Staying Inside

It is interesting to note that—in response to concerns about the Coronavirus—governments around the world are quickly moving closer and closer to requiring that people begin staying inside their homes. In recent announcements we have seen entire countries lock down, and even those who promoted open borders are closing their borders to non-citizens.

Words of Encouragement

The Bible is filled with words of comfort and encouragement for those whose trust is in the LORD. There are verses, for example, that you will actually find words of comfort for God’s people in the same chapters that are describing the judgment and wrath that are coming upon the world.

“And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:14)

The above verse is found in a chapter in which the Apostle Paul is actually writing about the Day of the LORD. In the previous chapter (i.e., 1st Thessalonians chapter 4), he describes the Rapture of the Church, which will be followed by the sudden destruction that is referenced in 1st Thessalonians 5.

So while we will acknowledge some of the themes we are seeing today’s current event headlines, the purpose of this article is to remind you that there is a way to have peace in the midst of the storm.

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
(Isaiah 26:3)

The prophet Isaiah is revealing that the LORD keeps those who trust in Him in perfect peace. So if you want your mind to be kept in perfect peace, then trust in the LORD.

With this firmly in mind, we can see the themes in today’s current event headlines without becoming unsettled.

One of the things that we are hearing a lot about lately is social distancing.

Social Distancing

Regarding social distancing, we have seen the maximum allowable groups diminish from 250 to 50 to 10. In Israel, the people are being instructed not to leave their homes for non-essential reasons. It probably won’t be long before the order to stay inside reaches other countries as well.

Yet as this is happening, I couldn’t help but notice that we are approaching a Jewish Holy Day, which, among other things, was characterized by the people marking their doors with the blood of a lamb and staying inside until the angel of death passed over.

Think about that for a moment.

Even while people are speculating over all manner of questions regarding the Coronavirus, some are recognize that our present set of circumstances are resembling themes in Bible prophecy.

Coronavirus Update

In the midst of the worldwide calls for social distancing and the stay-at-home orders and even national lockdowns, a number of ministries have transitioned to exclusively to a livestream format.

Pastor J.D. Farag | Calvary Chapel Kaneohe, Hawaii:

“I would suggest that the true and living God has struck at the modern-day false gods of sports, entertainment, and especially the god of money.”

Statewide Stay-At-Home Orders

L.A. Times reports:
Gov. Gavin Newsom orders all Californians to stay at home

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday ordered all Californians to stay at home, marking the first mandatory restrictions placed on the lives of all 40 million residents in the state’s fight against the novel coronavirus.

NBC News reports:
California issues statewide stay-at-home order

“The governor of California on Thursday evening issued a statewide stay at home order to help combat the spread of the novel coronavirus. The order is effective Thursday night and asks residents to leave their homes only when necessary.”

Fines for Violating Stay at Home Orders?

Santa Monica Mirror:
Santa Monica Announces Fines for Violating Stay at Home Orders

“Under the stay at home rules, residents are required to stay at home and away from people outside their immediate family unless they are engaging in an ‘essential activity’. In addition, while not fully prohibiting outdoor activities, the rules prohibit gatherings of 10 or more people.”

Washington Examiner:
California police to use Chinese-made patrol drones with night-vision cameras during coronavirus lockdown

“Spencer Gore, chief executive of U.S.-based drone company Impossible Aerospace, said he is ‘working like crazy’ to help equip other law enforcement agencies with drones and emphasized that the hardware his company uses is made domestically. ‘What we saw in China, and what we’re probably going to see around the world, is using drones with cameras and loudspeakers to fly around to see if people are gathering where they shouldn’t be, and telling them to go home,’ Gore said. ‘It seems a little Orwellian, but this could save lives.'”

But now there is an interesting correlation in both the similarity—and even the timing—that some people beginning to notice.

Is there anything similar to this in the Bible?
In fact, there is.

Exodus 12:46
“No one may leave the house”

In the book of Exodus, the Bible describes the preparations for the Feast of Passover and how it was to be observed. You can approach a study of the Passover from so many different angles, but for the purpose of this article, we will focus on just one theme.

That would be the theme of staying inside during the Passover.

“The entire meal must be eaten inside, and no one may leave the house during the celebration. No bones of the Passover lamb may be broken.”
(Exodus 12:46 CEV)

Both then and in the days ahead the significance of this theme certainly was—and could once again be—vital.

Passover 2020

During the Passover, the people of Israel were instructed to stay inside and that “no one was permitted to leave the house during the celebration.”

The patterns that we are seeing in current event headlines are resembling patterns in the Scriptures.

“Passover 2020 begins at sundown on Wednesday, April 8, and ends Thursday evening, April 16. The first Passover seder is on the evening of April 8, and the second Passover seder takes place on the evening of April 9.”
(MyJewishLearning.com | Passover 2020)

With each passing day, the announcements are getting closer and closer to a theme that has both historic and prophetic implications.

