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.

Fires ravage wheat fields near oil installations. Syria.

AFP•June 10, 2019

Al Qahtaniyah (Syria) (AFP) – A Kurdish official in northeast Syria called for help from the US-backed coalition Monday as fires ravaged through vital wheat fields in the latest of such blazes nationwide.

Syria’s Kurds have led the fight against the Islamic State group in the north and east of the country, backed by a US-led military coalition.

As the eight-year civil war winds down, they are seeking to retain a degree of autonomy from the Damascus regime in a large cereal and oil-rich region their control in the northeast of the country.

“Fires today engulfed hundreds of hectares of wheat in Tirbespi and the fires are still raging,” the head of the Kurdish agriculture authority Salman Bardo said, referring to the town named Al-Qahtaniya in Arabic.

“It’s a huge danger for the region because the fire is close to oil wells and stations,” he warned.

An AFP correspondent saw black smoke billow over golden fields scorched black, as men tried to put out flames with shovels just metres (yards) away from oil installations.

One man in a bulldozer was desperately trying to plough the earth to stop the fire from spreading.

“We ask the international coalition to intervene to extinguish the fires using special fire planes” we don’t have, Bardo said.

Abderrizq al-Mahmud, a 29-year-old wheat grower, said his family’s land had been destroyed.

“Forty-five hectares have gone up in flames, and I only have eight hectares left” after the fire roared in on Sunday, he said.

After years of drought and then civil war, Syria is expecting a bumper crop of wheat this year — a large part of it in the northeast.

Fires have erupted in various parts of Syria in recent weeks, with all sides blaming each other for starting them.

In the Kurdish-run breadbasket province of Hasakeh, of which Al-Qahtaniya is part, IS has claimed several arson attacks on wheat fields.

But farmers have also blamed revenge attacks, low-quality fuel causing sparks, and even carelessness.

Both the Damascus government and the Kurdish authorities are competing to buy up the wheat produced this year in northeast Syria.

Analysts say wheat will be key to ensuring affordable bread and keeping the peace in various parts of Syria in the coming period.

The civil war has killed more than 370,000 people, made millions homeless, and devastated the country’s economy since it started in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests.