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.

Feds seize more than 16 tons of cocaine at Philadelphia terminal

By Eliott C. McLaughlin, Emanuella Grinberg and Rebekah Riess, CNN Updated 11:36 PM ET, Tue June 18, 2019

Under the cover of night, members of a ship’s crew loaded “bales” of cocaine onto a vessel bound for the United States, expecting to earn tens of thousands of dollars for the job.

Instead, US authorities seized the haul, totaling about 16 and a half tons with an estimated street value of $1 billion, according to federal prosecutors.

The drugs were found Monday in seven shipping containers on the MSC Gayane after it arrived at Packer Marine Terminal in Philadelphia, according to a federal complaint filed Tuesday in US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

The US Attorney’s Office called it one of the largest drug seizures in US history.

“This amount of cocaine could kill millions — MILLIONS — of people,” US Attorney William M. McSwain said in a tweet. “My office is committed to keeping our borders secure and streets safe from deadly narcotics.”

The complaint accuses the ship’s second mate and another crew member of intentionally conspiring to possess a controlled substance on board a vessel subject to US jurisdiction.

According to federal investigators, the two confessed to their roles and provided details of the operations, which are included in an affidavit attached to the complaint.

The alleged operation included nets, a crane and cryptocurrency

Second mate Ivan Durasevic expected to be paid $50,000 in cryptocurrency for helping load the cocaine onto the vessel, Department of Homeland Security Special Agent Eric Mooney said in the affidavit.

While it was at sea, 14 separate boats approached the vessel at different points carrying bales of cocaine wrapped in netting.

Durasevic used the ship’s crane to load the bales onto the vessel along with replacement seals for containers that the cocaine would be concealed within.

He was assisted by seaman Fonofaavae Tiasaga, who allegedly admitted his role in bringing the cocaine onto the vessel and helping conceal it within legitimate cargo, the affidavit states.

Durasevic and three other crew each agreed to pay Tiasaga $50,000 for his help. According to the affidavit, Tiasaga said the four crew members each coordinated individual loads of cocaine.

Tiasaga assisted in bringing the nets on board and moving them into containers.

A kilogram of cocaine sells for about $28,000, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime’s 2016 estimate. At that price, sold by the kilo, the drugs would be worth more than $419 million.

The seizure comes on the heels of several major busts at the Port of Philadelphia, located about 8 miles up the Delaware River from the Packer Marine Terminal.

Among them were seizures of 450 kilograms of cocaine in May, 538 kilos of cocaine in March and 50 kilos of the powerful opioid, fentanyl, in July, CNN affiliate WPVI reported.

The Port of Philadelphia said the situation was still developing and that it had no comment.