COVID-19 and the Apocalypse
“And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.”
It concerns me to hear about the rise in doomsday theology due to the COVID-19. National news outlet CNN recently posted an article about the pandemic sparking dangerous apocalyptic preaching. The author, John Blake, writes that many ministers are using the bible—specifically the Book of Revelation—to stir the minds of their followers into believing we are nearing the end times. I encourage you to read the article because it does a great job of breaking down myths sparked by Revelation. For example, the rapture is never actually mentioned in the bible; neither is the apocalyptic understanding of the antichrist. In this post, I wish to breakdown apocalyptic theology, also known as eschatology; i.e. the theology of the end times.
Plagues will abound. Locusts will destroy crops. War and rumors of war will spread. The earth will strike back with natural disasters. From Moses to COVID-19, Christians have been searching for signs and awaiting the second coming of Jesus Christ for over two thousand years. Many don’t truly understand that Christianity was born as an eschatological religion. The early Christians knew that Jesus would return in their lifetime. In their minds, especially St. Paul’s, Jesus would return as the mighty king in command of the heavenly army to overthrow the worldly powers (Romans). Jesus would reinstall his throne in the Jerusalem temple and rule over the earth. Peace—eternal peace—would reign for thousands of years. No more war, disease, or natural disasters; no more death. Those dwelling in Gehenna/Sheol (land of the dead, similar to the Grecian Hades) would rise again, with bodies, to be united with their loved ones and God.
Again, for early Christians, this was immediate. They would experience this magnificent return in their lifetime. But what actually happened? The Romans destroyed the temple and dispersed its people in 70 CE. Christ didn’t come back to save them. Jesus didn’t stop the agonizing deaths of God’s chosen people and reclaim his throne in Jerusalem. However, that hasn’t stopped Christians from believing that he still will.
Apocalyptic theology has been present in Christian teachings from then on. Even in the Nicene Creed, the council decided that Christ’s return is a universal belief for all Christians: “We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of a world to come.” Amen. This is an eternal message of hope in Christian theology--that there will be an end to all suffering due to new life in Christ’s reign.
Now, I must say how beautiful this is. I consider myself a Christian and believe that one day we will live in God’s Kindom, and all created beings will not suffer any longer. There is an essential experience of hope that we Christians are called to live in. The hope that one day Christ will return and rule, uniting all people in and through Love. However, I do not believe we are there just yet.
The theological impact of apocalyptic beliefs being projected onto the COVID-19 pandemic is dangerous. Saying that this disease is a symbol of the end times theologically justifies the suffering and death of those who test positive. Moreover, it creates the idea that God is doing this to humanity; God is punishing us. This vein of theological thought not only promotes the idea that God created COVID-19 but also that God is causing the spread of it in order to make people suffer.
What a horrible God to believe in. This is not the Love that Christ speaks about. This is not the Loving God which invites us into an intimate relationship with him. No, this is the god of humanity seeking meaning amidst a crisis. This is a false god that has been created by humans over and over again during every plague, natural disaster, or tragedy in order to give humanity an understanding of their suffering. I’m here to say that this is not true, and its theological repercussions are detrimental to the human psyche.
Those that believe God has sent this pandemic to bring about the end times (even worse, to teach His people a lesson) abound because we must make sense of this terrible disease. There must be a silver lining; there must be a reason why God would let this happen. Therefore, God must be causing this to bring about his eternal kingdom. Again, if this were true, then everyone dying or suffering from COVID-19 is being punished only to be liberated later? God is not a punishing God. God does not cause suffering. Again.
God does not cause suffering.
God does redeem suffering. God does transfigure death into life. God does give a wholistic meaning to death, that it is not the end of life. Death transformed into life is the teaching of the cross. Not even the most brutal death—government execution—can take away the dignity and holiness of Life. Dare I include our current pandemic? What I see as a chaplain in the hospital, is that God is not causing this from a distance in order to create chaos for his return. Rather, God is dwelling within and among us, as we suffer; as we worry; as we lean on one another for strength. God is there with us during this time and fighting alongside. He is not inflicting this suffering. My God, no. Rather, He is ever-present while we suffer.
I believe that our apocalyptic beliefs can be redeemed from the antichrists (that is, people spreading fear and hatred—the antithesis of what Jesus Christ taught) and false prophets that promote COVID-19 as a symbol of the end times; that it is somehow a punishment from God. Eschatologically, the pandemic reveals to us the underlying fear and anxiety our society holds. We rush to hoard resources out of fear that we (individually/family unit) won’t be able to live without toilet paper. We run to buy weapons and stockpile ammo because we don’t love our neighbors as ourselves. We shrug off the pandemic and abuse our privilege by not staying home; not taking seriously the facts science has given us. We demonize the Chinese people, degrading them by unintelligently proclaiming that they’re the cause. And worst of all, we proclaim that God is causing this suffering. No, my brothers and sisters. This is not how humans are called to respond during times of crisis.
There is a glimmer of hope.
Hope that this too shall pass. Hope that each death, each last breath, is not in vain. Hope that Humanity will prevail—as it always has. Hope that Christ’s return will be signaled by the resiliance of humanity. Christ’s apocalyptic return is embodied by healthcare workers on the frontlines of this pandemic. The armor of God has become Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and God’s kingdom are those working around the clock to support and innovate new technologies to help stop this pandemic.
Christ has already returned. He is there in our isolation. He is present when our anxiety arises. Christ is here in suffering and death of it all. And. And, my brothers and sisters, He is here in the recovery, in the joy, in the breathing treatments. This is the eternal hope of eschatology.
Christ has Died.
Christ is Risen.
Christ will come Again.
Amen.
Resources for COVID-19
Resources for the Apocalypse