A Koforidua based Pastor has created fear and panic on a live radio preaching program after describing Covid-19 as traits of Antichrist mark of the beast – 666.
He said the Bible has stated that there will be pestilence which includes diseases without cure such as Covid-19 is one of them.
Apostle Prophet Paul Abbey, the head Pastor of Koforidua branch of Christ Calvary Anointed Ministry International said this while preaching on Eastern FM, a Koforidua based radio station Thursday, December 16, 2021, between 9:00pm to 10:00pm.
The Pastor said among other things in the preaching monitored by mybrytfmonline.com, that the Covid-19 pandemic has been prophesied in the Bible as one of the end time signs of the Antichrist.
He asserted that it is the reason why governments are making the vaccine compulsory for every citizen.
He, therefore, urged Christians to read the scriptures and be vigilant, however, cannot discourage people from taking the vaccine since such a decision should be based on individuals’ conviction and faith.
The Bible mentions 666 as the “Number of the Beast’ in Revelations 13:18, “This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666.”
Christians believe that the number “666” is the numerical value of the name of the coming Antichrist.
The commentary by the Pastor has the potential to deepen vaccine hesitancy, which health authorities are struggling to dispel.
Already, the Eastern Regional Health Directorate has expressed concern over the low patronage of the Covid-19 vaccine in the region.
The Eastern Regional Health Directorate says it has administered only 364,832 doses of Covid-19 vaccines.
A total of 314,346 persons had received at least a single dose of the vaccine in the region while a total of 50,486 persons constituting 2.4% of the target population of 2,134,787 persons have been fully vaccinated.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, December 8, 2021, the Regional Health Director Dr. Winfred Ofosu said, the phase one of the national strategies has been to deploy the vaccination exercise aimed at vaccinating Frontline health workers, security personnel, elderly persons, and people with underlying conditions.
He said phase two of the vaccination exercise which is ongoing is targeted at vaccinating all residents in Eastern Region above 15 years including students and women who are not pregnant.
Dr. Ofosu stated that as of December 6, 2021, the Eastern Region has recorded a total of confirmed Covid-19 cases of 6,605. Out of this number, 6,466% have recovered but 136 persons representing 2% have died.
Currently, the region has seen a consistent decline in the Covid-19 cases. Less than 10 cases have been recorded every week for the past five to six weeks.
Source: Mybrytnewsroom.com/Obed Ansah
