IS SARS ONE OF THE PLAGUES COMING DURING THE GREAT TRIBULATION PERIOD.  Is the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome that is now sweeping the world in a possible epidemic, a harbinger of the coming plagues which will envelope the earth during the Great Tribulation Period prophesied by Daniel and by Jesus Christ? 

I believe SARS is one of the coming plagues, and that we have seen only the ‘tip of the iceberg’ of latent diseases and plagues which are waiting to surface! For more than forty years, I have studied the Holy Scriptures together with relevant medical and scientific data available to me, and I am convinced that what we have seen in the past, will pale in comparison to “what is yet to come”! 

The recent outbreak of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) did not really surprise me. We’ve been through a lot. Legionnaires Disease didn’t affect a large segment of the population, so we passed it off as something involving a certain select group. When the Flesh Eating Disease struck, it hit closer to home when Premier Lucien Bouchard of Quebec was severely afflicted. 

The fear and frenzy of the AIDS epidemic shook us all as homosexuals, bisexuals and intravenous drug users began dying like flies. And as the HIV virus and AIDS spread through Asia and Africa ravaging millions, and infected prostitutes gave it to soldiers and truck drivers who in turn infected their wives, it looked as though there was no hope! And even with medicines to slow the disease, it is still taking an awful toll of young lives across the world! 

LATENT TUBERCULOSIS TIME BOMB - IS THIS ALSO A SIGN OF ONE OF THE PLAGUES COMING

 A recent news report states: “Expert warns of tuberculosis ‘time bomb’. Of the world’s six billion people, two billion have latent TB. There are 8.4 million cases of active, usually infectious TB, every year and the number is growing. More people will die of TB this year than in any year in history. Each person with TB infects 20 others before he or she is treated or dies. 

The World Health Organization declared TB a global health emergency in 1993, the only time it has ever made such a declaration for any disease.” Dr. Lee Reichman, executive director of the New Jersey Medical School National Tuberculosis Center and co-author of ‘Time Bomb, The Global Epidemic of Multi-Drug–Resistant Tuberculosis’, was in Edmonton recently. Speaking to TB doctors, and doctors and medical students at the University of Alberta, he stated that a Russian tuberculosis epidemic fanned by a rapidly growing number of HIV infections has the potential to spread multi-drug-resistant TB worldwide! 

Andy Ogle of the Edmonton Journal reported: “HIV patients can easily infect others with TB, which is spread through the air like the common cold. For that reason it has been referred to as ‘Ebola with wings.’ 

Both the TB and HIV epidemics in Russia are being incubated in its overcrowded prisons, which hold more than one million inmates, mostly men, where one prisoner in ten has active infectious TB, says Reichman. “HIV infections are growing faster in the former Soviet Union than any where else in the world: ‘When the HIV epidemic hits the pool of latent TB infections, there’s going to be an explosion of MDR-TB. 

This is the time bomb!’ TB is quickly being transferred to the general population by prison staff and by released prisoners, says Reichman. “Of 300,000 prisoners being released every year, 30,000 of them have active TB and 10,000 have multiple-drug-resistant TB, he said. There’s little or no medical follow up after they’re released. ‘It’s an increasing risk for all of us. There are 500 million international travelers going through 5,000 international airports every year,’ he said.” 

An old enemy is again rearing its head. Syphilis is making a dramatic come–back, especially among the often very promiscuous homosexual community! Chlamydia is rampant among a large segment of sexually active and irresponsible young people. With sadness, I often read of the many Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) that are infecting millions of youth with both terminal and life-long debilities. Think of the pain, shame and remorse many have to endure because of their sinful lifestyle, which has left them with incurable herpes, and other STDs! 

SARS: HARBINGER OF WHAT IS TO COME! 

We’ve had our experience with the Ebola Virus, the Hanta Virus, the Mad Cow Disease, and the Foot and Mouth Disease that saw millions of sheep and other cattle slaughtered not long ago in Europe! And the West Nile Virus is slowly but surely making headway across the USA and Canada! Spread by mosquitoes to crows and other birds, and then to humans, it is an alarming future prospect! 

