The Nugget:
Mat 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
My Comment:
Periodically this world has been ravaged by famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. In our day there is an increased reporting of earthquakes. There is an ongoing and developing locust plague in several parts of the world. When the locusts eat all the crops, that can bring on famine in those areas affected. Currently there is great concern for a modern pestilence, the Covid-19 Corona Virus, which has devastated Wuhan, China and has spread rapidly to other areas of the world. Other areas that have been struck with this virus include South Korea, Italy, and Iran.
Some are making light of the corona virus. That is not a safe attitude to take. I have listened to and watched several medical experts discuss the spreading corona virus. They do not make light of it at all. The virus infections may be spreading more widely than is reported because of a lack of proper ongoing testing. If tests are not conducted, there are no accurate numbers to report. I have read reports of some areas, like in New York State, where gag orders have been issued. When that happens, I wonder what are they trying to hide?
Currently in the United States, the corona virus attacks the elderly more often and more seriously than younger people and children. I have read recommendations that those older than 60 should be especially cautious about mixing with large groups of people.
In terms of the connection with Bible prophecy, I think there is little to no connection yet. Matthew 24:6 speaks of wars and rumours of wars but further states “but the end is not yet.” Matthew 24:8 tells us “All these are the beginning of sorrows” or birth-pangs. Earthquakes, famines, and pestilences have happened before.
Nevertheless, it is wise to always be prepared. Being prepared will make you less of a burden on others should this crisis develop further. People are now poking fun on the current great run on toilet paper. Well, you really do not want to run out of that should you be required to stay home for a while. It may be possible that the reason the corona virus has spread quite readily in some other countries is that those countries and cultures do not observe the same sanitary practices we do in America. It is best to have enough food and water on hand to avoid the need to go grocery shopping as often should things really get bad. I thought I shared Proverbs 22:3 before on this site, but just now using the search feature here I did not find it prominently discussed or listed. Therefore, I think I will share its cross references for your further study and guidance below.
The Bible explains itself. Scripture interprets Scripture. That is why I share cross references from my most recent compilation, The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury, a great expansion of my original book, The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:
CROSS REFERENCE BIBLE STUDY FOR MATTHEW 24:7
Matthew 24:7
nation shall rise against nation. On the four judgments here predicted as signs of “the end” (Mat 24:6), compare the same, and in the same order, attendant on Christ’s coming in power in Revelation 6,—namely, war, Rev 6:3, 4 (with Rev 6:1, 2); famines, Rev 6:5, 6; pestilences, Rev 6:7, 8 (i.e. death, as super-added to sword and hunger); earthquakes (Rev 6:12). See also Eze 14:21 and Lev 26:23, 24, 25, 26 (De Burgh, p. 111). *2Ch 15:5; *2Ch 15:6, Isa 5:25; Isa 9:19, 20, 21; >Isa 19:2, Eze 21:27, Hag 2:21, 22, *Zec 14:2; *Zec 14:3; *Zec 14:13, Heb 12:27, **Rev 6:3; **Rev 6:4.
kingdom against. +Jdg 7:22, Isa 19:2, Jer 51:46, Hag 2:22, Zec 14:13.
famines. +1Ki 8:37, Job 5:20, Psa 59:15, *Isa 24:19, 20, 21, 22, 23, Jer 38:2, Eze 14:21, +*Joe 2:30; +*Joe 2:31, +*Zec 14:4, Luk 21:11; Luk 21:25, 26, Act 2:19, 20; *Act 11:28, **Rev 6:5; **Rev 6:6; **Rev 6:8.
pestilences. 2Sa 24:15, Psa 91:6, Eze 14:19; +Eze 38:22, **Rev 6:7; **Rev 6:8.
earthquakes. Exo 19:18, 1Sa 14:15, 1Ki 19:11, Isa 2:19; Isa 2:21; Isa 5:25; Isa 13:13; Isa 24:19, 20, 21, 22, 23; Isa 29:6, Joe 3:16, *Hag 2:6; *Hag 2:7; *Hag 2:21, +Zec 14:4, Luk 21:11; Luk 21:25, 26, Act 2:19, 20, Rom 8:20, 21, 22, 23, +*Heb 12:26, **+Rev 6:12; Rev 8:5.
