In recent editorials we have focused upon the extraordinary weather events hitting many parts of the world at the same time as plagues of disease and locusts are also affecting many nations. The spread of the coronavirus to Europe and outbreaks in unconnected places around the globe are an ominous sign that the nightmare scenario may be just beginning; while some places in Britain have experienced the worst floods in living memory.

We cannot ignore what has become headline news across the world and we have to ask some serious questions about the spiritual significance of what we are seeing on our TV screens and reading in our newspapers. Undoubtedly what is happening constitutes what in biblical language is a ‘sign’.

There is no clear definition of a sign in the Bible. But a sign, in biblical parlance, is a physical event that catches the attention of the public, but also has a hidden significance that is spiritually perceived. Paul says “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor 2:14).

Bible-believing Christians everywhere ought to be asking “What is God saying to us through the spectacular events that are taking place today?”

Rebuke, Correction

There are plenty of places in the Bible that speak about the judgments of God, but which are not necessarily connected with an eschatological (or end times) scenario. We can learn a lot about the nature of God through the ways that he deals with his covenant people Israel. Because God is revealed throughout the Bible as a God of justice as well as love, there are times when he rebukes his people; even raising up other nations such as the Babylonians to bring punishment upon them. Habakkuk is one of the prophets who argues with God over this – protesting when God says “I am raising up the Babylonians” and pointing out what a violent and wicked nation they are (Hab 1:6-12).

Undoubtedly what is happening constitutes what in biblical language is a ‘sign’.

On another occasion, Isaiah hears God saying that he will extend peace to Jerusalem “like a river, and the wealth of nations” will come to her people (Isa 66:12). At that time God also promises to send judgment upon the Gentile nations. He says, those who are the servants of the Lord will understand what he is doing, but his judgments will be upon those who are against him: “The hand of the Lord will be made known to his servants, but his fury will be shown to his foes. See, the Lord is coming with fire, and his chariots are like a whirlwind…The Lord will execute judgment upon all men” (Isa 66:14-16).

In a similar reference, Isaiah sees another purpose in God sending judgments: he says, “When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness” (Isa 26:9). This indicates that God uses natural disasters to bring correction to humanity, although Isaiah concedes that the wicked do not learn anything because they don’t understand the ways of God: “Though grace is shown to the wicked they do not learn righteousness” (Isa 26:10).

Global Message

With this biblical teaching in mind, let us look at what’s happening today. In 2008 there was a worldwide financial crash that brought down many well-known financial houses, particularly in the West. Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch, AIG, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae all disappeared from the scene and RBS is not yet fully recovered from state bailout. Most commentators agreed that the underlying cause of the crash was greed and corruption. But most would also agree that there have been no major changes in the principles and practices of the system since then – corruption is still endemic.

Today, China is not only rapidly becoming the production centre of world industry, it is also heading towards becoming the world’s largest economy. But it is also one of the world’s most repressive states. Its persecution of both Christians and Muslims is unrelenting and cruel, together with its suppression of all forms of free speech. The whole of its social and economic life is based upon injustice and oppression – low-paid labour making cheap consumer products for the West. These are human characteristics that God hates and they are roundly condemned in the Bible because they lead to the shedding of blood – to violence and destruction – which is the opposite of God’s good purposes for humanity.

It is very likely that the coronavirus epidemic will cause the Chinese economy to collapse, which will have worldwide repercussions. This would undoubtedly be a sign of God’s judgment upon an unjust regime, but it would also send a strong message to the rest of the world, where human beings are also in rebellion against the God of Creation as revealed in the Bible.

If the coronavirus epidemic causes the Chinese economy to collapse, this would undoubtedly be a sign of God’s judgment upon an unjust regime, but it would also send a strong message to the rest of the world.

A Step Too Far

In Western nations, that rebellion has most obviously taken the form of the destruction of the traditional family, an agenda clearly stated in the Gay Liberation Front manifesto of 1971.¹ But the family is not only the linchpin of organised social life, for the wellbeing and prosperity of human beings, it is also an essential part of God’s Creation.

In order to promote their own warped sense of ‘equality’, activists have successfully targeted marriage over the past 50 years, weakening and diluting it in all sorts of ways and bringing misery into the lives of countless millions of men, women and children. But their most recent objective is a step too far in rebellion against God: it is the targeting of gender, which is a basic part of God’s creation of men and women in his own image.

The height of this wickedness and utter stupidity was surely reached last week when Labour MP Dawn Butler made a statement as part of the Party’s deputy leadership race that babies are not born with any sexual distinction and are free to choose the sex of their preference later.²

Children are growing up in a world of enormous psychological and social pressures, from the demands of education to the bullying of social media. If we destroy the one clear point of our children’s identity, we have surely reached the point of maximum child abuse that must inevitably bring the judgment of God upon this generation. Maybe this is the reason why God is allowing the coronavirus to spread across the world. It is a strong warning to humanity - but will its significance be recognised? And will its warning be heeded?

References

1 Read it here

2 See news coverage here