A new strain of coronavirus is killing thousands of people and infecting tens of thousands, starting to reach into nations around the world. Authorities say the numbers of dead and infected could keep multiplying for weeks or even months. There are many worrying unknowns about this illness. But there are sobering big-picture truths we can and must know! Did the Bible predict the coronavirus? Is it a harbinger of worse things to come?

Dr. Michael Brown [Ph.D., New York Univ.; has served as a professor at multiple seminaries; is author of 25 books; and hosts a nationally syndicated, daily talk radio show, the Line of Fire] states: There is no denying the seriousness of the virus.

As Bill Gates noted in the New England Journal of Medicine on February 28, “In the past week, Covid-19 has started behaving a lot like the once-in-a-century pathogen we’ve been worried about.” And even at this early stage, “Covid-19 has already caused 10 times as many cases as SARS [severe acute respiratory syndrome] in a quarter of the time.”

And, Dr. Michael P. Snyder, [Chair of Genetics Department, Stanford University] included coronavirus in his “list of 10 plagues hitting our planet simultaneously:” 1) Armies Of Locusts -- 2) Extremely Bizarre Weather Patterns -- 3) Unprecedented Flooding; 4) Major Earthquakes -- 5) Unusual Volcanic Eruptions -- 6) The Coronavirus -- 7) The African Swine Fever -- 8) The H1N1 Swine Flu -- 9) The H5N1 Bird Flu -- 10) The H5N8 Bird Flu. IS Covid-19 an end-time type of judgment?

Al Mohler noted , “We are also reminded of Revelation 6:7-8 where we read, ‘When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see.” So I looked and behold a pale horse, and the name of him who sat on it was Death and Hades followed with him.’ That fourth horseman has often been associated with illness -- a violent death by means of this kind of disease ...”

But neither Mohler nor Snyder suggest the virus is one of Revelation’s final plagues. And Gates is certainly not thinking in these terms. To the contrary, the fact that Gates describes Covid-19 as a “once-in-a-century pathogen” indicates it is hardly apocalyptic, no matter how deadly it may be.

As underscored by Robert Bartholomew in Psychology Today, “The Chinese Coronavirus is not the ‘Zombie Apocalypse.’” He wrote, “I am not downplaying the seriousness of the new Coronavirus that has been spreading around the world. People are dying and every death is a tragedy. But it is not the end of civilization -- contrary to some media outlets, which risk causing undue alarm and panic.”

In stark contrast, if the Bible does, indeed, describe a series of terrifying, end-time plagues, they will mark the end of civilization as we know it, along with ushering in a glorious new age. Again, I’m not minimizing the seriousness of the virus; and, certainly, “every death is a tragedy.”

Remember, Jonah 3 illustrates a pattern -- God mercifully warned, before wrath fell, providing a last opportunity to repent and avert wrath? I did not hear any warning, leading up to Covid-19: “Judgment is coming! Repent! Don’t let sin destroy you! Turn to God for mercy!” Did you hear such?

My own understanding is that there will be massive upheaval before the end of the world, in the midst of which there will also be a mighty spiritual outpouring. But either way, what is clear to me is that we should not view the coronavirus as a prophesied, end-time plague. Instead, we should view it in the same way we have viewed many other epidemics and pandemics in history. They are tragic reminders of the broken state of our world and the frailty of our race. And while doing all we can to prevent and combat the spread of Covid-19, we should pray for the mercy of God. Surely, the final shaking will be far more intense than this.

In Zechariah 6, you can find one such prophecy. The time frame for this chapter is right before the Messiah’s 2nd coming. In the prophecy, four chariots charge right out of God’s throne. The black horses here are believed to be a representation of violence, famine and pestilence. It is clear God sends these chariots to the four quarters of the Earth. Notice Zech 6:4-6: “Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord? And the angel answered and said, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.”

These spirit beings that take on the appearance of horses have been “standing before” God, receiving clear instructions about how they should proceed. They are “of the heavens.” They originate from God’s throne room, and are commanded to go “to and fro” across the Earth into the four quarters.

This is discussing a worldwide effort that will occur during the Great Tribulation and Day of the Lord. Angelic beings are already being positioned and instructed for these catastrophic events! But God is in close control over exactly how much devastation these beings are allowed to unleash. He is not destroying indiscriminately: He is chastening in measure -- to help mankind turn from destruction to truth, Himself, peace! God will allow these diseases and afflictions represented by these horses to affect mankind precisely to the degree needed to help them repent -- no more, no less.

These are not dusty old prophecies. They are mostly for the end of the age, and more vital as humanity moves toward the end of time! These dramatic predictions for mankind will be fulfilled directly ahead -- millions will perish!

So we should expect diseases like Wuhan coronavirus to get worse, and eventually spread like medieval pandemics and kill millions! Whether or not this specific new outbreak will cause such ruin, these prophecies are sure.

The CDC had estimated that 32-49 million Americans contracted influenza this past year and 20,000-50,000 died. That’s fairly on par with a typical season, and well below the CDC’s 2018 estimates of 48.8 million illnesses, 959,000 hospitalizations, and 79,400 deaths. Estimates on deaths are difficult to analyze as many had multiple health issues.

This is why Coronavirus is scary. It’s scary because it makes us look at our own mortality. The world is broken. We are sinful. Because Adam sinned, we are in mortal bodies. Death is inevitable. The Bible is precise in addressing death -- Paul calls death ‘the last enemy,’ 1 Cor. 15:26; Job spoke of: ‘terrors of the shadow of death,’ Job 24:16

But we need, who know Christ, not fear: “For since [it was] by a man (Adam) that death came [into the world], it is also by a Man (Jesus) that the resurrection of the dead has come.” 1 Cor 15:21 … We live in a fallen world. But, if we know Christ, we can have hope, peace, rest, joy.

How do we cope with the fear of yet another infection? Psalm 91:2-14 declares: “God alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God; I am trusting him. For he rescues me from every trap and protects me ... He will shield me with his wings! His faithful promises are my armor. I don’t need to be afraid of the dark, nor fear the dangers of the day; nor dread the plagues of darkness, or disasters in the day … God loves His own. He is watching, and in control!

Pastor Tom Couch