Debunking the Corona Virus Myths

A myth is an untruth peddled and circulated over and over until people believe it is true. Have you heard that COVID-19 only kills the old and the immune-compromised? That it doesn’t affect the black people? Heard the conspiracy that Corona virus disease is God’s judgment against the Communists of China? What about the claim that if you take alcohol, you reduce the incidence of infection? Haven’t you heard the doomsday activists sensationally claim this is the end of the world and that COVID-19 will kill 60% of the world population? It does not require a lot of Science to expose the hollowness of these falsehoods, but when they take a scriptural dimension, they must be debunked. Our study today of Jeremiah 7 shall clarify whether there exists a link between Tophet referenced in the chapter and the COVID-19 menace in Italy (see middle image above).

SHILOH AND THE TEMPLE WITHOUT GOD

During their exodus through the wilderness, God manifested his presence among his people Israel in a pillar of cloud by day to guide and shield them from the scorching wilderness sun. By night, a pillar of fire guided them and kept them warm (Exodus 13: 21, 22). When Israel entered Canaan under Joshua, the Tabernacle and the ‘Ark of the Covenant’ represented God’s presence before it shifted to the temple in Jerusalem that became the epicenter of Jewish worship and religion.

The words of Jeremiah 7 were spoken by the prophet at the gate of the temple in Jerusalem to the house of Judah. The scathing message castigated the Jews for their superficial trust in the temple and external rituals without a true repentance and amending of their evil ways. False prophets were lulling the crowds with false hope that the Lord would never destroy the magnificent temple because he had chosen it as his permanent abode. They had turned the temple from a fellowship house where people truly sought God reducing it to a den and hideout to protect the corrupt. The Savior would years later quote verse 11 as an indictment to the religious establishment of his day for shielding gross criminals at the expense of true worship. Jeremiah made it clear to them that routine performance of sacred rites without a corresponding change of heart would not save them from the impending captivity. Then, Jeremiah in verse 12 made a graphic reference to Shiloh, Israel’s past religious center spanning more than 400 years after Israel entered Canaan.

Brethren, when the children of Israel first entered into Canaan’s land, the tabernacle was set up and established in SHILOH:

Joshua 18:1

“And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at SHILOH, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them.”

The Tabernacle remained there and continued to the times of Eli, the Priest and Judge in Israel. However, Eli failed as Priest and Judge to control and stop the sinfulness of his sons who were accused of fornication, greed and treating God’s sacrifices with contempt.

1 Samuel 2:12

Eli’s sons were wicked men; they had no regard for the LORD

1 Samuel 2:17

This sin of the young men was very great in the LORD’S sight, for they were treating the LORD’S offering with contempt.

1 Samuel 2:22

Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

1 Samuel 2:29

Why do you scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?’

The Lord complained to Eli about his sons’ evil conduct but he did not restrain them. Elohim therefore swore that He would bring to an end the priesthood of Eli’s line and that his sons would die.

1 Samuel 3:14

Therefore, I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.'”

In war with the Philistines, the Lord had Phineas and Hophni killed while their father Eli died on hearing that the Ark of the Covenant had been taken away captive by the uncircumcised Philistines.

1 Samuel 4:11

The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

1 Samuel 4:18

When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man and heavy. He had led Israel forty years.

Aaron had four sons namely, Nadab, Abihu (who were killed according to Leviticus 10: 1, 2 for disobedience). The other 2 sons were Ithamar and Eleazar. Eli hailed from the line of Ithamar. After this incident, they slowly lost the priesthood to the line of Eleazar that was notably led by Zadok who ministered in the era of kings. This line was finally replaced by the everlasting priesthood of Yashuah, a Priest in the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7: 3, 11).

Psalms 78: 54-64 recounts these happenings vividly.

