Is the
Corona Virus a Prophetic Event?
By Dr. Ken
Matto
And there shall
be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth
distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
(Luke 21:25)
I am sure that
the prophecy czars are already sharpening their pens to report that the Corona
Virus is a prophetic event. Pretty
soon we will start seeing a whole slew of books being written on it and many
articles and sermons will be preached on it.
It seems every time a camel passes gas in the Middle East, it is some
prophetic sign and requires another prophecy book to be written.
These “prophecy experts” know exactly how to cash in on the panic mode of
the public and especially the churches and Christians who do not know their
Bible.
This article is
about the Corona Virus which is going throughout the whole world and causing a
worldwide panic. It seems every day
in the stores which are still open that it is Black Friday and people are
panicking and fighting with each other.
Emotions are running high and people are in survival mode.
So then let us answer the question above “Is the Corona Virus a Prophetic
Event?”
In Luke 21:25
it states that before the Lord returns the nations will be in distress and in
perplexity. The word “distress”
carries with it the meaning of “anguish, suffering or agony” and along with that
word we read “with perplexity” which means “no way out or a state of quandary.”
Nations around the world are stepping up efforts to stop the Corona Virus
from spreading and from causing more deaths.
It seems that there is no way out for any country as disease knows no
borders or nationalities. So the
nations are in perplexity unable to control it and stop it but does that mean it
is a prophetic sign of the Lord’s return?
The answer is
no. First of all no matter what
happens on this earth the day of the Lord’s return has already been set.
Because he hath appointed a day,
in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath
ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised
him from the dead. (Acts 17:31)
Of course, the return of the Lord is much closer now than when Acts was
written. A key to understanding
these type of events like widespread virus is to realize one thing.
The last days commenced at the cross.
And it shall
come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit
upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young
men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
(Acts 2:17)
This know also,
that in the last days perilous times shall come.
(2 Timothy 3:1)
Hath in
these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of
all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
(Hebrews 1:2)
Your gold and
silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and
shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for
the last days. (James 5:3)
Here we have
four verses which gives us evidence that we are living in the last days.
Acts 2:17 states that the fulfillment of the prophet Joel’s prophecy that
the Holy Spirit would fill the Lord’s people as the last days commenced.
Then 2 Timothy 3:1 speaks about living in the last days that perilous
times which can be understood as dangerous or fierce times will come.
This verse takes into consideration all the troubles that the true
Christian will face such as persecution which has not stopped since the time of
the cross. Then Hebrews 1:2
confirms the fact that “these” are the last days.
James 5:3 speaks about people heaping treasure together for the last
days. The stock market has been
affected mightily by the virus scares and even the price of gold and silver have
fallen dramatically. So there is no
doubt that we have been in the last days since the time of the cross.
The last days will end when the Lord returns and the only sign he gives
us for his return is found in Matthew 24:29 which aligns perfectly with Luke 21
and Mark 13.
Immediately
after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon
shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers
of the heavens shall be shaken:
(Matthew 24:29)
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in
heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the
Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
(Matthew 24:30)
And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud
with power and great glory. (Luke
21:27)
{24} But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun
shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
{25} And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in
heaven shall be shaken. {26} And
then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and
glory. Mark 13:24-26
Matthew 24:29 and Mark 13:24 state that after the
tribulation, which is the entire New Testament period, then when we see the sun
darkened, then we know the return of the Lord is imminent.
Matthew 24:30, Luke 21:27, and Mark 13:26 state the Lord will return in
great power and glory. This happens
on the last day which is the appointed day spoken of in Acts 17:31.
There are no other visible signs beside the darkening of the sun. So then
why wouldn’t the Corona Virus be considered a sign. I will answer that in one
word “History.”
Is the Corona Virus the only disease that has ever hit
the human race in this manner in these last days?
The answer is no, so let me give a history of the diseases that have hit
the human race which if prophecy preachers were alive then, they would have
claimed it was the imminent end of the world.
HIV/AIDS Pandemic at its peak - 2005-12 – Death Toll 36
Million
Flu Pandemic – 1968 – Death Toll - 1 Million
Asian Flu – 1956-58 – Death Toll – 2 Million
Flu Pandemic – 1918 -
Death Toll – 20-50 Million
Cholera Pandemic – 1910-11 – Death Toll 800,000+
Flu Pandemic – 1889-90 – Death Toll – 1 Million
Cholera Pandemic – 1852-60 – Death Toll – 1 Million
Great Plague of London – 1665-66 – Death Toll 100,000+
London Plague – 1625 – Death Toll 40,000
Black Death – 1346-1353 – Death Toll 75-200 Million
Plague of Justinian – 541-542 - Death Toll – 25 Million
Antonine Plague – 165 – Death Toll 5 Million
I have listed 12 pandemics which have hit the human race
within the time frame of the last days and none of them ushered in the return of
the Lord. That is not to mention
SARS, MERS, Avian Flu and others in recent times.
The reason these things happen is because we live in a fallen, sinful
world and every once in a while God allows these things to happen to show
arrogant man that he is not in charge.
When the will of God is fulfilled for this episode, then the virus will
die but until then take the precautions but reject the panic.
Major diseases have always been a part of the human race.
Leprosy was widespread in ancient times in both old and new testaments.
Cancer, Leukemia, COPD, Asthma, Lou Gehrig’s disease, Alzheimer’s
Disease, etc. are all diseases which have been responsible for the deaths of
millions.
The reason we are so concerned about the Corona Virus is
because we are experiencing it during our lifetime and it is not just words on
paper in history. I am sure the
people who lived during the times of those other pandemics had the same fears
and concerns people have today.
Just as we read that millions of people in those other pandemics died, you be
certain there were Christian among them who also succumbed to those diseases
simply because we, like the world, are still in the flesh which is still
susceptible to diseases and calamities which will befall this world until the
last day.
When Peter walked on the water at the behest of the Lord
Jesus Christ, he actually was walking on the water.
He got into trouble when he started to look around.
But when he saw the wind
boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save
me. (Matthew 14:30)
Once we do everything we can to prevent or deal with the virus, then stop
listening to the media with its fear mongering.
Every station has a doctor or a panel and all they are doing is pushing
the death toll which is implanting more fear into the population and that is why
people are fighting in the stores and buying everything they can, whether they
need it or not, because the media has been successful in raising the fear level
higher each day.
As Christians we must remember that God is completely in
control and if it is his will that he takes millions including many Christians
then what can we do to stop it?
Yea, before the day was I am he; and
there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let
it? (Isaiah 43:13)
Isaiah 43:13 speaks about salvation but the principle is that God acts
and who can reverse his actions?
Man does not have that capability.
Hebrews 9:27 states that it is appointed unto man once to die and then comes the
judgment. For the believer though,
it is appointed unto them once to die also but after that comes eternal bliss.
We must remember that God is the Potter and we are the clay so whatever
he is doing will be done and for whatever purpose, it will be accomplished.
So I encourage all believers to stay away from these
prophecy pimps who just try to make money on a bad situation by building on top
of the fears the media is instilling.
Since we live in a fallen world, things like earthquakes, tornados,
hurricanes are going to happen but remember God is in control of the calamities
as well as the good times.
Just like the song Lynda Randle sang “For
the God on the mountain, is still God in the valley.”
Don’t forget that!
Here is the link to Lynda Randle’s Song – “God on the Mountain”