The Apocalypse and the Coronavirus (Revelation 6:1-8; 16:9, 11; 22:20)

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Charles Spurgeon: ‘Only fools and madmen are positive in their interpretations of the Apocalypse.’ But it can be done!

  1. The four horsemen of the Apocalypse inflict God’s judgments.
    • Rev.6:18; see Zech.6:1-3. The four horsemen of the Apocalypse are traditionally war, famine, pestilence, and death. The history of the world is, from one perspective, the history of war, famine, pestilence and death.
    • Rom.8:22. The four horsemen have been riding all through history. And Covid-19 is part of that. Notice who opened the seals – it is Christ the Lamb (e.g. 6::3, 5, 7). Christ sent covid!
  2. Afflictions are meant to lead us to repent.
    • 16:2-21 – like the plagues in Egypt
    • the aim is repentance – see 16:9, 11; Ps.119:71. This does not mean the sufferers are the greatest sinners – Luke 13:1-5.
  3. We are to yearn for Christ’s coming.
    • 22:17. Come!
    • 22:20. This life is a passing mist – Psalm 103:15; James 4:14.

    John Greenleaf Whittier’s hymn is most fitting:

    Here in the maddening maze of things,
    When tossed by storm and flood,
    To one fixed ground my spirit clings:
    I know that God is good.