This mutated version of an ancient crop destroyer has been likened to a ticking time bomb. “The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center in Mexico estimates that 19% of the world’s wheat, which provides food for 1 billion people in Asia and Africa, is in imminent danger.” Rick Ward, coordinator of the Durable Rust Resistance in Wheat project at Cornell University, says that “a significant humanitarian crisis is inevitable.” So far, the only viable option for avoiding a blight from this fungus is to develop new resistant strains of wheat, which will take time (LATimes.com, June 14, 2009).

Christ warned of famines and pestilences as a “sign” of the end of the age (Luke 21:11). God also used the Apostle John to predict such plagues in clearer detail. Speaking about the extreme shortage of wheat at the end of the age, John prophesied that just one quart (litre) of wheat would cost an entire day’s wages (Revelation 6:5-6).

We do not know what will cause such a scarcity of wheat and barley prior to Christ’s return; however, the Ug99 fungus has the potential to cause such a plague.