tellus, when will these things be? And what will be
the signof Your coming, and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answeredand
said to them: “Take heedthat no one deceives you. For many will come in My
name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of
wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things
must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise againstnation,

and kingdom againstkingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and
earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.”(New
King James Version, NKJV)
• Luke 21:10-12 – “ThenHe saidto them, “Nationwill rise againstnation, and
kingdom againstkingdom. And there will be greatearthquakes in various
places,
3
and famines and pestilences;and there will be fearful sights and greatsigns
from heaven. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and
persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues andprisons. You will be
brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake.”(NKJV)
Consider, too, other examples of how God uses diseasesto accomplishHis
purposes.
Examples of Individuals Inflicted with Terrible Diseases• In the Book ofJob,
we read that Job was afflicted with a terrible disease.The Scriptures make
clearthat this was an attack by Satanthat was allowedby God (see chapters 1
and 2). The Scriptures also make clearthat this was not a judgment for Job’s
unrepented sins, as he was “blameless, upright, fearing Godand turning away
from evil.” (Job 1:1). Satanuses the illness (and other attacks onJoband his
family) to turn Job awayfrom God. Yet God uses these traumas to draw Job
closerto Himself. (New American Standard Bible, NASB)

• In the Book of Numbers, we read that Miriam – the sisterof Moses – was
inflicted with a terrible, infectious disease as a judgment because ofher
unrepentant sins againstGod. The text tells us that “the angerof the Lord
burned” againstthe disobedience of many Israelites, including Miriam, and
that Moses hadto intercede in prayer for their healing. (see Numbers 12:1-15,
NASB)
• In 2 Kings chapter 5, we read the accountof Naaman, the commander of the
Syrian army. When he gets a terrible, infectious disease forwhich he knows of
no cure, he decides his only hope is to turn to the God of Israel. Therefore, he
sends a servant to ask for the urgent help of Elisha, the Hebrew prophet.
When God miraculously heals Naaman, the Syrian commander humbles
himself and turns to faith in the God of Israel, saying, “Indeed, now I know
that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel.” (2 Kings 5:15, NASB)
• In Matthew chapter 8, we read the accountof the Lord Jesus Christ
miraculously healing a man with a terrible, infectious disease (in this case,
leprosy). “WhenJesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds
followedhim. A man with leprosycame and knelt before him and said, ‘Lord,
if you are willing, you can make me clean.’Jesus reachedout his hand and
touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’ Immediately he was
cleansedofhis leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, ‘See that you don’t tell
anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses
commanded, as a testimony to them.’” (Matthew 8:1-4, NASB)
• In Luke chapter 17, we read the accountof the Lord Jesus Christ
miraculously healing ten men with a terrible, infectious disease (leprosy), yet
only one of them is grateful to God and humbles himself to worship Christ.
“Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveledalong the border between
Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy
met him. They stood at a distance and calledout in a loud voice, ‘Jesus,

Master, have pity on us!’ When he saw them, he said, ‘Go, show yourselves to
the priests.’And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw
he was healed, came back, praising God
4
in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’feetand thanked him—and he was
a Samaritan. Jesus asked, ‘Were not all ten cleansed?Where are the other
nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God exceptthis foreigner?’Then
he said to him, ‘Rise and go;your faith has made you well.’” (Luke 17:11-19)
• Other examples of individuals afflicted with terrible diseasesto turn their
attention to God abound in the Old and New Testaments.
Examples of Nations Inflicted with Terrible Diseases• In the Book ofExodus,
we read of God using terrible plagues, including horrific diseases,to execute
judgment againstthe nation of Egypt, and to draw the Israelites closerto
Himself. Such plagues are central, of course, to the famous accountof
Passover. Yet it is worth noting that before the judgments began, God
specificallywarned Egypt’s leaders of what would come if they would not
humble themselves and obey the Lord. “Thenthe Lord said to Moses:Go to
Pharaohand speak to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, “Let
My people go, that they may serve Me.” Forif you refuse to let them go and
continue to hold them, behold, the hand of the Lord will come with a very
severe pestilence….’”(Exodus 9:1-3, NASB)
• Repeatedlyin the Books ofLeviticus and Deuteronomy, the nation of Israel
is commanded how to deal with pestilence and plagues when they come.
Genuine repentance, atonementand turning back to God in a healthy, Biblical

relationship are the most important directives. Yet the Lord also instructs the
nation of Israelabout the vital importance of personalhygiene and social
distancing in combatting infectious diseases suchas leprosy(see Leviticus
chapters 13-15).
o “The priest shall look at the mark on the skin of the body, and if the hair in
the infection has turned white and the infection appears to be deeper than the
skin of his body, it is an infection of leprosy; when the priest has lookedat
him, he shall pronounce him unclean. But if the bright spot is white on the
skin of his body, and it does not appear to be deeper than the skin, and the
hair on it has not turned white, then the priest shall isolate him who has the
infection for sevendays. The priest shall look at him on the seventhday, and if
in his eyes the infection has not changedand the infection has not spread on
the skin, then the priest shall isolate him for sevenmore days. The priest shall
look at him againon the seventh day, and if the infection has faded and the
mark has not spreadon the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean;it
is only a scab. And he shall washhis clothes and be clean.” (Leviticus 13:3-6)
o “As for the leper who has the infection, his clothes shall be torn, and the
hair of his head shall be uncovered….He shall remain unclean all the days
during which he has the infection; he is unclean. He shall live alone; his
dwelling shall be outside the camp….” (Leviticus 13:45-46)
5
o The Lord also instructed priests to carefully inspect clothing and other
articles that could be infected. “Thenthe priest shall look at the mark and
shall quarantine the article with the mark for sevendays,” and if the article
truly is infected “it shall be burned in the fire.” (Leviticus 13:47-59)
o “Now whenthe man with the discharge becomes cleansedfrom his
discharge, then he shall count off for himself seven days for his cleansing;he

shall then washhis clothes and bathe his body in running water and will
become clean.” (Leviticus 15:13)
• In the Book of Numbers, we read that God alloweda plague of disease to
execute judgment againstunrepentant Israelites, and to shake the rest of the
nation of Israelin an attempt to draw them closerto Him.
o Numbers 16:41-50 – “[T]he Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Getawayfrom
among this congregation, thatI may consume them instantly.’ Moses saidto
Aaron…‘[M]ake atonementfor them, for wrath has gone forth from the Lord,
the plague has begun.’ Then Aaron took it as Moses hadspoken, and ran into
the midst of the assembly, for behold, the plague had begun among the people.
So, he put on the incense and made atonement for the people. He took his
stand betweenthe dead and the living, so that the plague was checked. But
those who died by the plague were 14,700….” (NASB)
o Numbers 25:1-9 – “While Israel remained at Shittim, the people beganto
play the harlot with the daughters of Moab. For they invited the people to the
sacrifices oftheir gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So
Israeljoined themselves to Baalof Peor, and the Lord was angry against
Israel[apparently then setting into motion a plague againstthe unrepentant
sons of Israel]….Thosewho died by the plague were 24,000.” (NASB)
• In the Book of 1 Samuel, we read how the Lord God sent a plague against
the Philistines living in and around Gaza because of their chronic and
unrepentant sin. “[T]he hand of the Lord was againstthe city with very great
confusion; and He smote the men of the city, both young and old, so that
tumors broke out on them….For there was a deadly confusion throughout the
city; the hand of God was very heaven there. And the men who did not die
were smitten with tumors and the cry of the city went up to heaven….And
they said, “[O]ne plague was on all of you and your lords.” (see 1 Samuel
chapters 5 and 6)

• In the Book of 2 Samuel, we read how David, the King of Israel, sinned and
“the angerof the Lord burned againstIsrael.” (24:1). “So the Lord sent a
pestilence upon Israelfrom the morning until the appointed time, and 70,000
men of the people from Dan to Beersheba died….ThenDavid spoke to the
Lord…and said, ‘Behold, it is I who have sinned, and it is I who have done
wrong’….Davidbuilt there an altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings
and peace offerings. Thus
6
the Lord was moved by prayer for the land, and the plague was held back
from Israel.” (see all of 2 Samuel 24, NASB)
• In the Book of Jeremiah, the ancient Hebrew prophet Jeremiahspeaks a
word of great warning to a gathering of apostate leaders.“[H]earnow this
word which I am about to speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the
people. The prophets who were before me and before you from ancient times
prophesied againstmany lands and againstgreatkingdoms, of war and of
calamity and of pestilence.” (Jeremiah28:7-8, NASB)
• In the Book of Ezekiel, the Lord God warnedthat the nation of Judah would
be struck with terrible diseasesas part of its judgment at the time when the
Babylonians would come to conquer the land and destroy Jerusalem. This
prophecy came to pass in the period leading up to and during 586 B.C.
o Ezekiel5 – “Thus says the Lord GOD, ‘This is Jerusalem;I have sether at
the centerof the nations, with lands around her. But she has rebelled against
My ordinances more wickedlythan the nations and againstMy statutes more
than the lands which surround her; for they have rejectedMy ordinances and
have not walkedin My statutes.’Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD,
‘Because youhave more turmoil than the nations which surround you and

have not walkedin My statutes, nor observed My ordinances, nor observed
the ordinances of the nations which surround you,’ therefore, thus says the
Lord GOD, ‘Behold, I, even I, am againstyou, and I will execute judgments
among you in the sight of the nations….One third of you will die by plague or
be consumed by famine among you, one third will fall by the sword around
you, and one third I will scatterto every wind, and I will unsheathe a sword
behind them…..So, it will be a reproach, a reviling, a warning and an object of
horror to the nations who surround you when I execute judgments against
you in anger, wrath and raging rebukes. I, the Lord, have
spoken….Moreover, Iwill send on you famine and wild beasts, and they will
bereave you of children; plague and bloodshedalso will pass through you, and
I will bring the sword on you. I the Lord have spoken.’” (Ezekiel5:5-12,
NASB)
o The Hebrew prophet Ezekielcontinued to warn the nation of Judah over
and over againthat judgments of plagues and pestilences were coming. (See
Ezekiel6:11-12, 7:15, 12:16, 14:19, 14:21, NASB)
• In the Book of Ezekiel, the Lord God warnedthat the city of Sidon (located
in the country we now call Lebanon) would be struck with terrible diseases as
a divine judgment for unrepentant sin. “And the word of the Lord came to me
saying, ‘Son of man, setyour face towardSidon, prophesy againsther and
say, “Thus says the Lord God, ‘Behold, I am againstyou, O Sidon, and I will
be glorified in your midst. Then they will know that I am the Lord when I
execute judgments in her, and I will manifest My holiness in her. ForI will
send pestilence to her and blood to her streets….’”’” (Ezekiel28:20-24,
NASB)
7

