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.

Journal to investigate controversial study claiming global temperature rise is due to Earth moving closer to Sun. Revelation 16:8-9, 12

Argument erupts after paper by UK scientists claims movement of Sun within solar system impacts temperatures on Earth

Harry Cockburn. July 17, 2019. The Independent

A highly respected science journal has said it will examine how it came to publish a study suggesting the climate crisis and rising temperatures around the world are the result of natural solar cycles and the Earth getting closer to the Sun. 

The research, by four UK based academics from Northumbria University, the University of Bradford and the University of Hull, as well as the Nasir al-Din al-Tusi Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory in Azerbaijan, was published in Scientific Reports. 

However, it criticised by scientists for containing “very basic errors”.

The paper’s authors claimed the rise of global average temperatures by around 1C over the last two centuries could be largely due to a combination of cycles of solar activity, as well as the movement of the Sun around the centre of mass in our solar system, known as a barycentre. 

This movement changes the distance between the Earth and the Sun at different times, the paper contended. 

Over the next 600 years it said temperatures could expect to rise by 3C as a result of the phenomenon.

But physicists have cast doubt on the accuracy of the science, leading the journal to acknowledge the concerns.

Ken Rice of the University of Edinburgh, UK, told The New Scientist magazine that the team had made an “elementary” mistake about the movement of the Earth in relation to the Sun. 

“It’s well known that the sun moves around the barycentre of the solar system due to the influence of the other solar system bodies, mainly Jupiter,” he said. “This does not mean, as the paper is claiming, that this then leads to changes in the distance between the Sun and the Earth.”

Professor Rice added: “The claim that we will see warming in the coming centuries because the sun will move closer to the Earth as it moves around the solar system barycentre is very simply wrong.”

He urged the journal to withdraw the paper, saying it was “embarrassing” that the article was published at all.

In response to the concerns over the quality of the paper, lead author Valentina Zharkova told The New Scientist the links between warming and the natural cycles of the sun’s activity were enough to prove a pattern of warming, even without the additional impact of changing distances between the Sun and the Earth.

She said: “The close links between oscillations of solar baseline magnetic field, solar irradiance and temperature are established in our paper without any involvement of solar inertial motion.” 

She also described Professor Rice as a “climate alarmist”, the magazine reported. 

The findings of the paper had already been reported in The Australian – one of Australia’s biggest papers.

Since the publication of the paper it has emerged Professor Zharkova gave a presentation to the Global Warming Policy Forum – a climate sceptic lobby group founded by former Tory chancellor Nigel Lawson. 

The group’s stated aims are to challenge “extremely damaging and harmful policies” envisaged by governments to mitigate anthropogenic global warming.

The group has reproduced The Australian’s article on its website.

Scientific Reports told The New Scientist it had begun an “established process” to investigate the paper it has published. 

“This process is ongoing and we cannot comment further at this stage,” a spokesperson said.

The paper remains live on the journal’s website.

Revelation 16:8-9, 12 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.