Africa’s Armyworm Invasion

“Scientists warn that parts of southern Africa already hit by record droughts now face another potential food crisis because [of] the invasion of a crop-eating pest, known as the ‘fall armyworm’” (BBC, February 14, 2017). Experts are unsure of how this caterpillar, native to the Americas, arrived in Africa, and the pest has arrived following two years of drought. “South Africa, the region’s biggest maize producer, has confirmed the destruction of crops from the pest in six different provinces. The Zambian government has said that 130,000 hectares (321,236 acres) of land have been affected, with the prime suspect the fall armyworm” (ibid.).

There have been many plagues down through man’s history, but Joel 1:4 describes a time when one disastrous plague will follow another. It may be premature to say that the fall armyworm invasion in Africa signals the end of the age, but at a minimum, it gives us a glimpse of what Bible prophecies have long predicted is to come. Famines, pestilences, and plagues are predicted to wreak havoc and devastation at the end of the age (Luke 21:11). The underlying cause of these coming calamities is that modern Israelites have come to the point where they despise God and His laws (Leviticus 26:14-22). Modern generations need to understand these ancient prophetic warnings are real; they are not fairy tales. True Christians should sigh and cry for fellow humans who are suffering, and fervently pray “Thy kingdom come!” To learn more about signs to watch for related to Christ’s return, read or listen to Fourteen Signs Announcing Christ’s Return.