And what is that theme?
It is the theme of staying inside.

While this would ordinarily seem inconvenient and limiting, even restrictive, it is the reality that we seem to be approaching with each passing day.

Are People Grasping the Gravity of the Situation?

TIMES OF ISRAEL:
Netanyahu rebukes a complacent Israeli public:
This isn’t vacation. Stay home!

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday reprimanded Israelis for failing to grasp the gravity of the growing coronavirus crisis, urging them to stay home wherever possible, as top health officials said thousands could die of the disease if the public did not strictly adhere to government guidelines.”

The article contains a clear directive from the Prime Minister: “Stay home”

“If you don’t have to go to work, stay home. I assume you know the English expression ‘My home is my castle.’ Please adopt that. Your home is your castle in defense against the coronavirus pandemic…stay home.”

JERUSALEM POST:
86 criminal investigations opened due to quarantine violations

“Israeli Police announced on Wednesday afternoon that so far, it has opened 86 investigations into people violating their quarantine…”

Photos from the article show actual arrests.

Stay-At-Home Order Enforcement:
“A Light-Handed and Educational Approach Until Now”

Reports are beginning to indicate that—with respect to stay-at-home orders—the approach is shifting from an educational one to actual enforcement.

KPIX CBS SF Bay Area:
San Jose Police Step Up Enforcement of Stay-at-Home Orders

The San Jose police chief on Friday announced officers will begin enforcing Santa Clara County’s health department order on sheltering at home and shutdown of non-essential businesses to stop the coronavirus spread. Len Ramirez reports. (3-20-20)

This shift in the nature of the approach from education to enforcement is obviously a developing story, and this article may be updated accordingly.

For now, let’s consider some of the similarities between what we are seeing in headline news and how they seem to correspond to themes in the Scriptures.

Spiritual Parallels

For a moment, let’s consider the spiritual parallels of the things that are taking place in the natural realm.

Understandably, it may seem like a stretch to compare the current situation in which the entire world is concerned about the Coronavirus with the Passover.

But there are at least a few things that they would appear to have in common. First, you have the timing. Of all the possible times of the year that this could be happening, these statewide stay-at-home orders and even announcements that entire countries are on lock down are coming just prior to Passover. So you have the timing in common.

Second, you have the themes of staying home and even staying inside your home that is common to both as well.

Third, you have the gravity or great seriousness associated with the Passover (e.g., the angel of death passing over) as well as the top health officials saying that thousands could die of the Coronavirus.

Whether the theme of staying inside actually finds its way into a formal announcement on a national level in the United States is yet to be seen. Such announcements have been made on a national level in other countries like Israel and Italy.

Many believe that it is ultimately the direction where the announcements are heading.

Italy’s Coronavirus Death Toll Has Reportedly Surpassed China

NEW YORK POST:
Coronavirus in Italy: Health care workers stop counting bodies

“Italy’s death toll from the coronavirus has surpassed China, with so many dead that soldiers were brought in to haul away coffins and health care workers said they stopped counting bodies.”

To be certain, this is profoundly tragic. But as to whether Italy’s death toll has actually surpassed that of China is a question of whether or not we can truly trust China’s reporting―especially after the Chinese government has kicked out foreign reporters.

Other sources actually claimed early on that the number of Coronavirus infections and subsequent death toll in China are vastly under-reported…

Chinese Billionnaire: Coronavirus Death Toll Much Higher Than What’s Being Reported

First of all, note the date of this video. It was uploaded to YouTube on February 9, but the point is that these numbers were the estimates from a month prior to anyone hearing about the effects of the Coronavirus in Italy.

The following is from the video description…

The man speaking is a Chinese billionnaire [named] Guo Wengui. The complete lack of transparency of all governments about this new virus is very alarming. Let’s hope his estimations are wrong. Video date: 6 February 2020

There’s no way that the timing of all this is just a coincidence

We clearly appear to be approaching a time in which the mandate to stay inside could be required on a national scale. Whether or not it comes to that, it is in fact happening in some countries.

But, once again, we are also approaching Passover, an event for which the Scriptures actually contain instructions to stay inside.

With respect to the timing, this cannot be just a coincidence that the whole world is hearing announcements that are essentially instructing people all over the world to stay home and stay inside.

Perhaps you have seen the recent photographs of streets and highways—even in major cities—which are largely empty.

At least for now, many people are staying inside by choice.

“The marketplace is empty,
No more traffic in the streets”

This song by the Gaither Vocal Band was written and recorded years ago, but it is more timely than ever.