• In the Book of Amos, the Lord God warned the nation of Israel that they
would be struck will terrible diseasesas a divine judgment for unrepentant
sin. “Hear the word which the Lord has spokenagainstyou, sons of
Israel….‘Surely, the Lord God does nothing unless He reveals His secret
counselto His servants the prophets….I sent a plague among you after the
manner of Egypt; I slew your young men by the swordalong with your
captured horses, and I made the stenchof your camp rise up in your nostrils;
yet you have not returned to Me,’ declares the Lord….‘Seek the Lord that you
may live, or He will break forth lie a fire, O house of Joseph, and it will
consume with none to quench it….’” (Amos 3:1, 7, 4:10, 5:6, NASB)
• In the Book of Habakkuk, we againsee the Lord God speaking through an
ancient Hebrew prophet, warning the nation of Israelthat He uses plagues
and pestilences to bring judgment to His unrepentant people. “‘Look among
the nations! Observe!Be astonished!Wonder! Because Iam doing something
in your days – you would not believe if you were told’….Thenthe Lord
answeredme and said, ‘Recordthe vision and inscribe it on tablets, that the
one who reads it may run. For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it
hastens toward the goaland it will not fail’….A prayer of Habakkuk, the
prophet…‘Lord, I have heard the report about You and I fear. O Lord, revive
Your work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make it known;
in wrath remember mercy….Before Him goes pestilence,and plague comes
after Him….You struck the head of the house of evil.’” (Habakkuk 1:5, 2:1-2,
3:1-2, 5, 13, NASB)
• All of these ancient prophecies came to pass in history, just as foretold.
Examples of Bible Prophecies Concerning Future Pestilencesand Plagues

The Lord God warned the children of Israelthat terrible diseaseswould
result from chronic, unrepentant sin.
• Deuteronomy 28:15-22 – “But it shall come about, if you do not obey the
Lord your God, to observe to do all His commandments and serve to do all
with which I charge you today, that all these curses will come upon you and
overtake you….The Lord will make the pestilence cling to you until He has
consumed you from the land where you are entering to possessit. The Lord
will smite you with consumption and with fever and inflammation and with
fiery heat and with the sword and with blight and with mildew, and they will
pursue until you perish.” (NASB)
• Deuteronomy 28:58-62 – “If you are not careful to observe all the words of
this law which are written in this book, to fear this honored and awesome
name, the Lord your God, then the Lord will bring extraordinary plagues on
you and your descendants, evensevere and lasting plagues, and miserable and
chronic sicknesses.He will bring back on you all the diseasesofEgypt of
8
which you were afraid, and they will cling to you. Also every sicknessand
every plague which, not written in the book of this law, the Lord will bring on
you until you are destroyed. Then you shall be left few in number, whereas
you were as numerous as the stars of heaven, because you did not obey the
Lord your God.” (NASB)
The Lord God also repeatedlywarned the nations of the world beyond Israel
that terrible diseaseswouldbe inflicted upon them in the future both as

judgment for chronic, unrepentant sin, and to shake the nations and draw
them to the Lord.
ConsiderseveralOld Testamentexamples:
• Ezekiel38-39 – In the prophecies known to Bible scholars as the
eschatological“WarofGog and Magog,”a coalitionof nations will form
againstIsraelin the “lastdays” of history (38:16). Among these nations:
Russia, Iran, Turkey, Libya, and Sudan. The coalitionwill come againstthe
nation of Israel“like a storm” (38:9) and try to consume, lootand destroy
Israel. Speaking through the ancient Hebrew prophet Ezekiel, the Lord God
warns that when that attack againstIsraelcomes, He will defend Israeland
defeather enemies using a range of destructive measures, including terrible
diseases. Godsays he will do so to execute judgment and draw people to
Himself. (NASB)
o Judgment – “With pestilence and with blood I will enter into judgment with
him; and I will rain on him and on his troops, and on the many peoples who
are with him, a torrential rain, with hailstones, fire and brimstone. I will
magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myselfknown in the sight of many
nations; and they will know that I am the Lord.” (Ezekiel38:22-23, NASB)
o Judgment – “I will set My glory among the nations; and all the nations will
see My judgment which I have executedand My hand which I have laid on
them.” (Ezekiel38:21, NASB)
o Mercy– “Therefore, thus says the Lord God, ‘Now [after the judgment
unfolds] I will restore the fortunes of Jacoband have mercy on the whole
house of Israel;and I will be jealous for My holy name.’” (Ezekiel39:25,
NASB)
o Mercy– “Then they will know that I am the Lord their God because Imade
them go into exile among the nations, and then gatheredthem againto their
land; and I will none of them there any longer. I will not hide My face from

