As COVID19 engulfs the world as a pandemic brining social and political change it is useful to look back through history to past plagues and what their relevance to history and the Bible is.
Plagues appear in the Bible under five main groupings:
· Ten plagues upon Egypt to show the power of God and to force Pharaoh to let Israel go under the leadership of Moses to the Promised Land (Exodus)
· Plagues in the Law of Moses in reference to leprosy and containment of its spread (Leviticus)
· Plagues in reference to the children of Israel not obeying God’s commandments (Numbers)
· Plagues that were cured by Jesus in his ministry (Matt, Mark, Luke, John)
· Plagues inflicted on the nations throughout history (Revelation)
Understanding the use of plagues in the Bible
The very first instance of the use of plagues in the Bible is in Genesis 12:17. Abram is called by Yahweh to leave Haran to go to a land that He would give him. Abrahm leaves Haran for the land of Canaan where after some time a famine arises in the land of Canaan and Abram and Sarai proceed down to the land of Egypt. While in Egypt Pharaoh took Sarai into his house and Yahweh plagued Pharaoh and his house. After this incident Abram and Sarai leave Egypt to return to the land of Canaan.
The second instance of the use of plagues is in Exodus 9:14. Yahweh was to bring a series of ten plagues upon Egypt so that Pharaoh would be forced to let Israel return to the Promised Land under Moses and that all people would know that there is none like Him. Paul reiterates the purpose of the plagues in the time of Pharaoh were to show God’s power and that His name might be declared throughout the earth (Romans 9:17)
The first and second instance of plagues in the Bible form an interesting comparison. In both cases Abraham and Jacob and his descendants had been forced to go down to Egypt due to famine in the land of Canaan. In both cases freedom from Pharaoh and Egypt is gained through the use of plagues originating from Yahweh.
Leviticus chapter 26 sets out two scenarios to the children of Israel as they entered the Promised Land:
· Blessings for following God’s commandments (Lev 26:1-13)
· Cursings for not following Gods commandments (Lev 26:14-46)
If the nation of Israel walked contrary to God’s commandments He would “bring seven times more plagues on you according to your sins” (Lev 26:21). The reason for this is given in Deut 29:22, 24, 25 “the stranger that shall come from a far land shall say, when they see the plagues of that land and the sicknesses which the LORD has laid on it, Wherefore has the LORD done this to this land? What meaneth the heat of this great anger? Then men shall say, Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD God of their fathers”.
Plagues were used in the time of Moses, Joshua, David and throughout the history of the Bible to bring a curse on the nations for disobedience to God’s commandments. They brought fear both to Israel but also the surrounding nations. The fear of the plagues of Egypt were still common knowledge to the Philistines in the days of Samuel (1 Sam 4:8).
Plagues (pandemics) through history
There are a range of plagues that have ravaged the nations throughout history, including the Bubonic plague, smallpox, measles, polio, typhoid, cholera. The most feared and devastating of all of them were the first two pandemics of the Bubonic Plague. A summary of the first two pandemics and their outbreaks appears below:
First Pandemic (AD541 – 748)
The first Bubonic Plague pandemic was the Justinian Plague which appeared in AD541 and by the spring of 542 there were between 5,000 – 10,000 deaths per day in Constantinople, with up to one third of the city dying by 544. The plague extended as far as Scandinavia, England, Ireland, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East with up to one quarter of the population dying. The Bubonic Plague continued with major outbreaks for two centuries into the mid 700s and resulted in death throughout Constantinople, Europe and the Middle East. The last major plague outbreak was in 745-748 which affected Italy, Greece and Constantinople. Precise numbers of deaths are not available from historians, but vast numbers were described.
Impact of the plague on politics and agriculture
The Plague weakened Justinian’s rule of the Byzantine Empire and limited the joining of the East and West Roman Empires together. In 554 Justinian’s armies had taken control of Italy and for a short period the Byzantine Empire in the East was joined with the Roman Empire in the West. However this was short lived. Weakened by the Plague, in 568 the Lombard’s invaded Northern Italy and established the Kingdom of Lombardy.
Another impact of the Plague was its affect on agriculture. Many of the farming communities were unable to grow crops due to the shortage of labour. As a result the farmers were unable to pay their taxes and the price of grain rose.
