AT THE EDGE - Global Pandemic

AT THE EDGE

Global Pandemic

Hello dear readers, this is a new “series” of articles that I named “AT THE EDGE”.

Previously I wrote a series based on Matthew 24 and the signs of the end times, where basically, news reports confirmed what Jesus prophesied.

But in this new series of articles, “AT THE EDGE”, we are going to take a look at what the world is saying about these times we live in. And we are going to see that according to many different areas of society, we are “at the edge” of a turning point in humanity. At a climax of our civilization, where uncertainty, chance and despair is all that we are left with. (according to them).

But of course we, as followers of Jesus, know that, this is not the case.

So fasten your seat belts, and hold on because we are going to be shocked.

What is the world expecting in the next years?

What are the experts warning us about, and many of us don’t know about it?

Is nature and climate out of control?

Are the nations angry, ready for a great conflagration?

Is our society (social, economic, religious) about to collapse?

These and many more questions are going to be answer, letting us know that we are “AT THE EDGE”!

GLOBAL PANDEMIC

As you probably already know, the word “Ebola” is widely known by now.

But back in June 2012, I posted an article of an ebola outbreak in Uganda. Breaking:News Flash - Uganda Ebola outbreak ! So this article is going to be an update as well.

First of all, we should review what ebola is to see how serious this disease is:

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), these are some key facts:

• Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans.
• The average EVD case fatality rate is around 50%. Case fatality rates have varied from 25% to 90% in past outbreaks.
• There are currently no licensed Ebola vaccines but 2 potential candidates are undergoing evaluation.
• The incubation period, that is, the time interval from infection with the virus to onset of symptoms is 2 to 21 days.
• First symptoms are the sudden onset of fever fatigue, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash, symptoms of impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding.

As I mentioned, this is not the first time we see this disease, in fact according to the previous article, there has been cases since 1976, and the last outbreak in 2012 around 50 people died.

So what's the deal then? Why did I come up with a subtitle such as “Global pandemic”?

Well, let me share with you the latest news reports and we will see where we are heading:

The Numbers

WHO: Ebola death toll tops 1,900, surpassing all previous outbreaks combined. (Washington Post)

More people have now died in the 2014 Ebola epidemic than in all previous outbreaks combined (1,590, according to the WHO).

Ebola deaths reach 3,338, but widely undercounted, WHO says. (Reuters)

Last week the U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimated there would be 8,000 cases reported in Liberia and Sierra Leone by Sept. 30, but said the true figure would likely be 21,000 after correcting for under-reporting.

Ebola Cases Could Reach 1.4 Million Within Four Months, C.D.C. Estimates. (NewYork Times)

These figures take into account the fact that many cases go undetected, and estimate that there are actually 2.5 times as many as reported.

Ebola outbreak: Number of deaths are massively underestimated, warns WHO. (TheIndependent)

The magnitude of West Africa’s Ebola outbreak has been underestimated, WHO said, warning that unknown numbers of people were dying in “shadow zones” unrecorded by medical authorities.

WHO described a bleak situation in which “an invisible caseload of patients… are not being detected by the surveillance system”.

Ebola Outbreak 'Tip of the Iceberg,' Experts Say. (NBCNews)

An "out of control" outbreak of Ebola in West Africa that’s being called the deadliest ever is far from over and it’s likely to get worse before it gets better, experts predict.

Airborne?

What We’re Afraid to Say About Ebola. (NewYork Times)

Virologists are loath to discuss openly but are definitely considering in private: that an Ebola virus could mutate to become transmissible through the air.

If certain mutations occurred, it would mean that just breathing would put one at risk of contracting Ebola. Infections could spread quickly to every part of the globe.

CDC concerned about airborne transmission of Ebola virus. (InfoWars)

A CDC advisory entitled Interim Guidance about Ebola Virus Infection for Airline Flight Crews, Cleaning Personnel, and Cargo Personnel reveals that the federal agency is concerned about airborne contamination.

CDC: Airborne Ebola possible but unlikely. (TheHill)

The Ebola virus becoming airborne is a possible but unlikely outcome in the current epidemic

"That is not to say it's impossible that it could change [to become airborne]," he continued.

Panic

Dogs eat Ebola victims, spread plague. (WND)

Dogs digging up corpses of virus victims and feasting on the remains, then carrying the infection with them wherever they go next.

Report: Liberians flood airport attempting to flee Ebola-struck country. (InfoWars)

Liberians are apparently flooding Roberts International Airport in Harbel, Liberia, in an attempt to flee the Ebola-struck country, raising fears that more people infected with Ebola will fly into America.

Ebola-hit nations may 'face collapse'. (BBCNews)

"The worst-hit countries now face widespread chaos and, potentially, collapse," the International Crisis Group (ICG) said. 

Ebola stirs panic in Liberia. (CBSNews) (video)

People of Liberia are struggling with the out of control Ebola epidemic. Sky News Special Correspondent Alex Crawford reports on the dangerous job burying the deceased. WARNING: Graphic content.

