COVID-19 has ignited a global hysteria that is unlike anything anyone has experienced in their living memory. The Spanish flu of 1918 is the closest pandemic to resemble the current outbreak.
1918 Spanish Flu/Influenza (H1N1 virus)
Source: Avian
Transmission: Coughing, Sneezing and contaminated surfaces
Deaths: Estimated 50 million
Yet pandemics are not new to our world, most of us have lived through multiple global outbreaks:
2003 -SARS Pandemic
Source: The civet a mammal with a catlike body
Transmission: SARS-CoV is thought to be transmitted most readily by respiratory droplets …
Deaths: 774 deaths out 8,096 confirmed cases
2009 – H1N1 flu pandemic
Source: Swine
Transmission: The pandemic H1N1 virus is spread from person to person, similar to seasonal influenza viruses.
Deaths: 18,500 deaths confirmed
2012 – Measles
Source: Unknown
Transmission: coughing and sneezing.
Deaths: approximately 122,000 people worldwide
2014 – Ebola
Source: African Bats
Transmission: Highly transmissible by direct contact with infected blood, secretions, tissues, organs, and other bodily fluids from dead or living infected persons.
Deaths: More than 11,300
2016 – Zika virus
Source/Transmission: Mosquito Borne Disease
Effects: Devastating birth defect is microcephaly. The virus is also associated with miscarriage, stillbirth and other neurological deficits.
2019 Ebola DRC Congo
As of November 17, 2019, a total of 3,296 Ebola cases and 2,196 (67%) deaths have been reported.
2020 – Coronavirus
Source: Most Likely Bats
Transmission: Coughing, sneezing and contaminated surfaces.
What makes COVID-19 more dangerous than other outbreaks? COVID-19 is more contagious because it is detectable in aerosols up to 3 hours and up to 3 days on surfaces.[1] This combined with an estimated 20% of cases requiring hospitalization for around 11 days and a death rate of 1% (or greater) threatens to overwhelm the health care system.[2]
Pandemics are history’s response to prophesy. Regarding the time of the end Jesus said,
“And great earthquakes shall be in diverse places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.” Luke 21:11
The good news is that the same Lord who prophesied these pandemics has also given us health laws to follow and the promise that
“If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.” Exodus 15:26
Now the big question: How can I protect myself and my family from deadly outbreaks?
The Bible gives us proven guidelines for clean and unclean foods; the fish must have fins and scales; mammals must have split hooves and chew the cud and must be raised in sanitary conditions. Bottom line avoid eating “exotic” animal meats, the list of animals in Leviticus 11 is safer.
With COVID-19 the main recommendations are to wash your hands with soap and water for more than 20 seconds, wear a mask and avoid touching your face. Additionally you can decrease the risk of hospitalization in any outbreak by building and maintaining a strong immune system.
The Bible gives us the best food source to accomplish this.
“And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.” Genesis 1:29
The plant-based diet has been associated with reduced inflammation[3] and lower cancer risks,[4] suggesting that plant based diet supports immune health. Another study suggests that those who exercise regularly and take
“about a teaspoon of nutritional yeast a day worth of beta-glucans for 12 weeks were 60% less likely to report experiencing symptoms, like sore throat, stuffed or runny nose, or cough.”[5]
For treating the common cold a “flu bomb”[6] and hot/cold treatments[7] have demonstrated positive outcomes in most cases.
Bottom line be prepared by ensuring your nutritional intake[8] optimizes your cardiovascular and immune health.[9]
Now here is an even more important question: How can I prepare for the REAL apocalypse?
The word apocalypse is a Greek word that means “revelation”, “an unveiling or unfolding of things not previously known and which could not be known apart from the unveiling” The word is found in the first sentence of the last book of the Bible, the book of Revelation. It reads,
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John.” Revelation 1:1
Revelation is the book for our time, it contains blessing, the end time plagues, how the world ends, the paradise of God and how you can prepare for all of it.
Revelation 13 depicts a lamb-like beast:
And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Revelation 13:15-17
From this passage it is clear that the final crisis before the coming of Christ has to do with two issues 1. A test of worship, which leads to 2. No buy, no sell.
Lets start with the easy one, #2 How can I prepare for the no buy, no sell?
A faint shadow of the troubles before us is given in the prophesy regarding the destruction of Jerusalem. Jesus warns his disciples,
“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. Luke 21:20-21.
Jerusalem was destroyed in A.D. 70 by the Roman general Titus, and more than a million Jews lost their lives, but not a single faithful Christian died in that conflict because they obeyed Christ’s warning.