Extreme cooling AD535-536
Just prior to the Justinian plague extreme weather events were recorded in AD 535-536, and are considered to be the most severe of short term cooling events in the Northern Hemisphere for the past 2000 years. It is not known what caused this sudden cooling, but it is thought it could have been the result of a large volcanic eruption. Porcopius a Byzantinian historian recorded that the sun gave light without brightness and that it felt like the sun in eclipse. As a result there were widespread crop failures and famine.
Persecution of the Jews leading into 2nd Plague Period
During the Middle Ages the Crusades were followed by expulsions and persecutions of Jews. During the First Crusade in 1096 Jewish communities on the Rhine and Danube were destroyed. In 1147 in France during the Second Crusade Jews were frequent subjects of massacres. In 1391 in Seville over 4000 Jews were killed. England banished Jews in 1260, France expelled 100,000 Jews in 1396, Austria and Spain expelled Jews in 1421 and 1492 respectively. In Europe the Jews were only permitted to live in the Papal States in ghettos up until 1870.
Second Pandemic (AD1347-1700s)
The Bubonic Plague disappeared after the mid 700s and did not reappear until the second pandemic of the 1300s which resulted in death of somewhere between one third and one half of the population. The second pandemic never became endemic, but lasted into the 1700s. It arrived through shipping and trade routes and after ravishing areas simply died out after several years. It would later reappear. It has never been understood why it would die out and then reappear after some time.
The second pandemic originated in Asia in the 1330s and came to the Crimea in 1347. Genoese traders brought the plague with them to Constantinople in 1347. From there it passed to Sicily, Marseille, Paris, Germany, Spain, England, Norway, Russia and India.
Below is a list of the major outbreaks of the Plague. In addition to these major outbreaks there were minor outbreaks at regular intervals, for example the Plague was present in Paris one year in three during the 16th and 17th centuries. The plague would be present somewhere in Europe every five years from 1350 until 1490.
· Great Plague (1348-1351) of Asia, Middle East, Europe, England, Ireland, Scotland, Russia
· England (1360-63, 1471, 1479-80, 1665-66)
· France (1464-65, 1628-31)
· Venice (1576-77)
· Castile (Iberian Peninsula Spain) (1596-99)
· Italy (1629-31, 1656-57)
· Seville and Spain (1647-52)
· Russia (1654-55)
· Austria (1679-80)
· Prague (1681)
· Baltic (1709-13)
· Marseille (1720s)
Great Famine of 1315-1317
In a similar way to the cooling period and famine prior to the Justinian plague the Great Famine there was cooling period and famine prior to the Second Pandemic. From around 1300 the Little Ice Age started. It is estimated that the Atlantic pack ice started to grow from 1250 onward and by 1300 warm summers stopped in Europe. The Little Ice Age is generally taken as being during the period rom 1300 – 1850. A number of factors have been suggested as to what caused the Little Ice Age including solar and volcanic activity and ocean currents, but there is no firm understanding of what caused it.
From 1310-1330 there was an extended period of cold winters and rainy cold summers. Grain crops could not ripen for harvest. This in turn affected cattle numbers which were reduced by 80% as there was no grain for cattle feed. The great famine of 1315-1317 led to widescale crop failures and famine. The great famine affected northern Europe and the British Isles. It is estimated that millions of people in Europe and England died as a result of the famine. In addition to the famine of 1315-17 there were a number of other localised famines (France in 1304, 1305, 1310, 1330-34, 1349-51, 1358-60, 1371, 1374-75 and 1390 and England in 1321, 1351 and 1369).
Impact of famine & plague on religion and the growth of the heretical movement
The prolonged period of famine and Bubonic Plague laid the basis for the formation of the heretical movements. The failure of prayer to bring positive change to a world consumed by death led to growing discontent towards the Roman Catholic Church. The failure of answered prayer was attributed to the corruption of the Roman Catholic Church. One of the first heretics to arise out of the discontent was John Wycliffe. He was born around 1320 and was a Bible translator, reformer, priest who became an influential dissenter within the Roman Catholic priesthood. The Bubonic Plague of 1348 had a great impact on him and his views. He believed that the Bible was the only authority of truth about God and set about to translate the Bible into English. He and his assistants translated the Vulgate into middle English. The translation became known as Wycliffe’s Bible and was completed in 1384. His followers became known as the Lollards and were the precursors to the Protestant movement.
The Second Plague and the Jews
The Jews were less affected than the general population by the Plague, due to their isolated existence in ghettos and laws of washing and cleanliness. This made them scapegoats and they were accused of deliberately poisoning wells. This led to their persecution in Provence, Barcelona, Basel, Aragon, Flanders, Strasbourg, Frankfurt, Mainz and Colonge. Persecution of Jews intensified following the Black Plague in the 14th century.
