Jesus's disciples asked Him, "...what will be the sign of Your coming and the end of the age (original Greek to English translation)?" Matthew 24:3.  This month's newsletter is the fourth in a series of ten newsletters that will expound on each of the ten signs Jesus said would signal His return.  Jesus said, "Nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places" Matthew 24:7.  This month, the focus will be on the "pestilences" Jesus spoke of concerning the last days.  We will look at a 50-year history of pestilences, or epidemics/pandemics, throughout the world to determine a pattern and identify the scope of pestilences today:

1950s:    2 pestilences worldwide: bubonic plague and the Asian flu pandemic worldwide. 

1960s:    2 pestilences worldwide: cholera pandemic and the Hong Kong flu pandemic worldwide.

1970s:    3 pestilences worldwide: cholera pandemic worldwide, outbreak of smallpox in Yugoslavia, and smallpox epidemic in India.

1980s:    2 pestilences worldwide: cholera pandemic and HIV/AIDS pandemic worldwide.

1990s:    4 pestilences worldwide: cholera pandemic worldwide, HIV/AIDS pandemic worldwide, plague epidemic in India, and meningitis in West Africa.

2000s:    33* pestilences worldwide: cholera pandemic worldwide, HIV/AIDS pandemic worldwide, dengue fever epidemic in Central Africa, SARS coronavirus epidemic in Asia, plague epidemic in Algeria, leishmaniasis epidemic in Afghanistan, dengue fever epidemic in Indonesia, ebola epidemic in Sudan, yellow fever epidemic in Mali, dengue fever outbreak in Singapore, plague epidemic in Congo, malaria epidemic in India, dengue fever epidemic in India, Chikungunya virus outbreak in India, dengue fever epidemic in Pakistan, dengue fever epidemic in the Philippines (2x), ebola epidemic in Congo, polio outbreak in Nigeria, dengue fever epidemic in Puerto Rico, dengue fever epidemic in the Dominican Republic, dengue fever epidemic in Mexico, ebola epidemic in Uganda, dengue fever epidemic in Brazil, dengue fever epidemic in Cambodia, hand-foot-and mouth disease epidemic in China, bubonic plague epidemic in Madagascar, dengue fever epidemic in Bolivia, hepatitis B outbreak in India, dengue fever epidemic in Australia, mumps outbreak worldwide, meningitis outbreak in West Africa, influenza pandemic worldwide.  *Per Wikipedia, this list is incomplete to date.  Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/list_of_epidemics. 

I just happened to notice that, other than its inclusion in a few worldwide epidemics/pandemics, the United States is not mentioned as a "stand-alone" nation with pestilences.  In fact, the worldwide epidemics/pandemics, such as HIV/AIDS and cholera, have been brought into the United States by those traveling here from other nations.  I can immediately tell you why the US has been so blessed with a minimal number of pestilences, at least those that have originated in the US, over the last 50 years; it is because the United States has the greatest Christian population in the world, according to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_by_country.  You might notice that the greater number of Muslim countries are afflicted with disease.  One of the reasons why the Wikipedia list of epidemics is incomplete is because Communist nations, such as China and North Korea, do not release much information regarding pestilences, or other national problems, because such afflictions are considered a "reproach" in their culture. 

Jesus said there would be pestilences in the earth preceding His return and the numbers speak volumes in our generation.  The ancient prophets also declared, "When the Lord shall build up Zion (Israel), He shall appear in His glory" Psalms 102:16; and when the Jews are gathered in Israel, it will "blossom as the rose" Isaiah 35:1.  The nation of Israel was "born in one day," May 15, 1948, just as the prophet Isaiah said it would in Isaiah 66:8.  The Jews have gathered into Israel from all nations, as prophesied in Isaiah 11:11-12, and since 1948, the barren desert land has indeed blossomed like a rose, and the return of Christ is near! 

The Word of God says, "Without faith, it is impossible to please God" Hebrews 11:6.  The signs are all here, right before our eyes.  Everything the ancient prophets foretold thousands of years ago either has been fulfilled, or is formulating before our very eyes right now!  All of the prophecies that had to be fulfilled preceding the "catching up" of the saints have already been fulfilled, so, the Lord could return for His saints any day now (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18). 

If you haven't received the Lord Jesus as your Savior, the One who paid the price for your sins and mine, won't you receive Him today?  Just as sure as you and I will be leaving this life to step into eternity, we will face God to give an account of what we have done during our lifetimes on this earth.  If you need mathematics and probability, this truth is more probable than the possibility that you or I will not leave this world and live here forever - think about it.  Jesus said, "I tell you, every idle world that men speak, they will give an account for on the day of judgment" Matthew 12:36.  How will you appear before the judgment seat of God?  Will He say, "Well done, good and faithful servant" or "Depart from me...I never knew you?" (Matthew 25:21, Matthew 7:23).  Many people do not want to hear this type of message; it makes them angry.  I am writing what the Word of God says, nothing more and nothing less.  People who are angry about this type of message, a resounding alarm about His impending judgment, are not really angry with me, they are actually angry about what God has to say.  Next month, God willing, I will write about the fifth sign spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 24, regarding the signs of His return in the last days.  God bless you.