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.

Japan earthquake: Large 5.8 magnitude earthquake strikes off coast of Hokkaido

A LARGE 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the eastern coast of the Japanese island of Hokkaido, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said.

By ALICE SCARSI PUBLISHED: 18:35, Sat, May 4, 2019 | 

The tremor hit at 5.40pm BST on Saturday (1.40am on Sunday local time) in Nemuro, a city and port located in the Nemuro Subprefecture on the island of Hokkaido, the USGS said. It is yet not known whether the earthquake caused any damage to people or infrastructure. The epicentre of the quake was 36.6 miles below the surface, the USGS added.  

Neither the USGS-linked Pacific Tsunami Warning Center nor the Japanese Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning after the quake. 

Two more earthquakes have been registered in Japan by the USGS in the past 24 hours. 

One, a 4.4 magnitude, struck south-east of the city of Chitose, while the other hit east of the city of Ishinomaki. 

Hokkaido is the second-largest island of Japan, and has been in 2018 theatre of a destructive quake. 

On September 6 last year, a 6.6 magnitude earthquake shook the Iburi Subprefecture in southern Hokkaido.  

The tremor, which occured at a depth of 21.7 miles, killed 41 people and injured 691 more.  

And more than 53 million people were left without power, as the quake disrupted the Hokkaido Electric Power Company’s coal-fired power plant.

The earthquake cost Japan a total of 367.5bn yen in damages. 

On February 21, another tremor struck the island, this time measuring a 5.7 magnitude, just 6.2 miles north of the epicentre of the previous quake.  

Japan sits on the notorious Ring of Fire, where the majority of volcanic activities and earthquakes take place.  

The Ring is a a 25,000-mile horseshoe-shaped area around the Pacific basin, on which lay also other areas highly at risk of earthquakes, including California. 

Ben van der Pluijm, a scientist at the University of Michigan, said: “The Ring is a huge geological feature and the primary source of major earthquakes and volcanoes in the world.

“For example, Japan is in the Ring of Fire and Japan is basically one giant volcano. 

“That’s why they are so good at predicting when eruptions and earthquakes are going to happen.”

Other Japanese islands have also witnessed devastation caused by earthquake. 

In 2011, an earthquake measuring 9.1 struck off the coast of the Japanese island of Tohaku, resulting in the deaths of almost 16,000. 

This tremor, the most powerful ever recorded, was also the cause of the meltdown of three reactors at the Fukushima Daichi Nuclear Power Plant.