Signs of the Times

Plagues (Pestilences)

PROPHETIC SIGNIFICANCE:

In His sermon on the Mt. of Olives Jesus said that the first phase of the End Times would include pestilences, along with other signs of the times like false messiahs, wars, famines and earthquakes.

For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences,[b] and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. - Matthew 24:5-8 (NKJV)

Pestilences would include wild animals, pests, diseases and environmental hazards. These things have been problems in every age, but in these days there are major concerns about AIDS, drug-resistant strains of old diseases like tuberculosis, and newer threats like Ebola, for which there is no vaccination. Radiation from space, radio, television and cellular signals, and nuclear accidents are adding to the growing problem of cancer, which affects most families today. Terrorism and threats of war pose the additional nightmare of injury or death by nuclear, biological or chemical weapons.

During the Tribulation, the Book of Revelation predicts even greater world-wide disasters, symbolized by the "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" (Revelation 6:1-8). These disasters are a false messiah (white horse), a great war (red horse), famine (black horse), and then rampant sickness and death (pale horse).

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 (KJV)

Key Scriptures
Current Events
Links
Insight from 2012: The Year the World Didn't End
Insight From 2011 In Review: The Year In Prophecy
Radiation and the Fourth Horseman

See also these closely related signs:
Famines
Fearful Events


Key Scriptures

Click on one of these
references to see
the passage.
Thanks to the services of:

<I>Bible Gateway</I> And

<I>Blue Letter Bible</I>

Go To Bible GatewayGo To Blue Letter Bible
NIV & Other VersionsIncludes Commentary
Plagues (Pestilences)
Matthew 24:5-8 Further Study
Luke 21:11 Further Study
Revelation 6:7-8 Further Study

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Current Events

Prophetic Significance of Plagues and Pestilence

See also:
Emergency Preparedness
Cloning and Genetic Modification


Notice: Sources often remove their news links after a period of time. Some of them move older stories to a subscription-only section. Even if the story is no longer on line, our summary will still be available on this page.


See more recent articles: After December 31, 2016


US Sees First Case of Bacteria Resistant to All Antibiotics

May 26, 2016 - According to U.S. health officials the first-ever patient with an infection resistant to all known antibiotics has been found. The patient is a 49-year-old Pennsylvania woman who had not traveled within the prior five months. The infection is called mcr-1.

Frieden, speaking at a National Press Club luncheon in Washington, D.C., said the infection was not controlled even by colistin, an antibiotic that is reserved for use against "nightmare bacteria."

Source:NewsMax

Prophetic Significance of Plagues and Pestilences


All Belgians to get iodine pills

Apr. 29, 2016 -

Belgium is to provide iodine pills to its entire population of around 11 million people to protect against radioactivity in case of a nuclear accident, the health minister was quoted as saying Thursday.

Germany is also concerned about Belgium's two ageing nuclear power plants near their border.

Source: WND
Also, in Israel: Shut Dimona nuclear reactor, urges founding scientist - Times of Israel

Zika Virus 'Scarier Than We First Thought,' Warn U.S. Health Officials

Apr. 12, 2016 - The White House is asking Congress for a $1.9 billion emergency fund to combat the Zika virus threat.

"Everything we look at with this virus seems to be a bit scarier than we initially thought," said Dr. Anne Schuchat, a deputy director at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Zika virus can cause babies to be born with small heads. It can also cause the rare Guillain-Barre syndrome that can result in paralysis. Aedes aegypti, the mosquito that normally transmits the virus, is present in about 30 states. Puerto Rico may already have hundreds of thousands of Zika infections.

Source: Newsweek



USA Today Investigation: Excessive Lead in 2,000 Water Systems in Every State

According to USA Today, 6 million people nationwide are served by the water systems that reported lead levels the exceeded EPA standards. About 350 of them provide drinking water to schools and daycares.

Source: NewsMax
Lawmakers Grill EPA Official over Flint Water Crisis, Calling It a "Crime of Epic Proportions" - Democacy Now

UN health chief: Zika virus is 'spreading explosively'

Jan. 29, 2016 - The World Health Organization (WHO) will meet Monday to decide whether or not the Zika virus should be declared an international health emergency. The virus is "spreading explosively" in Brazil, and is thought to be linked to the birth of babies with abnormally small heads. It may also be a cause of the Guillain-Barre syndrome, which can cause temporary paralysis.

WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan said the virus ... was becoming much more of a threat. One WHO scientist said the Americas could see up to 4 million cases of Zika in the next year.

Source: Fox
Zika Virus Spreading Rapidly - Brazil Olympics later this year could be a springboard to transmit the virus around the world - Voice of America
Zika: New Plague of the End Times - Hal Lindsey

Residents of Virginia, Arkansas test positive for Zika virus

Jan. 27, 2016 - Two Americans, one in Virginia and one in Arkansas, have tested positive for the Zika virus. They had travelled to other countries and had been infected by a mosquito.

Officials in both states ... warned pregnant women to consider postponing trips to 22 Zika-affected countries and territories in the Caribbean, as well as Central and South America.

Source: Fox
World health agency expects Zika virus, linked to birth defects, to reach U.S. - Los Angeles Times

Go to events before Jan. 1, 2016





Check out Today's News



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Plagues Links

World Health Organization
Avian Flu in humans - WHO
Anthrax - Wikipedia
Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria - Better Health
What is Radiation Sickness? - Medical News Today
Fukishima Nuclear Disaster - Wikipedia


Radiation and the Fourth Horseman

Mar. 19, 2011 - While the nuclear reactors at Japan’s Fukushima plant are disintegrating and releasing radiation into the air, many are asking what Bible prophecy has to say about radiation in the End Times.

This is an area where it would be unwise to be dogmatic, but there are two possible connections to nuclear destruction from the account of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Revelation chapter 6 describes the early part of the Tribulation as a vision of four riders on different colored horses. First there is the rider on a white horse (verses 1-2), a mighty conqueror and apparent messiah who appears to be able solve the world’s problems, but in reality is a false savior – the “beast” of Revelation 13, who is often called Antichrist.

The second symbolic rider comes on a red horse (Revelation 6:3-4). This speaks of the ravages of a great world-wide war. It is not likely that this war is started by the rider on the white horse, since, as the previous verses indicate, he is seen as a messianic hero.

Jesus told us that the period leading up to the Tribulation would be characterized by “wars and rumors of wars” (Matthew 24:6; Mark 13:7).

It is likely that this is the war of Ezekiel 38 and 39, which results in fiery destruction of the aggressors from the north when they try to conquer Israel. This could very possibly escalate to nuclear warfare, which involves more than one of the present-day nuclear powers. The emerging world dictator could take credit for the destruction of Israel’s invaders, or at least take advantage of the situation, to bring about the seven-year peace treaty between himself and Israel that was prophesied by Daniel. If this is the case, this war would take place at the very beginning of the seven years of the Tribulation. And, of course, if it involves a nuclear exchange, it will result in the release of unwanted radiation.

The third horse will be black, and it will bring great famine, probably as a result of the world war and continued global economic problems (Revelation 6:5-6).

The fourth horse brings a variety of deadly situations.

When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth. – Revelation 6:7-8

The color of the fourth horse is translated many ways. Some Bible versions translate it as “pale,” others as “ashen,” or “pale green.” The Greek word is chloros, “greenish.” It is the root of the well known “chlorophyll”, the tiny green chemical converters in the leaves of most plants.

Chloros also suggests deadly chlorine gas, which is pale green in color and quickly fatal to all who breathe it. The intended picture here is a sickly pale green that symbolizes death as a result of the terrors of nuclear, chemical, and biological warfare.

Therefore, one of the main causes of this Fourth Horseman’s deadly mission might be radiation and the cancer that it produces. This radiation could be the result, not only of nuclear weapons, but of damaged nuclear power plants as well. And these catastrophes could be caused by terrorism or natural disasters, such as earthquakes and tsunamis.

One other possibility for the meaning of the green horse has been suggested by some Bible teachers in the light of the growing threat by Islamic radical terrorists. They wonder if the green could come from the well-known fact that Islamic countries all use green in their flags and seem to prefer that color. Time will tell if there is any connection here.

More related information is available in our book, Connecting the Dots: A Handbook of Bible Prophecy.

Source: Ron's Blog


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Last Updated: 2/3/17
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