The COVID-19 crisis demonstrates Christ’s wisdom in the call to leave the cities…
Leave the Cities… https://youtu.be/wuVmW13JuSw?t=269
As we can see In many parts of the world people have fled the cities because of food shortages. The people of God must…
“…take their families away from the cities, into the country, where they can raise their own provisions; for in the future the problem of buying and selling will be a very serious one.”—Letter 5, 1904. {CL 9.5}
How can I prepare for the no buy, no sell?
Move out of the city and into the country as soon as possible and grow your food, but this is the easy part. Here’s the hard part..
And he [the lamb like beast] had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. Revelation 13:15
The lamb like beast is apostate America and the beast is power of Rome.
In prophesy the lamb-like beast, apostate America, will require all to participate in the idolatry and worship of the first beast, which is the religion of Rome. In order to accomplish this the US Constitution would need to be suspended or in some way evaded.
In his 2015 encyclical Pope Francis calls for a “true world political authority.”
“To manage the global economy; to revive economies hit by the crisis; to avoid any deterioration of the present crisis and the greater imbalances that would result; to bring about integral and timely disarmament, food security and peace; to guarantee the protection of the environment and to regulate migration: for all this, there is urgent need of a true world political authority, as my predecessor Blessed John XXIII indicated some years ago”.129 (p.129)
Nearly five years later in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis the New York Times reports…
As the pandemic brings life to a halt, leaders around the world are invoking executive powers and extending authority with scant resistance. Rights groups agree that extraordinary measures are called for, but critics say some governments are using the crisis to seize powers that have little to do with the outbreak.[10]
In Hungary, the prime minister can now rule by decree. In Britain, ministers have what a critic called “eye-watering” power to detain people and close borders. Israel’s prime minister has shut down courts and begun an intrusive surveillance of citizens. Chile has sent the military to public squares once occupied by protesters. Bolivia has postponed elections.[11]
According to the Guardian, the former British prime-minister…
“Gordon Brown has urged world leaders to create a temporary form of global government to tackle the twin medical and economic crises caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.”[12]
Another theme that pervades Pope Francis’ encyclical is the common good:
One authoritative source of oversight and coordination is the law, which lays down rules for admissible conduct in the light of the common good. (p.129)
Are we willing to trade our individual rights for the common good?
Liberty under threat https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyOMMhYUrpc&list=WL&index=114&t=0s
After 911 the Patriot Act was introduced, giving the U.S. government the power to obtain communication records from it is citizens without a court approval. Much of this has been exposed by Edward Snowden. Additionally the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was created after 911 and has become the norm in air-travel.
Clearly the COVID-19 pandemic will usher in unprecedented national and global changes. Here’s the hard question?
How can I prepare for the test of worship in the Apocalypse?
The United States was founded in the spirit of….
“Give me liberty, or give me death!” Patrick Henry March 23, 1775.
However the Christian faith was founded on a more firm principle…
“We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29
Jesus tells us…
“…be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Revelation 2:10
How can anyone prepare for the test of worship?
Obey God continually. Obey God always. Never stop obeying God. Obedience is the fruit of faith.
This is why Christians should never take a moral holiday. The philosopher William James identified this as situation when individuals temporarily relax the rules of conduct and treat themselves to enjoyment and pleasure.
One such example is Mardi Gras. In the COVID-19 crisis this festival of disobedience and rebellion against the commandments of God has proven disastrous. New York Times reports …
“It is the city’s trademark expression of joy — and an epidemiologist’s nightmare. “I think it all boils down to Mardi Gras,” said Dr. F. Brobson Lutz Jr., a former health director of New Orleans and a specialist in infectious disease. “The greatest free party in the world was a perfect incubator at the perfect time.”[13]
Jesus said,
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15
If we love God love God we will not fear the threats of those who live in rebellion against God because we are promised that…
“…since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9
Obey the Gospel, walk by faith so that God can say of you…
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14:12
In order to be ready for the apocalypse we need to study the Bible because the Bible tells us all we need know about the apocalypse.
Please take time to pray and study the Bible daily. I want to invite you to listen revelation radio by visiting revelationradio.org. Also visit PHM.org where you can find audio and video sermons. Also get this amazing book called the Great Controversy, which outlines Christian history and end time prophesy in the most clear and comprehensive language.
Finally, don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions. You need to prepare for the final crisis, don’t let anything distract you from total obedience to the word of God, the time is short and the days are evil.
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[1] https://www.wwlp.com/news/new-study-indicates-how-long-coronavirus-can-stay-on-surfaces/
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23865797
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2771803
[5] https://nutritionfacts.org/video/Best-Food-to-Counter-stress-Induced-Immune-Suppression/
[7] https://glenweimer.com/natural-remedies-with-barbara-oneill-nd/
[8] https://foodtolive.com/healthy-blog/8-vegan-foods-strengthen-immune-system/
[13] https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/26/us/coronavirus-louisiana-new-orleans.html