The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has disoriented us all, instantly reshaping the economy, our habits, and our sense of stability. If you are battling against fear and anxiety today, it's completely okay.
However bad it gets, it's important to remember that God is in control in the midst of crisis. You can always turn to the Word of God to find guidance and solace during these like these.
The purpose of this piece is to explain the significance of these events as it relates to the Bible and to provide Bible verses about hope for you to hold in your heart. Let's jump into your Bible questions.
What the Bible Say About Coronavirus
In Revelation 5:1 (NIV), the Bible speaks of a scroll sealed with seven seals:
Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.
The breaking of each seal signifies an increase in war, famine, natural disasters and horror on earth. The full account of the seven seals can be found in the book of Revelation 6-8.
God allows the escalation of trials, tribulations, famines, and pestilences to bring us closer to Jesus. The purpose is for men to surrender to Jesus Christ and find salvation.
So how does the coronavirus outbreak tie into Scripture? Let's dig deeper into plagues like the coronavirus in the Bible.
What the Bible says about Plagues of Revelation
Here are some Bible verses about coronavirus and the plagues in the book of Revelation:
2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (NIV)
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 wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Revelation 6:1-17 (NIV)
I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.
When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.
When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand.
Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “Two pounds of wheat for a day’s wages, and six pounds of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!”
When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been.
I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”
Revelation 9:15 (NIV)
And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. The number of the mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand. I heard their number.
The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke and sulfur. A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths. The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury.
The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.
Matthew 24:4-8 (NIV)
Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.
Why You Should Have Hope
As we see, there is a parallel between Biblical plagues to the coronavirus today. God's word is powerful and relevant today more than ever. Hold onto God's promises. Use this time to pray and seek God for help and guidance. Lean on Jesus to fight fear.
God is our Hope
1. Psalms 71:5 (NIV)
For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth.
2. Micah 7:7 (NIV)
But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
3. Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
4. Philippians 1:6 (NIV)
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Trials will follow us throughout our life. We will fight many battles beyond our strength. God knows of our battles. Lean on God for guidance. Don't let fear force us into crippling inaction. Jesus overcame the world, and He will help you have peace.
Pray to God
5. Mark 11:24 (NIV)
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
6. Matthew 11:28 (NIV)
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
7. Philippians 4:6 (NIV)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
8. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Take Refuge in God
9. Psalms 46:1 (NIV)
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
10. Psalms 55:22 (NIV)
Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.
11. Psalm 91:2 (NIV)
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
12. Deuteronomy 33:27 (NIV)
The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemies before you, saying, ‘Destroy them!’
13. Psalms 71:3 (NIV)
Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.
God's Restoration
If you are feeling uncertain about your future, pray to God to restore you. Search for God's goodness in your life. Ask for forgiveness for your sins. God wants to bless your life. Start by praying to Him.
14. Isaiah 61:7 (NIV)
Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.
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