What the Bible Says About Offense, Animal Diseases, and Food Shortages in the Last Days

The Bible paints a vivid picture of the last days, and it doesn’t shy away from tough realities. It warns us people will be easily offended, leading to betrayal, hatred, and even worse. But what does “offense” really mean in its original context? And who’s at risk—just unbelievers, or everyone? These questions are critical, especially in a world already rife with cultural and ethnic tensions.

Diseases from animals also appear in Biblical prophecy, and given modern outbreaks, it’s a topic worth exploring. Could these plagues impact food sources, like livestock and poultry? With just a handful of corporations now controlling most chicken farming in the U.S., economic and ethical concerns are mounting. Stick around as we unravel what Scripture says about all this and how it ties to today’s world.

Learn more about the dangers of unforgiveness in the Bible.

Biblical Evidence of Offense in the Last Days

The truth of offense in the Bible takes on a profound significance, especially in discussions about the end times. In Matthew 24:10, Jesus Himself warns, “And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.” This isn’t mere annoyance or irritation. It’s a deeper, more corrosive form of discontent that disrupts relationships and escalates into betrayal and hatred, echoing the societal breakdowns we witness today.

The Meaning of Offense in Original Biblical Language

In the original Greek, the word for offense is skandalon. It refers to a stumbling block or something that causes someone to trip and fall, spiritually speaking. Picture a hidden trap, designed to ensnare the unsuspecting—it’s the kind of offense Jesus was describing. Offense in this sense is more than just feeling hurt; it’s a mechanism that leads individuals away from God’s truth and into sin.

Biblically, offense often stems from pride, unmet expectations, or perceived injustices. When Jesus came preaching hard truths, many took offense—not because He was unjust, but because His words challenged deeply held beliefs. Consider John 6:60-61, where even His disciples struggled when He proclaimed challenging teachings. It wasn’t comfortable, but the offense revealed the condition of their hearts.

Explore how unforgiveness ties into offense and spiritual health.

Impact of Offense: Personal Relationships and Global Implications

Offense doesn’t live in a vacuum. On a personal level, it divides families and splits friendships. Proverbs 18:19 echoes this truth: “A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city.” One moment of offense can spiral into years of bitterness if unresolved. Have you ever noticed how grudges grow over time, gaining weight like a snowball rolling downhill? That’s the danger offense brings.

Globally, offense sows the seeds of division. Ethnic conflicts, cultural clashes, and even wars can be traced back to the unwillingness to reconcile differences. Jesus’ warning in Matthew 24 wasn’t just limited to interpersonal relationships; it painted a bigger picture of nations at odds, tensions boiling over, and societies breaking down. Could offense be a catalyst for wars, including those mentioned in Matthew 24:7? Could misunderstandings and mistrust escalate into ethnic conflicts? The evidence points heavily in that direction.

In Matthew 24:7, Jesus says, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” The word “nation” here comes from the Greek word ethnos. It’s where we get the term “ethnic,” but in its Biblical usage, it usually refers to groups of people defined by shared culture, language, or heritage—not modern political nations like the U.S. or China. In context, Jesus isn’t just talking about countries waging wars. He’s pointing out that divisions—whether racial, cultural, or tribal—will fuel conflict.

Sound familiar? Look around today: ethnic tension, cultural clashes, and wars between political entities seem to be escalating everywhere. Whether it’s unrest in the Middle East, struggles for autonomy in different regions, or racial disputes in cities across the world, it’s hard to ignore the parallels. Jesus wasn’t vague here—he was warning about the human tendency to divide and destroy. This isn’t just ancient prophecy; it’s playing out right now.

The rise of offense in the last days isn’t a random occurrence. It is a reflection of love growing cold and lawlessness increasing, as Jesus warned. Learn more about how lawlessness connects to societal breakdowns.

Is Offense Exclusive to Non-Believers?

Some might assume offense is just a “worldly” problem, but it also creeps into Christian circles. How often have we seen church splits or divisions among believers due to disagreements that could have been resolved with humility and understanding? In Galatians 5:15, Paul warns believers not to “bite and devour one another,” leading to destruction.

Take Peter, for example. When Jesus revealed the suffering and death He would endure, Peter was shocked and offended by the very notion (Matthew 16:21-23). Jesus’ response? “Get behind me, Satan!” Harsh words, yet they reveal how even well-meaning believers can let offense take root.

