Bible passage on ‘locust plague and epidemic’ sparks shock claim

THE END OF THE WORLD is upon us, according to wild claims online sparked by a Bible passage that has gone viral. The passage is featured in the Book of Chronicles, a Hebrew prose of text featured in the Old Testament. It contains a story from Adam, some teachings from Jesus and a narrative of the history of ancient Judah and Israel until the proclamation of King Cyrus the Great. But, according to claims online, it also prophesied current events leading to the end of the world.

The passage being shared online reads: “Whenever I hold back the rain or send locusts to eat up the crops or send an epidemic on my people, if they pray to me and repent and turn away from the evil they have been doing, then I will hear them in heaven, forgive their sins, and make their land prosperous again. “I will watch over this temple and be ready to hear all the prayers that are offered here.”

According to claims, this extract is referring to the coronavirus / Covid-19, the current locust plague and the Australian wildfires which are still being contained in some areas. On Monday, American artist Jeffrey Williams, known as Young Thug, shared the passage with his seven million followers on Instagram, with the message: “Pay attention children,” sparking thousands of comments.

One response reads: “He held back rain in Australia, the locusts are eating up Africa, now the epidemic is the coronavirus, we living in our last days.” Another added: “We’ve got to pray for better times.” And a third claimed: “Welcome to Revelation.”

The same passage has also been shared countless times on Twitter, with users making reference to the same three recent events. Currently, COVID-19 is a pandemic that has infected more than 1.400.000 tested people worldwide (around 50.000.000 people in total, including the non-tested) , amounting to 75.000 deaths.

Meanwhile, a plague of locusts which has ravaged through East Africa is set to descend on the Middle East in time for Passover. Last year, the world watched in horror when hundreds of fires burned through Australia enhanced by extended drought.But, there is no reason to fear just yet, according to Jeff Kinley, a biblical author, who says there will be many more signs before the Second Coming.This week, Mr Kinley pointed to Revelation 6:8, which forecasts deaths all over the globe “by sword, famine and plague”.

Rev6:8 – And behold, a pale horse, and he who sat on it, his name was Death. Hades followed with him. Authority over one fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword, with famine, with death, and by the wild animals of the earth was given to him.

He also added Jesus’ words about the events before the end times in Luke 21:11: “There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.” Mr Kinley concluded: “I think he’s referring to a future time, I don’t think this is an actual fulfilment of that.”

He added that the Bible is very specific about what will happen before the End Times. One major event, for example, is the ancient temple in Jerusalem is supposed to be rebuilt first. COVID-19 is “increasing the intensity and frequency” of events prophesied in the Bible, which will lead to the end of the world, Christian pastors have claimed.

More than 70,000 people have died from the deadly COVID-19 virus and almost 1.000.000.000 affected worldwide, in what the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared a pandemic. Yesterday saw the worst day in the stock market for 30 years, following a stand-off between Saudi Arabia and Russia over oil prices, in the wake of panic brought on by the virus outbreak. As many countries go into lockdown, Christian pastors Marko Kiroglu and Mark Osborne say these are just some of the signs prophesied in the Bible that Jesus Christ will return.

Speaking on YouTube channel Countdowntochrist this week, Mr Osborne said: “If you turn to Matthew 24 and start at verse four, Jesus is talking to his disciples and they want to know when the end is going to happen. “So Jesus starts giving some signs – and we must be careful because he’s talking about his Second Coming. “He starts by saying ’you will hear of wars and rumours of wars’ are we not hearing that?”

He added: “There is so much tension between nations – China and the US, Saudi Arabia and Russia, Turkey and Syria – so all these wars and rumours.

“But, it is more specific than that – ‘see that you are not alarmed for this must take place, but the end is not yet, for nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom and there will be pestilence and earthquakes’. “What did the World Health Organisation say about the coronavirus?” Mr Kiroglu answered: “Yesterday, the World Health Organisation declared it to be a pandemic.”

Mr Osborne explained the idea of the Second Coming being like giving birth, that the signs would intensify and become more frequent. He added: “All these are the beginnings of birth pains. “There have always been wars, there have always been pestilences, but it seems as though they are getting out of hand – more and more frequent. “It seems more and more intense, like birth pains.” Mr Kiroglu then went on to put this idea into the context of rumours of wars around the world.

He said:  “The other thing is that look at the last couple of weeks, the entire world economy is crumbling into pieces because of wars, China, Russia and Saudi Arabia are fighting over the oil price.

“Sanctions nations are putting against each other, the building of armament is costing billions too. “These are all increasing in intensity and frequency.” Mr Osborne does not think the coronavirus will mark the Second Coming though, instead, he says it is just the start of the End Times. He continued: “I believe, in the midst of all that, is this pestilence – The coronavirus / COVID-19 – is part of the sign of the End Times.

“There have always been these things [pandemics], but it seems to be coming on more and more frequently, and more intense. “It’s pointing to the coming of Jesus. “The question is whether we should be fearful of the coronavirus, or live perfect. “My view is, be careful, don’t be silly, but don’t be afraid of it, because the virus is not the end, it is just the BEGINNING.”