Darris McNeely, a presenter on the Beyond Today television program and the author of this article, points out that the current crisis has revealed how some of the key prophecies of the Bible may come about.

The COVID-19 virus has impacted more than 180 nations, and it has had a tremendous impact on our everyday lives. The sixth chapter of Revelation tells of a massive pestilence, or pandemic, described as one of the Four Horsemen of Revelation. “When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, ‘Come and see.’ So, I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.” (Revelation 6:7-8)

This describes a global pandemic much larger than we are currently experiencing which occurs in the future during what is known as the great tribulation and day of the Lord. It will create a world crisis causing nations to take unprecedented steps. As we have already seen our economies slow because of the current virus and everyday life brought to a near standstill, it helps us realise the Bible speaks to the modern world and we now can more clearly comprehend what is being described.

A second event from Revelation describes the surveillance of people’s lives. We read about this in Revelation 13 beginning in verse 11, “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth.... He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave to receive a mark on their right hand and on their foreheads and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast or the number of his name. ” With the current discussions of helpful Apps being developed to trace people who have come into contact with those infected by the virus we can understand how this prophecy could easily become a reality in our modern world.

Another prophecy in the Book of Revelation mentions a one-world global order. Revelation 17 describes a time just before the return of Jesus Christ where a worldwide crisis prompts a grouping of 10 national leaders to give control to a powerful leader called ‘the beast’ who promises to protect them and keep the world order. “The 10 horns which you saw are 10 kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as king with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.” (Revelation 17:12) We can now understand that this situation could also quickly develop as a result of a need to control a worldwide crisis affecting all nations.

Christians are instructed to watch and pray so that we can rightly discern these developments and understand how those prophecies could come to pass. Now, at this time we can see this with a bit more clarity and realise how the Book of Revelation is a very relevant book to understand our modern world.