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| Return of Killer Bees; Article by Bill Cloud | |
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| Topic Started: Aug 17 2008, 03:38 PM (90 Views) | |
| nightbird | Aug 17 2008, 03:38 PM Post #1 |
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Killer Bees by Bill Cloud In our last installment, titled The Last Day Famine, I described for you the ongoing dilemma facing American agriculture posed by the so-called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). As I recounted in that article, unless something can be done and soon, certain fruits and vegetables could potentially disappear from your dining table. In a worst case scenario, CCD could, in conjunction with other problems facing the world’s food supply, bring about a famine of – dare we say it? – Biblical proportions. This would be disastrous, to say the least, however, my primary reason for the article was to reveal the spiritual application of this problem. That is, famine is permitted by God to show us of our need for His Word. The collapsing bee colonies are a picture of the spiritual collapse going on inside of Christianity at large. The main defect within the believing world being that, against God’s command, we have added to and taken away from His Word. Those who have studied and analyzed the possible causes of CCD have concluded that it ultimately boils down to this – over the last fifty years, honeybees have been taken out of their natural habitat, infected with parasites and then sprayed with toxic chemicals. In short, like our treatment of God’s Word, essential things were taken away and man-made and, yes, toxic things were added to. Just when we think it could not possibly be any worse, along comes another revelation. After years of being relegated to the proverbial back page, the so-called “killer bees,” more appropriately Africanized bees, are now on the verge of becoming a headline once again. I remember when, back in the mid 1970’s, a popular late night TV program aired a series of skits based on what was then considered a recent development – killer bees. The skit was intended to be humorous and, yes, I watched and I laughed. I’m afraid to say, though, that the real killer bees are nothing to laugh about, for they do pose a legitimate threat. While these bees look no different than ordinary bees nor is their sting more potent, the danger lies in the fact that these bees are very easily provoked. Africanized bees are quick to swarm and attack in greater numbers and are more likely to pursue their victim for longer distances. In one report, a man trying to evade these “killers” dove into a pool thinking his attackers would give up. To his amazement they hovered over the pool for well over an hour! Most attacks come in summer months when there is less honey, which then makes them even more protective of their hives. They have been known to kill livestock and, in some rare cases, careless human beings – thus the nickname killer bees. While this is impressive and a bit startling, that is not why they are so dangerous. Their most potent sting lies in the threat they present to the health and well-being of domestic bee colonies and, consequently, you and me. Introduction to the Americas They are called Africanized bees because they are descended from 26 Tanzanian queens that were brought to Brazil from South Africa. In the mid 1950s, scientists observed these bees and their aggressive nature and noted how this factored into increased honey production over their European cousins. They were introduced into the Western hemisphere in 1956 in a failed attempt to cross breed the African honeybee with the European strain. The hope was that the hybrid bee would aggressively produce honey while retaining the more docile nature of the European bee. Unfortunately, in October 1957, these 26 queens escaped into the surrounding forest and mated with local drones. Since then, the descendants of these queens have been continuing to populate and migrate at a rate of 200 – 300 miles a year. While European bees establish large permanent colonies and are well suited to survive the winter, Africanized bees are not well adapted to winter survival. They tend to migrate during the cold months when food supplies are low and so, in a sense, you could say that these Africanized bees are nomadic in nature. As these bees “swarm” or migrate they have been known to “mingle” with weak domestic colonies. They enter the hive, kill the queen and, in a manner of speaking, demand that the domestic bees submit or die. Sound familiar? Consequently, the Africanized bee has almost replaced the European bee in most parts of South America and has established a substantial number of colonies throughout the American southwest - from Texas to California - and has been confirmed beyond Texas in parts of southwestern Arkansas. On September 11, 2007, Commissioner Bob Odom of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry shocked many when he confirmed that the species had even established themselves in the New Orleans area. Before that announcement, few expected that the Africanized bee would be able to penetrate the “wall” of domestic bee colonies concentrated in Texas. The strongest deterrent to these Africanized bees has been strong, healthy domestic colonies. With CCD spreading through so many domestic colonies, one has to wonder just how strong that deterrent is now. Perhaps the fact that “killer bees” have compromised that supposed wall and