As Jeremiah spoke at the temple gate, Shiloh for long lay in ruins despite having hosted the Ark of the Covenant and God’s presence for years. Its destruction had come in two main strokes; first when the Philistines overran it and finally when the Assyrians conquered the Northern kingdom. Shiloh to Judah therefore vividly represented the perfect graphical image and forlorn emptiness of a place without God. Jeremiah prophesied to Judah shortly before their 70 years’ captivity to Babylon. He warned them of their chief sins among them

1. Oppressing the powerless
2. Shedding innocent blood
3. Worshipping Baal and Ishtar, the queen of heaven, verse 18;
4. Idol worship and
5. Offering their children to be sacrificed to god Molech, verses 30, 31.

Where is TOPHETH/TOPHET?

Topheth or Tophet is located SOUTH of JERUSALEM in the valley of HINNOM or Gehinnom (see the map at the top). It’s an Aramaic name meaning HEARTH or FIREPLACE. The Israelites lost and influenced by the idolatrous religion of the Canaanites practiced child sacrifice to gods Molech, Chemosh and Baal. Two notable Kings Ahaz and Manasseh even gave their sons to be sacrificed in the shrine erected at this rocky ravine.

2 Chronicles 28:1, 3

He (AHAZ) burned sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and sacrificed his sons in the fire, following the detestable ways of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.

2 Kings 21: 1, 6

He (MANASSEH) sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger.

In later years, this place became the dumpsite for Jerusalem, just like Dandora dumpsite. All manner of refuse, filth and carcasses were thrown in this valley to get consumed slowly and perpetually. In fact, it’s these smoldering undying ebbs of fire that made Tophet become a synonym of GEHENNA (JEHANAMU- the lake of fire) an effective picture of the fate awaiting the damned.

When King Josiah rose to power, among his ambitious reforms was desecrating Tophet to stop it being used again to sacrifice sons and daughters to Molech.

“He desecrated Topheth, which was in the valley of Ben Hinnom, so no one could use it to sacrifice his son or daughter in the fire to Molech. 2 Kings 23: 10

MISCHIEF

The author of the WhatsApp post pictured at the top of this article wants to create the impression that the large number of Italian infections to COVI-19 and resultant deaths is not accidental but prophetically ordained. This assertion is scripturally inaccurate and sounds prejudicial and malicious against the Italians. NOTE also that the scripture herein referred to Jeremiah 7:32 is mischievously quoted out of context. The above discussion has put this verse into its context and revealed the exact location of Tophet and identified the audience Jeremiah was addressing:

Jeremiah 7:30-32

“For the children of JUDAH have done evil in my sight, saith the LORD: they have set their abominations in the house which is called by my name, to pollute it.

And they have built the high places of TOPHET, which is in the valley of the son of HINNOM, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart.

Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be called Tophet, nor the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the valley of slaughter: for they shall bury in Tophet, till there be no place.

Prophet Jeremiah was addressing JUDAH, not ITALIANS. He castigated the Israelites for cordoning the evil practice of burning their children as offering to Molech.

Ezekiel also complained of this evil:

Ezekiel 16:20-21

Moreover, thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou hast borne unto me, and these hast thou sacrificed unto them to be devoured. Is this of thy whoredoms a small matter,

It is therefore purely coincidental that in Italy, there is a place called Tophet in Masala province of Trapani, Italy.

By today, 11^th April at 20:00 hours, the statistics send a totally different signal contrary to the post. Italy’s death curve might have previously steadily risen to worrying levels but the graph has shifted to Spain and USA with 161, 852 infections, 16, 353 deaths; and 508, 126 infections and 19, 827 deaths respectively. The infection rates in UK and France are also alarming as Italy figures steady at 152, 271 infections and 19, 468 deaths.

We should feel for every life lost, wherever that happens in the world. We are all equal before the eyes of the Almighty. We are sheep of his pasture gone astray (Psalms 119 :176), let us all join hands and intercede for the church, our nation and the world to overcome this pandemic. And since it is not the first or the worst global pandemic yet, we pray it shall end soon. May we learn our lessons well.

Shalom

Baba Roy