them any longer, for I will have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel,’
declares the Lord God.” (Ezekiel39:28-29, NASB)
• Jeremiah 49 – Through the ancientHebrew prophet Jeremiah, the Lord
God warned the nation we know today as the Kingdom of Jordan that it
would face plagues in the last days as a matter of judgment. “Also, Edom shall
be a
9
desolation:everyone that goethby it shall be astonishedand shall hiss at all
the plagues thereof. As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the
neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD, no man shall abide there, neither
shall a son of man dwell in it.” (Jeremiah 49:17-18, King James Version, KJV)
• Jeremiah 50 – Through the ancientHebrew prophet Jeremiah, the Lord
God warned the nation we know today as the Republic of Iraq – the land
known in the Bible as Babylon – that it would face plagues in the last days as a
matter of judgment. “Because ofthe wrath of the LORD it shall not be
inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate:everyone that goethby Babylon
shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues.” (Jeremiah50:13, KJV)
• Zechariah 14 – Through the ancient Hebrew prophet Zechariah, the Lord
God warned that He will inflict terrible diseasesonall the nations of the world
that attack Jerusalemin the lastdays of history as a divine judgment.
“Behold, a day is coming [when] I will gatherall the nations against
Jerusalemto battle….Thenthe Lord will go forth and fight againstthose
nations….In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives….And the
Lord will be king over all the earth; in that day the Lord will be the only one,

and His name the only one….Now this will be the plague with which the Lord
will strike all the peoples who have gone to war againstJerusalem;their flesh
will rot while they stand on their feet, and their eyes will rot in their sockets,
and their tongue will rot in their mouth. It will come about in that day that a
greatpanic from the Lord will fall on them….So also like this plague will be
the plague on the horse, the mule, the camel, the donkey and all the cattle that
will be in those camps….” (Zechariah 14:1, 3, 4, 9, 12, 13, 15, NASB)
• The Book ofRevelation – No fewerthan 12 times in the Book of Revelation,
the Lord God warns that terrible pestilence and plagues will come to the
nations of the earth as part of His judgment of sin, prior to the Second
Coming of Jesus Christ. This period is known by Bible scholars as the “Great
Tribulation” (Revelation7:14), and it will involve the most devastating period
of divine judgment for unrepentant sin in all of human history.
o “I looked, and behold, an ashenhorse;and he who saton it had the name
Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a
fourth of the earth, to kill with swordand with famine and with pestilence and
by the wild beasts of the earth.” (Revelation6:8, NASB)
o “Bythese three plagues a third of mankind was killed—by the fire and the
smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths.” (Revelation9:18,
KJV)
o “But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not
repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and
idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which canneither see nor hear
nor walk.” (Revelation9:20, KJV)
10
o “These have powerto shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their
prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to

strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.” (Revelation11:6,
KJV)
o “ThenI saw another sign in heaven, greatand marvelous: sevenangels
having the sevenlast plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.”
(Revelation15:1, KJV)
o “And out of the temple came the sevenangels having the sevenplagues,
clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden
bands.” (Revelation15:6, KJV)
o “The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His
power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the sevenplagues of the
sevenangels were completed.” (Revelation15:8, KJV)
o “And men were scorchedwith greatheat, and they blasphemed the name of
God who has power over these plagues;and they did not repent and give Him
glory.” (Revelation16:9)
o “And greathail from heaven fell upon men, eachhailstone about the weight
of a talent. Men blasphemed God because ofthe plague of the hail, since that
plague was exceedinglygreat.” (Revelation16:21, KJV)
o “And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my
people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.”
(Revelation18:4, KJV)
o “Therefore, herplagues will come in one day—death and mourning and
famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God
who judges her.” (Revelation18:8, KJV)
o “Thenone of the sevenangels who had the sevenbowls filled with the seven
last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you
the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” (Revelation21:9, KJV)
Conclusion“Plaguesare a way that God seeks to getour attention about our
finitude and mortality as well as how we are giving attention to God,” notes

Dr. Darrell Bock, theologianand professorat Dallas TheologicalSeminary.
“Theyare an opportunity for reflectionabout how we live and a reminder we
are not gods ourselves.”3
3 Email to the author.
11
Yes, the Bible teaches that God uses pestilence and plagues to judge. Yet, as
we have seen, He also uses them to warn and to shake people and nations to
get their attention and draw them to a right and healthy and joyful
relationship with Him.
Indeed, the Lord God in His lovingkindness definitively promised to be
gracious to forgive and heal the people of Israelif they were strickenwith
terrible diseasesand then repented of their sins.
• 2 Chronicles 7:12-14 – “Thenthe Lord appearedto Solomonat night and
said to him, ‘I have heard your prayer and have chosenthis place for Myself
as a house of sacrifice. If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I
command the locustto devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My
people, and My people who are calledby My name humble themselves and
pray and seek Myface and turn from their wickedways, then I will hear from
heaven, will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (NASB)
While in this particular (and famous) passageofScripture, the divine promise
to hear, forgive and heal is specificallyfor the nation of Israel, the principle

