The most gruesome epidemics faced by humanity have been during war or some other catastrophe fuelling it. Given the current situation in Haiti, it is increasingly facing the grave threat of outbreak of epidemics.
The New Year has descended with a tragedy on Haiti and the Dominican Republic. On January 12, 2010 Haiti was devastated by an earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale which means it is a massive earthquake with severe destruction.
I am writing this post on a supposedly ominous date – December 21, 2009 exactly three years before the “doomsday” – December 21, 2012 – predicted by many as the day of the end of the world. So, is 2012 really the end of the world? What does Bible prophecy have to say about it?
The world has enough food for everybody. In spite of this, 1.02 billion people are undernourished and fighting hunger. Though there is food in abundance, everybody does not have equal access to it. So it is an ironic situation today: there is famine in the midst of plenty.
Although increase in war and consequent casualties is a well known fact, let us examine it in greater detail. Look closely at Jesus’ words – you will HEAR of wars and rumors of wars. With the advent of cutting edge technology in the field of communication, it is no longer surprising to us, when we HEAR about conflicts in various parts of the world. News and information travel fast and reach right into our homes for us to see and hear at leisure. However, information does not necessarily mean truth. There is a lot of deception and lies hidden behind the information we receive.
One of the end time signs that Jesus mentioned is pestilence or epidemics. Again these are just the “beginning of sorrows”. So that means the world will be facing increasing number of epidemics as the end draws nearer. It really does not take much to understand this. The world has been plagued by horrifying epidemics in the 20th century in spite of medical science growing by leaps and bounds.
Jesus was answering the questions of His disciples about the signs of the end of the age and His coming. Of the many signs He mentioned, earthquakes are one and mark His words – all these are the beginning of sorrows
Malachi has used the question and answer method to probe deeply into Israel’s problems of hypocrisy, infidelity, mixed marriages, divorce, false worship and arrogance. Is this list of problems not familiar to the church in modern times?
The reconstruction work of the temple was stopped due to opposition for more than a decade and was then resumed in 520 B.C and completed in 516 B.C. Zechariah encouraged the people to complete their unfinished task. Rather than rebuking them, he encourages them by pointing out the future importance of the temple. The temple had to be built because one day the Messiah’s glory will inhabit it. Sadly, the man who encouraged the temple building was murdered between the temple and the altar
Apparently, the message of Hosea concerning the Day of the Lord is a peaceful one where not only will Israel be reconciled with God but other nations also will have peace on earth. Yahweh will make a covenant with all the creatures of the earth. Also the bow the sword, the two main weapons of Hosea’s day will be abolished so that all may live in safety.
