By David Ettinger
A Thoughtful Question
The other day, based on the Coronavirus, a dear sister in the Lord – whose website is Life Saving Prayers – wrote a blog called: “Do you ever wonder if we are in the ‘End Times’?”

She began by quoting Revelation 6:2-8, which are the four seals which will begin the final seven years of this era of human history (also known as “The 70th Week of the Book of Daniel”). She ended with verse 8: “I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.”
She then asked: “Is this [corona]virus the plague referred to in this passage? I know only time will tell because the Bible also states, ‘But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father’” (Matthew 24:36).
This is an appropriate and thoughtful question, and I want to briefly respond to it.
What We Know
First, regarding the idea of no one knowing the day or the hour, of course this is true, as it was the Lord Jesus Himself who said it. However, there will be quite a few signs and occurrences both on Earth and in the skies to tell us that the time is drawing very near.
So yes, we will not know the EXACT moment of the return of our Lord, but we will have a very, very good idea as to how close we are to that return. (For more on this, read my blog, “Will Jesus Really Come at Any Time?”)
Second, regarding the four “seal” judgments of Revelation 6:2-8, note that there is a sequence of events. The “plague” is contained in the fourth seal, meaning three seals must precede it.

Verse 2, the first seal, reads: “I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.” This is a clear reference to the Antichrist who will one day rule most of the world in the Last Days. Note that he held a bow, but no arrow! This indicates that he will come to power through peaceful means.
What It Means
What this basically means is that the official beginning of the Last Days (the final seven years), will not occur until the Antichrist comes to power. How will we recognize the Antichrist? There may be several ways, but one sure way will be when he – a non-Jewish man – will make a seven-year covenant with the nation of Israel. This will be the sure sign that the Antichrist has arrived. (Read my blog: “The Next Major Event on the Prophetic Timeclock.”)
So, back to the original question my friend posed in her blog: “Is this [corona]virus the plague referred to in this passage?” The answer is “no.” The Coronavirus – as deadly as it might become – is not part of the four seals of Revelation, is not the plague referred to in Revelation 6:8, and is not part of the Last Days epidemic which will bring widespread death to the earth.
I do believe, however, that we are in the end-times, and that we are only a matter of a few decades or less away from the dawning of the Last Days – the final seven years of this era of human history.
Regarding the Coronavirus, I would call it a preview of things to come. As believers, let us see this recently-proclaimed pandemic as an opportunity to tell unbelievers in our lives about the One who came to Earth to save them from their sins!
Read my blog: “The Coronavirus and the Last Days”
Robert
March 12, 2020
To be honest, I don’t share your escatology. I don’t take Revelation to be chronological but cyclical as it unwraps events from Christ’s first to second coming. It has spoken as relevantly to John in the first century as to the church throughout history to the present day. I agree that certain things have to happen before Christ returns, but I also know that God can accelerate what He’s promised so that we can hope and expect for Christ any time from the near future to millennia to come.
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dettinger47
March 12, 2020
Thanks, Robert. Well said.
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lifesavingprayers
March 12, 2020
I feel that being here in this present day, brings questions and concerns… the need to continue to, and increase my level of communication with God is heightened. I second that, Robert’s words are expressed clearly and gives me a good view of the question “Do you ever wonder if we are in the End Times?”
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seekingdivineperspective
March 12, 2020
I am getting ready to write this week’s “divine perspective,” about something that no one seems to be pointing out.
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dettinger47
March 12, 2020
I look forward to it!
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vicklea
March 12, 2020
I agree with you, David. And just the preview is thought-provoking
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dettinger47
March 12, 2020
Thank you, Vickie.
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Angel at Watchyourlifeinpictures
March 12, 2020
Wouldn’t the man making the peace pact be half Jewish?
Also, the Christians will be gone prior to this?
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dettinger47
March 12, 2020
No. This will explain it:
https://ettingerwriting.wordpress.com/2019/05/17/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-antichrist/
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Angel at Watchyourlifeinpictures
March 12, 2020
Ok, I’m not married to any theory about what nationality/race the Antichrist will be.
But I am married to 2 Thessalonians 2 and believe that Believers will be taken out first.