applies to all nations. The Lord God loves and cares deeplyabout the Jewish
people and the State of Israel. Yet the Bible is crystalclearthat He also loves
and cares deeplyabout all people and desires all to repent and find healing
and forgiveness.
• Jeremiah 18:7-8 – “At one moment I might speak concerning a nation or
concerning a kingdom to uproot, to pull down, or to destroy it. If that nation
againstwhich I have spokenturns from its evil, I will relent concerning the
calamity I planned to bring on it.” (NASB)
• John 3:16 – “ForGod so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whoeverbelieves in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”
(NASB)
• I Timothy 2:1-7 – “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers,
petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all
who are in authority, so that we might lead a tranquil and quiet life in all
godliness and dignity. This is goodand acceptable in the sight of God our
Savior, who desires all men to be savedand to come to the knowledge ofthe
truth. For there is one God, and one mediator betweenGod and men, the man
Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the
proper time. For this I was appointed a preacherand an apostle….” (NASB)
In a time of global pandemics, people are understandably frightened.
The Lord Jesus warnedthis would be the case, noting that when the signs of
the lastdays occur, we will see “men fainting from fear and the expectationof
the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens
will be shaken.” (Luke 21:26, NASB)

Yet the Lord Jesus also told us how to respond in such dark times.
12
“Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads,
because your redemption draws near.” (Luke 21:28, NKJV)
What the Bible teaches is most important in such times is that we individually,
personally and humbly seek God’s forgiveness andmercy, and get ourselves
spiritually ready for the return of Jesus Christ by reading and obeying the
Bible, which is the holy Word of God.
Where is God in the pandemic?
By Lindsay MorganSnyder, Op-Ed Contributor
People gatherto pray outside the hospital amid COVID-19 pandemic. | Photo:
Screengrab/Phoebe PutneyHealth System
It almost brought me to tears reading the article recently published in the
New York Times, not in sadness, but in pure amazement. I can’t say I know
just how long it’s been since His name has been in this sizable piece of “non-
Christian” media and in a goodlight, but it was a definite tear-jerkerfor me.
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According to Scripture, Romans 8:28 tells us, “And we know that in all things
God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called
according to his purpose.” I personally don’t believe God causes badthings to
happen so it struck me when I heard a pastorof mine saythese words:
I know without a doubt God uses bad things in such a way for goodthat it
almost looks as if He causedthem.
The New York Times article begins by asking the question “why suffering?”
This is an age-oldquestion that many before us have grappled with and I
won’t pretend to have a concise two sentence answerforyou and neither did
the author in the NYT.
But I getthe question, “If God is all-loving and all-powerful, what gives?”
The articles concedesthat “if the mystery of suffering is unanswerable, where
can the believer go in times like this? Forthe Christian and perhaps even for
others the answeris Jesus.”
The article goes onto say, “In His public ministry, Jesus continually sought
out those who were sick. Mostof his miracles were healings from illnesses and
disabilities: debilitating skin conditions (under the rubric of ‘leprosy’),
epilepsy, a woman’s ‘flow of blood,’ a withered hand, ‘dropsy,’ blindness,
deafness, paralysis. In these frightening times, Christians may find comfort in
knowing that when they pray to Jesus, they are praying to someone who
understands them not only because he is divine and knows allthings, but
because he is human and experiencedall things.”
What the article doesn’t necessarilysay is what Jesus tells us in John 14:12,
“Very truly I tell you, whoeverbelieves in me will do the works I have been
doing, and they will do even greaterthings than these, because I am going to
the Father.”
I don’t know about you, but I believe that includes healing the sick.

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We tend to spend a lot of time arguing about it, but what do we have to lose?
We as the body of Christ could continue our autoimmune disease offighting
againsteachother and throwing scripture back and forth, or we could just go
“be the church” which includes according to scripture Matthew 10:8: “Heal
the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy and drive out demons.
Freelyyou have received;freely give.”
I was personallyhealed of an incurable blood disease. WhatI had, had no
cure. I was testedpositive and had very painful symptoms, but I heard stories
of others being healedmiraculously of this same disease whichfueled my
faith. I gota lot of prayer and two years later when I was testedagain I was
testednegative. Why? I have no idea other than God, who I do not always
understand, holds me in the midst of it all.
Now I have not been healedof everything that afflicts me, so I still seek prayer
and medical attention when necessary. Because Ibelieve in both! But in a time
where it is saidthat medical staff is overwhelmed, why not try? Why not
believe in the Jesus that hung on a cross for our lives and do what He did?
What if you had an itchy throat, just small symptoms and we told them to go
in Jesus’name? What if we tried it? If you need to go to the doctor/hospital,
go, I would too. But what if we coupled that with prayer?
That same pastor of mine also told me, “I prayed for a lot of people before I
saw any healed. But now I see a lot healed.”

