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.

Hot as Hell: Temperature in Sodom Broke Israeli Record. The mercury peaked at nearly 50 degrees Celsius at the Dead Sea site during Wednesday’s country-wide heat wave.

Zafrir Rinat  Jul 18, 2019 Haaretz

The heat wave that swept Israel on Wednesday reached its peak at Sodom, near the Dead Sea, where the mercury hit 49.9 degrees Celsius (almost 122 degrees Fahrenheit).

This is the highest temperature ever recorded since Israel was founded in 1948, and the second highest ever recorded in the area since national weather data gathering began in the 1920s during the British Mandate, said the Israel Meteorological Service.

The hottest temperature ever recorded in Israel was 54 degrees Celsius (129.2 Fahrenheit) in 1942 at Kibbutz Tirat Zvi in the northern Jordan Valley.

Even though extreme temperatures have been recorded in the distant past, the new absolute heat records in recent years demonstrate that global climate change and warming have affected both average temperatures and extreme highs, said the Meteorological Service.

“Even though it is hard to attribute an isolated event to climate change, according to the best estimates, warming will continue so we expect an increase in the number of extreme heat waves and a higher probability of breaking more temperature records,” said the Meteorological Service in a statement.

This heat wave covered all of Israel and was uncharacteristic of July, with very low humidity, 10 percent to 25 percent – even along the coast. A number of weather stations recorded their highest temperatures ever, and the heat in the coastal plain and just inland set new records for July – by a degree to a degree and a half. But the records that were broken were only set in July of last year.

Such weather near the Mediterranean coast is somewhat rare, usually occurring only once in 5 to 10 years – but has been happening much more often over the past decade, every 2 or 3 years.