Regarding the coronavirus, this is a complex situation with so many conflicting reports and speculations. What we do know for sure is that it is causing widespread panic across the globe, with some wondering if this is part of the end-times signs prophesied in the Bible.

It began in Wuhan, China. Surprisingly enough, it happened just as there were uprisings against the Chinese government. The protestors were being rounded up and imprisoned, and the news media was shut down – as well as other news organizations. But the virus infections didn’t happen until it seems that things were getting out of hand. Could it be that the virus was unleashed on the protestors in an attempt to quell their protests? We all know that communist China is fully capable of killing off dissidents. If that be the case, then perhaps the government acted irrationally and without forethought – not knowing the ramifications if this untried biological weapon were used indiscriminately.

Panic of the public has sent stock prices plummeting, and there are fears that commerce may soon come to a standstill. They know that with commerce coming to a standstill because of this illness that it’s only a matter of time that the marketplace will falter and goods will become scarce.

Meanwhile, Rush Limbaugh says,

“It looks like the coronavirus is being weaponized as yet another element to bring down Donald Trump… The drive-by media hype of this thing as a pandemic, as the Andromeda strain, as, ‘Oh my God, if you get it, you’re dead,’ do you know what the — I think the survival rate is Ninety-eight percent. Ninety-eight percent of people who get the coronavirus survive. It’s a respiratory system virus. It probably is a ChiCom laboratory experiment that is in the process of being weaponized. All superpower nations weaponize bioweapons. They experiment with them.… Do not misunderstand. I’m not trying to get you to let your guard down… But we’re not talking about something here that’s gonna wipe out your town or your city if it finds its way there.” – source

What about the SARS virus that hit from late 2002 to the summer of 2003? That was contained. The death rate was also said to be higher than what we’re seeing with the coronavirus. But that virus only spread to 17 countries, whereas the coronavirus that began in December has already spread to 67 countries and territories as of early March 1. Just the night before, that number was 64. And some say the number of infections and deaths may be higher than what’s being reported.

Then there’s this:

CDC walks back coronavirus panic: ‘US risk remains low’ days after saying outbreak will happen & ‘could be bad’

In a news conference on Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control warned the public that the coronavirus outbreak on American soil is inevitable. “We are asking the American public to prepare for the expectation that this might be bad,” said CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases Director Dr. Nancy Messonnier,” as reported by the New York Times. “It’s not so much of a question of if this will happen in this country anymore but a question of when this will happen.” Then on Friday, just three days later, Messonnier suddenly downplayed the virus and asserted that the risk to the American public “remains low.”

Which report are we to believe?

Coronavirus may be “Disease X,’ World Health Organization expert warns

The deadly coronavirus is looking a lot like the theoretical “Disease X” that officials have long warned could spark a dangerous pandemic, a World Health Organization expert said. Marion Koopmans, a member of WHO’s emergency committee, said the virus is the first to meet the criteria of the so-called “Disease X” — defined as a quick-spreading and unpredictable illness caused by a previously unknown pathogen, Daily Express reported. – source

Researchers Find 61.5% Of Coronavirus Patients with Severe Pneumonia Won’t Survive

According to a study published in the Lancet on Friday, February 21, patients who are especially vulnerable to severe COVID-19 infections – a group that includes the very old, very young and those with co-occurring conditions – die at a higher rate from COVID-19 than they did from SARS and MERS. – source

The Coronavirus May Have Leaked from a Lab

The People’s Liberation Army’s top expert in biological warfare, Maj. Gen. Chen Wei, was dispatched to Wuhan at the end of January to help with the effort to contain the outbreak. According to the PLA Daily, Chen has been researching coronaviruses since the SARS outbreak of 2003, as well as Ebola and anthrax. This would not be her first trip to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, either, since it is one of only two bio-weapons research labs in all of China.

The novel coronavirus, now known as SARS-CoV-2, may have escaped from that very lab, and the deadly SARS virus has escaped — twice — from the Beijing lab where it was (and probably is) being used in experiments. Both “man-made” epidemics were quickly contained, but neither would have happened at all if proper safety precautions had been taken. – source

As I said, the virus is now affecting 67 countries and territories. The vast majority of infections and deaths are in China with nearly 80,000 cases and close to 2,900 deaths. You can see figures in other countries at Worldometers.

These are scary numbers, and they’re rising hourly, but the Wuhan coronavirus is not considered a pandemic… yet. The flu is still killing more people. Thank God we have a degree of immunity in our country.

So, is this virus manmade or God-ordained and imposed?

It could be both.

Is it part of the end-times signs prophesied in the Bible?

The plagues in the book of Revelation will be worse. But the end-time signs given in the Bible have converged like never before, and appear to be a foretaste of what’s coming during the last seven years before Christ’s return for those who are left behind to face it.

Jesus said, “When you see these things begin to happen, look up, for your redemption draweth nigh [your redemption is coming soon].”

