Authored By :
Bill Kochman
Published On :
March 7, 2020
Last Updated :
February 27, 2021
Is COVID-19 God's Chastisement?, Situation In Daegu South Korea, The Shincheonji Church of Jesus Cult Is Coronavirus Epicenter In South Korea, Doomsday Cult's Leader Claims To Be Second Coming Of Jesus Christ, God Is In Control Of The World And His Creations, Why Did COVID-19 Begin In Daegu?, Judgment Must Begin At The House Of God, Apostle Paul Warns Against Another Jesus False Apostles And Deceitful Workers, God's Chastisement Against A Wicked Rebellious World Lost In Sin And Apostasy, The Coronavirus Pandemic Is Far From Over, A Call To Pray Repent And Prepare, Psalm 91, Closing Remarks, BBB Suggested Reading List, Online COVID-19 Medical Resources
As I asked at the conclusion of part two, is it possible that the Lord's purpose in allowing the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the COVID-19 disease to quickly spread around the world is to chastise us due to our sins against Him? Before you just dismiss this possibility, allow me to share some info with you which I discovered about ten days ago.
As we learned in part one of this series, at this current time, the nation of South Korea has been hit particularly hard by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The epicenter for the virus outbreak in South Korea is a place called Daegu. It is located in the southeastern sector of the country, and is in fact the fourth largest city in South Korea with more than two million people in its metropolitan area. From Daegu, the coronavirus has now spread to every major city and province in that country. As a result, the South Korean government raised the nation's virus alert level to red -- the highest level possible -- for the first time since 2009.
But what I found particularly interesting is the fact that in Daegu, the epicenter for the outbreak appears to be an obscure religious group called the "Shincheonji Church of Jesus". In fact, the majority of the original infections in South Korea -- meaning literally hundreds of people -- are found within that group. According to online sources, the so-called "church" has a worldwide membership of 240,000, and Daegu is its headquarters. Furthermore, I was reading the other day that even one of the leading doctors in the fight against the coronavirus in Daegu -- who has since died -- was a member of the "church". The article I read likewise mentioned a certain police official who was also a member of the "church". I was given the impression that there are many more secret members in Daegu who don't want their identities to be revealed.
But here is the interesting part. The established churches in South Korea view the "Shincheonji Church of Jesus" as a cult. They even call it the "Doomsday Cult". When I first came upon this information, I wasn't sure why this was so. However, since that time, I have discovered that very much like so-called Reverend Sun Myung Moon of the Unification Church -- or "Moonies", as many people call them -- the charismatic leader of the "Shincheonji Church of Jesus" -- whose name is Lee Man-hee -- claims to be the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Apparently, the naive South Koreans believe in this false christ, because the man is worshipped as the messiah by many thousands of people in Daegu. In fact, the Korean word "Shincheonji" means "new heaven and earth". Is this an indication of how deep the deception runs in that so-called "church"? Obviously, it is just another cult.
Now, as many of my readers will know, I have long believed that God is very purposeful in everything that He does, and in everything that He allows to happen. I am convinced that nothing in this world happens by mere accident, or is simply a product of random circumstances. God is in control of it all, including in control of each of our lives, as becomes evident by Bible verses such as the following ones:
"See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand."
Deuteronomy 32:39, KJV
"Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:"
Isaiah 46:9-10, KJV
"I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things."
Isaiah 45:7, KJV
"The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good."
Proverbs 15:3, KJV
"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father."
Matthew 10:29, KJV
"Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?"
Luke 12:6, KJV
"God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things . . . For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring."
Acts 17:24-25, 28, KJV
"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."
Revelation 4:11, KJV
So, in light of all of the previous verses, I really have to ask myself the following question: Of all of the places in South Korea where the coronavirus could have struck first, why did it happen in Daegu, and why were hundreds of its very first victims members of that misguided cult who erroneously follow a false messiah who claims to be Jesus Christ? Could it possibly have something to do with the following verse?:
"For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?"
1 Peter 4:17, KJV
If ever there was a good reason for God's wrath to fall down upon a so-called "church", surely it would be for worshiping a false Jesus who claims to be the Messiah. I am reminded of what the Apostle Paul wrote in his second Epistle to the brethren at Corinth regarding preaching "another Jesus", and his warning regarding false apostles and deceitful workers. Consider the following group of verses:
"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him . . . For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."
2 Corinthians 11:3-4, 13-15, KJV
If you've already read my series "Hurricane Katrina and Other Natural Disasters", as well as the article "Does God Cause Natural Disasters?", then you will know exactly where I am going with this train of thought. Based on the Scriptural evidence, and as I explained in previous paragraphs, it would seem that this virus, or plague, may very well be a serious chastisement from the Lord. Not only on South Korea, but on the entire world. After all, as we all know, a large part of the world has fallen into deep apostasy, and engages in many practices which seriously anger the Lord. These include such things as abortion, same-sex "marriage", the ordination of gay and lesbian pastors, priests and bishops, unending wars, the oppression of the poor, pornography, prostitution, child trafficking, rampant drug addiction and alcoholism, profound government corruption, economic slavery, and so many other societal evils.
The real tragedy is that it is just getting started. Think about it. As I have mentioned a few times now, barely three months ago, COVID-19 was only affecting China. Today, as I write this series, it is now affecting over 158 nations around the world, and that number continues to rise week after week. We can only imagine where it will be in another three to six months. As you may have heard, some medical professionals are now predicting that when all is said and done, and the COVID-19 disease has fully run its course, somewhere between 40% to 70% of the world's population will be affected by this virus strain. At a death rate of 2% to 3%, we are talking about millions of deaths occurring around the world. That is really something to think about. It is likewise something we should all be preparing for, which is exactly what the CDC says we should be doing anyway, as we have already discussed. Please make no mistake. This is now a real global threat. It is a pandemic.
As I stated earlier, my words are not meant to be taken as an invitation to fear. Rather, they are an invitation to pray, as well as a call to repent of any unconfessed sins, and to prepare, and to hope that God will be merciful to us all. My words are meant to alarm you, and to shake you up, in case you have fallen into a state of spiritual lethargy, and into a false sense of security, as some of my online friends have apparently done. Perhaps an appropriate way to conclude this series would be by sharing Psalm 91 with you in its entirety. I pray that it will encourage you and fill you with the peace of God which passes all understanding:
"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation."
Psalm 91:1-16, KJV
With this beautiful Psalm, I will bring this article to its conclusion. It is my hope that you have found it to be both informative and enlightening, and I pray that it has been a blessing in your life as well. If you have an account with Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr or with any other social network, I would appreciate if you would take the time to click or tap on the various sharing links that are found on this page. Thanks so much, and may God bless you abundantly!