CROSS REFERENCE BIBLE STUDY FOR LUKE 21:11
Luke 21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
Luke 21:11
earthquakes. Note: As that at Crete, Smyrna, Miletus, Chios, Samos (see Grotius), Rome (Tacitus, l. xii), Laodicea (idem., l. xiv), Hierapolis and Colosse, Campania (Seneca, Nat. Quæst. l. vi. c. 1), and Judea (Josephus, Bel. l. iv. c. 4). Job 9:5, Hag 2:7, +Rev 6:12.
famines. +1Ki 8:37, 2Ki 8:1, Isa 29:6, Jer 29:17, Mat 24:7, *Act 11:28, Rev 6:8.
pestilences. +*Lev 26:25, Num 14:12, Deut 28:21, Jer 14:12; Jer 21:6; Jer 27:13; Jer 29:17, Eze 5:12; Eze 6:11; Eze 7:15; +Eze 38:22, *Mat 24:7, Rev 6:8.
fearful sights. Luk 21:25, 26, 27, Isa 19:17, Mat 24:29, Heb 10:31.
and great signs. Note: Josephus, in the preface to his history of the Jewish wars, relates, that a star hung over the city like a sword, and a comet continued a whole year; that the people being at the feast of unleavened bread, at the ninth hour of the night, a great light shone around the altar of the temple, and continued an hour; that a cow led to sacrifice brought forth a lamb; that just before sunset chariots and armies were seen all over the country fighting in the clouds, and besieging cities, etc. Luk 21:25, 26, 27, Luk 11:16, Job 41:9, Joe 2:30, Mat 16:1; *Mat 24:29; *Mat 24:30, Mar 8:11, Rev 12:1; Rev 12:3; Rev 13:13; Rev 15:1.
CROSS REFERENCE BIBLE STUDY FOR PROVERBS 22:3
Pro 22:3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. (KJV)
Pro 22:3 When you see trouble coming, don’t be stupid and walk right into it– be smart and hide. (CEV)
Pro 22:3 Sensible people foresee trouble and hide from it, but gullible people go ahead and suffer the consequence. (GW)
Proverbs 22:3
prudent. Pro 12:16; Pro 12:23; Pro 13:16; Pro 14:8; Pro 14:15; *Pro 14:16; Pro 14:18; *Pro 15:5; Pro 16:21; *Pro 18:15; *#Pro 27:12; Pro 28:19, *Exo 9:20; *Exo 9:21, Psa 112:5, Isa 26:20, 21, +Jer 8:7, *Hos 14:9, Mic 6:9, +*Mat 7:6; *Mat 24:15, 16, 17, 18, *1Th 5:2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Heb 6:18; *Heb 11:7.
forseeth. T1844, Pro 6:8; Pro 14:15; Pro 21:20; Pro 24:27, 2Ch 34:21, +*Psa 34:4; +*Psa 112:5, Luk 12:33; **Luk 14:28; *Luk 22:36, Act 23:17, Rom 11:20, 2Co 5:9, 10, 11, 1Ti 5:8, Heb 4:1; Heb 4:11; Heb 11:7.
the evil. Pro 14:16, Isa 50:11, Mat 25:41.
hideth. Pro 14:16; Pro 18:10; Pro 27:12; *Pro 28:12, Gen 7:7; Gen 41:34, Exo 2:15; Exo 12:12, 13; Exo 12:21, 22, 23, Num 5:13; Num 35:11, 12, 13, Jos 20:7 note. 1Sa 19:12; 1Sa 19:18; 1Sa 20:5; 1Sa 20:19; +1Sa 21:10; +1Sa 21:14; 1Sa 23:19, 20, 21; 1Sa 26:1; *1Sa 27:1, +1Ki 17:3; 1Ki 18:4; 1Ki 18:10; 1Ki 19:3, 1Ch 5:22, +*Psa 32:7; Psa 55:12, +*Isa 26:20, +*Jer 36:19; +*Jer 36:26; *Jer 37:12, Amo 5:13, +*Mat 10:23; Mat 24:15, 16, 17, 18, Mar 3:6, 7; Mar 13:15, +Luk 4:30; Luk 21:21, *Joh 8:59; Joh 10:39; *Joh 12:36, Act 4:12; Act 9:23, 24, 25; Act 17:14; Act 23:12-24, *Heb 6:18.
the simple. FS108K54, +Pro 1:4. Pro 1:4; Pro 1:22; Pro 1:32; *Pro 7:7; *Pro 7:22; *Pro 7:23; *Pro 9:16, 17, 18; +*Pro 14:15; +*Pro 14:16; *Pro 29:1, Jdg 20:3, 2Sa 15:11, Psa 116:6, Isa 26:11, Hos 13:13, Rom 16:18.
punished. Pro 27:12, Exo 21:22, Mat 25:46.