Jesus specifically warned us that there would be “pestilences” in the end times, and so if we really are approaching the time of His return this is one of the things that we should be watching for. Of course we don’t know if COVID-19 is one of the “pestilences” that Jesus was referring to, but in recent days it has greatly distressed me to see so many Christians attempting to downplay the severity of this virus. The number of confirmed cases and the global death toll have both been rising at an exponential rate day after day, and experts are warning that over half of the population of the world could eventually get this virus, but so many voices out there are boldly assuring people that they don’t have anything to be concerned about even though they don’t have any medical credentials at all. Personally, I think that it pays to listen to the experts during a crisis like this, and the experts are telling us that millions could soon die. In fact, as you will see below, a doctor that sat on the White House Homeland Security Council is saying that this is the most “frightening disease” that he has ever encountered. After everything that we have already learned about this virus, anyone that is not taking this pandemic seriously is not being wise.
But is this just another pandemic that will come and go, or is this one of the “pestilences” that we were warned about almost 2000 years ago?
In Luke chapter 21, Jesus explained to His disciples what conditions would be like just prior to His return, and in verse 11 He specifically warned that there would be “pestilences”. The following comes from the King James Version…
11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
We have definitely seen a rise in seismic activity in recent years, billions of locusts are devouring crops from eastern Africa all the way to China right now, and Australia just had the worst harvest season that they have ever recorded.
So it is interesting to note that the stage is being set for some of the other signs that Jesus mentioned at the very same time that this coronavirus outbreak is starting to spiral out of control.
Only time will tell if COVID-19 is truly one of the “pestilences” that Jesus was referring to, but at this point it has become exceedingly clear that we should all be taking it very seriously.
This virus jumps from person to person with incredible ease, and it has a death rate that is about 34 times higher than the ordinary flu. In fact, the death rate for COVID-19 is actually higher than the death rate during the Spanish Flu pandemic. And let us never forget that the Spanish Flu pandemic killed between 50 million and 100 million people from 1918 to 1920.
I do not understand why anyone would possibly want to try to downplay this outbreak, and those that are doing so could end up greatly contributing to the spread of this virus.
Proverbs 22:3 says this…
3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
Fortunately for us, this outbreak started on the other side of the globe and so we had some time to prepare before it got here.
But now the number of confirmed cases inside the United States is starting to explode, and we are being warned that millions could die.
So will you be like the prudent man in the Book of Proverbs?
Sadly, a lot of people out there don’t seem to grasp the seriousness of what we are potentially facing.
According to Dr.Richard Hatchett, “50 – 70 percent of the global population” could eventually end up catching this virus…
An infectious diseases expert at the forefront of the search for a coronavirus vaccine said on Friday that it was the most “frightening disease“ he’s ever encountered, and that “war is an appropriate analogy” for what the country is facing, as “50 – 70 percent of the global population” may become infected.
Dr. Richard Hatchett, who sat on the White House Homeland Security Council in 2005 – 2006 and was a principal author of the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Implementation Plan, and currently heads the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, told the UK’s Channel 4:
“This is the most frightening disease I’ve ever encountered in my career, and that includes Ebola, it includes MERS, it includes SARS. And it’s frightening because of the combination of infectiousness and a lethality that appears to be manyfold higher than flu.”
That sure sounds like a “global pestilence” to me.
Let us pray that he is completely wrong.
But as we pray, it will also be important for us to take recommended precautions. During an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press”, Dr. Anthony Fauci warned that the elderly and those with “underlying conditions” will need to make adjustments to their lifestyles immediately…
“If you are an elderly person with an underlying condition, if you get infected, the risk of getting into trouble is considerable. So it’s our responsibility to protect the vulnerable,” he said.
“When I say ‘protect,’ I mean right now. Not wait until things get worse. Say no large crowds, no long trips. And above all, don’t get on a cruise ship.”
Personally, I think that is great advice for all of us.
If you have family members or friends that are not taking this outbreak seriously, you need to try to get through to them.
According to documents that have been leaked to the public, U.S. hospitals “are preparing for 96 million coronavirus infections”…
US hospitals are preparing for 96 million coronavirus infections and nearly half a million deaths from the outbreak, leaked documents have revealed.
The spread of the deadly disease could be far worse than officials claim, with 480,000 Americans expected to die from the virus and 4.8 million hospitalized, according to a presentation hosted by The American Hospital Association (AHA) in February.
Of course there are some experts that are warning that this outbreak will be even worse, and if that happens we could be facing a societal meltdown of epic proportions.
For years, Bible-believing Christians all over America have been preaching that Jesus is coming back soon.
And for years, we have seen so many other pieces of the end times prophetic scenario start to come together.
Now a global pestilence has erupted, and in Luke 21 we were specifically warned to watch for “pestilences” in the last days.
Once again, only time will tell if COVID-19 is one of those “pestilences”, but without a doubt all of us should be taking this virus very, very seriously.
About the Author: I am a voice crying out for change in a society that generally seems content to stay asleep. My name is Michael Snyder and I am the publisher of The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and the articles that I publish on those sites are republished on dozens of other prominent websites all over the globe. I have written four books that are available on Amazon.com including The Beginning Of The End, Get Prepared Now, and Living A Life That Really Matters. (#CommissionsEarned) By purchasing those books you help to support my work. I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but due to government regulations I need those that republish my articles to include this “About the Author” section with each article. In order to comply with those government regulations, I need to tell you that the controversial opinions in this article are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the websites where my work is republished. This article may contain opinions on political matters, but it is not intended to promote the candidacy of any particular political candidate. The material contained in this article is for general information purposes only, and readers should consult licensed professionals before making any legal, business, financial or health decisions. Those responding to this article by making comments are solely responsible for their viewpoints, and those viewpoints do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of Michael Snyder or the operators of the websites where my work is republished. I encourage you to follow me on social media on Facebook and Twitter, and any way that you can share these articles with others is a great help.