Beasts of the Earth

Drug-resistant malaria is 'growing' in Cambodia. Malaria is caused by a blood parasite and is usually transmitted by mosquitoes. It is easy to dismiss such a news item thinking that is on the other side of the world but with the global interconnectedness we have today, it will not be long before an infectious disease observed in Cambodia will be seen everywhere.

The rise of drug resistant pestilences is one of the afflictions that will characterize the Tribulation. Revelation 6:8 says, "So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth" (NKJ). We usually think of the "beasts of the earth" as wild animals but these organisms are significantly more terrible since we can't even see them with the naked eye. As an Army ROTC buddy of mine once said many years ago, "I'm not scared of anything that can be dispatched with sufficient firepower."

Besides malarial parasites, we have already heard about drug resistant staph infections which are caused by bacteria. Bacteria, parasites, and viruses are all living organisms that may be categorized as beasts of the earth. We have seen them get worse even in these days of modern medicine which foreshadows what will happen during the Tribulation. Jesus said in Matthew 24:8 that signs of His coming will be like birth pangs and He even called put pestilences specifically in Matthew 24:7 so we can expect to see the beasts of the earth becoming an increasing problem from now on.

Don't count on government (or even private sector) health care to protect you from what is coming. "Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones" (Proverbs 3:7-8).

As we see the beasts of the earth beginning to rise up, "look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near" (Luke 21:28).