A Deadly Gift: Jesus’ Release of the Corona Virus  

Introduction

Since, “the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:2 cf. Rev 10:7) the Church should be free of the panic accompanying COVID 19. Whilst it is good to witness calls to prayer (https://www.generals.org/rpn/single/global-day-of-prayer-for-the-coronavirus/), these generally are lacking the supreme Christ-centredness scripture. This article is an attempt to correct this lack whilst calling for more informed prayer. We must move past fears to do with a global recession, or even mass casualties, to see that the Lamb of God is opening heaven that his Bride may see in the Spirit what he is saying to the churches (Rev 1:10; 2:11; 4:1). Then we can become a firewall against the deceiving spirits leading the world to eternal destruction (Rev 16:14). Fearful Christians have forgotten that viruses were made “for” Jesus (Col 1:16). Such forgetfulness exposes our lack of intimacy with Christ (cf. 2 Pet 1:9).

Intimacy and Authority

When Jesus says, “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me…” (Matt 28:19) he includes the matter of judgement. “For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honour the Son, just as they honour the Father.” (John 5:22). Actions of judgement include the plagues released by the Lamb in heaven and his ministering angels (Rev 6:8; 15:1ff.). The wrath of God and the Lamb are one in love (Rev 6:16). This requires considerable spiritual discernment. When we see the God passing the scroll of the world’s destiny to the Lamb (Rev 5:7; Ezek 2:10) its contents include every punishment up until Christ’s Return. This “passing the baton” is an act of the utmost intimacy. More than being “sinners in the hands of an angry God”, a tender-hearted Father (Hos 11:8; Luke 1:78) has placed cosmic destiny in a nail-pierced hand. Coronavirus is in the hands i.e. under the control of, our Saviour. Hallelujah! A human being like us (Heb 2:14-15), is honoured to be the Executor of divine wrath. Flesh and bone (Luke 24:39) is entrusted with the judgement of the universe. (If we don’t see this now we won’t discern our future glory (Dan 7:22; 1 Cor 6:2)). In the Spirit, we can discern that COVID19 is a gift from Father to Son just as the nails of the cross were, as the cross itself was, and as was the unparalleled greatness of the Roman Empire (Dan 2:40). Every destructive and evil power exists to be overcome by the selfless suffering love of the Lamb of God. COVID19 is no exception.

The Purpose

In the depths of love of the Trinity the Son has asked his Father for a virus to pour out on the earth. For what purpose? Firstly, every disaster, has something to teach or warn the Church (1 Cor 10:11). This is what makes the reading of Revelation essential in our time (1:3). Second, I believe the direction of the spread of this contagion is prophetic. China>Asia>the world images the future flow of global mission. The Chinese Church is the first to be tested by this contagion because at present it is probably the most potent praying Church on the planet. Thirdly, and this is where most of Western Christianity is “missing it”, the virus is a servant of Jesus to mature his Church globally. As the Wuhan pastor prophesied, “When disaster strikes, it is but a form of God’s love….Wuhan’s pestilence cannot separate us from the love of Christ.” The sweet-bitter lesson we need to accept (Rev 10:9-10) is that the greater our suffering for Christ the more intense our union with him. This is why Paul can lists every manner of pain along with his persecutions (2 Cor 6:3-10). Prayers concentrated on a speedy return for peace and prosperity (Jer 6:14) are badly missing the mark, they reflect a spiritual superficiality. Worship and prayer to a very reduced Jesus, a Jesus less than the all reigning Apocalyptic Lord, produces very reduced Christians. This is the cause of the crisis in discipleship in the Western world. The fullness of the Word whom we must worship includes his commission to, “tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty” (Rev 19:13, 15). We cannot see this Jesus because of our idols (1 John 5:21).

Idols

The simplest idol is “scientism”. The belief that the scientific method alone provides final access to truth and power. In practice the masses of developed societies are putting their trust in scientists to defeat the coronavirus epidemic.  An idol much more entrenched in the Church is a commitment to self-preservation. Jesus said, ““If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23). However the dreams and identity of the average pastor is so enmeshed in the bricks and mortar of the present forms of Christianity that they find it inconceivable that the Lord will use any means to pull down institutions that are standing in the way of real revival. We may be witnessing a churchquake across the planet when anything that can be shaken is being shaken (Heb 12:26-27), but as long as we refuse to see the shaking is coming from the Lord of the Church we will never submit our wills to him.  The proclamation, “they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” (Rev 12:11) only applies to a church willing to die for the greater glory of God. In Australia this Church is not easy to locate.

Conclusion

This paper stimulated by a phone call from a mature prayerful man wanting to know why mass prayer wasn’t happening in our city. Although COVID19 is a message from heaven “sent out into all the earth” (Rev 5:6) by the Spirit, few seem to be listening deeply. Nevertheless, the purpose of the plan of God to raise up a new cohort of mature children for his everlasting glory (Isa 43:6-7) will not fail. Perhaps we must await another more spiritually enlightened generation?  Whatever the case, our dear Jesus will not desist from pouring out every bowl of wrath the Father hands him (Rev 15:7). Thankfully, another bowl appears in Revelation. This bowl is a golden one filled with the precious prayers of the saints (Rev 5:8). This bowl alone is potent enough to turn wrath into atonement (Rev 11:13) so that “in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet 4:11).  “Everything” includes pandemics. How I long to be a part of a praying Church that sees things as they really are. How long before the Spirit draws together the saints in each city to pray with mature heavenly wisdom? May it come quickly.