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.
Matthew 2 King James Version (KJV)
2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.
Frankincense in trouble: Iconic ‘Gift of the Magi’ is in decline
Doyle Rice, USA TODAYPublished 12:21 p.m. ET July 2, 2019 | Updated 1:16 p.m. ET July 2, 2019
Gold is probably fine, and we’re not sure about myrrh, but frankincense appears to in trouble, a new study suggests.
The famed resin, known to hundreds of millions as one of the three gifts of the Magi who visited Jesus after his birth, is in decline.
Frankincense, which is made from gum produced by the boswellia papyrifera tree, is still used today in religious rituals in many cultures. It’s also an ingredient in perfume and Chinese traditional medicine and has been harvested in the wild in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa since ancient times.
People harvest the sap by gouging the bark of wild trees; they then dry it into golden yellow grains, which can be burned or blended into other fragrances, Science magazine reported.
According to the new research, not only is the tree in trouble today, scientists predict a 50% decline in frankincense harvests over the next 20 years in countries such as Ethiopia, Sudan and Eritrea.
Threats include grazing by livestock such as cattle, goats and camels, along with insect outbreaks and burning from human-set brush fires, the study said. Overharvesting is also a major cause of the decline.
With older trees dying fast and no young ones coming up to replace them, the frankincense woodlands will soon disappear, experts said.
“With even the better protected woodlands not regenerating, the older trees in the population dying, and the remaining adults being too heavily tapped, the future of these woodlands and their frankincense production look grim,” said study lead author Frans Bongers of Wageningen University in the Netherlands.
The study also warned that other frankincense species growing in Oman, Yemen, India, Somalia and Kenya are undergoing similar threats.
What can be done?
“Populations can be restored by establishing cattle exclosures and fire-breaks, and by planting trees and tapping trees more carefully,” the study said.
“Concerted conservation and restoration efforts are urgently needed to secure the long-term availability of this iconic product.”
The study was published in the peer-reviewed British journal Nature Sustainability.