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.

US scientists to investigate spike in deaths of gray whales

About 70 creatures found washed up on coast of North America but federal agency believes it is a small fraction of total fatalities

The Guardian. Friday, May 31, 2019

US government scientists have launched an investigation what has caused the deaths of an unusually high number of gray whales found washed up on the west coast of North America.

About 70 whales have been found dead so far this year on the coasts of California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska, the most since 2000. About five more have been discovered on British Columbia beaches.

Scientists believe that is a very small fraction of the total number of whales that have died because most simply sink and others wash up in such remote areas they are not recorded.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration fisheries agency on Friday declared the deaths an “unusual mortality event”, providing additional resources to respond to the deaths and triggering the investigation.

“Many of the whales have been skinny and malnourished, and that suggests they may not have gotten enough to eat during their last feeding season in the Arctic,” agency spokesman Michael Milstein told reporters.

The eastern North Pacific gray whales were removed from the endangered species list in 1994 after numbers recovered from the whaling era.

The population has grown significantly in the last decade and is now estimated at 27,000, the highest since surveys began in 1967. That has raised questions about whether their population has reached the limit of what the environment can sustain. Another theory suggests that the loss of Arctic sea ice is a culprit.

The whales spend their summers feeding in the Arctic before migrating 10,000 miles (16,000 km) to winter off Mexico. Though they eat all along their route, they are typically thinning by the time they return north along the west coast each spring.

They eat many things, but especially amphipods, tiny shrimp-like creatures that live in sediment on the ocean floor in the Arctic

For many years, researchers noted that fewer calves tended to be born following years when the ice in the Chukchi sea, north of the Bering Strait between Alaska and Russia, was late to melt. The whales had less time to feast because they couldn’t access the feeding area, and thus had less blubber to sustain them on their next migration.

Last year, though, the Artic was unusually warm. The whales were not blocked from the feeding area, and yet are still struggling this year. Scientists believe the loss of sea ice could have led to a loss of algae that feed the amphipods. Surveys show the amphipod beds moving farther north, said Sue Moore, a biological oceanographer at the University of Washington.

In an average year, about 35 whales wash up in the US.

More than 100 washed up in 2000, prompting NOAA to declare an “unusual mortality event”. The resulting investigation failed to identify a cause. The die-off followed strong changes in ocean conditions in the mid-1990s, suggesting that warmer water patterns affected the availability of prey.

John Calambokidis, a research biologist with the Cascadia Research Collective, noted that as the whales searched farther afield for food, they have entered areas where they are not normally seen, including San Francisco Bay and Puget Sound. Four of the 10 gray whales found dead near San Francisco this year were struck by ships.