IS EBOLA A BIBLICAL PLAGUE? by Jeff Wingo
October 17, 2014
Preaching of Christ on the Mount of Olives about the second coming by Alexander Ivanov, 1840.
¶ 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? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Matthew 24:3-8
Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Matthew 24:32-33
According to the Bible there will be many signs that the time of the end is near. Now I don’t want to sound like a caricature that we are all familiar with–you know, the man wearing a sandwich board that says, “Repent! For the end is near!” I don’t want to sound like an alarmist, nor do I wish
to be portrayed as some crazy end of the world cultish fear monger of the type that we have all heard about.And yet there is something alarming I find about events in the news lately. Now, I am sure that those alive during the late 1930’s felt the same way, with the type of news that was flowing out of Europe regarding Hitler and the rise of Nazi fascism.
Yet look where we are: The increasing threat of war in the Middle East; terrorism and terrible pestilence in various countries of Africa; the spread of Ebola from Africa, to Europe, and on to the United States. The increasing U.S. military presence in Africa (and the presence of Chinese interests in Africa as well), and the destabilizing saber rattling coming from the Ukraine, the Crimea and other places. In addition, both China and the United States are expanding their presence in the Asian Pacific region. It almost seems that an international nightmare is developing.
THE FEAR OF DEVASTATING PLAGUES AND PESTILENCE
Ebola and other dread plagues even seem to be increasing and growing more virulent, and most people find that rather disconcerting, and rightfully so. Obviously no one wants to become ill and possibly die, including myself. But we do live in a fallen world and pestilence like Ebola are part of it (although I have been reading lately that the current plague referred to as Ebola may in fact be something else, possibly a bio-weapon of some type).
Nevertheless, these things will be a part of the end-time experience before the return of Christ. Jesus said we would see an increase in plagues and famines, and that all of these things are the beginning of sorrows. I don’t like to hear words like that either, but He did say that is what will happen.
What if what we are seeing with Ebola turns out to be a biblical end-time plague? What if it continues to spread around the world like a devastating spider web? What if, in about a year, millions have been affected by Ebola. The consequences of that would rearrange the geopolitical landscape wouldn’t it? That would bring war and the rumors of war that Jesus also spoke about.
Consider just for a moment the United States. Now, don’t get me wrong here, I love my country, and I do love living here. The U.S. is a beautiful place with many millions of good, hard-working people just trying to live life and raise their families. But what if the plague of Ebola spread throughout the population, thus weakening the nation, what do you think would happen? The U.S. would become completely vulnerable and the grab for worldwide influence and power among the nations would be unfathomable. I am sure that Russia, China, Iran, and others would move to rearrange the chessboard and gain the advantage, that is human nature in this fallen world.
I am certainly not expert on international politics or other international affairs. Nor am I a prophet. But I believe that a devastating worldwide plague could possibly initiate other events like war that would spin out of control very quickly, possibly leading to the Gog-Magog war that the Prophet Ezekiel wrote about (Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39). Without the United States Israel would be completely isolated and that would more than likely open the way for war with Radical Islamic elements and countries like Iran and others.
Only time will tell if Ebola is an end-time plague, but presently lets all hope and pray that God will have mercy and allow the medical authorities to slow its deadly progression. I do not look forward to the consequences if they should fail.
But ultimately our hope is in Christ; we have the hope of eternal life, and we know that the suffering of this present world is only for a moment when considered in light of eternity. Place your hope in Jesus Christ; He will rescue this world at the right time. One day He will step forth from eternity into our time and space and will renew this world and make things right.
Psalm 91:1-16
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
Thanks for visiting.
Jeff Wingo
About Jeffrey A. Wingo
Alien Antichrist: UFOs and Aliens, Antichrist, and the End of Days 