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.

Cyclone Idai was the deadliest storm to strike Mozambique in at least 3 decades.

By John Roach, AccuWeather staff writer April 04, 2019

More than 900,000 oral cholera vaccines arrived in Mozambique for the launch of a vaccination campaign Wednesday, three weeks after Tropical Cyclone Idai barreled into the country packing the power equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane and leaving mass devastation in its wake. There have been two reported deaths from cholera with more than 1,400 other recently confirmed cases, The Associated Press reported.

“The next few weeks are crucial and speed is of the essence if we are to save lives and limit suffering,” World Health Organization (WHO) regional director for Africa Dr. Matshidiso Moeti said in a statement.

Tropical Cyclone Idai struck March 11 and is the deadliest storm to hit Mozambique in the last 30 years, according to AccuWeather research. Records for Mozambique beyond the 1970s are less reliable.

Idai has been blamed for killing 598 people in Mozambique so far, with officials saying that the death toll is a preliminary number and that the real figure may never be known; it’s possible some people were washed away or quickly buried in the throes of the storm. Idai also killed at least 259 people in neighboring Zimbabwe and at least 56 in Malawi, officials have said.

The powerful cyclone has also displaced more than 128,000 people in Mozambique, which is located on the coast of southeast Africa and is the world’s 36th-largest country.

The previous deadliest storm to hit Mozambique was Cyclone Nadia in 1994, which killed 240 people and displaced 170,000. Cyclone Leon-Eline in 2000 killed 150 people and displaced 220,000, while Chedza in 2015 killed 120 and displaced 260,000, according to AccuWeather data. The flooding and the resulting mudslides in 2017 in Africa, which killed more than 1,200 people, is among other tragedies with higher death tolls historically in the country.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called it “one of the worst weather-related catastrophes in the history of Africa.”