It’s not a science. He is a living Godwho loves us and wants to be in
relationship with us.
When something doesn’t work, what if we went back and askedHim more
questions? Notputting Him on trial, not blaming Him, but rather going away
with Him like Jesus did when He was on earth and asking Him, “What
happen there?”
Like anything in life, if we fail, we try again. So why wouldn’t we do that with
faith? With healing? We don’t have to beg Him, everywhere in scripture
where someone went to Jesus for healing, He healed them. Why doesn’t that
happen on earth? I am not sure, but we could sit around arguing about it, or
we could put our faith to the test and do “those greaterthings” Jesus talked
about. We have a chance to show people where God is in this pandemic. He is
in us and He is wanting to love people through us.
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Christianity
6 Bible Verses to Get You Through the Pandemic
As COVID-19 shakes us to the core, Godwill give us strength.
By MeganBailey
During these unusual and unprecedented days of the COVID-19 pandemic, we
need to regularly remind ourselves of God’s providence, power, and love.

When fear, worry, panic and depressiontake over our thoughts, we are more
likely to given in to satan's desires. We forgetthat we have God on our side,
no matter what crisis is facing the world. Lockdowns, supply shortagesand
uncertainty may leave us feeling stressed, anxious or overwhelmed, but what
does the Bible have to say in response to these things?
"Godis our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we
will not fear." - Psalm46:1-2
Fearis the one of the strongestfeelings mostChristian’s have right now. Why
is this happening? Where is God in all of this? Who allowedthis to get so bad?
Not having the answers canleave us feeling confusedand anxious. This Bible
verse, though, reminds us that we are not alone. We canseek refuge in God’s
arms, and He will give us the strength to keeppushing forward. We do not
have to fear the state of the world because we have Him on our side.
“Forwe live by faith, not by sight.” – 2 Corinthians 5
The coronavirus is invisible to the nakedeye. Yet, we fear it’s greatpowerand
ability to wreck our lives. Jesus, though, is also not visible to us. As believers
in Christ, we know that Jesus lives in us. So, why are we treating this virus as
if it’s biggerthan God? Fearseems to be the culprit here. We doubt God's
ability to help us get through this pandemic, and believe what we see on the
news instead. We think it will never end. Try to keepyour faith strong during
this time and remind yourself that Jesus is also working behind the scenesto
help getus through this difficult time, and He has not left us.
"PeaceI leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world
gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." - John 14:27
Many of us are glued to the TV or our phones for hours a day so that we can
consume all the information we canabout the coronavirus. What are the
politicians saying? What is the new death count? Is there a vaccine on the
way? What will happen tomorrow? It's a common theme during quarantine
to focus on what the world is saying, and not on what God wants us to hear.
God is able to give us peace through this time if we turn our troubled hearts to

Him. He will be able to take awaythe fear and replace it with His love. It's a
beautiful gift that is ours for the taking, but only if we get off our phones long
enough to ask Him.
"The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with
peace." -Psalm 29:11
As a Christian you might feel very distant from God, because you are not able
to actively go to church or participate in you Bible groups like you once could.
It can be hard to stay faithful when you feel isolatedfrom His other children.
God, though, is watching over all His people and giving them strength. He is
blessing us all with peace. Youare not alone in this. Reachout to your church
friends and family, watcha livestream of a sermon on the internet, or do your
own Bible devotional. This will help you feelconnectedto others and God, and
He will provide you with strength.
"Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own
things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." - Matthew 6:34
When stuck in quarantine, many of us worry about what the future will hold.
We question when our children will be back to schoolor when the country
will reopen. This is normal anxiety to have because it is such an
unprecedented time. God, though, challengesus to stay presentin the moment
when we can. While you are worrying about the future, your child may be
struggling today with a project and need your attention. Don't getso wrapped
up in what may happen that you forgetto be aware of what is going on right
now. Tomorrow's trouble cannotbe fixed today, so ask Godfor guidance in
living for today.
"Let everyone be subjectto the governing authorities, for there is no authority
exceptthat which God has established. The authorities that exist have been
establishedby God." - Romans 13:1
Many people, Christian or not, are judging how the world's governing bodies
are responding to the COVID-19 crisis. They screamand show on social
media saying that the government is doing too much, or too little, to help us

get through this. HoweverGod wants us to submit and listen to our
government. There are many guidelines officials have put out that are helping
to save lives, like keeping a distance from one another and stopping large
mass gatherings. While these seeminconvenient, we have to protectthose who
are most at risk for the disease.Be an example to those around you and show
God that you are respecting His authority.
The COVID-19 crisis has completely shakenour world into something we
almost don’t recognize. It is a scarytime to live in, but know that God has not
abandoned you. He is still providing you with love, grace, strength, and
guidance during this difficult time. Trust in His plan for our world and take
things day by day. By meditating on these Bible verses, you’ll be sure to find
more peace.
Ask Dr. Land: Did God cause the coronavirus pandemic? If not, why did He
allow it?
By Richard D. Land, Christian PostExecutive Editor
Question:Did God cause the coronavirus pandemic? If not, why did He allow
it?*
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In the last month I have been askedwith great frequency, “Did God cause the
Coronavirus pandemic. If not, why did He allow it if He is indeed
omnipotent?” Wheneverwe seek to answersuch questions, we must first
express our humility, remembering the Apostle Paul’s admonition, “Oh, the

depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge ofGod! How unsearchable are
his judgments, and how inscrutable his ways!For who has knownthe mind of
the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”(Rom. 8:23-24 CSB).
Fortunately, God has revealeda great dealabout Himself and His purposes in
Holy Scripture, and it is there that we must turn for the closestwe are going
to be able to getto definitive answers.
God has revealedto us that because ofthe Fall (Genesis 3), “The whole
creationhas been groaning togetherin the pains of childbirth until now . . .”
(Rom. 8:22). The Bible reveals to us that literally nothing is the way God
createdit to be and that the whole creationis warped and distorted by sin,
including but not limited to, humankind.
So, when people ask, “DidGod cause this to happen?” the answerhas to be,
“No, He did not.” Why? The Bible tells us that “no one is goodexcept God
alone” (Mark 10:18). The Psalmisttells us that “the works of his hands are
faithful and just” (Psalm111:7) and “Godis light and in him is no darkness at
all” (1 John 1:5).
Thus, God cannotbe the author of evil. The question then becomes, if God is
omnipotent, why did He allow the CVP to perpetrate such pain and such
suffering? God is omnipotent, thus all-powerful. He is also omniscient, thus
all-knowing. As a function of His omniscience, He has always knownwhat has
happened or will everhappen. That does not mean He dictates that it happens
that way. If God were going to allow Adam a choice, He had to allow Adam to
make the wrong choice and to live with some of the disastrous consequences.
Yet, in the immediate aftermath of the Fall, God soughtout Adam (Gen. 3:8-
9) and while pronouncing judgment, first promised ultimate redemption
through the “seedofthe woman” (Gen. 3:15).
The story of God’s redemption of man and the rest of creation, both cursed,
marred, and warped by the impact of the Fall, is the story of God’s ultimate
triumph over Satanand the pain and suffering wrought by the “tempting
one” (Matt. 4:3) who walks the earth “like a roaring lion seeking someone to
devour” (1 Peter5:8) and ultimately overdeath itself (1 Cor. 15:50-57).

Yes, God is omnipotent. However, since He is omnipotent, He canchoose to
limit Himself in order to give fallen men the opportunity (when convictedby
the Holy Spirit) to respond to Him with confession, faith, and allegiance to
Jesus and thus to worship Him freely and willingly, rather than being
compelled to do so.
Please allow me to illustrate this in the following way. I am a huge Texas
Longhorn fan and have been since I was six years old. On January 4, 2006,
Texas played the two time defending national champion USC for the national
title in the Rose Bowl. It has been voted by at leastsome sports reporters as
“the greatestcollege footballgame every played.” Both teams were
undefeated, and they entered the game ranked #1 (USC) and #2 (Texas)in the
nation.
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It was quite a game, a “realnail-biter.” When Texas pulled out a 41-38 victory
in the lastminutes of the game, I was emotionally drained. I felt I had played
the game myself. Now, I have watchedthe game a half dozen times since then
on video, and I have been so relaxed that I have even dosedoff a couple of
times when I was watching the replay late at night. Why? The answeris
simple; I know how it ends. When God looks athuman history from the
beginning, He knows how it ends. He sees and experiences everything that has,
is, or ever will happen simultaneously. C. S. Lewis calls it “the eternal now.”
And He has always (eternally) had this knowledge andexperience.

Nothing surprises God. Did God will Adam to sin? No, but He always knew he
was going to and made plans to overcome it before creation. Did God know
the Jews were going to rejectJesus as Messiah? Yes, andHe eternally had a
plan to overcome it. Ultimately, God’s will prevails in all those who by faith in
Jesus are His children.
We canrest in the absolute assurance thatGod is “working” allthings to the
goodof those who are the “calledaccording to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28).
As Josephexplained to the brothers who traded him into slaveryin Egypt,
“You meant evil againstme, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that
my people should be kept alive . . .” (Gen. 15:20). In other words, what the
devil and Joseph’s brothers intended for evil, God redeemed for goodand His
purposes.
“Did God cause the Coronavirus pandemic?” No. “Did Godallow the
pandemic to happen?” Yes.
At present it appears that the occasionofthis pandemic started in a
horrendous failure of security protocolin a Chinese government laboratory,
exacerbatedexponentially and grotesquelyby the duplicity and censorshipof
the Chinese government in not alerting governments around the world to this
incredibly contagious virus and the terrible dangers it posed.
Can God ultimately redeem the pandemic for good? Thatdepends entirely on
how we as Christians and as a nation respond to this terrible tragedy.
In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul exhorts the Ephesian Christians, and us, to
understand that the “days are evil,” and as Christians we are to be
“redeeming the time” (Eph. 5:16). The word “time” is kairos, meaning time in
its propitious, not chronologicalmoments, and “redeem” is a business word,
meaning “to cashit in for profit.” This is a propitious moment. Will we allow
God to use us to redeem this moment by proclaiming and doing the will of
God, offering help to the suffering in Jesus’name and telling them that God
loves them and that there is eternal meaning and purpose to life. Let us be
about our heavenly Father’s business.
__________________