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
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dettinger47
March 13, 2020
I disagree with your interpretation of the verse. This is not saying that the believers will be taken out. They will be here on Earth when the Antichrist is here and be removed at Christ’s coming about 4 to 5 years inside the final 7 years.
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Angel at Watchyourlifeinpictures
March 13, 2020
This chapter is clearly talking about the Antichrist, the son of perdition.
Then it goes on to say until he who letteth is taken away.
https://biblehub.com/kjv/2_thessalonians/2.htm
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dettinger47
March 13, 2020
I agree with that, yes.
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Dee ❤ Sealed In Christ
March 13, 2020
Great article, David.
I do have to say though, I’m not convinced that Revelation 6:2 is a ‘clear reference to the Antichrist’. It would be if it clearly stated that, but it doesn’t. And I think the lack of clarity in this verse leaves room to wonder or even doubt that this verse is ‘clearly’ speaking of anyone in particular. It may be one that we will just have to wait and see on.
It seems to me that many strongly believe it’s the Antichrist; not because the scripture is conclusive to that end, but mainly because any other explanation offered seems to move further away from the logical conclusion of the verse.
Do you have any other verses to support the view that this rider is the Antichrist? If so, I’d love to see them. I’ve been studying and pondering this scripture for some time and have not found anything solid to indicate who or what this rider represents. I do have a theory, but I’m not convinced enough yet that I would feel comfortable sharing it publicly.
Thanks!
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dettinger47
March 13, 2020
Hi Dee. No other verses, but a logical scenario and the time when this occurs leads me (at least) to the “Antichrist conclusion.” But you’re right in saying that it is not conclusive.
If in your studies you come up with more on this verse, please let me know, and thank you for the input!
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Dee ❤ Sealed In Christ
March 13, 2020
Thanks David. My main reasons (aside from the ambiguity of the verse) for questioning that interpretation is: 1) The ‘revealing of the Antichrist’ according to every scripture written about this time period, is when he sets up the abomination of desolation. 2) There are no other supporting scriptures to clarify that the rider is the Antichrist. 3) Nowhere in Matt 24 and related passages in Mark and Luke does Jesus even hint at a Man rising before the other signs (birth pains) begin. And Jesus very clearly identifies him later in the narrative.
As for the timing indicated in Revelation 6, I think you’re right.. if the first rider is the Antichrist, then most likely the first seal would begin the 70th week of Daniel. Without that, however, we are left without any defined time frame. As far as we know, depending on what or who the first rider is, we could already be somewhere in the first four seals because we don’t know when they begin or how long they will last. Does the breaking of the seven seals absolutely have to be entirely within the 70th week of Daniel? I don’t know of any scripture that says so. These seals are called by Jesus to be the ‘beginning of birth pains’ and afterward comes the Apostasy, the Great Tribulation, and the persecution of the saints.
At some point we will enter the 70th week, but I’m not convinced that everything contained within the first four seals will or even could happen entirely within the first 3-1/2 years. To me it makes more sense that these things will begin to happen before the Antichrist rises and will possibly be what creates the conditions needing to exist in order for him to take such widespread control.
I have many more thoughts, but I’ll stop here. Your thoughts?
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dettinger47
March 13, 2020
Well said, Dee, very well thought out. I think one thing pointing to an earlier “introduction” of the Antichrist will be the 7-year covenant he will sign with Israel (Daniel 9:27) and then break halfway through. Not sure how “recognized” he will be at that time (in other words, he may not have reached the apex of his powers), but those who study the Scriptures may be able to identify him as the Antichrist.
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Dee ❤ Sealed In Christ
March 13, 2020
I agree on that point. Though I’m not sure we will know who he is even then, since he will be one of many who will have made a covenant with Israel throughout history. And there is some disagreement as to whether there will actually be a covenant. Or if it will simply be an alliance. If an alliance, there would be no clear way to identify him until the abomination of desolation (AOD) takes place. To that point, I find it curious that Jesus and Paul only identify him in relation to the AOD.
It seems most view the 70th week of Daniel as some kind of tangible 7 year period that will have a definite beginning and end. And of course it will. But perhaps we earth dwellers won’t be privy to that timeline until the AOD occurs.
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