There was a curious discovery in the guts of nine Inca mummies dug out of the mountains of Chile.

Tasha Santiago-Rodriguez, who works with California Polytechnic State University (CPSU), said initially her group was “very surprised” by what they found.

In the stomachs of the ancient mummies dated between the 10th and 18th century, they discovered antibody-resistant bacteria.

Drug-resistant bacteria is becoming an increasing concern in the 21st century. It involves disease-causing bacteria with a natural immunity to modern antibodies that doctors have traditionally used to fight them.

A number of these drug-resistant bacteria recently showed up in Europe, Asia and the US. Without drugs to beat this bacteria back, human populations will become increasingly vulnerable.

As these super-bugs started appearing, there have been repeated references in the media on how these bacteria have mutated building up a resistance to our modern drugs. It leaves the impression we are witnessing evolution in action.

However, the recent discovery of bacteria with resistance to modern drugs like tetracycline,  penicillin and vancomycin in the guts of ancient Incas sets that theory on its ear.

It tells us that the bacteria’s ability to resist modern antibiotics was already part of its genetic profile hundreds of years before we invented these drugs.

Speaking on behalf of the CPSU, Raul Cano said:

“It’s ridiculous to think that evolution of anti-biotic resistance began when penicillin was discovered.”

When colds and flues swept through town, there were always  a few like my father who were not affected. He has a natural immunity to many of these common afflictions. Others didn’t, and caught everything going through.

The same happens with bacteria. There are those with an ability to resist antibiotics. So when antibiotics are used, the bacteria with the least resistance dies off and those with an ability to resist, survive and reproduce.

God created life with a diversity in the genetic code. Of course, it was never intended for disease to plague humans. But our fall into sin not only affected us, but changed nature as well (Romans 8:20-23). Innocent bacteria, suddenly became our deadly enemies.

Recently scientists in the US stated that a Pennsylvania woman with a urinary tract infection tested positive with drug resistant e-coli and this week testing of a woman who came down with an infection last year reveals she was infected with the same “super bug.”

With cases of these drug-resistant bacteria popping up around the US, many medical practitioners are concerned these drug-resistant bacteria are more prominent than previously thought.

Gautam Dantas, an associate professor at St. Louis’s Washington University Medical Center said:

“Within the next two or three years, it’s going to be fairly routine for infections to occur in the United States for which we have no (effective) drugs available.”

One of the signs of the end-times prophesied by Jesus (Matthew 24:7) was plagues. With our modern medical practices, it is surprising to think that plagues could be a concern. Now we discover that our modern medical practices could be setting the stage for them.

None of these diseases

So as Christians should we be fearful?

As the Jewish people were leaving Egypt for the promised land, God gave them this powerful promise:

²⁶ And He said, “If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am your healer (Jehovah-Rophe).” (Exodus 15:26 NASV)

Notice how God promised Israel that they would not be afflicted with the disease that He had brought on the Egyptians.

In this passage, the Lord says His name is Jehovah-Rophe — literally “God your healer.” Healing is part of God’s character and was fully manifest in the life of Jesus who in turn gave this authority to His disciples:

“Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.” (Matthew 10:1 NASV)

We need to believe God and contend for this promise as we enter the rough waters of the end times.

Sources:

• Is this the antibiotic apocalypse?: Charismanews.com
• Antibiotic resistance discovered in the guts of ancient mummies: newscientist.com
• Have superbugs been around longer than we think? Antibiotic resistant bacteria found in the guts of 1,000-year-old Incan mummies: Daily Mail