by Jon R. Welker

"And as He sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, `Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world [age]?' And Jesus answered and said unto them, `There shall be famines, and pestilences...!'" Matthew 24:3-4,7

Often when we look at the Matthew 24 discourse of Jesus with His disciples regarding signs of the end of the age, we tend to think of wars and rumors of wars, and nation rising against nation, false prophets, and maybe even earthquakes. Less consideration is given to His statement regarding pestilences as one of the signs of the end of the age. Yet, recently this subject has been thrust upon us by the news media and headlines, especially the fear of a new flu pandemic which could originate from birds and other poultry. Even the newly released Left Behind movie depicts the use of a plague or a pestilence used to kill Christians and others. So the subject is "elbowing" its way into the consciousness of the masses. Of course we still hear considerable information about the worldwide HIV epidemic (or should it be now labeled pandemic), West Nile Virus, Mad Cow Disease, and the threat of biological terrorist weapons of mass destruction. These are only those diseases which capture the attention of the news media, yet there are others that could be mentioned. But the Avian Flu has generated the most fear.

We should also take note that the 4^th Rider of the Apocalypse, the pale horse rider, links with famine and PESTILENCE, leading to DEATH.

"And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth." Revelation 6:7-8

There is ample evidence that God allows/uses pestilences (plagues) to chastise (punish) nations and His people when they turn to other "gods" and fail to keep His commandments.

Deuteronomy 28:15-16,21:
"But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee.... ...The LORD shall make the PESTILENCE cleave unto thee...."

Jeremiah 14:12:
"When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the PESTILENCE."

Jeremiah 21:6:
"And I will smite the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast: they shall die of a great PESTILENCE."

Jeremiah 34:17:
"Therefore thus saith the LORD; Ye have not hearkened unto Me, in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbour: behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the LORD, to the sword, to the PESTILENCE, and to the famine; and I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth."

Ezekiel 14:21:
"For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send My four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the PESTILENCE, to cut off from it man and beast?"

Amos 4:10:
"I have sent among you the PESTILENCE after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses; and I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto Me, saith the LORD."

Even if you are not a Bible believer, you cannot help but notice that plagues (pestilences) and woes are converging into a maelstrom, with all humanity on its screaming spirals, uncontrollably descending to its destroying vortex! Jesus said,

"...Though ye believe not Me, believe the works...." John 10:38

Similarly, even if you have not believed the Bible nor Jesus the Christ, believe the "plagues and woes" inexorably converging on all of humankind, to the end that you may be warned!

Yes, it has been clearly foretold through God's Prophets that plagues and disasters would overtake large portions of the world just previous to our Lord's coming. The ten plagues or catastrophies brought upon the land of Egypt at the word of Moses, just before the children of Israel were delivered, were prophetic types of the end-time disasters which the world at large will experience just previous to the return of Jesus Christ.

Ancient Israel frequently complained, and many "went a whoring after other gods" (Ex. 34:15-16; Deut. 31:16). As a result, multitudes died in the consequent plagues! Have not multitudes of Christians wearied and turned to the "gods" of this world?

Christendom relies on the might of our fighting force. We seek "pacts" negotiated from "a position of strength." This is the identical frame of mind as that of king David when he sought to determine the might of his fighting force. And what was the consequence of David's decision? "Pestilence," which fell upon the people killing them by the thousands (II Sam. 24:13-15). Similarly shall the outcome be in our day and the "pestilence" shall sweep away millions and millions.... David was not concerned over God's PRECEPTS: neither have we been.

As already mentioned, the ten plagues brought upon Egypt by the Lord at the word of Moses, just before the children of Israel were delivered, were prophetic types of the end-time disasters which the world at large will experience just previous to the return of Jesus Christ.

Now observe, the third plague came suddenly upon Egypt without warning (Ex. 8:16). Aaron stretched forth his rod and smote the dust of the earth. Out of the dust came forth lice upon man and beast. This prefigures the mysterious diseases and/or pestilences which will come upon the world ("Egypt") because of their lawless and Godless ways. Again, it is the stretching forth of the rod, the preaching of the Word of Truth, which is shunned and rejected that causes judgment to fall. Even so, the time is rapidly approaching when doctors will not be able to cope with the unprecedented maladies attacking both men and animals.

This inability of doctors to cope with the situation is seen in the statement that the magicians of Egypt tried to bring forth lice but were unable to do so (Ex. 8:18). It is also interesting to note that most of the serums (inoculations) devised by the `wise men' of our time are prepared from the active virus, the disease itself (even as the magicians tried to bring forth lice). Therefore many men of the medical profession will frankly admit the need of turning to God for an answer, even as the magicians of Egypt said, "This is the finger of God" (Ex. 8:19).

Ezekiel 14:21:
"For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send My four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?"

In my book, THE WONDERFUL NAMES OF GOD, in the chapter entitled "Jehoveh-makkeh," I state:

We are facing a time when we will see this `smiting' all about us.
(Remember that Jehoveh-makkeh means "I am the Lord that smiteth" [Ezek. 7:9].)
I first delivered this message on Tuesday, June 19, 2001, about 3 months before the events of September 11, 2001! We are now seeing the intensification of God's smiting. And, because we have been sucking the earth of its resources, another of the smitings God will send is famine; He's going to "break the staff of bread" and send famine upon the nations! And He says that even if Noah were here, he could not save his sons and daughters. The events of September 11, 2001, and subsequently, are warning us of these 4 smitings: 1) killing, 2) hunger, 3) ...[PESTILENCE] ..., and 4) beasts of the earth (this could be literal, but also refers to the beastial nature as we have now seen it in the acts of terrorists, etc.)" (pg. 164)

It is also interesting to note that God blesses those who keep His commandments, even the sacred Biblical festivals (Deut. 16:15). So, what may we conclude may be the opposite of such a blessing and a refusal to give thought to the righteousness contained in the Lord's revealed patterns of truth? In Zechariah 14:17-18 we read it: withholding of rain (spirit or spiritual revelation, light, and inspiration) and a plague (pestilence).