If anything, believers must be even more vigilant against offense because it can so easily hinder their relationship with God and each other. In John 13:35, Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.” Offense is the antithesis of that love.

The key question isn’t if believers will face offense, but how they will handle it. Will they allow it to fester, or will they embrace forgiveness and reconciliation? This detailed explanation about offense and its role in spiritual battles highlights the importance of Biblical conflict resolution.

Offense in the last days isn’t just a problem; it’s a clear sign of the times. The growing divisions among people—whether in the church, in families, or globally—serve as a stark reminder of Jesus’ words and the urgent need for unity.

Diseases from Animals and Their Biblical Connection

Animal-borne diseases and their prophetic significance are intriguing topics when you consider the Bible’s warnings about the end times. Scripture often connects plagues and illness with moral and spiritual lessons, painting a vivid picture of times when humanity’s relationship with creation is out of balance. Let’s explore the prophetic context and its modern relevancy.

Prophecies Related to Animal-Borne Diseases

The Bible discusses the truth of diseases originating from animals in different contexts, often tying it to God’s warnings or punishments. For instance, Leviticus 26:25 reminds us, “I will send pestilence among you,” within the broader message of God’s judgment for disobedience. Similarly, in Exodus 9:3, a clear connection is made between the sinful nature of Pharaoh’s Egypt and the diseases that afflicted the livestock:

“The hand of the Lord will bring a terrible plague on your livestock in the field—on your horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep, and goats.” (Read more on this).

Prophetic texts, including the Book of Revelation, add weight to these warnings. Revelation 6:8, for example, speaks of death brought by “wild beasts of the earth,” hinting that animal-induced calamities could intensify in the last days. Could these references signal the rise of zoonotic diseases like we’ve seen with COVID-19, avian flu, or swine flu? The evidence feels difficult to ignore.

For a deeper dive into how Biblical lawlessness connects to societal and environmental breakdowns, be sure to explore Lawless America: Biblical Truth.

How Diseases from Animals Might Spread

The mechanisms of disease transmission, especially from animals to humans, aren’t new but magnified in a modern context. Zoonosis, a term for diseases that jump from animals to humans, serves as the scientific core of warnings we’ve read in the Bible.

Consider why these transfers are becoming more frequent:

• Industrial farming practices: Overcrowded and unsanitary conditions in factory farms create breeding grounds for diseases. For example, avian influenza thrives in environments where chickens and turkeys are densely packed.
• Human encroachment on wildlife habitats: Increased deforestation has brought humans closer to wildlife, leading to diseases like Ebola or SARS spilling over from the animal world.
• Globalized trade and travel: The ease of transporting goods and people means diseases can spread like wildfire once they emerge.

Does the Bible predict modern farming-related disease outbreaks? While it doesn’t mention practices like mass farming directly, the principles of stewardship and care for nature (Genesis 1:26-28) certainly underscore how neglect can have dire consequences.

For insights on how infectious diseases align with Biblical prophecy, check out this resource: Why the Surge in Infectious Diseases?.

Impact on Food Supplies and Livelihoods

Animal-borne diseases do more than make people sick; they can devastate food supplies and economies. For instance, livestock diseases not only reduce meat and dairy availability but also lead to skyrocketing costs for essentials. And when you realize companies like Tyson Foods or Perdue control the majority of chicken production in the U.S., the ripple effect of any significant outbreak can be massive.

In the Bible, food crises often follow plagues or mismanagement of the land. Take the example of Exodus 9:6, where Egyptian livestock perished, leading to deep economic and agricultural consequences (see the full context here). It’s a picture echoed in Revelation, where famine is another sign of the end times.

Additionally, discussions about modern agriculture involving leased livestock and corporate farming introduce unique ethical and spiritual dilemmas. With just a few companies leasing chickens and controlling production to farmers, could this centralization make our food systems even more vulnerable?

For more on Biblical socio-economic implications in the modern world, explore this valuable resource: Lawless America and Biblical Truth.

While diseases from animals might seem like isolated incidents, their connection to food scarcity and societal discord is deeply rooted in prophecy. Understanding these challenges from both Biblical and practical perspectives equips us better for what lies ahead.