Much of the world is holding its breath, as the new SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory  Syndrome) plague is making gigantic inroads across Asia, Canada, and other countries! Presently, more than 5000 cases have been reported in nearly 50 countries, with several hundred deaths. Many fear that there is much more to come, even as scientists work feverishly to find a cure and a vaccine to stop this killer! 

Should we be we concerned? Yes! We are living in dangerous, even perilous times as the Bible predicted so many years ago! Will our governments protect us? Will Canada’s vaunted Medicare System and Health Care Workers hold up under the terrible strain, economically and physically? How many more doctors and nurses will die or leave their posts, before we can get a handle on this terrible disease? I’m sure that they will do all they can! 

If, however, an epidemic of West Nile Virus, SARS or other new plagues does ensue, there will not be much that anyone will be able to do, until new vaccines and other medicines are discovered! Several other frightening news items concern the reappearance of the Black Death Plague in parts of Africa, as well as other ancient plagues. The distinct possibility that ‘Fanatical Islamic Terrorists’ may be able to obtain deadly biological agents – including Small Pox – which could be released from a light aircraft, or Anthrax inserted into the ventilation systems of large complexes, is scary indeed! 

Can you imagine the terrible suffering and death – hundreds of thousands or even millions – that might bring! And what of nerve gas, mustard gas, dirty bombs or even nuclear bombs in their hands? 

BEASTS OF THE FIELD: PESTILENCES TRANSMITTED BY ANIMALS! 

Upon examination, it becomes evident that several of the above, were transmitted by animals! The Black Death that decimated Europe in the 1340’s was carried by rodents and squirrels, but transmitted to humans by fleas which lived on them. It was manifested in four forms: Pneumonic Plague, Bubonic Plague, Septicemic Plague and the Enteric Plague! Some believe that AIDS was transmitted to humans in Africa, from the green monkey. 

The deadly Ebola Virus is reported by the Associated Press to have infected the ape population in equatorial Africa, reducing it by 50% in 20 years. The Hantavirus is spread by deer mice, cotton rats, rice rats and white footed mice! Mad Cow Disease (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) are spread from animals to humans! The West Nile Virus is spread by mosquitoes to crows, other birds and to humans, and the deadly SARS is believed to have also come from animals! 

Nearly 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ revealed that in the final seven years of human rule on this earth, the evil Antichrist will through deception, lies and stealth, take control of this planet. God, however, will pour out His wrath upon him and all those who follow him and who worship the image which he will erect! (Rev.13: 13-18) 

One fourth of the earth’s population will die by sword (war), hunger (famine), death (fear, war, accidents, diseases) and beasts bringing pestilences (animals)! 

I repeat, what we are seeing today is only a harbinger, a precursor, a pre-picture of what lies ahead during the Great Tribulation period, when God turns his wrath upon the Anti-Christ and his followers! By God’s grace, I am calling upon each one to begin praying to our merciful Heavenly Father, in the precious name of Jesus Christ, that He would intervene and help us at this precarious and frightening time! 

It is God’s will for us to intercede for all the sick and suffering in times of tragedy and crisis! The Bible says: “God is refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble. Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the Most High: And call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” (Psalms 46: 1; 50:14,15) ; 

Here God’s invitation to us all: “If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and forgive their sins, and HEAL their land.” (2 Chronicles 7: 14) 

If ever there was a time for people of all races, religions and faiths to call upon God for assurance of sins forgiven through the sacrifice of God’s beloved Son, Who was made flesh (incarnated) for us all, it is now in this dark time of uncertainty, unrest and fearful forebodings! 

Jesus Christ said: “Come unto Me all ye who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) My dear friend, will you not come to Him today, and allow the Saviour of the world to become your Lord and Saviour as well? I trust and pray that you will! Amen.