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.

Air pollution is so bad in Hong Kong that the world’s largest ‘air filter’ broke down. Hong Kong admits world’s largest air purifier choked on debut.

AFP•April 9, 2019

Red-faced Hong Kong officials admitted on Tuesday that a record-breaking air filter for a new bypass under the city broke down shortly after it began operating.

Hong Kong opened a long-awaited $4.6 billion tunnel under a 3.7 kilometre (2.3 mile) long section of the main island in late February with much fanfare.

The bypass was greeted by traffic-weary residents with relief and heralded as a technological marvel because of its state-of-the-art air filter system.

The government said it would remove at least 80 percent of harmful particulates and nitrogen dioxide using large fans which suck exhaust into air purification plants in three ventilation buildings along the tunnel.

It was touted as the largest of its kind in the world in terms of volume of air handled — 5.4 million cubic metres of vehicle exhaust every hour.

But on Tuesday the Highways Department released a statement saying the system’s eye-catching eastern filter — a lemon-squeezer shaped tower which stands on the city’s famous harbourside — had ceased operations “since the end of February”.

The statement said contractors discovered 15 fans in the filter system suffered “different degrees of damage including broken bolts and damaged blade edges”.

Work to fix the damage was expected to be completed by late April. The statement said two other filters were operating normally and that the incident had not affected air quality inside the tunnel.

Nonetheless the malfunction will be a source of embarrassment for an infrastructure project already beset by years of delays and cost overruns.

Air quality has decreased around the world in recent decades, especially in Asia where many cities have spent another winter choking under appalling smog levels.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme, some 92 percent of people in the Asia-Pacific region are exposed to levels of air pollution that pose a significant risk to health.

Hong Kongers have long complained about worsening air quality, which is blamed on increased traffic, the city’s bustling port and pollution from the neighbouring industry-heavy regions on the Chinese mainland.