YBIC

Jim Towers

jt.filmmaker@yahoo.com , www.propheticsignsandwonders.com. and www.dropzonedelta.com

So, the nurse walks me to the entranceway of the hospital, we say our goodbyes, and I sat on a bench to wait for my ride. Just then, a middle-aged guy is being wheeled out by an attendant. The man has apprehension on his face. But looking over at me, he asks where I’m from. I tell him, and I also tell him he’s from Boston. He looks over at me, surprised that I knew, but his Boston accent was a dead giveaway. “What brings you here” I ask. “The old ticker” he replies. I say, “Life can be rough.” He gives me a look of hopelessness and resignation. His ride pulls up and the woman driver comes out to fetch him.

Just as the woman gets in to drive away, after tucking him in, I feel a strong impulse to pray for the man, so I get up and tap on his passenger-side window. “I believe the Lord wants me to pray for you; would that be o.k. with you?” The man brightened up and said, “Please do that.” And so, I said a short prayer, adding that he might draw closer to his creator in this time of need. The man thanked me, and they drove away. As he did so, I thought I detected a sigh of relief cross his smiling face. (How often have you had a stranger ask to pray for you?)

On another note, have you ever noticed how God fails to answer our prayers expeditiously when we are in supposed need? I have. But God is not Santa Claus or our heavenly grandfather who caters to our every whim. He demands acknowledgement, justice and a way of life that is an encouragement to others who don’t know Him.

Furthermore, when we are in want or need, God expects us to do all that we can until such a time that he can move to help us in His own unique way.

Speaking of resiliency, our bodies are made to withstand great pain and to repair itself and even overcome certain abnormalities; but if we abuse the rules of life that God Himself laid down, we will ultimately bring pain and suffering to ourselves, which is usually the case.

We often think we are the only ones suffering in this world, but it’s only human nature to think that way since we are always number one in our thoughts and actions.

Now consider the orphan child who’s never even been hugged by a loving parent, or one lying hopeless in the streets of a war-torn country. All of this is going on while we watch the Super Bowl at Outback Steakhouse waiting for our juicy steak, baked potato and salad. Thinking that way puts things in its proper perspective.

God watches all that’s taking place, and soon the starving child will be in His heavenly home, free of all distress and eating ice cream and cake. While this life is full of toil and trouble, it will one day end forever and we will live in perfect harmony with our beautiful surroundings – in heaven too.

We Christians believe we are the chosen of God, and indeed we are. But that doesn’t mean we will not suffer loss or go through fiery trials, enough so that we feel inclined to just give up, and that’s just what God expects us to do. We were never meant to live a fulfilling life in our own strength, although many people try. The result is that we spend many sleepless nights worrying about things that don’t really matter in the larger scheme of life.

God often shows up only when you’ve finally reached the end of your rope and are lying face down on the floor drenched in tears. That’s when your faith is being tested – as if by fire. Like the purest of gold, the heat is turned up and the dross of sin floats to the top and is skimmed off.

And so, the prudent Christian has given up on a selfish life and sees it all as vanity; for only when we throw our lives away for Christ’s sake can we really know what it means to live. Living life for the good of others is all we are asked to do “Thou shall love the Lord thy God and others as thyself” – for on these words rest the other commandments of God. Albeit, even in doing so, we haven’t been promised a “Rose garden” or reward – yet. That won’t happen until we appear before the seat of Christ where we will receive our just rewards.

Life is not easy for most of us, but if we keep focused on Christ Jesus who suffered tremendously for you and me, we can keep our head above water and bounce back with resiliency of spirit.

Ironically, the best that God can do for us is to take us home – away from all that encumbers us. But God wants us to be light in an ever-darkening world, a world that is increasingly turning away from Him.

The Bible touches on all facets of human suffering from illness, worry, pain, deformity, leprosy and demon possession; and Jesus healed them all – which is to say, that God can do anything. Don’t give up on Him. He’ll do what’s best for you – because He loves you.

So, stand up straight, take a deep breath and keep fighting with God as your shield and salvation. The worse that can happen is that you might be taken home to Him – and that’s a good thing.

As for me, I’m totally surprised by the resiliency of the human flesh and its ability to bounce back and heal itself through proper measures.

Note:

In doing research about my condition, I found out that Magnesium is an essential element for good health, and that most of us never get enough of it through our food since the soil that our food grows in has been depleted of that very essential nutrient.

I am taking medication and have begun going back to the gym, trusting God to do what’s best for me; but I continue praising Him for everything, both good and bad. (Sometimes the “bad” things that happen to us are for our own good and may even turn out for good to others that God has put us in contact with.)

BOOKS

I just finished “Unfreedom of the Press” by Mark R. Levin; and although he gets into specifics, he held my attention, and I had to agree with all he said. What a platform that learned man has! This book proved to be a worthwhile read. I strongly recommend it.

YBIC

Jim Towers

You can write me at jt.filmmaker@yahoo.com  and visit www.dropzonedelta.org or visit my website www.propheticsignsandwonders.com