The 1918-19 influenza pandemic took the lives of millions of men, women and children. Is a possible repetition in the offing today?
While the 1918-19 pandemic killed 50 to 100 million people around the world, Foreign Affairs relates: "Today, with a world population of 6.5 billion people, more than 3 times that of 1918, even a 'mild' pandemic could kill many millions of people."
Further: "Dr Julie Gerbreeding, Director of the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, called the possibility of avian flu spreading from Southeast Asia (its likely place of origin) 'a very ominous situation for the globe'" ( International Herald Tribune ).
Since very early last year millions of birds in Southeast Asia have died. This particular bird flu mutates and jumps from species to species. It has already been found in certain mammals and possibly a few people. Although it has not yet mutated into a form that is easily transmissible to human beings, that possibility is very real and very worrisome.
Infectious diseases remain very high on the list of threats to human life on a large scale. Some 25 million human beings have already died from AIDS, and another estimated 39 million are infected with HIV. Malaria and tuberculosis are also major causes of death.
Among the four horsemen of the book of RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). is the pale horse, symbolic of devastating disease epidemics to ravage the earth in the end time. The BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. strongly indicates that we have not yet seen the full impact of these deadly modern plagues—far from it. (Sources: The Times [London], International Herald Tribune, Foreign Affairs .)
