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.

More than 1 million ordered to evacuate as Japanese prefecture braces for a month of rain in one day. 3.1 inches or rain per hour.

By Junko Ogura and Alex Stambaugh, CNN Updated 7:14 AM ET, Wed July 3, 2019

More than 1 million people in southern Japan were ordered to evacuate Wednesday, as the region braced itself for a month’s worth of rain in a single day, according to local officials.

The Japanese island of Kyushu, inhabited by 13.3 million residents, is expected to be lashed by more than 350 millimeters (13.7 inches) of rain Thursday. That’s more than the island’s average rainfall of 319 millimeters (12.5 inches) for the entire month of July.

Parts of Kagoshima prefecture, on Kyushu, could see more than 80 millimeters (3.1 inches) of rainfall per hour, forecasters warned. Japan’s Meteorological Agency said a number of places within the prefecture, which has a population of 1.6 million people, were at risk of landslides and flooding.

One woman died earlier this week due to a landslide in Kagoshima city, according to government officials.

“Please be alert to landslides, low-land flooding and flooding of rivers,” the Japan Meteorological Agency’s Ryuta Kuro said at a press conference Wednesday.

Officials are urging residents to strongly leave the area, but so far authorities estimate that only a ltitle over 1,700 of the more than 1 million advised have chosen to seek shelter.

After a ministerial meeting Wednesday, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe tweeted that an additional 14,000 staff from the Japanese Defense Forces (SDF) have been deployed to assist emergency responders.

From early June to late July, Japan traditionally experiences a rainy “baiu” season, as humid air from the south converges with cooler, drier air from the north.

In the past, the baiu season has caused devastating natural disasters.

Last July, at least 200 people died after torrential rains triggered landslides and flooding in one of the deadliest disasters since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.