Eld Goh Kee Tai

The coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) which first appeared in Wuhan, China, in late last year, and then spread rapidly throughout the world in 2020, is not the only pandemic which has affected Singapore. We were not spared from the last three influenza pandemics of the 20th century ( the Spanish flu in 1918, the Asian flu in 1957 and the Hong Kong flu in 1968). The Spanish flu pandemic was the worst known to afflict mankind with 40 - 60 million people killed worldwide. Singapore was again hit by the first influenza pandemic of the 21st century in 2009 (first reported Mexico) with 270,000 people infected and 18 died. The SARS outbreak which originated in southern China in late 2002 did not give rise to a pandemic in the following year. However, 238 cases with 33 deaths were reported in Singapore with immense health, social  and economic impacts.

With the eradication of the deadly smallpox from the world in 1980, there was optimism and confidence among the scientific community that other infectious diseases could also be eliminated. This was proven to be wrong. A number of previously unknown animal diseases which had crossed the species barrier soon emerged suddenly and unexpectedly to afflict mankind, causing widespread epidemics with high fatality. A new curse has fallen on humanity!

Many factors are cited to have contributed to the emergence of these diseases such as evolution of germs over time to cross species barrier, human behaviour and practices like hunting and eating wild animal species which may carry many exotic germs, destructive ecological changes due to rapid urbanisation, population growth, economic development and intensive farming, poverty, war, globalisation, international trade and travel, climate change, among many others.

Despite the most advanced scientific research and technology, no one has yet been able to pre-empt the occurrences of these pestilences. The predictions are based on evolutionary theory of probability and chance.

Even though the emerging infectious disease agents could nowadays be identified quite rapidly, but vaccines and drugs could not be developed in time to prevent and treat these diseases.

Biblical perspectives

The answers to these perplexing problems can only be found in the Bible.

The Fall of man in the Garden of Eden resulted in pain, labour and sorrow, disease and death, thorns and thistles in this sin-cursed world (Gen 3:16-19); in fact, 'the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together' (Rm 8:22).

Our omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent God directs all the events in this world and nothing can happen without His permission.

The Lord actively intervened in the affairs of His chosen nation, Israel. If the people were to keep their covenantal relationship with Him in strict compliance to His commandments, He promised that He would bless and prosper the nation (Deu 28:1). But if they were to do evil in His sight and provoked Him to anger, God warned them of curses in His divine visitations (Deu 28: 15), which included among others, pestilence (Deu 28:21), great plagues and sore sicknesses of 'long continuance' (Deu 28:59), debilitating disease, 'with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning' (Deu 28:22), 

God sent pestilences to punish His people for disobeying Him, and to judge the enemies of the nation of Israel. We are all familiar with the plague which God sent to judge the Israelites for committing fornication with the Moabites (24,000 died) (Num 25:9), and for David's sin of pride in numbering the people (70,000 died) (2 Sam 24:15).

In the same way, the Lord sent pestilences to judge this wretched and depraved world.

When this ongoing pestilence will end and when the next pandemic would occur is entirely in the hand of our one true living God who reigns supreme high in the heavens. He is in complete control. We can never comprehend the mind of God and His unsearchable wise counsel and sovereign decree. His thoughts, judgments and ways are past finding out (Rm 11:33,34; Isa 55:8,9).

Signs of the imminent return of Jesus Christ

The frequent occurrences of pestilences which appeared suddenly and unexpectedly in recent years have great spiritual significance. God is so merciful and gracious to reveal to His children the signs and momentous events leading to the return of Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords  to judge the wicked, to reward the righteous, and to remove the world of all evils. 

The Lord shall return in the clouds with power and great glory to take all truly born-again believers in their glorified resurrection bodies (1 Th 4:16,17) to be with Him and then return to earth with His saints and mighty angels (Zech 14:4; 2 Th 1:7; Jude 14) to defeat the Antichrist and the armies of the world at the battle of Armageddon and to establish His glorious millennial kingdom on earth (Rev 19:11-21).

Those who are left behind will be under the terrible reign of the world's most wicked dictator, the Antichrist, during the seven-year Great Tribulation Period (Dn 9:27). The Lord will pour out His wrath on all who continue to reject His salvation grace  in a series of judgments, including pestilences directed at the Antichrist and all his followers. These plagues, described as 'noisome and grievous', do not kill the victims but torment them so intensely that they desire to die but could not (Rev 9:5,6; 16:2), a foretaste of the conscious torment of all impenitent cast into the Lake of Fire burning with brimstone  (Rev 19:20).

Our response to these recurring pandemics

While we remain in this sin-filled perishing world, God will continue to send pestilences to afflict man, for man’s good so that he will be driven to Christ and away from the seduction of this sin-filled world. We are indeed living in the last of the last days with all the signs of His return rapidly unfolding before our eyes in our evil and wicked world with gross materialism and immorality as in the day of Noah and Lot (Gen 6:5; 18:20), false world religious system, false Christs and false prophets claiming to perform great signs and wonders, in these perilous days of great falling away (Mt 24:24; 2 Th 2:3).

The alarm has rung for the world, but this wake-up call is specifically directed at the spiritually complacent lethargic professing believers.

Our security is in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He is our Refuge and Fortress, in Him shall we put our complete trust (Ps 91:2,4). By divine grace, and His providential care, preservation and protection, we who love Him shall have no fear of these pestilences. We have this assurance in His everlasting words to deliver us from the ... noisome pestilence and plague (Ps 91:3,5-7,10).

When we commit everything to Him by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, we shall have the peace of God, which passeth all understanding to keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Ph 4: 6,7). We must not be troubled and suffer from a  disquieting and discomforting fear.

However, we must not tempt God by being irresponsible (Mt 4:7). On our part, human responsibility dictates that we take stringent precautionary measures prescribed by the authorities to protect ourselves and loved ones. In fact, the public health strategies to interrupt person-to person transmission such as observation of good personal hygiene, isolation, quarantine, social distancing, and environmental sanitation (Deu 23:12-14), can be found in the Mosaic sanitary code, best illustrated by leprosy, the most loathsome contagious disease that terrified humanity for centuries (Num 5:2;Lev 13:2-46; 14:8;9).

If God were to  permit His children to be afflicted in this pandemic, though not joyous, but grievous (Heb 12:11), we must submit to His sovereign will, and not complain and murmur, for 'we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose' (Rm 8:28). If He were to take us Home, once we have accomplished His purpose for us, we shall be with Him in glory for eternity.

Conclusion

This is the time to re-examine our daily spiritual walk with the Lord. Do we 'dwelleth in the secret place of the most High' (Ps 91:1) by living a life in  sweet communion and fellowship with Him, in earnest prayers, in the study of His word, worship and service? Armed with His word, and in His abiding presence, we shall overcome this dismal pestilence-stricken world without anxiety and fear.

This pandemic with unprecedented measures ever taken throughout the world, such as lock-down of entire city and nation, restriction in international travel, have resulted in devastating far-reaching global political, social and economic consequences.  All these developments will be heading to the Great Tribulation when the world will be ruled by the Antichrist.

While the Lord tarries, take heed, be vigilant and prayerful. Live soberly and be found faithful, blameless and shine as light in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation (1 Pet 4:7; Ph 2:15). This is the time of great gospel opportunity to reach out to the precious souls perishing to a Christless eternity. Do not be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The covid-19 virus only attacks the body, but the sin-virus which attacks the soul is far more deadly. Be sure of our own salvation and that of our loved ones and friends. Have we been washed by the blood of the Lamb, and our names written in the Book of Life? Be ready to give an account of all that we have done for the Lord before the judgment seat of Christ. Amen.