When Plagues Come

Shalom saints.  Without question we are living in unprecedented times. The Word of Yah shows us how to see what is happening if we understand how to read the Holy Scriptures. Yeshua/Jesus rebukes the church of His time for being hypocrites, because they could discern the weather but could not discern “the signs of the times” (Matt 16:3).  Paul tells us it is “not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural” and that the “eternal power and Godhead” of Yah “are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made” (1Cor 15:46, Rom 1:20). What does this mean?  The Scriptures (Christ, the WORD, the Torah) must be understood through revelation by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 2:10).  Because the Father and the Word and the Holy Spirit are One (1John 5:7) and they speak in parables, i.e. a comparative language (Psalms 78:2, Matt 13:11, 1 Cor 2:13), the current events, history, nature, what’s recorded in the Bible, our life experiences: the good, the bad and the ugly; are all parables of Yah’s master design where “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28).

I reviewed some of the recent data on COVID-19, which stands for corona virus disease-19.  And given the short time since its appearance “at the end of 2019,”  it has arrested the attention of the world. It’s “a novel corona virus… identified as the cause of a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, a city in the Hubei Province of China”. (1) Per the World Health Organization, “more than 190,000 cases of COVID-19 have been reported” and is now spreading globally; being described as a pandemic.  The epidemiology, transmission, clinical features, severity, diagnosis, management, age groups affected, socioeconomic impact and more are all variables impacted by COVID-19.  Travel bans, closed borders between countries, gatherings limited to ten persons or less, social distancing (six feet or more), the weight and threat to medical services, enforcement of quarantine laws, etc. are all part of a now conversation. Recent history and ancient records speak of mass death ‘when plagues come.’  The Spanish Flu of 1918, the avian-borne flu resulted in 50-100 million deaths worldwide (the worst in recorded history). (2) The Plague of Justinian from 541 to 750 was the first recorded outbreak of bubonic plague, which started in Egypt… (3)

The Word of Yah records a series of ten plagues in the book of Exodus; the last plague resulting in death in every household not covered with the ‘spiritual vaccine’: the blood of Christ. So, what is a plague?  A brief word study reveals much. 

Plague H5061

Strong’s
נגע
nega‛
neh’-gah
From H5060; a blow (figuratively infliction); also (by implication) a spot (concretely a leprous person or dress): – plague, sore, stricken, stripe, stroke, wound. 

Plague H5060

WordStudy
nāg̱a‛: A verb meaning to touch, to reach, to strike. The basic import of this verb is physical contact from one person to another. Since interpersonal contact can come in one (or more) of many varieties, this verb carries a range of semantic possibilities. Its use could represent mere physical contact (Gen_3:3; 1Ki_6:27; Est_5:2). On a deeper level, it could designate striking (Job_1:19; Isa_53:4; Eze_17:10). Along these lines is the figurative use to identify God’s judgment (1Sa_6:9; Job_1:11; Job_19:21). On an even deeper level, it indicates doing actual harm (Gen_26:11; Jos_9:19; 2Sa_14:10). In a metaphorical sense, this verb can also portray the concept to reach or extend (Isa_16:8; Jer_51:9; Jon_3:6). In the passive form, it denotes the idea to allow oneself to be beaten in a military context (Jos_8:15). In the intensive form, this verb means to afflict or to be afflicted (Gen_12:17; 2Ki_15:5; Psa_73:5).

As we can see, there are many nuances and depths of understanding to be achieved from the WORD. Yah wants to touch us to restore us. By Yeshua’s stripes we are healed (Isa 53:4); Isaiah’s prophesied Yeshua’s death, which began our journey to redemption. Yeshua heals a woman of her “plague” (Mark 5:34).  He reveals the process in Hosea 6:1 where “He has torn but He will heal us, He has stricken but He will bind us up” (emphasis added). Whether applied to our individual lives our country or the world, the heart of Yah is to heal and restore His creation. 

Yeshua came to show us the way (Heb 10:20). In Revelation 18:4 Yeshua is calling, “come out of her, my people, so that you share not in her sins, neither participate in her plagues” (Amplified Bible).  This portion of the WORD in the Complete Jewish Bible says it beautifully.

Psa 91:1  You who live in the shelter of `Elyon, who spend your nights in the shadow of Shaddai,
Psa 91:2  who say to Adonai, “My refuge! My fortress! My God, in whom I trust!” –
Psa 91:3  he will rescue you from the trap of the hunter and from the plague of calamities;
Psa 91:4  he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his truth is a shield and protection.
Psa 91:5  You will not fear the terrors of night or the arrow that flies by day,
Psa 91:6  or the plague that roams in the dark, or the scourge that wreaks havoc at noon.

The revelatory WORD released by pastor Michael Petro is the Voice of Healing released through Moses, the prophets, Yeshua, and the early church fathers (i.e. the spiritual sons of Yeshua’s apostles). Yeshua said the spirit of Elijah would be released prior to His return (Matt 17:11).  He is here to restore, and I am convinced that COVID-19 is not a part of that restoration.  He is calling for our full restoration and Yeshua will do it (1 Tess 5:24). So, until next time, shalom.

References:
1.     Coronavirus Disease by Dr Kenneth Macintosh, MD, UpTodate. (updated Mar 20, 2020)
2.     The Spanish Flu 1918, Pandemic, Wikipedia
3.     The Plague of Justinian, Pandemic, Wikipedia
4.     Scripture References:  The New King James Version, Amplified Version, Complete Jewish Bible.
5.     Bible Dictionaries:  Strong’s, WordStudy 

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