Theology of Plague

[Wendel]

Throughout history there have been plagues. Black death wiped out whole towns in Christian Europe and posed a major theological problem for Christians at the time. Why had God struck whole towns dead? The Spanish Flu following a world devastated by World War 1 may have killed 50-199 million people at a time when the worlds population was only 1.8billion.
Now we have Corona Virus which is still an unknown when it comes to how deadly it will be but is happening now and growing in our consciousness every day.

For about a century we have been insulated from the impact of major pandemics by a medical system that has proven very effective in dealing with most situations. Outbreaks have been contained and indeed deadly diseases like Small pox eliminated. Family size has fallen as we no longer need all the spare children that probably would not have survived childhood previously. The cycles in our economies have been defined by economics rather the occasion random mass extinction of a third of the population of a city or a country.

But since this latest plague is now in full swing and even medical professionals seem hard pressed to contain it, many of them heroically dying in the effort to heal us and there will be no vaccine at least until the end of the year we are suddenly confronted with an uncomfortable reality. Many of us could die from this and there appears to be little that the doctors can do except slow its spread by quarantines and by trying to track audit trails that are increasingly random.

So maybe it is time to revisit our theologies of plague. We have scriptural examples of wicked nations having plagues sent to them until they cooperate with Gods plan e.g. Exodus - 10 Plagues. We have plagues that wiped out enemy armies that blasphemed God, plagues that followed sins of the King. But what kind of plague is this?

So my questions are these:

1) Can a plague be a judgment or is it just a random feature of a broken world?

2) Is Corona Virus a judgment of sort (beginning in a godless state which tried to cover it up, spreading through Blasphemous cults in South Korea and onto a major false religious centre in Qoms and then to an increasingly secularised and self sufficient Europe) or just a symptom of a broken world?

3) Is the fear that accompanies plague itself a feature of a judgment , a judgment magnifier or just the reaction to a situation that falls too far outside our comfort zones?

Basically can plague teach us anything about God and what might the current Pandemic be saying to us?

1) I think a plague can be a judgement.
2) Again a judgement of sort.
3) Could be all three.
“For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:26-31‬ ‭NASB‬‬

 

[faroukfarouk]

1) I think a plague can be a judgement.
2) Again a judgement of sort.
3) Could be all three.
“For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:26-31‬ ‭NASB‬‬

In the NT pestilences are prophesied, although I don't see them directly linked with the local church or with the coming of the Lord for the church (as opposed to other, future events). The believer can look forward in confidence. Revelation 22.20

 

[BobRyan]

Throughout history there have been plagues. Black death wiped out whole towns in Christian Europe and posed a major theological problem for Christians at the time. Why had God struck whole towns dead? The Spanish Flu following a world devastated by World War 1 may have killed 50-199 million people at a time when the worlds population was only 1.8billion.
Now we have Corona Virus which is still an unknown when it comes to how deadly it will be but is happening now and growing in our consciousness every day.

For about a century we have been insulated from the impact of major pandemics by a medical system that has proven very effective in dealing with most situations. Outbreaks have been contained and indeed deadly diseases like Small pox eliminated. Family size has fallen as we no longer need all the spare children that probably would not have survived childhood previously. The cycles in our economies have been defined by economics rather the occasion random mass extinction of a third of the population of a city or a country.

But since this latest plague is now in full swing and even medical professionals seem hard pressed to contain it, many of them heroically dying in the effort to heal us and there will be no vaccine at least until the end of the year we are suddenly confronted with an uncomfortable reality. Many of us could die from this and there appears to be little that the doctors can do except slow its spread by quarantines and by trying to track audit trails that are increasingly random.

So maybe it is time to revisit our theologies of plague. We have scriptural examples of wicked nations having plagues sent to them until they cooperate with Gods plan e.g. Exodus - 10 Plagues. We have plagues that wiped out enemy armies that blasphemed God, plagues that followed sins of the King. But what kind of plague is this?

So my questions are these:

1) Can a plague be a judgment or is it just a random feature of a broken world?

2) Is Corona Virus a judgment of sort (beginning in a godless state which tried to cover it up, spreading through Blasphemous cults in South Korea and onto a major false religious centre in Qoms and then to an increasingly secularised and self sufficient Europe) or just a symptom of a broken world?

