The Greek word that we translated pestilence from is loimos, meaning a ?troublemaker, public menace?.

The Webster's New World dictionary defines pestilence as -1: any virulent or fatal contagious or infectious disease, esp. one of epidemic proportions, as bubonic plague. as -2: anything, as a doctrine, regarded as harmful or dangerous

When we see pestilence it is a public menace. Since in this passage above it is associated with ?Famines and earthquakes?, we see the kind of menace it is. It referring to any ?public menace? that follows such kinds of disasters like Famines or earthquakes.

In the course of events we find that following such things as the aforementioned ?famines or even earthquakes? disease is the number one thing to watch out for. As the events unfold, the course of civilization is shattered. The facilities that contained outbreaks such as disease and plagues are gone. The atmosphere is ripe for the outbreak of cholera, bubonic plague, and small pox to mention a few things. These are but a few public menaces that can follow famines, earthquakes, or similar events.

The news in the last few months has been focused on the ?bird flu?. This is a ?public menace? and therefore classified in the ?pestilence category. It is not associated with the ?famines or earthquakes? scenario's. But it is seen as a last day sign, nonetheless.

In bible designation according to the ?ISBE? of pestilence , it is ?any sudden fatal epidemic? and in its Biblical use ?it generally indicates that these are Divine visitation?. The Latin word ?pestilentia? is connected with ?Pestia? meaning ?the plague?, but ?pestilence is used of any visitation and is not the name of any special disease? according to ?The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia?, p 2348.

We find the word ?pestilences occurs only in two places Matthew 24:7 and Luke 21:11 and pestilence occurs throughout the Old testament with 47 references.

What we do know is that the end time scenario is filled with plagues, disease, death, judgments, and chaos on the earth. In Revelation chapter six we see the ?four horsemen of the apocalypse[the unveiling]?. This is the events leading up to the revealing of the ?coming Messiah- Yeshua HaMassiach or Jesus Christ as we call him in the English. This book of Revelation then is the unveiling of those things, revealing to us what to expect.

In the unveiling of the fourth seal, we see the horses let loose on the earth. In this we find the pangs of judgment about to hit the earth and mankind. This rider on the Pale horse brings with him-death and hell- with power to kill with: sword[war-murder], hunger[famine-starvation], death, and beasts of the field[diseases from animals is seen here among other deaths produced by the beasts]

Revelation 6:7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.

8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

Jesus our Lord said of this time to not ?let that day come upon you unawares?. he said it would come on ?all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth as a snare?. He also said to ?Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man

Therefore, from these things, we conclude the ?Bird flu? is just one among many coming ?public menaces? that will befall people in the Last days before the return of Jesus Christ to this earth.

Luke 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.