*On April 6, my SES colleague Adam Tucker, Directorof Recruiting and
Admissions and an SES graduate, penned a column titled “Did God Make the
Coronavirus?” His article, with which I am in complete agreement, coupled
with this article, exemplifies what we do uniquely at SES. Adam’s approachis
philosophical, mind is theological, and we expose our students to an integrated
approachincorporating philosophy and theologyin all of our classes.
Dr. Richard Land, BA (magna cum laude), Princeton;D.Phil. Oxford; and
Th.M., New Orleans Baptist TheologicalSeminary, was president of the
Southern Baptists’ Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (1988-2013)and
has servedsince 2013 as president of Southern EvangelicalSeminaryin
Charlotte, NC. Dr. Land has been teaching, writing, and speaking on moral
and ethicalissues for the lasthalf century in addition to pastoring several
churches.
Beatthe Coronavirus Pandemic Fears With Biblical Wisdom
Discernment
By Tim McHyde / March 5, 2020
The COVID-19 outbreak is already considereda pandemic by some experts,
like the 2009 H1N1/swine-flupandemic. Forprophecy students, it is even
worse because the Bible seems to say"pestilence" is one of the signs of the end
times. Or does it? What should you do if it happens? Discovera forgotten
health tool for the flu that Jesus talkedabout but Christians do not much
practice.

Is this novel coronavirus COVID-19 from Wuhan, China an end-time event or
fulfillment of end-time prophecy? Yes and no. Let's look at two related
prophecies and see where they fit in time.
Pestilence ProphecyFromThe Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24)
The first prophecy to examine is from the Olivet Discourse:
Luke 21:11 (HCSB) — There will be violent earthquakes, and famines and
plagues in [all] places, and there will be terrifying sights and greatsigns from
heaven
This passagewas explainedin my SevenProphecy Pitfalls newsletterand the
part where I talk about how the pretrib doctrine of imminency is contradicted
by the Bible. Here's an excerptfrom it:
Likewise, in the Olivet Discourse Jesus declaredto his listeners that many
things must yet happen including wars and rumors of wars and yet the "end
was not yet" or “won'tcome right away” (Mt 24:6-10;Mk 13:7-8; Lk 21:9–
11). After those prelude events, he said only the “beginning of sorrows” would
finally commence with earthquakes, famines, and pestilences. Luke 21:11
adds the additional detail of terrors and greatsigns from heavento the rest of
these beginning sorrows. Togethertheywell summarize the 6th sealof
Revelationwhich describes an indisputably yet future time when all these
things significantly begin to happen at once (great earthquake, all grasses
burned up and one third of the sun blockedresulting in famine and
pestilences). This aligns the “beginning of sorrows/birth pains”• with the
future 6th sealthrough 4th trumpet preceding the GreatTribulation at the
5th trumpet.
Therefore we will not see the prophesied global plagues until the 6th seal
(which is causedby Wormwood's passage).Thankfully we can be sure that
this prophecy will not be fulfilled anytime soon. If you're not sure about this
yourself then I encourage youto check out my book, Know the Future, where
this is shownusing a literal interpretation of the Bible with clearand simple
English.
Pestilence ProphecyFromRevelation's Pale Horsemanof the 4th Seal

The next prophecy we will look at is the 4th sealor the “pale horseman:”
Revelation6:7-8 (HCSB) — 7 When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the
voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!”, 8 And I looked, and there
was a pale greenhorse. The horsemanon it was named Death, and Hades was
following after him. Authority was given to them, over a fourth of the earth, to
kill by the sword, by famine, by plague, and by the wild animals of the earth.
The four horsemenare decidedly not easyto figure out. There is only a verse
of description about eachand they are vague at that. Yet with wisdom, they
are understandable. The next step to solving this puzzle is, believe it or not, to
skip it. Move on to the more verbose and clearerprophecies of the 6th seal
and seventrumpets and get them settledfirst. Those globalcatastrophesfrom
space are unmistakably in the future.
Eventually, you can prove that the GreatTribulation begins at the 5th
trumpet (Dan 12:1=Rev12:7-17=Rev8:12-13=Rev9:1-6,11-13).Thatbeing
the case,the 1stsealcannot be the future GreatTribulation as is commonly
assumed. If the first five seals do not have to be tied to the future, then it is
possible they are already past. The vague descriptions we have for them do fit
severaltrends in history that continue to this day. Jesus outlined these same
trends at the beginning of the Olivet Discourse where he said to take heed no
man deceives you. These trends include:
False religions in Christ's name Catholicismand its daughters (Protestantism,
etc.), deceiving many (Rev 6:2=Mt 24:4-5)
Belligerentideologies thatare responsible for most wars in the last two
millennia, such as Islam and Communism (Rev 6:4=Mt 24:6)
The economic slaveryof the masses by the policies the rich and powerful have
created(Rev 6:5-6=no parallel)
“Deathand Hades” (Rev6:8) = ?
Therefore like the rest, this fourth horseman also fits a trend that began in the
past, sometime after the first three horsemen. It describes the increased
deaths that we have already seenin history from man's growing influence. As

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