3) Is the fear that accompanies plague itself a feature of a judgment , a judgment magnifier or just the reaction to a situation that falls too far outside our comfort zones?

Basically can plague teach us anything about God and what might the current Pandemic be saying to us?

Good OP.

God the one restraining plagues and evil of every form... so when we have it we know that God has allowed it to go "thus far and no further" according to his permissive will.

Rev 7:1-3 God sends angels to hold back the evil
"After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. 2 And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.”


God's destructive judgments are also a time of mercy waking people up to the reality of the times - shortness of time.

Ezek 14:21 For thus says the Lord God, “How much more when I send My four severe judgments against Jerusalem: sword, famine, wild beasts and plague to cut off man and beast from it!

 

[mindlight]

Russian Christianity was suppressed by the communists. They sent Christians to Siberian labor camps where many of them died before they could complete their prison sentences. Putin has used force to eliminate his opponents. It is more autocracy than democracy. The federation favors the Russian Orthodox Church. This church does not want competition from other denominations.

Russia and China supported North Korea, one of the most impoverished, repressive nations on the Pacific Rim. South Korea is well lit at night. North Korea can not afford as many street lights. The north is atheist communist to this day.

The Russian Orthodox church includes many sincere Christians and is a better conscience to the nation than Communism was. But yes there has been some repression of Catholics and conservative Evangelicals who also know Christ.

Russian support for North Korea and its relationship with China has to do with his aspirations to return to being a global power and is real politik designed to balance the power of the Americans and NATO alliance. But I agree since the NK regime is so beyond the pale they really should be examining whether the benefits outweigh the disadvantages of associating themselves with so much evil.

Anyway prayers in the South Korean church seem to have been quite effective as the actual death rate in South Korea has been quite low.

 

[mindlight]

Good OP.

God the one restraining plagues and evil of every form... so when we have it we know that God has allowed it to go "thus far and no further" according to his permissive will.

Rev 7:1-3 God sends angels to hold back the evil
"After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. 2 And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.”


God's destructive judgments are also a time of mercy waking people up to the reality of the times - shortness of time.

Ezek 14:21 For thus says the Lord God, “How much more when I send My four severe judgments against Jerusalem: sword, famine, wild beasts and plague to cut off man and beast from it!

Reading about the Black death in the fourteenth century I noticed that it utterly ravaged places where there were no Christians over a period of 27 years before arriving in Christian Europe. Europe then had 3 years of intense plague. Plague came back after that but never as intensely. So the bible verses fit. Sometimes God allows a judgment on his people but he sets a boundary to the time of that.

 

[mindlight]

During the plague, Jews survived and were accused of witchcraft, (because they were the only ones not sick) but they were just following their law. If the Christians had a similar common sense, they may have fared better.

Actually having done more reading on this I suspect a different reason. The Jews were the only ones allowed to lend money in Christian Europe. The Christian states and also many private individuals of Europe were heavily indebted to these Jews due to borrowing money to pay mercenaries to fight pointless wars. A simple solution for the political elite was to scapegoat the Jews and the indebted populace were happy to comply. Eliminate the lender and you eliminate your debt after all.

 

[mindlight]

1) I think a plague can be a judgement.
2) Again a judgement of sort.
3) Could be all three.
“For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:26-31‬ ‭NASB‬‬

I would have agreed with all of this post up to the point that the coronavirus hit Europe but for the fact that a great many people in Italy who dying from this are devout Catholics from one of the most religious regions of the country. Church attendance and faith is higher in the older generations than the younger, so why are they dying. Simply we could say God is recalling his people to Himself. But why spare the godless young and judge the devout old?

 

[mindlight]

In the NT pestilences are prophesied, although I don't see them directly linked with the local church or with the coming of the Lord for the church (as opposed to other, future events). The believer can look forward in confidence. Revelation 22.20

Pestilences are prophesied and normal though since since Spanish Flu and possibly Avian Flu not with such dramatic impact in the Western world. Keeping hope is important. Many people are very afraid of this plague. But whether we die and go to be with the Lord or survive this plague we should not be afraid but rather look forward with confidence.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Actually having done more reading on this I suspect a different reason. The Jews were the only ones allowed to lend money in Christian Europe. The Christian states and also many private individuals of Europe were heavily indebted to these Jews due to borrowing money to pay mercenaries to fight pointless wars. A simple solution for the political elite was to scapegoat the Jews and the indebted populace were happy to comply. Eliminate the lender and you eliminate your debt after all.