1664 in England
In 1664 the English Parliament passed the Conventicle Act. This forbade conventicles, defined as religious assemblies of more than 5 people other than an immediate family from meeting together out side of the auspices of the Church of England. Rather than submitting to the Act this led to congregations following pastors who gave sermons on hillsides. The Act was repealed in 1689 by the Toleration Act, however the Toleration Act did not apply to Roman Catholics or non trinitiarians. It wasn’t until 1813 that the Trinity Act gave non trinitarians the same freedom of worship as Trinitarians. Very shortly after 1664 two important events were to unfold in England – the plague of London of 1665-6 and the great fire of London in 1666. The Plague of London killed around 100,000, a quarter of the population. One year later the great fire gutted the old city of London.
Is there Biblical purpose to the First and Second Pandemics?
Plagues are used by God in the Bible as punishment and this is certainly what was considered to be the case in the 14th century as the Bubonic Plague raged throughout Europe. But is there any other reason or hint given within the Bible for the two great Pandemics of the past?
In Revelation 11 an angel is asked to measure the Temple of God, the altar and those that worship inside. The angel was told not to measure the court outside the Temple as it had been given to the Gentiles and they would tread the Holy City under foot for 42 months. God would give power to His two witnesses and they were to prophesy in sackcloth for 1260 days (Rev 11:1-3). If the witnesses were harmed the following punishments were to occur:
· Fire was to proceed out of their month to devour their enemies
· Power to shut heaven that it would not rain
· Power over waters to turn them to blood
· Smite the earth with all plagues as often as they will
At the end of their testimony (1260 days) the beast would arise out of the bottomless pit and kill them. For 3.5 days they were to lie in the grave and at the end of that time they would be raised up by God to heaven and their enemies would behold them.
Some mathematics:
Forty two months is the same period of time as 42 months (42 x 30 days = 1260 days)
Generally in Revelation time periods are given as a period of a day being equal to a year.
For example 3.5 days = 3.5 x 30 = 105 years and 1260 days = 1260 years.
Two witnesses
To understand Revelation 11 it is important to understand who the two witnesses are. The two witnesses are described as the two olive trees and the two candlesticks. The first witness is natural Israel, the second witness is spiritual Israel. The purpose of a witness to show God exists and to proclaim Him to the nations. In Isaiah 43:1 Israel has been called by God, they are His witnesses (Isaiah 43:10). The existence of Israel shows that God exists. In Zechariah 4:11-14 the two olive branches on the side of the candlestick are the two anointed ones that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.
42 months, 1260 and 105 year periods
The question that next arises is when does the 42 months, 1260 years start and how does this relate to the 105 years?
|
Start time period |
Plus 1260 years |
Plus 105 years |
|
AD 423-429 Removal of rights of heretical Christians and Jews |
AD 1685 Edict of Fontainebleau religious tolerance ended |
AD 1789 Declaration of the rights of man and citizen |
|
AD 425 |
AD 529 |
|
|
AD 529 |
AD 1789 |
How do these time periods fit into the two plague periods?
Historical events in the year AD 423-429.
From AD402 - 450 Theodosis II was the emperor of the Eastern half of the Roman Empire (Constantinople). He attempted to solidify Christianity as the official religion of the empire. During this time Christianity was in the form of the Roman Catholic Church and was opposed by numerous heretical sects such as the Arians, Jews and pagans. During the period from AD423 –429 Theodosis II issued a number of decrees which formed the basis of Codex Theodosius. Some of his decrees are given below:
· AD 423 Apr 9 Jewish synagogues and property may not be taken for ecclesiastical purposes or burned. If such an incident does occur, they will be compensated. However, they may not build new synagogues.
· AD 425 Aug 4 Confiscation is the punishment for heresy, perfidy, schism, pagan superstition, or other errors hostile to the catholic faith.
· AD 425 Aug 6 Manichaeans and heretical sects are exiled from the cities. Jews and pagans may not bring cases before the imperial service, and may not hold Christian slaves. Churches taken by heretics from the orthodox are to be returned to the catholic church. If clergy should be created by heretics, both the cleric and the person who appointed him are to be fined.
