Pestilence and hunger concerns in the Philippines: ‘It’s like the end of the world’

1887 Depiction of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

More reports related are raising concerns of disease as well as food shortages associated with Typhoon Haiyan (also known as Typhoon Yolanda) in the Philippines:

Philippine Health Authorities Fear Outbreak of Illnesses

November 12, 2013

MANILA—Crowded evacuation centers and the lack of clean drinking and bathing water in areas in the central Philippines devastated by Typhoon Haiyan have health officials worried about disease.

The biggest immediate concerns are diarrhea and leptospirosis, a bacterial disease people develop after coming into contact with rat urine that can lead to kidney damage, meningitis, liver failure and respiratory problems, Health Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag told The Wall Street Journal. http://blogs.wsj.com/searealtime/2013/11/12/philippine-health-authorities-fear-outbreak-of-illnesses/

Disease fears as medics overwhelmed in Philippines after typhoon Haiyan

November 13, 2013

Authorities fear outbreaks of diseases in areas devastated by super typhoon Haiyan, with the United Nations calling for more urgency in rescue operations that have been hampered by armed looters desperate for food.

Philippine president Benigno Aquino declared desperately needed help would arrive faster as he ordered troops into villages and towns to protect relief supplies…

Bodies remain uncollected and decomposing in many of the affected areas, prompting fears of outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, aid workers said….

With telephone services cut across most of the islands of the central Philippines, authorities say it is difficult to know how deadly the storm was in remote areas. http://www.smh.com.au/world/disease-fears-as-medics-overwhelmed-in-philippines-after-typhoon-haiyan-20131112-2xekf.html#ixzz2kSt4ErCi

Looters raided grocery stores and gas stations in search of food, fuel and water as the government began relief efforts and international aid operations got underway.

“Tacloban is totally destroyed. Some people are losing their minds from hunger or from losing their families,” high school teacher Andrew Pomeda, 36, told Sky News of the increasing desperation of survivors.

“People are becoming violent. They are looting business establishments, the malls, just to find food, rice and milk. I am afraid that in one week, people will be killing from hunger.”

“It’s like the end of the world,” said Nancy Chang, who walked for hours through debris to evacuate from Tacloban City. http://www.news.com.au/world/super-typhoon-haiyan-kills-more-than-10000-in-philippines-destruction/story-fndir2ev-1226757095609

While it is not the same as “the end of the world,” the Bible has a series of events that include devastation followed by hunger and disease in Revelation Chapter 6:

1 Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.”

2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.

3 When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come and see.” 4 Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.

5 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.”

7 When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see.” 8 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 (Revelation 6:1-8).

Revelation 5:2 and 6:1 indicate that the seals related to the horsemen had not be opened prior to John’s vision in Revelation (circa 95 A.D.), thus an end time fulfillment (like in the 21st century) is consistent with this prophecy.

Jesus taught that weather-related troubles and food shortages would occur even before the end of the world:

4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24:4-8).

5 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.” (Revelation 6:5-6)

8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. (Mark 13:8)

As the above shows, Jesus foretold on a time of natural disasters and “troubles” as “the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:7-8; see also Weather Blessings and Sorrows)–and the sorrows seem to have begun. Yet the Book of Revelation (16:8-11) tells of a time of even greater disturbances during “the Day of the Lord.”

The ‘end of the world’ meaning the start of the Great Tribulation cannot begin until at least 2017 (Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2013, 2014, or 2015?; you can also watch a video sermon titled )–and then the end of this world will be 3 1/2 years later. But sorrows seem to be intensifying now and are leading to to this final time of the end.

Those affected are in my prayers. Additionally, I have sent two emails to the Philippines to see how those in the Continuing Church of God are doing there, but have not heard from them. Nor were they online to Skype. The area that they are in (Silay City) has been affected, but not as much as places like Tacloban have.

It needs to be understood that other areas of the world, including North America, are subject to having food shortages, pestilences, and other troubles themselves.

Ultimately of course, there is good news as ultimately, God’s kingdom will come and those issues will be gone (Revelation 7:16).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Why Does Man Suffer? Herbert Armstrong gives biblical reasons on this topic.
Why Does God Allow Suffering? This is a pdf booklet put out by the old Worldwide Church of God that also answers questions about why God allows war as well as babies to die.
Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians. We all know the Bible prophecies famines. Should we do something? Here is a version in the Spanish language Escrituras sobre Preparación física para los Cristianos.
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse What do each of the four horseman of the Apocalypse represent? Have they began their ride? Did Jesus discuss the any of this? Might their rides coincide with the “beginning of sorrows? Do they start their ride prior to the Great Tribulation? Did Nostradamus or any other ‘private prophets’ write predictions that may mislead people so that they may not understand the truth of one or more of the four horseman? There is also a related YouTube video titled The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
What is the Meaning of Life? Who does God say is happy? What is your ultimate destiny? Do you really know? Does God actually have a plan for YOU personally? There is also a video titled What is the meaning of your life?
Just What Do You Mean — Repentance? Do you know what repentance is? Have you truly repented? Repented of what? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
When You Sin: Do You Really Repent? This is an article by Charles F. Hunting.
Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God differ from most Protestants How the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a Church of God background.
Universal Offer of Salvation: There Are Hundreds of Verses in the Bible Supporting the Doctrine of True Apocatastasis Do you believe what the Bible actually teaches on this? Will all good things be restored? Will God call everyone? Will everyone have an opportunity for salvation? Does God’s plan of salvation take rebellion and spiritual blindness into account?
Weather Blessings and Sorrows Are weather problems a warning? What should be done? What does the Bible teach about weather? What about floods, droughts, heat, earthquakes, tornadoes, and solar storms? Here is a related YouTube video Does God Use Weather? A related item in the Spanish language would be Bendiciones y maldiciones del clima.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? True religion should be based upon the true gospel.
Islands and Bible Prophecy What’s ahead for islands? What does the Bible prophesy about them?
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Who are the “Kings of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, Indians, Japanese, and others of Asia? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon?
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? When does the six thousand years of human rule end?
Blood Moons, Prophecy, 2014, and 2015 What are blood moons? Are four blood red moons going to happen as the result of lunar eclipses in 2014 and 2015? Are they really to occur on biblical holy days or Jewish holidays? Does NASA teach about blood moons? Can Jesus return in 2014 or 2015? Is ‘the rapture’ going to happen in 2014 or 2015? What does the Bible teach about blood moons? Can the Day of the Lord begin in 2014 or 2015? What about the Great Tribulation?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2013, 2014, or 2015? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2013 o 2014? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language video The Great Tribulation Will Not Begin Before 2017.
Paglalahad ng Mga Paniniwala ng Patuloy na Iglesya ng Diyos This is the Statement of Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God in Tagalog, the primary language of the Philippines. Here is a link to the first Tagalog edition of the Bible News Prophecy magazine: MGA BALITA NG PROPESIYA NG BIBLIYA January-March 2013 edition.