Corporate Impact: Modern Chicken Farming in the USA

Modern chicken farming in the United States isn’t what it used to be. If you were imagining red barns and chickens freely scratching in open fields, that picture is long outdated. These days, corporations hold the reins, shaping not only how chicken farming is done but also who profits from it. So, what does that look like in practice?

Overview of Chicken Farming & Corporate Ownership

Let’s start with a fact that surprises many: farmers who raise chickens don’t typically own those birds. Instead, corporations maintain ownership and lease the livestock to farmers under contractual agreements. Companies like Tyson Foods, Perdue, and Pilgrim’s Pride dominate this space. They retain control over nearly every aspect of the chicken’s life cycle—from breeding and feed to the eventual processing and sale—while farmers are tasked with raising the animals in facilities they often go into debt to build.

These contracts may sound like an easy way for farmers to earn a living, but there’s a catch. Under this system, the corporate owners provide the chicks, the feed, and set exacting standards for how the birds are raised. Farmers, on the other hand, bear much of the financial risk. They’re responsible for the health and housing of the chickens, and any issues—disease outbreaks, equipment malfunctions, or weather-related problems—hit their finances first, not the corporation’s.

This dynamic raises a ton of questions. For one, is it fair that the farmers are essentially “on the hook” with little room for negotiation? Furthermore, doesn’t this centralized ownership model make our food system more vulnerable? If one or two major players run the show, a single disruption—think diseases or supply chain hiccups—can crush production and drastically raise prices on a massive scale.

According to Food Whistleblower, “90 percent of the 9 billion chickens raised annually in the U.S. are grown under contract.” This leaves a small fraction of the industry outside corporate control, meaning consumers—and farmers—are at the mercy of just a handful of companies.

Curious about the broader ethical implications of this system? Dive into Big Chicken Companies Own or Control Everything Except the Farm for a closer look.

Economic and Ethical Concerns

Now, let’s put this into a Biblical context. The way corporations dominate chicken farming seems eerily reminiscent of the warnings in the Bible about centralized control and greed. Remember the story of Naboth’s vineyard in 1 Kings 21? King Ahab wanted to overtake Naboth’s property for his own gain, using his power and wealth to manipulate the situation. Doesn’t this parallel how farmers today find themselves powerless against these corporate giants?

Economically, these contracts leave farmers on razor-thin margins. Many of them pour their life savings—or take out massive loans—just to comply with the demands of their corporate partners. When they can’t keep up, they risk losing their homes and farms entirely. Worse yet, the corporations often pit farmers against each other by using a ranking system to determine payouts, creating competition instead of collaboration. It’s a tactic that fosters division among those who should be allies.

From a moral standpoint, the ethical dilemmas run deep. Is it right that one side shoulders most of the work and risk while the other reaps most of the rewards? And where do we see this monopolization leading? As consolidated ownership increases, farmers lose independence, and communities suffer. Some argue this could align with Biblical concerns about end-times governance, where global systems of power and authority impact even the smallest details of life.

Many scholars see a connection between modern monopolies and the warnings about absolute power in Revelation—where centralized systems hold control not just over economies but over people’s everyday lives. Could these parallels foreshadow how food shortages or other crises might play out globally? The growing monopoly in chicken farming might not seem like a big deal at first, but when layered onto broader Biblical insights, it paints a sobering picture.

For additional insights into the contract-growing system and its consequences for rural communities, check out Time to Break Up with Big Chicken.

Conclusion

Offense, disease, and economic control are interconnected challenges the Bible warns about for the last days. Whether it’s the cultural divisions fueled by skandalon, the spread of animal-borne diseases, or globalized food systems concentrating power into a few hands, these issues highlight spiritual and practical lessons we can’t ignore.

But there’s hope. A proactive approach, grounded in the Bible’s wisdom, can help navigate these times. Forgiveness is a powerful antidote to offense, as it keeps relationships intact and hearts pure. Dive deeper into what the Bible says about unforgiveness to better understand this life-changing principle.

The urgency to act isn’t just for personal growth—it’s for preparing your mind and heart for societal shifts and maintaining reliance on God’s promises. Understanding the increasing lawlessness and consolidated control is also crucial. Uncover more on this topic at American Education Services.

Remember, what we see unfolding isn’t random. It’s a call to stay anchored in faith and equipped with both spiritual discernment and practical wisdom. How will you choose to respond?