are threatening to push further eastward provides us an answer. It occurs to me that if CCD continues to weaken our honeybee colonies, then these swarming killers coming up from the south will be able to advance faster and further than anyone had expected. Prophetic Implications If the sick and fading domestic bee colonies are a picture of those responsible for spreading the “good seed” of the Word, then what might these nomadic, aggressive and, apparently, merciless bees represent? Before I share my opinion, let us go down the list of characteristics that distinguishes the Africanized bee from its European counterpart. Tends to swarm more frequently. Is more likely to migrate as part of a seasonal response to lowered food supply or in response to repeated intrusions by the beekeeper. Has greater defensiveness when in a resting swarm. Lives more often in ground cavities (caves?) than the European types. Guards the hive aggressively, with a larger alarm zone around the hive. Has a higher proportion of “guard” bees within the hive. Deploys in greater numbers for defense and pursues perceived threats over much longer distances from the hive. Is attracted to dark objects. If the picture isn’t clear yet, I’ll speak plainly. These bees represent the invading force now swarming into America with the aim of killing every one of us they can. I am not referring to Mexican migrant workers seeking a better life. I am referring to radical jihadists who are sent here for one purpose – kill Americans, destroy America. Is it coincidental that many people in this country want to erect a wall along our southern border because we fear that, among the illegal immigrants coming here to work, there are Islamic terrorists mingling among them? That is bad enough but, to make it worse is the fact that, like the Africanized bee, Islam, and the venom it injects into every society with which it comes in contact, is being aided by the weakened, unhealthy state of Christianity. For instance, instead of standing up to and refuting the lie that the Allah of the Quran and the God of the Bible are one and the same, many Christians choose to keep silent out of fear or, worse, to propagate the lie along with the Muslim aggressors. Are they feeling the pressure to submit or die? I hope it is clear to the reader that this passive stance, besides being disastrous for us in the end, is nothing less than heresy. How anyone who places trust in the God of Israel can say that He and Allah are the same is beyond me – it is blasphemous, plain and simple. Therefore, it seems that there should be those communities of believers who see what is happening and who make the appropriate adjustments simply because it is our duty to do so. By that I mean, if the “adding to and taking away” is what brought us to this weak and sickly point in the first place, then those things that we “added to” should be removed from our lives, our families and our fellowships. Likewise, those things that we “took away” should be restored to their rightful place in our lives. While researching this information, I came across a fair number of reports that suggested CCD is not having quite the affect on organic hives as those grown commercially. It seems that the beekeepers that let their hives grow in a natural habitat and refuse to spray their hives with chemicals are not seeing the disappearances and die-offs like the majority of bee growers in America. It appears that the workers who are equipped to function in the manner their Creator intended are well able to spread the “seed” and stand against the advances of the “killer bees.” They are out there but they are, no doubt, a remnant. Nevertheless, I want to leave you with the words of Paul who said: “Therefore, take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:13) |
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| Shershalom | Aug 17 2008, 05:31 PM Post #2 |
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Killer bees ...  ... like the one that was crawling on my foot as I was in the kitchen putting some chicken egg rolls into the toaster oven just half an hour ago. How he got into my house, I'll never know. Shook that sucker off my foot and onto the floor, and then I murderlized him with the plastic wrapping that the chicken egg rolls came in. Wham! Bam! Thank you, Sam! Take that! and that! Yeah, I know ... guilty as charged. That killer bee is reaping his eternal rewards.  In all seriousness, good message from Bill Cloud. Heard he will be on TBN's 'Praise the Lord' program on Thursday evening 8/21/2008, along with Chuck Missler and Hal Lindsay. Show is on the prophetic events of this day. Now where is that killer bee smiley? I know it's in here somewhere ... 
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SherShalom "Blessed is HE that comes in the NAME of the LORD." MATTHEW 23:39 | |
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| nightbird | Aug 18 2008, 01:25 AM Post #3 |
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What a riot......I needed that!  I'll be watching thursday night. 
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| SpiritIsWilling | Aug 18 2008, 01:48 AM Post #4 |
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Killer Bees!....Bring um on..
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Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 
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| nightbird | Aug 18 2008, 02:00 AM Post #5 |
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