· AD 428 June 3 Arians, Macedonians, Pneumatomachians, Appollinarians, Novatians or Sabatians, Eunomians, Tetradites or Tessarecaidecadites, Valentinians, Paulians, Papianists, Montanints or Priscillians, Phrygians, Pepuzites, Marcionists, Borborites, Messalians, Euchites, or Enthusiasts, Donatists, Audians, Hydroparastetes, Tascodrogites, Batracites, Hermogenians, Photinians, Paulinists, Marcellians, Ophites, Encratitians, Carpocratitans, Saccophores, and Manicheans, who are to be classed as guilty of the worst of all heretical crimes, shall never have the power to assemble or reside in the Roman Empire. Moreover, Manicheans must be expelled from towns, and delivered up to extreme punishment, for no place should be left them in which they may cause any injury even to the elements. Moreover, all laws which have formerly, at different times, been enacted against them and others who are opposed to our religion, shall always be observed in all their force, whether they have reference to donations made in assemblies of heretics, which they audaciously attempt to designate as churches, or to property left under any circumstances by a last will, or to private buildings in which they meet, either with the permission or connivance of the owner, and which should be claimed by us for the Holy Catholic Church; or whether they refer to an agent who has acted without the knowledge of his principal, who, if he is free born, shall be subject to a fine of ten pounds of gold, and if he is of a servile condition, shall be sentenced to the mines, after having been scourged; so that they can not assemble in any public place, or build their so-called churches, and can plan nothing for the evasion of the laws; and no assistance, either civil or military, shall be furnished them by either curiae, defenders, or judges, under the penalty of twenty pounds of gold. All laws which have been promulgated with reference to the army, to various penalties, and to different kinds of heretics, shall remain in full force, so that no special privilege shall be valid as against said laws.
· AD 429 Anyone who converts an orthodox Christian from the catholic Church to another religion or heretical sect will have his property confiscated and be executed.
Theodosius excluded Jews from government posts in 404, in 418 they were excluded from the civil service and military positions and in AD425 they were excluded from all remaining public offices. They were permitted to hold the role of a tax collector, however Justinian abolished this in 537. They were unable to build new synagogues, although they could repair existing ones.
In summary Theodosius removed the rights of heretical Christians and Jews in terms of their citizenship, right of property ownership and ability to worship freely.
In AD 429 work started on Codex Theodosianus which was finished in AD 438 and formed the basis of the later work of Codex Justinian.
Historical events in the year AD 529
Emperor Justinian started work on Codex Justinian. Part of this work was directed towards Jews and heretics and reinforced the laws introduced by Codex Theodosius.
Historical events of 1685 and 1789
In 1598 the Edict of Nantes was proclaimed which allowed tolerance for Protestants. This was revoked in 1685 by the Edict of Fontainebleau and by this Edict religious tolerance effectively ended. This led to a period of around 105 years of religious intolerance towards Protestants.
Directly following on from the aftermath of the French Revolution in 1789 the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen were proclaimed. This effectively ended religious persecution in France and subsequently throughout Europe by the Napoleonic wars (1803 - 1815) that followed.
The 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen Article 10 and 11 state:
10. No one shall be disquieted on account of his opinions, including his religious views, provided their manifestation does not disturb the public order established by law.
11. The free communication of ideas and opinions is one of the most precious of the rights of man: any citizen thus may speak, write, print freely, except to respond to the abuse of this liberty, in the cases determined by the law.
The COVID 19 plague of 2020
The start and end of the 1260 year long periods (AD 25 – 1789) are highlighted by the ability of a heretical (Protestant) Christian and Jew to have the “rights” of citizenship. Within this period the ability to hold freedom to worship God in truth was limited. In AD425 the rights of a citizen were taken away, in 1789 they were restored. Throughout the 1260 year period both witnesses were the subjects of persecution. As the Jews and heretical Christians witnessed of God and suffered, the earth was ravished with continual plagues.
During the period of 2018-2020 there was a political and social rise in the worldwide suppression of Christianity to freely talk of fundamental Bible beliefs. There were many laws all over the world favouring the 'Alphabet Soup' of 'human rights' preventing preaching of matters required for repentance. This was highlighted in Australia by Israel Folau who had his right of employment taken away through professing Bible quotes. Israel Folau’s name is interesting to consider in this context, he is a Pentecostal Christian but has a name of Israel and this can be seen to represent God’s two witnesses. If people oppress God’s witnesses He will send plagues of torment. The effect of COVID 19 has been to remove people’s rights – the right to walk about, to meet and do their own will. They are prevented from travelling and are required to hide away in chambers. As the world has taken away the right of God’s witnesses, so have the rights of the world been taken away.