That sounds similar to the Masonic Money Lenders who were chased out of Europe because certain powerful people owed them too much money. A behavioral pattern for sure.

 

[ZNP]

Copper can kill a number of germs, including viruses like COVID-19

Copper can kill a number of germs, including viruses like COVID-19

 

[Shane McKenzie]

1) Can a plague be a judgment or is it just a random feature of a broken world?

Not a random feature, but not a special judgment either. The Bible says God creates disaster (Isaiah 45:7), but Jesus brought up one particular disaster regarding the tower of Siloam in the New Testament and said that this didn't happen because the people caught up were any more or less sinful than anybody else. (Luke 13:4)

2) Is Corona Virus a judgment of sort (beginning in a godless state which tried to cover it up, spreading through Blasphemous cults in South Korea and onto a major false religious centre in Qoms and then to an increasingly secularised and self sufficient Europe) or just a symptom of a broken world?

It has nothing to do with religiosity versus being irreligious, or having the wrong religion. It's symptomatic of a fallen world, in the same way that saints and sinners can still get cancer, die of disease, etc. The difference between a saint and a sinner is an internal difference of spirit / soul, not an external difference. St Paul refers to his body as a "body of death", it's still subject to the consequences of the Fall. There's an old world, so to speak, which your body still belongs to, while if your spirit is born-again it belongs to a world to come.

3) Is the fear that accompanies plague itself a feature of a judgment , a judgment magnifier or just the reaction to a situation that falls too far outside our comfort zones?

It's a natural response to danger.

Basically can plague teach us anything about God and what might the current Pandemic be saying to us?

Yeah. It's a fallen world and you're caught up in it, and whether or not you're a saint or a sinner on the inside, on the outside you're still subject to the consequences and judgment on this world as per Isaiah 45:7. That's one of the things taught in the book of Job as well.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Back on topic...

While not "official" doctrine, this is the historic position of our Church; written amost 500 years ago: https://blogs.lcms.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Plague-blogLW.pdf

 

[mindlight]

Not a random feature, but not a special judgment either. The Bible says God creates disaster (Isaiah 45:7), but Jesus brought up one particular disaster regarding the tower of Siloam in the New Testament and said that this didn't happen because the people caught up were any more or less sinful than anybody else. (Luke 13:4)

As the plague progresses it is clear that good people are dying with wicked people and that it does not discriminate between them. Maybe the Christian response should be defined in terms of our response to this pain. But most of us can do nothing but pray and look after our families, offering help to our neighbours should they require it for shopping. We are watching a skilled class of professional physicians battle this for us in the hospitals of our countries.

It has nothing to do with religiosity versus being irreligious, or having the wrong religion. It's symptomatic of a fallen world, in the same way that saints and sinners can still get cancer, die of disease, etc. The difference between a saint and a sinner is an internal difference of spirit / soul, not an external difference. St Paul refers to his body as a "body of death", it's still subject to the consequences of the Fall. There's an old world, so to speak, which your body still belongs to, while if your spirit is born-again it belongs to a world to come.

It's a natural response to danger.

Yeah. It's a fallen world and you're caught up in it, and whether or not you're a saint or a sinner on the inside, on the outside you're still subject to the consequences and judgment on this world as per Isaiah 45:7. That's one of the things taught in the book of Job as well.

Yes we do live in a fallen world and bear the consequence of that in our DNA. But that some vulnerable people in high risk zones will survive this plague is reason to believe that God is still watching out for his people, taking some to be with Him and sparing others. Since He can do this He is in charge of the process even if it occurs in the brokenness of a fallen eco system and weak immune systems. So why does He allow this, even for a time? He always has His reasons and I suspet that something so awful is more a judgment or a decision for reconfiguration than just a random event which He would like us to respond to. After all most of us are helpless spectators who can only pray for Him to act.

 

[mindlight]

Back on topic...

While not "official" doctrine, this is the historic position of our Church; written amost 500 years ago: https://blogs.lcms.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Plague-blogLW.pdf

I read that Martin Luther letter through. It amazing how timeless those words are in the modern context. In essence do not be afraid but do not test God either.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

I read that Martin Luther letter through. It amazing how timeless those words are in the modern context. In essence do not be afraid but do not test God either.

Nailed it!!