Here is the first verse…

The marketplace is empty, No more traffic in the streets, All the builders’ tools are silent, No more time to harvest wheat, Busy housewives cease their labors, In the courtroom no debate, Work on earth is all suspended As the King comes thro’ the gate. O the King is coming, The King is coming!

How many photographs and videos have we seen recently in which some of the busiest marketplaces in the world are completely empty?

Coronavirus: Pictures Show London’s Empty Streets

How many have we seen of empty streets and highways?

Photos of New York Looking Deserted and Empty

It is no surprise that this song from years ago is circulating once again for the manner in which it appears to resemble the present situation.

Precious Promises

This is a theme in Scripture that is at least historic with respect to the Passover, but there may be even more to it than that. That is, it may contain prophetic patterns.

Before we get into that, though, here’s a very timely verse of Scripture. In the same book that describes the Passover, we later find this gem among Bible promises:

“You shall serve the LORD your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you.”
(Exodus 23:25 ESV)

Praise the Lord for a promise like that at a time like this. Given the now-worldwide concerns associated with COVID-19, these words from the Bible are as timely as they are comforting.

Psalm 91

How about safety from deadly diseases?
You will find this in the Scriptures as well.

“The Lord will keep you safe from secret traps and deadly diseases.”
(Psalm 91:3 CEV)

A few verses later, we find this.

“And you won’t fear diseases that strike in the dark or sudden disaster at noon.”
(Psalm 91:6)

Psalm 103

Be sure to highlight this in your Bible, too.

“Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases”
(Psalm 103:1-3 NKJV)

So hold fast to these promises and others like it.

VIDEO BRIEFING:
French Doctor Reports 100% Cure Rate Using Malaria Drug to Treat Corona Virus

This video testimonial is very compelling.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1240448201100005376

See related documentation here:
https://tinyurl.com/100-percent-cure-rate

The video above (and related documentation) is not an advertisement. It may actually be the cure for the Coronavirus according to the video briefing. We don’t know. Time will tell. But the video testimonial from Gregory Rigano, Stanford University Medical School Adviser, is quite compelling. Once again, time will tell. Meanwhile, we can certainly pray that a cure could be so readily accessible as what is presented in the video briefing.

A Time for Discernment

Ostensibly, that which we see right now with our natural eyes is the governments of the world preparing to enforce all manner of limitations and restrictions to combat a global pestilence.

However, beyond what we can see in the natural realm, it will be even more important for believers to discern what the Scriptures are revealing in the midst of everything that is taking place right now.

The theme of staying inside (and even hiding oneself) is a prophetic theme that we find elsewhere in the Scriptures.

“A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.”
(Proverbs 27:12 KJV)

Common Sense

Most people would agree that this is common sense. There’s a time and a place for everything, and sometimes the wisest thing—the most strategic and even tactical thing to do—is to hide.

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”
(Proverbs 18:10 KJV)

Before The Wrath

We find similar instructions in the book of Isaiah:

“Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity…”
(Isaiah 26:20-21a).

Hear again, we notice the admonition: “Hide thyself.”
But notice also the theme of the indignation (or the wrath) passing over.

Be strong, fear not.

The prophet Isaiah says in a later chapter:

Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you.
(Isaiah 35:3-4 KJV)

Here are those same two verses in the Contemporary English Version:

“Here is a message for all who are weak, trembling, and worried: ‘Cheer up! Don’t be afraid. Your God is coming to punish your enemies. God will take revenge on them and rescue you.'”
(Isaiah 35:3-4 CEV)

So don’t be afraid.

Jesus is the Passover Lamb

This would be a very good time to point out that the lamb for every household in Exodus chapter 12 was clearly a foreshadowing of Yeshua ( ישוע ) Jesus, who is the Passover Lamb.

“Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were two days away, and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a covert way to arrest Jesus and kill Him.”
(Mark 14:1 BSB)

And just as the blood of a spotless lamb marked the door posts and lintels of the homes of the Israelites prior to their Exodus from Egypt, it is the blood of Jesus that marks the door posts and lintels of the hearts of those who believe in Him and confess Him as LORD.

This is why the Scriptures also say,

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
(Colossians 3:1-4)

Did you see that?

Hidden With Christ in God

“For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

So with respect to “staying inside” the believer finds comfort and security in the revelation that we are in fact hidden with Christ in God according to the Scriptures.

And even at a time when we are hearing instructions that are moving in the direction of staying home and staying inside, these things can at the very least serve to remind us that we are living in a very prophetic season and that there are definitely patterns in prophecy—patterns, which, at least temporarily, will eventually include staying inside, closing the door behind you, and, yes, even hiding oneself for a little moment until the indignation passes over.

Each of the feasts of the LORD, including Passover, foreshadowed things to come, and they continue to provide us with important insights for the times in which we are living.

. . .

REFERENCES:
Passover 2020:
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/passover-2020