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 pains, growing in intensity, frequency, size and duration.

This year’s wildfire season in California could be worse than last year’s, officials warn

Doyle Rice. USA TODAY•June 17, 2019

As bad as last year’s wildfire season was in the western USA, this season’s could be even worse, federal forecasters warned.

“It’s hard to imagine a repeat of this experience, but this is the potential reality that we face again this year,” said Jeff Rupert, director of the Office of Wildland Fire for the Interior Department, during his opening remarks at a Senate hearing Thursday, CNN reported.

The catastrophic 2018 wildfire season ravaged California, killing dozens of people, causing billions of dollars of damage and leaving charred ruins where towns had been, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said. 

Two of the worst fires were the Camp Fire – the state’s costliest and deadliest – and the Mendocino Complex Fire, which was California’s largest at more than 700 square miles. 

“So it’s difficult for me to sit here this morning and say that a challenging year is ahead of us because the wildfires that we’re now experiencing are consistently more destructive than they’ve ever been,” Rupert said Thursday.

AccuWeather meteorologist Paul Pastelok said big fires have already “been reported in California and up in northern areas of British Columbia. The forecast shows a threat of fires may continue all the way into October.”

In the heart of the fire season of August and September, “above-normal, significant large fire potential is expected” along the West Coast, the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) said in a forecast released early this month. 

“Some observers believe the stage is set for fire activity similar to the indescribable damage and staggering loss of life that we saw last year in Northern California,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said during her opening remarks at Thursday’s hearing, according to CNN.

In addition to the loss of life and property, fires can worsen air quality, AccuWeather said. Larger blazes can affect the air in the Northwest and western Canada.

Devastating fire seasons could be the rule rather than the exception in the decades to come if climate change leads to increased temperatures and reduced rainfall – ideal conditions for large, ferocious wildfires to roar.

Over the next 25 years, the National Climate Assessment predicts the area burned by wildfires will double nationwide as global warming leads to longer wildfire seasons and more frequent droughts.

By the end of the century, models project the burned area in North America could increase two to 5.5 times, the assessment said.