Coronavirus. CoronaPanic. CoronaTerror. CoronaDoomsday?
How serious is this daily-developing crisis? That depends on who you talk to. To some, it’s nothing major—just another form of the flu. To others, the carnage could lead to literally millions of deaths worldwide. If that happens, surely no one will continue to believe “it’s nothing major.”
My take is, first of all, that none of us really knows (yet) how big this problem will become. We do know that the virus originated in China in December of 2019, that it is highly contagious, and that it is spreading rapidly around the world.
Iran, South Korea, Italy and Japan have been hit particularly hard. We also know that this virus is growing in the United States, with confirmed cases in over half of our U.S. states. The U.S. Senate recently approved 8.3 billion dollars to combat CoronaWoes. The public is being urged to avoid international travel to infected places, and to avoid large crowds. Many schools are also closing. Global stock markets have reacted very badly.
The DOW keeps going DOWN DOWN DOWN.
Fears of a global recession are looming.
By the time you read this, there will be new developments. Johns Hopkins is keeping a running tally of new cases and deaths. At this moment, the number of those infected is over 110,000 worldwide, with approximately 4,000 CoronaCasualties. Among its list of prevention recommendations, the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) lists on its website things like frequent hand-washing, covering your mouth if you cough or sneeze, and staying home if you’re sick. Hand-shaking in public is declining. Airline travel is dropping. Large public gatherings are being cancelled.
Who would have thought only three months ago that a CoronaPandemic would become one of the world’s top news stories?
Today, everyone knows about it. Fear is spreading.
What does the Holy Bible say? First, no, this CoronaKiller isn’t one of “the seven last plagues” because the final plagues only start after people worldwide choose to receive or refuse the mark of the beast (see Revelation 16:1,2). That fearful time hasn’t come yet, although it is inching ever closer. Yet, Jesus Christ did warn that before He returns these “signs” would occur:
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in diverse places. All these are the beginning of sorrows… (Matthew 24:7,8).
Notice that one word, “pestilence.” It means “diseases,” such as COVID-19. Of course, there have been diseases throughout history, but we are informed that “While these prophecies received a partial fulfillment at the destruction of Jerusalem, they have a more direct application in these last days” (5T, 753, emphasis added). “Pestilences will sweep away thousands” (Last Day Events, 27), is Heaven’s warning.
Those of us who are waiting for the Day of the Lord should always be alert to “the signs of the times.” Who knows? The coronavirus may become much bigger than we currently imagine. It could also be part of “the beginning of sorrows” that our Savior warned us about. It is already affecting the global economy, and the situation could get worse—much worse. In the light of a possible looming global crisis, the following points should be soberly considered.
It’s time to strengthen our health. The consensus is that persons over 60 with chronic health issues and weakened immune systems have the highest risk. Currently, approximately 2-3% of those who become infected will die, with the highest number of deaths being among those who have the above risk factors. This is a clarion call to each of us to strengthen our health and build up our immune systems. Therefore, every NEWSTART principle we know of should come into play. We should pay close attention to:
Nutrition
Exercise
Water
Sunshine
Temperance
Air
Rest
Trust in God
How are you doing in these eight areas? While the CDC’s targeted focus is washing hands and covering mouths (which is important), we should go beyond these minimal recommendations by practicing (and telling others about) the wonderful health principles that God has committed to us as a people. Alcohol and tobacco should always be eliminated. Junk food, too. “I’m vegan,” I often hear, but we should go beyond this popular term.
After all, white sugar, white bread, greasy French Fries and Coca-Cola are vegan, too.
When a person is infected by coronavirus, it usually attaches itself to cells in the throat and nose first. Then it moves deeper into other cells in the body—deeper in the nasal cavity or upper respiratory tract. If its advance isn’t arrested, it can slip into the lower respiratory tract and lungs, which is the most critical stage. If the lungs start filling up with fluid, oxygen supplies lessen throughout the body, leading to organ failures. Thus stages advance from “mild,” to “moderate,” to “severe,” to “critical.” At each stage, if the infected cells and the body’s immune system are vibrant enough, the virus can be zapped. But if they are weak, the risk grows that the critical stage will at last be reached.
If it does, the CoronaVictim can easily become a CoronaCasualty.
The more I ponder these things, the more impressed I am to make sure I am filling my bloodstream and saturating all my cells with the very best nutrition possible. Personally, these days I am eating lots of fresh, organic, nutrient-saturated home grown sprouts and microgreens, especially in my salads. I love large, 100% LIVE delicious salads! I also teach a video course on how to easily grow many different varieties of sprouts and microgreens in one’s home. If you are interested, check out SproutingWithSteve.com.
If a person dies from the coronavirus, what’s next? We know the answer. That person will wake up in either the first or second resurrection. Then, they will either live an unimaginably wonderful life with God, His people, and holy angels forever, or they will become extinct in “the lake of fire” (see Revelation 21:1-5, 8). This tells me that now is the best time to focus on the biggest issue of all: Our relationship with Jesus Christ.
Again, who knows, we could all be witnessing “the beginning of sorrows” Jesus warned us about. We may be much closer than we think to the final movements “which will be rapid ones,” earth’s final crisis, the Mark of the Beast, the close of probation, the seven last plagues, the death decree, followed by the glorious appearing of King Jesus. Alleluia!
Thus our Number 1 Priority in these CoronaDays should be to make sure we have repented of all our sins, that we fully trust Jesus as our Savior, and that we love God and our neighbor as ourselves so we can truly be among those who “keep the Commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12). We should also be sharing the Three Angels Messages by the Holy Spirit according to our gifts and talents.
This is the will of God for His people in these closing moments.
Have you seen bumper stickers with the words, NO FEAR? I have. As I think about CoronaFears, I have determined not to succumb. As the Speaker/Director of White Horse Media, I normally travel once a month. My next appointment is March 21,22, in Needles, California. You’ve probably heard that the Coronavirus has entered that state, too. Should I stay home in peaceful North Idaho? Should I avoid traveling on a Southwest airplane from Spokane to Las Vegas, where I will then pick up my rental car? Well…God has clearly answered that question for me. In my heart, I have heard His voice saying, “Go forward.”
These promises bring comfort to my heart:
“Fear not, for I am with you” (Isaiah 41:10).
“For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).
“You shall not be afraid of the terror by night…nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you” (Psalm 91:5-7) emphasis added).
I went to church last Sabbath, and will again next Sabbath. My conviction is that we should keep reaching out to the public with the love of Jesus and with God’s truth. Of course, we should take reasonable precautions; and yes, we should wash our hands. But beyond this, we should make it our Top Priority to enhance our health, and to share the gospel with others.
“I’ve got Good News, and Bad News,” I often tell audiences.
First, the bad news: life on earth is going to get worse before it gets better—much worse. But ah, thank God for the Good News! Jesus Christ is coming! And after He returns—for those who are loyal—life will be better than we can possibly imagine. These are some of my thoughts about the current CoronaCrisis.
So trust God, and don’t be afraid. And never forget that increasing our health is one of our greatest weapons of defense against disease. We should also prepare our hearts for the final storm.
Above all, we must trust Jesus as our Savior, who loves us, and who will bring us safely through this dangerous virus-infected planet until He comes again.
Steve Wohlberg is the Speaker/Director of White Horse Media based in Priest River, Idaho. He is the author of many books, including End Times Health War. His websites are whitehorsemedia.com, and SproutingWithSteve.com.