Will This Pandemic Lead To Repentance?

[Hidden In Him]

Greetings, all.

I have a friend who believes the COVID-19 pandemic will eventually lead to repentance and revival in America. The following prophecy uttered in 1986 may lend credence to this belief:

"I see a plague coming on the world, and the bars, churches and government will shut down. The plague will hit New York City and shake it like it has never been shaken. The plague is going to force prayerless believers into radical prayer and into their Bibles, and repentance will be the cry from the man of God in the pulpit. And out of it will come a third Great Awakening that will sweep America and the world." - David Wilkerson in 1986

I certainly hope this will be the case, but in all honesty I have to confess that I don't think the current pandemic will be enough to do it, not unless things take a massive turn for the worse in the future. I believe the above prophecy will indeed come to pass some day, but I question if enough deaths have taken place or will take place during the current pandemic to truly make much of a dent (unfortunately).

I ran into another friend last night who has family and friends in New Orleans, and he said much the same thing. "You know, in spite of all the people that are dying right now, people are still not repenting."

What do you think? Do you think this one will lead to revival? If not (and I realize this second question is rather grim, but for those who care about men's eternal states rather than just their temporal ones, it's worth asking): How bad do you think a pandemic would have to be before genuine revival took place in America? My guess is far more than I think the Corona Virus ever will, though hopefully I turn out to be wrong.


Blessings in Christ to all who respond,
Hidden In Him

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Those who God calls to repentance will repent.

 

[Ricky M]

The world is turning it's back on God. Have you not seen the posts here by the doubting about what kind of God would allow such a thing?

 

[iluvatar5150]

Ignoring for a moment that that Wilkerson quote is most likely bogus:
Did David Wilkerson Give a Prophecy About a Plague in New York City Back in 1986? - Tri-State Voice

...no, I don’t see a repentance coming. There is no way to draw causality between any sort of sin and susceptibility to a pandemic like this. Why would somebody look around and think that this was a consequence of sin? They wouldn’t. Even Christian doctrine doesn’t teach that tragedy gets meted out in that way - that was a big point of the book of Job.

 

[mama2one]

it's tough for those who have lost loved ones as well as health care workers & for those with no savings


it IS giving people a chance to help others.....many donations of food, money, neighbors helping elderly, etc

as to OP question.....no
more deaths every yr during flu season....up to 60,000 or more some yrs in U.S. alone

 

[Amittai]

This is probably the short Midnight Cry period (the ten virgins) pointed out by R T Kendall. Keep pure. My nerves were shattered by prolonged proximity to Toronto copycats as well as huge other deception. Deception has credentials. This is why Holy Spirit moves won't work without sound teaching.

 

[blackribbon]

Some of the people who are dying are godly Christians. This pandemic isn't because of sin that needs to be repented of (though there is plenty of sin around). But rather it is caused by the fact we live in a fallen world where people do die and are susceptible to illness and death.

 

[Richard T]

If you judge by this forum, repentance talk seems to be picking up. That is a good sign. I know I have changed since the virus started. No doubt too the virus is leading us to economic pain. There is still a ways to go under this chastening but it remains to be seen if it will be short-lived or lead to something worse than the Great Depression.

 

[Richard T]

Ignoring for a moment that that Wilkerson quote is most likely bogus:
Did David Wilkerson Give a Prophecy About a Plague in New York City Back in 1986? - Tri-State Voice

...no, I don’t see a repentance coming. There is no way to draw causality between any sort of sin and susceptibility to a pandemic like this. Why would somebody look around and think that this was a consequence of sin? They wouldn’t. Even Christian doctrine doesn’t teach that tragedy gets meted out in that way - that was a big point of the book of Job.

I just listened to Wilkerson's "In one hour, everything is going to be changed" on youtube. While there was no plague mentioned he did say and I quote "things that we hold dear, are absolutely, going to vanish. By this, meaning the calamity, shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged when he turns all the stones into dust..by this great cataclysmic event; are going to bring down all the idols crushed into stone. ...The last thing the world is going to be talking about is sports." The world is all going to change, it goes deeper than that." Wilkerson, early on in that sermon was talking about a nuclear bomb, possibly on New York or other US cities. There apparently is no recorded collaboration of Wilkerson talking about a specific plague, though he could have. It is interesting and worth thinking about that this plague could be the warning before the nukes.

