by Michael G. Mickey

(9-19-05)

Presently, Indonesia is on high alert concerning the threat posed by bird flu as a result of two children being hospitalized with symptoms of the virus, according to a Yahoo News story. How concerned should those of us far from Indonesia be in relationship to bird flu? Very concerned, if you believe an AFP article which states the United Nations' World Health Organization believes "millions of people could die around the world if bird flu spreads out of control", adding "most countries are totally unprepared for such an event." Millions could die and we're totally unprepared? In spite of the threat posed by bird flu that has been known for so long? Apparently so!

The AFP article quotes WHO spokeswoman Christine McNab as saying, "If there was a flu pandemic tomorrow we would not be ready. The clock is ticking and when the pandemic strikes it will be too late." Note McNab's language used. She said the international medical community is unprepared for WHEN the pandemic strikes, not IF it strikes!

Recently, I was made aware of a website that documents, on a map format, how bird flu has spread globally. I want you to look at it and see how swiftly bird flu has spread and how widely since May of this year and imagine, if you can, how quickly we could see unimaginable casualties when the virus mutates into a form that can be transmissible from human to human. The website can be seen by clicking HERE.

Bible prophecy predicts the following will take place early in the seven-year Tribulation Period, as seen in Revelation 6:8:

Interesting to me, as I've stated on numerous occasions in the past, is the role zoonotic disease (any infectious disease spread to people from animals) is playing here in the end times and may yet play in the prophetic future

While it is possible and likely a certainty we'll see animals actually attacking and killing people due to hunger in order to survive in the Tribulation Period as a result of dwindling food supplies, another strong possibility, in my opinion, is we will see zoonotic diseases like bird flu play a prominent role in the deaths of a quarter of all mankind in fulfillment of the prophecy. I'm not dogmatic in stating that, of course, but it does seem a realistic possibility, especially at this time when we see the international community's leading experts predicting a bird flu pandemic could kill literally millions of people!

Each and every day, to the extent I couldn't possibly write about everything topic of prophetic significance going on in the world around us, I find myself amazed by how easily the prophetic scenario laid out in the Bible can be seen coming into view on the prophetic horizon. The adjective I often use to describe how I feel as I work on compiling the information found on this website is 'surreal.'

Isn't it surreal that, on this day before the international Quartet is set to meet in New York at the United Nations concerning international efforts to bring peace to the Middle East, an international issue which is someday going to lead to the advent of the Antichrist and the onset of the Tribulation Period, we find ourselves hovering at the edge of a global flu pandemic that could kill millions, an event we potentially see described in Revelation 6:8's description of the fourth Seal Judgment of the Tribulation Period which should take place early in the seven-year Tribulation Period itself? I think so - a reason I spend a lot of my spare time looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ!

While no one knows the hour nor the day when Jesus Christ will return to gather His Church to His side, the Bible has painted, in my opinion, a very clear description of the season that will see the Lord's return take place. Could we presently be living in that season? I believe a pretty good case can be made - and is being made by many of the Lord's end times servants - that we, in fact, are!