COVID-19 - Lift up your eyes

Meditations in Revelation–the 7^th Plague and COVID-19

In recent times I have gained much value by meditating on Revelation as a letter of wisdom sent by Jesus to every generation of disciples. In this approach the prophecies of Revelation hold their greatest value in terms of the principles and wisdom that they teach rather than a definitive matching of their fulfillment to literal historical or future events. The idea is that a prophecy is the “speaking forth” (this is literally what the word prophecy means) of divine truth from the author of all truth. As such, we should expect to see multiple fulfillment of a prophecy over time. The fulfillment is a confirmation that the author is indeed divine and omniscient, but it is even more important in demonstrating the principle of the underlying wisdom and truth encapsulated in the prophecy.

It is with this perspective that I find the recent unprecedented events surrounding the coronavirus and the prophecies of Revelation 16 to be extremely helpful and comforting.

Revelation 16 contains the prophecies concerning the pouring out of the 7 bowls which are described as “God’s wrath on the earth”. They establish the principle that, although God has set many laws and systems in place in which man and nature operate, He has, does, and will intervene. He will exercise His wrath and does not remain passive.

The bowls are also often referred to as the plagues of God. God often uses the plague as a means for exercising His judgment and wrath. The plagues in Egypt, the snake plague in the wilderness and the plague inflicted on David after the numbering incident are some examples. Whilst God can exercise His judgment through natural disasters, such as earthquakes, droughts and floods, He is also able to inflict disease and virus. It is in this context that the COVID-19, as the 7^th identified human coronavirus, represents a potential fulfilment of the 7^th bowl of Revelation 16 amplifying the underlying lesson for us all today.

The COVID-19 virus that has caused unprecedented panic and global disruption, is the 7^th human coronavirus that has been inflicted on humankind. The first 4 coronavirus strains inflicted limited symptoms. The fifth and sixth coronavirus strains identified as MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome)  and SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) both inflicted greater damage. COVID-19 is the 7^th strain of the virus which not only has potentially deadly symptoms but an extraordinary level of infection.

We read the following about the 7^th bowl in Revelation 16:17-21 (NIV):

The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, “It is done!” Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath. Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found. From the sky huge hailstones, each weighing about a hundred pounds, fell on people. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.

There are most definitely echoes between this prophecy and the current coronavirus crisis.

The plague is poured out into the air. Although currently there is no evidence that COVID-19 can travel long distances in the air, one of its characteristics is to spread on very small moisture particles through the air.  This means it infects over a distance. Hence the advice for social distancing. Many viruses infect through specific exposure to blood, saliva or other bodily fluids. COVID-19’s high infection rate is characterized by its seeming ability to infect “over the air.” (1)

In the prophecy, the bowl causes lightening, thunder and an earthquake. Symbolically this huge storm and shaking of the earth can be seen every day as the world reels in its reaction to the devastating growth and impact of the virus. Terms such national disaster, calamity and state of emergency are being invoked by national governments as they react to the COVID-19 plague.

The 7^th plague of Revelation 16 leads to a very specific result. The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. Babylon the Great represents the unified kingdoms of men. From Babel, when man unified his energy and intellect to build the great tower of Babel to reach heaven, to the great image of Babylon representing the unified kingdoms of men. In each case God intervenes by showing His power to divide and ultimately subdue the power of human kingdoms. Every day we are witnessing a dividing of the world at a level not even seen during the two great world wars. Borders are closed. Travel is banned. Cities are ordered to go into lockdown. The great city is being divided and the once glorious cities of the nations are collapsing.

And then islands flee, and the mountains are not found. Huge hailstones fall from the sky. There is fear and fleeing because of heavy burdens that are the consequence of the plague and the division it has caused. Symbolically the heavy hailstones are already starting to fall. From healthcare systems facing collapse to global airline businesses reeling from the travel lockdown. Forecasts of devastating unemployment and global recession are dropped liked one hundred-pound hailstones daily.

How does humanity respond to this demonstration of frailty? In Revelation 16, they curse God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible. Man refuses to lift up his eyes to find a cure for the true cause of the virus but chooses rather to curse God and nature. If we consider the current COVID-19 responses, barring the odd inspirational exception which has called for prayer and perspective, most have looked inwardly and acted selfishly. Governments have boasted about their systems and capacity to handle the virus. Most, to date, have been embarrassed by their distinct inability to control the pandemic. Individuals have gone on panic buying sprees raiding pharmacies and supermarkets in search of items they believe will keep them alive.

I think the echoes are there to be heard. We are witnessing a fulfillment of the 7^th plague in our generation. There may be more fulfillments to come but this is one for us to observe. This should affirm our confidence not only in this incredible book of Revelation but more importantly in its author and the wisdom He is sharing with us. So, what is the principle of the prophecy? What is the wisdom for us to gain for living today?

We live in the most advanced and developed kingdom of men.  A world where technology has allowed for unparalleled development and wealth. A world where so many daily problems are solved through technology. A world united through efficient global travel systems and the Internet. Unifying thinking and propelling development exponentially. A world that has seemingly answered most of the important questions and is able to solve its own problems. A world that has lost the need for a God. The prophecy teaches us that God has and will intervene to remind even the most confident and self-sufficient that their unity, independence and self-sufficiency are an illusion. He has the power to pour out a plague into the air that in a matter of days will cause a great shaking and calamity. He has the power to divide the kingdoms of men.

Don’t be fooled, even the most sophisticated kingdom of man is built on a foundation of sand. When the wind and storms arrive, the house shakes, divides and ultimately collapses. You can curse God and die with the house or you can choose to lift up your eyes to see who is pouring out the bowl.

When the plague of serpents in the wilderness inflicted untold death and calamity on the children of Israel, they ultimately faced one of two choices. They could curse the snakes and do their best to avoid them, try to kill them or find a vaccine for their deadly bite. Or they could lift their eyes up to the pole with the bronze serpent God had  instructed Moses to make. If they chose to lift their eyes up at the serpent on the pole they lived. If they chose to focus on their own solution they died.

Jesus said: Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.

Are we running around like everyone else trying to avoid the COVID-19 serpent? Is all our attention on the next possible bite or the drugs we can take to help us survive? Or have we looked up at the serpent on the pole? Have we understood who controls the plague, who divides the great city and who gives a life that is eternal?

In a crisis such as this It is wise to practice social distancing. It is even wiser to practice divine connection.

Almost every day the World Health Organization gives a press conference updating the state of the COVID-19 pandemic and the response of the various world governments. One wonders how many lift up their eyes whilst watching the spokesman. Above his head is the symbol for the World Health Organisation. A serpent on a pole. If you wondered if God was speaking above the cacophony of corona crisis panic. You have your answer.

(1)

Neeltje van Doremalen, a virologist at the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), and her colleagues at the Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, Montana, have done some of the first tests of how long SARS-CoV-2 can last for on different surfaces. Their study, which has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine, shows that the virus could survive in droplets for up to three hours after being coughed out into the air. Fine droplets between 1-5 micrometres in size – about 30 times small than the width of a human hair – can remain airborne for several hours in still air.