 

[iluvatar5150]

Ignoring for a moment that that Wilkerson quote is most likely bogus:
Did David Wilkerson Give a Prophecy About a Plague in New York City Back in 1986? - Tri-State Voice

...no, I don’t see a repentance coming. There is no way to draw causality between any sort of sin and susceptibility to a pandemic like this. Why would somebody look around and think that this was a consequence of sin? They wouldn’t. Even Christian doctrine doesn’t teach that tragedy gets meted out in that way - that was a big point of the book of Job.

I’m going to take that back somewhat. I do think this could lead to a repentance of sorts, but not of the type the OP is likely thinking about. Rather, this whole thing shines a huge spotlight of the failings of right-wing ideology that weakens the social safety net, mistrusts the guidance of experts, and undermines the ability of government to function effectively. I do think there’s potential for some segment of the nation to repent of that.

 

[Jamesone5]

I’m going to take that back somewhat. I do think this could lead to a repentance of sorts, but not of the type the OP is likely thinking about. Rather, this whole thing shines a huge spotlight of the failings of right-wing ideology that weakens the social safety net, mistrusts the guidance of experts, and undermines the ability of government to function effectively. I do think there’s potential for some segment of the nation to repent of that.

We let God judge some Republicans or anyone else who supported the ideology. For me. I like to try to think on this verse in Christ's descriptions of the Last Days

Matthew 24:13
But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

And no, I do not cast my allegiance to either major political party

 

[Hidden In Him]

The world is turning it's back on God. Have you not seen the posts here by the doubting about what kind of God would allow such a thing?

Well, there are at least three groups of people who tend to ask this question:
1. Those who aren't sure about God, and want to know the answer "if" they would be convinced
2. Those who believe in God, and want to know how to answer others
3. Those who truly do not believe, and use this argument only to accuse God, or cast doubt on His existence.

I think Group 1 and 3 have not yet truly turned TO Him in order to turn away from Him yet, but I will acknowledge that there are indeed some from group #2 who unfortunately grow disillusioned with God and turn away. I think it stems from a lack of education in His word.

I think it may be those who really haven't even thought about it much, who find themselves in need of God's help, who would come to Him during times like this.

 

[Hidden In Him]

Ignoring for a moment that that Wilkerson quote is most likely bogus:
Did David Wilkerson Give a Prophecy About a Plague in New York City Back in 1986? - Tri-State Voice

That's interesting. Thanks for sharing. I would personally be inclined to believe it actually happened, but I can understand the concern on the part of Times Square Church to advise caution. They have his reputation to protect, and would not want words being attributed to him that they could not verify personally.

...no, I don’t see a repentance coming. There is no way to draw causality between any sort of sin and susceptibility to a pandemic like this. Why would somebody look around and think that this was a consequence of sin? They wouldn’t. Even Christian doctrine doesn’t teach that tragedy gets meted out in that way - that was a big point of the book of Job.

Well, Job's is an account of a man who wasn't guilty of sin, which is a different matter. I could take you to several NT texts where the Lord was indeed bringing judgment as a chastisement to believers for walking in sin. But that's a discussion for another thread. I'd rather stay focused on the topic at hand.

God bless, and thanks for the post.

 

[Hidden In Him]

If you judge by this forum, repentance talk seems to be picking up. That is a good sign. I know I have changed since the virus started. No doubt too the virus is leading us to economic pain. There is still a ways to go under this chastening but it remains to be seen if it will be short-lived or lead to something worse than the Great Depression.

Yes. I am still considering the possibility that the virus is what indirectly leads to great repentance, because it leads to economic breakdown while it continues to be prolonged. I think Americans can withstand an increased death toll better than they could withstand massive unemployment and a severe downturn in our standard of living and way of life.

