Blog note. Jesus indicated that ‘fearful
sights’ (various natural disasters) would occur leading up to the time known as
the Tribulation and Great Tribulation (a combined seven year period of great
destruction on earth). Although these types of things have occurred in the past
for centuries and thousands of years, they could be identified as the ‘season
of the times’ due to the ferociousness of these events. They would be occurring
in greater intensity, severity, frequency, size, duration, scope … just like
the pains that a woman experiences in labor the farther along she is in the
labor process. We are in the ‘season of the times’ that comes just before the
seven (7) year Tribulation/Great Tribulation period
… And great earthquakes shall be in diverse places, and
famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be
from heaven. (Luke 21:11).
… And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and
in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea
and the waves roaring; (Luke 21:25)
… Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after
those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be
shaken; (Luke 21:26)
… This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall
come. (2 Timothy 3:1)
Jesus is giving a series of prophecies about what to look for
as the age of grace comes to a close. These verses are several of many such
prophecies from throughout the Bible. 2017 was the worst year in recorded
history for the intensity, frequency, severity, duration and occurrence of a
large number of severe natural disasters worldwide. Earthquakes, volcanoes,
hurricanes, typhoons, cyclones, torrential flooding, unprecedented wildfires in
unusual places, devastating droughts, excessive/scorching heat setting records
everywhere, record snowfalls in Europe and Russia. Snow in the Arabia. This
list can go on. Most studied Eschatologists believe these ‘fearful sights’ and
massive natural disasters are all part of the ‘CONVERGENCE’ of signs that this
Biblical and prophetic age is closing. Most people who study prophecy are
familiar with the routine reference(s) made that these things will be like
a woman having labor pains, growing in intensity, frequency, size and duration.
DR Congo Ebola outbreak declared global health emergency
17 July 2019. BBC.
The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo a “public health emergency of international concern”.
The move may encourage wealthy donor countries to provide more cash.
But the WHO stopped short of saying borders should be closed, saying the risk of the disease spreading outside the region was not high.
The outbreak in DR Congo has killed more than 1,600 people.
This week, the first case was detected in Goma, home to more than a million.
The PHEIC emergency provision is the highest level of alarm the WHO can sound and has only been used four times previously.
This includes the Ebola epidemic that devastated parts of West Africa from 2014 to 2016, and killed more than 11,000 people.
“It is time for the world to take notice,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news conference in Geneva on Wednesday at which the emergency was declared.
He said he accepted recommendations there should be no restrictions on travel or trade, and no entry screening of passengers at ports or airports outside the immediate region.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies welcomed the move.
“While it does not change the reality on the ground for victims or partners engaged in the response, we hope it will bring the international attention that this crisis deserves,” it said in a statement.
How bad is the situation in DR Congo?
The outbreak, the second largest in history, started in August 2018 and is affecting two provinces in DR Congo – North Kivu and Ituri.
More than 2,500 people have been infected and two-thirds of them have died.
It took 224 days for the number of cases to reach 1,000, but just a further 71 days to reach 2,000.
About 12 new cases are being reported every day.
Isn’t there a vaccine?
Yes.
It is 99% effective and more than 161,000 people have been given it.
However, everybody is not vaccinated – only those who come into direct contact with an Ebola patient, and people who come into contact with them.
The vaccine was developed during the epidemic in West Africa and has been available throughout the latest outbreak.
Why hasn’t the outbreak been brought under control?
Tackling the disease has been complicated by conflict in the region.
Since January, there have been 198 attacks against healthcare workers or Ebola treatment facilities leading to seven deaths and 58 injuries.
Another major problem has been distrust of healthcare workers leading to about a third of deaths being in the community rather than at a specialist Ebola treatment centre.
It means those people are not seeking treatment and risk spreading the disease to neighbours and relatives.
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There has also been difficulty tracking the spread of the virus.
A significant number of cases are coming as a surprise as those affected have not come into contact with known Ebola cases.
“We are one year into the outbreak and the situation is not getting any better,” said Trish Newport, from the charity MSF.
“It’s a complex environment with a long history of violence, of conflict, so there’s a lot of mistrust of foreigners from outside the area.
“We have to build ties and connections with the community so they trust us.”
Could the disease spread further?
The WHO says the risk to neighbouring countries is “very high”.
Uganda has already had some isolated cases including two people – a five-year-old boy and his 50-year-old grandmother – who died from the disease. Rwanda is also at risk.
This week a priest died from Ebola in the city of Goma, which is home to more than a million people. The city is a major transport hub and sits on the DR Congo-Rwanda border.
The WHO said cases there were a “game-changer”, however, there have been no reported cases of the disease spreading in Goma.
Is the world doing enough to help?
The WHO has been clear for months that it has insufficient money to tackle the problem.
It had estimated that it needed $98m to tackle the outbreak between February and July. Yet it faced a shortfall of $54m.
Pestilence
Disease
Death
Virus
Bacteria
Superbugs
Contagion
Epidemic
Pandemic
Spreading from one person to another
Perilous times have come
Pestilence spreading around the world
Pestilence in diverse places
Disease spreading around the world
Disease in diverse places
Disease increasing in frequency
Disease increasing in size
Disease increasing in strength
Disease increasing in duration
Increasing like the pains of a woman in labor
Categories: Pestilence Update