Sierra Leone starts nationwide lockdown to stop spread of Ebola. (CNN)

Under the plan, no one is allowed to leave their homes for three days, allowing volunteers to go door-to-door educating people on the deadly virus.

Nearly 200 US Airport Employees Walk Off Job Over Ebola Fears. (ABCNews, video)

As the largest US airports step up the fight against the virus, some employees say they are not being kept safe.

American Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing Over Ebola Scare After Passenger Gets Sick. (CBSHuston)

American Airlines Flight 2791 made an emergency landing at Midland International Airport and Spaceport Tuesday night after the female passenger got sick on the plane.

CDC: Doctors, nurses fleeing Ebola hospitals, virus not contained. (WashingtonExaminer)

An audit from the CDC of the Ebola crisis in Liberia said that doctors and nurses have fled hospitals in the infection zone and that obstacles to killing the virus remain.

Ebola joke gets man escorted off plane. (Philly.com)

A passenger on a US Airways flight Wednesday from Philadelphia to the Dominican Republic was greeted by agents in hazmat suits after he allegedly made a joke about Ebola.

Suspected Ebola case near Paris a false alarm. (TheLocal)

According to RTL radio, around 60 people were effectively quarantined and a security cordon was set up around the building. Those inside were asked to remain where they were.

Pandemic?

U.S. doctor says Ebola will eventually consume every third-world country on Earth. (TheExtinct Protocol)

Mobley, a doctor in Missouri, is convinced that Ebola will soon be infecting people all over the globe.

It’s just a matter of time before this disease is carried to every corner of the world.

U.N.: Ebola outbreak could become pandemic. (WND)

Health ministers from 11 West African countries began a two-day Emergency Ministerial meeting in Accra, Ghana, Wednesday amid concern the outbreak of the Ebola virus that began in Ghana could spread across their region as an uncontrolled pandemic

CDC Director Compares Spread of Ebola to AIDS Pandemic. (NBCNews)

Amid increasingly dire warnings in recent days about this Ebola epidemic which is now a worldwide crisis, the director of the CDC made a rather stunning comment today. he said he hasn't seen anything like this since the start of the aids crisis.

World's nations have just four weeks to stop Ebola pandemic from 'spiraling completely out of control'. (NaturalNews)

34 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) joined to send a warning to the global community that the world has less than four weeks to stop the disease from "spiraling completely out of control."

the organization Save the Children announced that five people are becoming infected with the virus every hour.

Stopping Ebola Before It Turns Into a Pandemic. (TheWall Street Journal)

If the virus continues to spread in West Africa at its current pace, much larger global outbreaks will become likely.

Runaway Train? Nations Race to Stop Ebola Pandemic. (ChristianBroadcasting Network)

The international community has "failed miserably" to stop the Ebola virus. That's the dire warning from the president of the World Bank as nations everywhere are scrambling to prevent a global pandemic.

All right, I believe these are enough articles to let us know how broad, wide and deep this situation really is.

My first request is that we pray earnestly for the people being affected either by the disease itself or by the fear of the situation around them, specially in the African countries.

Now, as we can see, we are “At the edge” of an global pandemic. Please notice! I am not saying it is a pandemic already, nor that it will certainly turn into one.

When you are at the edge of a cliff, you didn't fall yet, nor does it mean that you will fall. It only means that you are 'at the edge', therefore you need to be aware of the situation and take all the necessary precautions.

This is the reason for this series of articles, so we can be aware of the situation we are in. And that is, that we are at the edge of a turning point.

I do not know if it will turn into an airborne disease and kill hundred of thousands or more. I surely pray that it won't.

But what I DO know is that we were supposed to see situations like this, specially if we believe in the words of Jesus. He prophesied that at the end times we would see scenarios like these.

He said terrible things were going to happen at the end of all things, and they were going to be so terrible that there would have to be divine intervention,

Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Matthew 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for

the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

But he was still more specific, and said that at the end times, diseases were going to be prevalent

Luke 21:11 There will be... dreadful diseases in various places. (GW)

So, all this shouldn't take us by surprise, it should all just affirm our belief in His imminent return.

God also gave us words of encouragement and hope that can comfort us in times of fear or anxiety:

Isaiah 41:10 Don't be afraid, because I'm with you; don't be anxious, because I am your God. I keep on strengthening you; I'm truly helping you. I'm surely upholding you with my victorious right hand." (ISV)

Jesus also gave us words of solace for times of distress:

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Dear friends, we are “AT THE EDGE” of a turning point in human history. The epic climax of all times is almost 'at the door'. All these events, catastrophes, agitations, are increasing as 'birth pains', which can only tell us one thing, and that is the unavoidable, inescapable and unpreventable fact that our Lord, Master and Savior Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is returning imminently.

Are you ready?

Is your life spiritually prepared for such event?

Are you doing everything in your power to prepare your family and your loved ones?

Are we leaving the pleasures of this world aside and embracing Jesus?

It is my prayer that it will be so.

May God bless your life and families. Shalom.