Blog note. Jesus indicated that ‘fearful sights’ (various natural disasters) would occur leading up to the time known as the Tribulation and Great Tribulation (a combined seven year period of great destruction on earth). Although these types of things have occurred in the past for centuries and thousands of years, they could be identified as the ‘season of the times’ due to the ferociousness of these events. They would be occurring in greater intensity, severity, frequency, size, duration, scope … just like the pains that a women experiences in labor the farther along she is in the labor process. We are in the ‘season of the times’ that comes just before the seven (7) year Tribulation/Great Tribulation period

… And great earthquakes shall be in diverse places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. (Luke 21:11).

… And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; (Luke 21:25)

… Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken; (Luke 21:26)

… This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (2 Timothy 3:1)

Jesus is giving a series of prophecies about what to look for as the age of grace comes to a close. These verses are several of many such prophecies from throughout the Bible. 2017 was the worst year in recorded history for the intensity, frequency, severity, duration and occurrence of a large number of severe natural disasters worldwide. Earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, typhoons, cyclones, torrential flooding, unprecedented wildfires in unusual places, devastating droughts, excessive/scorching heat setting records everywhere, record snowfalls in Europe and Russia. Snow in the Arabia. This list can go on. Most studied Eschatologists believe these ‘fearful sights’ and massive natural disasters are all part of the ‘CONVERGENCE’ of signs that this Biblical and prophetic age is closing. Most people who study prophecy are familiar with the routine reference(s) made that these things will be like a woman having labor pains that occur in greater severity, frequency, size and duration prior to giving birth. End of note.

Measles Outbreak Erupts in Philippine Capital

Ditas Lopez. Bloomberg•February 6, 2019

(Bloomberg) — The number of measles cases in the Philippine capital region has surged 10 times at the start of the year after jumping more than 900 percent in 2018.

“We are declaring an outbreak as cases have increased in the past weeks and to strengthen surveillance of new cases and alert mothers and caregivers to be more vigilant,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque said in a statement.

Fatalities from measles, a highly contagious respiratory viral disease, rose fivefold to 200 last year from 40 in 2017, Health Undersecretary Rolando Enrique Domingo told ABS-CBN News Channel. From December to January, there had been about 50 deaths, he said, blaming vaccination fears. The government hit only 40 percent of its immunization target in 2018, Domingo said.

President Rodrigo Duterte appealed last week to have children inoculated, urging citizens to overcome their fears arising from complications and deaths allegedly related to dengue vaccine Dengvaxia that was administered by the previous regime. Since then, people have been wary of the government’s free immunization drive.

Measles cases in Metro Manila in the first three weeks of January rose to 196 from only 20 cases a year ago, according to the health department. For the whole of 2018, the capital region registered 3,646 measles cases compared with 351 cases in 2017. Nationwide, the number jumped more than six times to 5,120 in 2018 from 791 the prior year.