Christian evangelical leader Franklin Graham says the Ebola virus may be part of Bible end times prophecy and that Christians should be watching for signs of times indicating the end of the world.

In a related report by The Inquisitr, Graham also claims Christian persecution in America is on the rise, with the newest generation being overtly hostile toward Christians. Leaders of the religious groups also note that their numbers are declining, but, surprisingly, they are happy with the trend since they believe this shows that only “authentic Christians” are left standing.

The persecution of Christians around the globe has Franklin noting the “killing of Christians by Muslims from Indonesia to Bangladesh to Pakistan,” China “tearing down church buildings,” “Christians tortured, beheaded, and crucified in Iraq, with villages burned and churches destroyed, and much the same in Syria.” Even in the United States, he recently wrote that “there is great opposition to the church of Jesus Christ. We see this throughout the media, the entertainment industry, government, and politics.” All of this is just signs of the times, according to Graham.

“Jesus warned His disciples in Matthew 24 when they asked Him about the signs of the end of the age,” he writes. “He said there would be wars and rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes, and pestilence. He told them, ‘Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.'”

According to Graham, it’s possible that the Ebola virus outbreak may be another sign of end times coming soon.

“We have seen firsthand the pestilence of Ebola,” Graham writes. “A medical doctor serving with Samaritan’s Purse in Liberia was infected with this deadly virus, but through the prayers of many righteous, God spared his life. I don’t know if we have hours, days, months, or years — but as Christians, God calls us to take the truth of the Gospel to the ends of the earth.”

To a certain extent, the number of deaths by the Ebola virus could almost be said to be Biblical in scope. Thousands have already perished, and a mysterious illness called Ev-D68 is causing children all over the United States to fall ill.

Do you think the Ebola virus outbreak could be considered part of the Bible’s end times prophecy?