"And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague [PESTILENCE], wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles."

Therefore, the Lord has given ample warning and the true antidote - repentance and a turning to Him in complete dependency and humility! Here it would be nice to offer multitudes a smooth word, but as quoted in the Scripture at the beginning of this article, Jesus declared that PESTILENCES would be one of the signs of the end of this age. Have you been alert and WATCHING? The pestilences are prophesied to increase!

"And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." Malachi 4:6

The judgment is at our doors. I don't see the sobriety in people, the willingness or repentance necessary to avoid this smiting. Many don't believe, or refuse to believe, that God is a God of judgment or that one of the attributes of His character (or name) is Jehoveh-makkeh, "I am the Lord that smiteth" (Ezek. 7:9). And it is recorded that God does not do such things without cause.

Ezekiel 14:22-23:
"…Behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way [their behavior] and their doings [their acts]: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it. And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord GOD."

Here let me cite just a few sources regarding this flu threat:

GLOBAL MOVES TO COMBAT FLU THREAT
Washington - Global moves to combat the threat of avian flu are being stepped up, with China, the United States, Canada, Japan and North Korea all taking action to help stop the disease spreading.
The United States has banned poultry from mainland British Columbia, Canada after a duck there tested positive for a strain of avian flu over the weekend, a U.S. Agriculture Department official said Monday. (CNN - 22^nd November 2005)

"COUNCIL OF WAR" ON BIRD FLU
Switzerland - Four hundred experts and decision-makers were gathering in Geneva on Monday for a three-day council of war on bird flu called by the world's paramount agencies for human and animal health.
It is the senior-most global meeting of doctors, veterinarians and public-health officials since the avian influenza scare erupted in 2003, and the first to gather the World Bank alongside the World Health Organisation (WHO), Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), hosting the talks. (News 24 - 8^th November 2005)

In related developments:

The United States is unprepared for the next flu pandemic, lacking the manufacturing capacity to provide 300 million doses of a vaccine for three to five more years, Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said. "What we all learned from (Hurricane) Katrina is that sometimes we have to think very clearly about the unthinkable," Leavitt said Sunday. "We're not as prepared as we need to be. ...We will not have enough for everyone." (CBSNews.com 11/23/05)

The United States Department of Health and Human Services has charted pandemics and pandemic scares of the 20^th century. Here is their historical overview:

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

History suggests that influenza pandemics have probably happened during at least the last four centuries. During the 20^th century, three pandemics and several "pandemic scares" occurred....

1918: Spanish Flu

The Spanish Influenza pandemic is the catastrophe against which all modern pandemics are measured. It is estimated that approximately 20 to 40 percent of the worldwide population became ill and that over 20 million people died. Between September 1918 and April 1919, approximately 500,000 deaths from the flu occurred in the U.S. alone. Many people died from this very quickly. Some people who felt well in the morning became sick by noon, and were dead by nightfall. Those who did not succumb to the disease within the first few days often died of complications from the flu (such as pneumonia) caused by bacteria.
One of the most unusual aspects of the Spanish flu was its ability to kill young adults. The reasons for this remain uncertain. With the Spanish flu, mortality rates were high among healthy adults as well as the usual high-risk groups. The attack rate and mortality was highest among adults 20 to 50 years old. The severity of that virus has not been seen again.

1957: Asian Flu
In February 1957, the Asian influenza pandemic was first identified in the Far East. ...Although the Asian flu pandemic was not as devastating as the Spanish flu, about 69,900 people in the U.S. died.

1968: Hong Kong Flu
In early 1968, the Hong Kong influenza pandemic was first detected in Hong Kong. ...Deaths from this virus peaked in December 1968 and January 1969. Those over the age of 65 were most likely to die. The same virus returned in 1970 and 1972. The number of deaths between September 1968 and March 1969 for this pandemic was 33,800, making it the mildest pandemic in the 20th century.

1976: Swine Flu Scare
When a novel virus was first identified at Fort Dix, it was labeled the "killer flu." Experts...thought to be related to the Spanish flu.... ...the virus - later named "swine flu" - never moved outside the Fort Dix area.

1977: Russian Flu Scare
In May 1977, influenza A/H1N1 viruses isolated in northern China, spread rapidly, and cause epidemic disease in children and young adults (>23 years) worldwide. ...Many people over the age of 23 had some protection against the virus [due to immunity developed in 1957] and it was primarily younger people who became ill.... By January 1978, the virus had spread around the world.... Because illness occurred primarily in children, this event was not considered a true pandemic.

1997: Avian Flu Scare

The most recent pandemic "scares" occurred in 1997 and 1999. In 1997, at least a few hundred people became infected with Avian A/H5N1 flu virus in Hong Kong.... Six...hospitalized persons died. This virus was different because it moved directly from chickens to people.... ...Many of the most severe illness occurred in young adults similar to illnesses caused by the 1918 Spanish flu virus. ...All chickens (approx. 1.5 million) in Hong Kong were slaughtered. The avian flu did not easily spread from one person to another....

In 1999, another novel avian flu virus - A/H9N2 - was found that caused illness in two children in Hong Kong. Although both of these viruses have not gone on to start pandemics, their continued presence in birds, their ability to infect humans, and the ability of influenza viruses to change and become more transmissible among people is an ongoing concern.

The notation at the end of this report states: "Last revised: February 12, 2004." From on-going reports, as those cited earlier in this article, we all know that the concern for this disease and the disease itself has continued to spread dramatically.