Book Review

(1) “Christ Over Virus, Iniquities, and Death”, by Plammoottil Cherian (MDiv, PhD), Covenant Books, Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, 2020, Pp 226, ASIN: B09515TQMP, $28.95 (Hard cover), $16.95 (paperback)

(2) “Distress of Nations, A Sign of End”, Plammoottil V. Cherian (MDiv, PhD), Covenant Books, Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, 2022, Pp 322, ASIN: B0B4CB3VHB, $32.95 (Hard cover), $6.20 (paperback)

Plammoottil V Cherian (MDiv, PhD) is well known to FOCUS readers from various contributions, including the recent January 2023 essay on the Kerala Christian Diaspora. However, FOCUS readers may be less familiar with his writings that integrate science and theology, based on 50+ years of scientific research and academic writing. The 2020 book on the COVID-19 pandemic "Christ Over Virus, Iniquities, and Death” and the 2022 book on the End-Time “Distress of Nations, A Sign of End” provide good examples.

The 2020 book was written at the height of the pandemic, with a new name given to the acronym COVID-19 Christ Over Virus, Iniquities, and Death (COVID0030) signifying the atoning death of Jesus Christ on the cross in AD 30, as a substitute for sinful humanity. As noted in the “About The Book” section, the book is unique in terms of providing a biblical explanation for the scientific facts related to pestilence, connecting the science and theology of pandemics. Further, the book is written in the tradition of great scientists like Nicolas Copernicus, Johannes Kepler, Galileo Galilei and Robert Boyle, who believed in God’s majestic creation of the universe.

The book is divided into thirteen chapters. Chapter 1 provides an overview of Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) with increasing incidence in humans during the last four decades and could increase in the near future consisting of: HIV/AIDS (1981), Lyme disease (1982), West Nile virus (1999), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS, 2003), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS, 2015), Zika virus (2007-2016), and COVID-19 (2019-present). Chapter 2 details the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, including its origins, biology, replication and pathology, as well as the broader microbiology and adaptive features of microbes and viruses. Chapters 3 and 4 describe how God has divided the animal species into clean and unclean animals (Deuteronomy 14: 6-7) for human consumption and ecological purposes. Chapter 5 argues persuasively that COVID-19 is a serious warning to the nations of the world based on a careful examination of biblical prophesies with the attendant call for self-examination and repentance before the Lord. Chapter 6 shows that God is the source of all blessings, in the lives of peoples (Proverbs 10:22) and nations (Deuteronomy 28:11-13). Chapter 7 makes the case for the Church to be fully obedient to the rules and regulations of the State, as per the commands of Christ and the Apostles (Romans 13:4). Chapters 7 and 8 teach that as Christians, we must not fear the Coronavirus pandemic, since the Lord can heal any disease and sickness, as He is Jehova Rapha (Exodus 15:26) and the Balm of Gilead (Jeremiah 8:22). Chapter 10 introduces the new acronym for COVID, Christ Over Virus, Iniquities, and Death (COVID-0030), recalling the AD30 crucifixion of Christ that marked the good news the Gospel of the reconciliation between Holy God and sinful humanity (2 Corinthians 5:18). Chapter 11 proclaims that COVID-19 is an end-times sign, as elucidated by Jesus in His Olivet discourse (Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21), with a plea to yield to the rule and reign of God in our lives. Further, Chapter 12 suggests that the COVID pandemic is also a plumb line deployed by the Lord Almighty for measuring the scale and scope of the faith of Christians. Last, but not least, Chapter 13 describes the realities of heaven and hell, based on scientific and theological evidence. The overarching conclusion of the book is that COVID-19 is a wake-up call to nations and peoples to seek the Lord Almighty and obey Him, exhorting leaders to rule in righteousness, and prepare for end-times by trusting God as our only refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1).

The 2022 book, ‘Distress of Nations, A Sign of End’ builds on the 2020 COVID-19 assessment, using it as a key element in the broader analysis and evidence regarding the “distress of nations”, the biblical reference to the end-time signs. The book is a tour de force on eschatology, with excellent evidence provided regarding governments around the world becoming ungodly, including countries like the United Kingdom and the United States, which were founded on Judeo-Christian principles.

The book is divided into fifteen chapters, with five chapters each presented in three parts. The first five chapters in Part 1 present evidence regarding the emergence and continuance of compounding and multiple crises: Chaos in the World (Chapter 1); Moral Crises (Chapter 2); Moral Compass deficits (Chapter 3); Human Conscience dulling (Chapter 4); Democracy erosion (Chapter 5). The second five chapters in Part 2 details the sources of the crises discussed in Part 1: Darkness in the World (Chapter 6); Source of Darkness (Chapter 7); World in Tears (Chapter

8); COVID-19 pestilence (Chapter 9); Molecules and Microbes (Chapter 10). The final three chapters in Part 3 document the end-time prophesies fulfilled and being fulfilled: Being-fulfilled prophesies (Chapter 11); State of the Church (Chapter 12); Siege on US Democracy (Chapter 13); Lake of Fire (Chapter 14); God and America (Chapter 15).

Overall, the 2022 ‘Distress of Nations’ book provides broad vindication of Salvation Army founder William Booth’s (1829-1912), prophesy regarding the 1900s (“The chief danger that confronts the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, heaven without hell.”), that has continued to hold true into the present. The book summarizes well the growing cosmological evidence that point the end of the universe, though many Christians are ignorant of the facts, unable to discern the times and events, under a strong delusion as prophesied in the Bible (2 Thessalonians 2:3-10) leading to the dulling of human conscience. At the same time, there has been a withering decay of the moral compass in politics, given the removal of God from nations and Christ from churches. In particular, the siege of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, is presented as an example of the distress of the nations, with a fervent call to America as a watchman of the times. The book concludes that the world crises stem from humanity’s rejection of God; that we are at the threshold of cosmological events taking place during the final days of the universe.

Both books provide riveting accounts of the omnipotence and omniscience of the Lord Almighty over His creation as illustrated by the two examples noted below and demonstrate the scholarship and expertise of the author. The Christ Over Virus, Inequities, and Death chapter (Chapter 10, p.158-175) from the 2020 book offers an extended discussion recorded in the gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John of Christ over: (i) Viruses and other microbes (e.g., Healing the lepers (Matthew 8:1-4, Mark 1:40-49, Luke 5:12-15); (ii) Inequities (Isaiah 53:5, 1 peter 2:24); and (iii) Death (Luke 7:1-18, Matthew 9:18-26, John 11:1-46, Mark 16:1-14). Likewise, the Rusting Human Moral Compass chapter (Chapter 3, p.42-66) from the 2022 book provides an extensive discussion of the Armor of God (Ephesians 6: 10-18) as the antidote for the dwindling moral compass of humanity: (i) Belt of truth; (ii) Breastplate of righteousness; (iii) Gospel of peace; (iv) Shield of faith; (v) Helmet of salvation; and (vi) Sword of the spirit. I wholeheartedly recommend both the books to FOCUS readers, especially those interested in the unifying and complementary approaches between science and religion, for understanding the plans and purposes of God and His creation, including humanity.

Dr. Cherian Samuel