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 woman 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.

‘A slow-burn crisis’: how Ebola will take months to resolve

Anne Gulland. The Telegraph•March 5, 2019

The Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo may not be brought under control until the end of this year, a senior UK government official has warned.

The official, who did not want to be named, said that although there were signs that the various control measures deployed by the authorities were working, there would be no quick resolution.

The official said: “This is a slow-burn crisis. It’s going to take at least of the rest of this year to deal with it. It’s not going to be controlled quickly.”

The UK has been one of the fourth biggest donors to the current outbreak alongside the United States government, the European Union and the World Bank. Members of the UK-Public Health Rapid Support Team, a partnership between the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Public Health England, have been on the ground since the onset.

The latest figures from the World Health Organization show that since the outbreak was declared on August 1 there have been 895 cases of the disease and 561 deaths.

This is the 10th time authorities in DRC have had to battle Ebola but despite having new weapons at their disposal, authorities are struggling to bring this outbreak under control.

New tools include a vaccine, with more than 84,000 receiving the jab in a ring vaccination programme – where the primary and secondary contacts of those who have contracted the disease are vaccinated. This has quickly become a vital part of Ebola control measures and was seen as a key reason why an outbreak in DRC last year was quickly contained.

And around 70 people have been given experimental Ebola treatments – the first time they have been used on such a large scale.

But the response is being compounded by mistrust from the community who resent the influx of both national and international responders when they feel they have been ignored for many years. There are also high levels of movement both inside and outside the country with experts fearing the spread of the disease beyond DRC’s borders.

And high levels of insecurity – including two recent attacks on Ebola treatment centres – have compounded the situation, with experts concerned that the violence is hampering the response.

The outbreak is taking place in the North Kivu region of DRC, an area of ethnic tension where more than 100 different armed groups are operating. Violence in the region is not unusual and WHO has suspended operations on several occasions because of unrest.

Tensions were high over Christmas when the government cancelled voting in the country’s presidential elections using the Ebola outbreak as a pretext.

But the attacks on the two Médecins Sans Frontières treatment centres – the first at the end of February on a centre in Katwa and the second just a few days later in Butembo – were the first time that Ebola operations have been deliberately targeted.

In Butembo the centre was partially set on fire and Michel Yao, the incident manager for the WHO, told The Telegraph he found bullet holes in the building’s walls the next morning.

The centre has been reopened and is now being operated by the WHO and the DRC ministry of health. The reasons behind the attacks are unclear although the authorities believe that armed groups are trying to foment chaos.

Another UK government official said that the changing nature of the violence was worrying. “This is the first time that an Ebola team was the target of violence  before we were in the wrong place at the wrong time. This changes things a lot,” he said.

He said it was not unusual to meet resistance from the community but “this is at a level beyond what we have seen in the past and it makes it extremely difficult to function”.