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.

Garbage clogs once-clear rivers in Bosnia, govt is blamed. Pestilence of land, sea and air.

ELDAR EMRIC. Associated Press•May 1, 2019

VISEGRAD, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — Plastic bottles, rusty barrels and even old washing machines are among the tons of garbage clogging rivers in Bosnia that were once famous for their emerald color and crystal-clear waters and adored by rafters, hikers and fishermen.

Bosnia and other countries in the Western Balkans have done little to build an effective system of garbage disposal and environment protection, despite formally seeking entry into the European Union and adopting some of the EU’s laws and regulations.

Neglected during the wars in the 1990s, Bosnia’s waste-management problem has grown over the years, reaching alarming proportions in a region where joblessness and poverty are widespread and where corruption routinely stalls implementation of reform laws. Rather than being recycled, most garbage ends up at makeshift dumps and in rivers, contaminating both the ground and the water.

At the Drina River, which flows between Montenegro, Serbia and Bosnia, tons of garbage is stuck near a key hydroelectric power plant, forming huge garbage islands that float on the surface. Locals say as much as 800,000 tons of garbage is pulled out of the Drina each year.

“This is a catastrophe, believe me — a catastrophe!” said Aleksandar Mladic, a resident of Visegrad, a town on the Drina River in eastern Bosnia. “People throw everything in the river, not only plastic … there are corpses of dead animals, barrels, you can find anything in there.”

The environment ministers of Bosnia, Serbia and Montenegro met at the site in April, promising to work together to solve the problem. Activists and residents, however, have little faith that needed actions will happen anytime soon — effective waste management requires years of planning and substantial investments.

Anes Podic, president of the Eco Action environmental group, said that 100 to 200 tons of plastic garbage is dumped daily in Bosnia, a figure he called is “enormous.” The official government line, Podic said, is that citizens are reckless with their garbage.

“The truth is quite the opposite,” he insisted. “The government hasn’t been able to sort out one of its basic tasks and that is collection of garbage.”

By the banks of the Bosna River, whose source is near Sarajevo, the capital, and flows centrally through the country, dead fish could be seen washed up along the shore. Its riverbanks are heavily polluted by garbage, which hangs from tree branches and pools in clumps at every little bend in the river.

Fisherman Hamdija Kandic remembered when used to be catfish, carp, perch and asp in the river, but says now “the fish are dying. There are almost none left.”

“It’s the people’s fault,” the 60-year-old Kandic lamented. “We don’t take care of our rivers.”