“Mat 24:10-14: And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
The disciples were asking Messiah what the signs of the end of the world are.
There are four things we learn from this passage: don’t be deceived, don’t panic, be patient, spread the gospel.
Now, as the world is facing the threat of corona virus, people are proclaiming that the end of the world is near.
Elohim has used plagues or the threat of plagues in the past to disciplines people. He sent ten plagues on Egypt when Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites go. When David acted on his own and numbered the people, Elohim gave him a choice: seven years of famine or three months of enemy attacks or three days of pestilence. David asked for three days pestilence and seventy thousand men perished. During Jeremiah’s time, the Lord promised to send pestilence on Israel because of their wickedness and disobedience. The people did not repent and they were led into captivity. The prophet Jonah was sent to Nineveh to tell the people that they would be destroyed because of their wickedness. The king and people of Nineveh believed and repented and Elohim’s wrath was satisfied and Nineveh was not destroyed.
The world is full of wickedness and sin. Adam and Eve sinned and as a result we are all sinners (Rom.3:23). World War One killed 40 million people. World War Two killed 75 million people. The Spanish Flu in 1918 killed 50 million people. The Black Plague lasted for 20 years and killed 200 million people. Half of Europe died under that one. And recently during the last 150 years, there have been over half a dozen flu epidemics, each of which killed over a million people in the US. There is nothing especially new or surprising or different about an outbreak of disease in our world. “There is no new thing under the sun” (Eccl.1:9)
Why does Elohim allow such things as the corona virus or AIDS or such other plagues come upon His people? It is only with the Lord’s permission that such disasters happen! Being a Christian does not make us immune to death. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Heb 9:27). We are all going to die, if not today, then later of some other reason. So instead of focusing on dying, maintain an honorable testimony, one which honors Messiah and focus on life hereafter.
Let’s look at some reasons God sends disease and trouble in the Bible:
To Teach Obedience. In Deu.28, Moses tells the people all the blessings that they will receive IF they will obey Elohim. So the key to receiving blessings is obedience. The result of disobedience? Curses! Yahshua Messiah was able to undergo all sorts of humiliation, torture and trials because he was obedient to the Father. “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;” (Heb 5:8)
To Oppose Pride: Man is puffed up with pride. He does not give Elohim the glory but thinks all that he has achieved is only due to his wisdom and hard work. David counted his army without acknowledging Elohim. Elohim gave him a choice: seven years of famine or three months of enemy attacks or three days of pestilence. (2 Sam.24:13).
To Abolish Idolatry: Elohim commands us to avoid idol worship. Anything we love more than Elohim is idolatry. We all worship money. We love it so much that we forget Elohim in our efforts to amass more money! Messiah said,’ Ye cannot serve God and mammon.’(Matt.6:24). Messiah also said, ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ (Mat 6:33).
To Teach Gratitude. As a people we are never grateful. David says, ‘Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.’ (Psa.103:1). When the Israelites came out of Egypt, they started complaining as soon as they saw Pharaoh’s army pursuing them. The murmured again for water, for flesh, they murmured when they saw the giants in Canaan (Num.13:32). Because of their grumblings, Elohim sent pestilence, fiery serpents and enemy armies against them. Elohim blesses those who are thankful to him. (1Thes.5:18)
To Reveal His Power. Elohim sends us all these calamities so that we realize his awesome power. ‘For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Messiah: for it is the power of Elohim unto salvation to every one that believeth;’(Rom 1:16) . ‘For the wrath of Elohim is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;’ (Rom 1:18). It is when people are unrighteous, when they have forgotten the Creator and worship the creation, it is at such times that his wrath is made known to men.
To Accomplish His Purposes. Elohim uses such plagues to make men listen and obey him. Pharaoh finally listened to Elohim after he saw the effect of the ten plagues. He will also use such plagues to tell people of his coming judgment. By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. (Rev 9:18) .
The prayer of Solomon, in 2 Chr.7:14, is the secret to overcoming these pestilences and disasters. ‘If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.’
Let us turn to Yahweh with a sincere and repentant heart and ask him to forgive us and protect us and he will surely keep us safe. Psa 91:5-6:, ‘Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.’ Amen!