 

[charsan]

The world is turning it's back on God. Have you not seen the posts here by the doubting about what kind of God would allow such a thing?

Exactly

 

[iluvatar5150]

That's interesting. Thanks for sharing. I would personally be inclined to believe it actually happened, but I can understand the concern on the part of Times Square Church to advise caution. They have his reputation to protect, and would not want words being attributed to him that they could not verify personally.

Well, then you'd be choosing to believe an unsourced internet meme over the people who knew him. Whatever floats your boat, I suppose.

Well, Job's is an account of a man who wasn't guilty of sin, which is a different matter. I could take you to several NT texts where the Lord was indeed bringing judgment as a chastisement to believers for walking in sin. But that's a discussion for another thread. I'd rather stay focused on the topic at hand.

Everybody is/was guilty of sin, even Job. The situation with Job was that his suffering was meted out as a test, not as a punishment for sin - but those reasons were not apparent to either Job or to the people around him yet some still chose to point the finger at some vague wrongdoing on his part. One of the points of the story was that we don't know the reason for such events and, as such, it's foolish to try to diagnose them in the absence of an explicit divine revelation. We humans keep falling prey to this temptation because it feeds our desires for clarity and control (and I would argue some amount of superstition), but it's not biblical.

 

[mama2one]

re post #14

once stay-at-home is over, many will get back to work
in our state, there are thousands of avail. job openings so people could get a job now if laid off from theirs

co. where husband is employed can't keep up with orders as the demand for orders has not decreased

people will want to buy, eat out, spend as soon as things open up so the economy will pick up

one restaurant in our town that cars can park & eat
it is packed from morn until evening EVERY day!

drive up restaurants, drug stores, grocery stores still have business in our area
they do have less customers now due to stay-at-home
I foresee them picking up as soon as our governor lifts restrictions

 

[Hidden In Him]

re post #14

once stay-at-home is over, many will get back to work
in our state, there are thousands of avail. job openings so people could get a job now if laid off from theirs

co. where husband is employed can't keep up with orders as the demand for orders has not decreased

people will want to buy, eat out, spend as soon as things open up so the economy will pick up

one restaurant in our town that cars can park & eat
it is packed from morn until evening EVERY day!

drive up restaurants, drug stores, grocery stores still have business in our area
they do have less customers now due to stay-at-home
I foresee them picking up as soon as our governor lifts restrictions

Well, the thing is, when they do ease restrictions it will very likely not be all at once. Most companies are likely not going to hire everyone back all at once, and some industries where higher degrees of physical contact are involved, or that necessitate large groups of people being in close contact will likely not return quickly for many months, maybe a year or more. The sports industry for instance is likely to return only to holding events without people in the stands, as apprehensions about gathering in large crowds will linger.

That having been said, some companies will do much better than they were before. Some are already. Home Depot was packed to the gills last time I went, because everyone is pent up at home with nothing to do. So home improvement it will be.

American entrepreneurism will always find a way, and new ways of making money are going to emerge from this. But on the whole, I think we are heading towards a whole new world. Time will tell, however.

 

[mama2one]

companies in Asia that husband deals with have opened up although not fully functional yet
some product is already being shipped that was ready before all this & other product will arrive in May

this is a global economy & as other countries open, U.S. companies will have their sources/product

NONE of the companies from China, Taiwan, & Vietnam that husband deals with have gone out of business
he's been travelling to Asia for several years so has contacts with many factories/agents

 

[Hidden In Him]

companies in Asia that husband deals with have opened up although not fully functional yet
some product is already being shipped that was ready before all this & other product will arrive in May

this is a global economy & as other countries open, U.S. companies will have their sources/product

NONE of the companies from China, Taiwan, & Vietnam that husband deals with have gone out of business
he's been travelling to Asia for several years so deals with many companies

That's good. My only concern with China is that they might be opening things back up a bit too quickly. Hard to trust them on things like their humanitarian concern, and being fully forthcoming about the effects of the pandemic there.