COVID-19 and the Nearness of Armageddon: Sense-making the Fear and Hope through Biblical Historiography

Abstract

Armageddon is the Biblical war of the Great Day of God to end all unrighteousness. It is
doomsday for peoples and nations in opposition to Jehovah. This paper examines COVID-19
as one of the composite signs that Armageddon is near. It finds that the outbreak of
Coronavirus heightened fear and hope globally. For some, the pandemic was a dreaded sign
that the end of the world is near; and in others it increased optimism that deliverance is near.
Using the historical research methodology, this paper makes sense of this fear and hope
drawing lessons from Biblical antecedents. It will demonstrate the COVID-19-induced life
changing spiritual lessons Nigerians must learn before Armageddon strikes. Nigeria is a
secular State with a highly religious population. But most Nigerians are ironically irreligious
in deeds. The high incidences of corruption and human factor decay in Nigeria belie the
people’s acclaimed piety. Nigerians worship God fervently; but their fear of death and
Armageddon reveasl the spiritual pandemic plaguing Nigeria. Therefore, while virologists
and epidemiologists battle to protect the physical health of humanity from COVID-19; the
Humanities must engage its spiritual health imperatives. Hence, the paper concludes that
post-COVID-19 new normal must go beyond wearing facemasks, regular hand-washing and
sanitising. It must include personality change and spiritual restitution. These are critical for
turning the fear of Armageddon to hope of salvation in Nigeria and beyond.