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.
A rise in cases of flesh-eating bacteria may be linked to climate change, doctors say
Kim Mulford, Cherry Hill Courier-PostPublished 8:07 a.m. ET June 18, 2019 | Updated 11:44 a.m. ET June 18, 2019
CAMDEN, N.J. – Five South Jersey patients became seriously ill – and one man died – after they were infected with a flesh-eating bacteria called vibrio, picked up from the Delaware Bay in 2017 and 2018, according to a letter published this week in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
And it might have something to do with climate change.
Vibrio bacteria live in warm, brackish waters. Cases are commonly found along the southeastern coast of the United States and sometimes on the Chesapeake Bay, and now, more rarely, on the Delaware Bay. Locally, cases peaked in late July and August.
Four patients developed vibrio bacterial infections after crabbing on the Delaware Bay, and a fifth who worked at a seafood restaurant was likely infected after eating locally caught raw shellfish, said Dr. Katherine Doktor, an infectious disease specialist at Cooper University Healthcare who was among the report’s authors.
Serious infections can develop within 12 to 24 hours, leading to overwhelming sepsis, shock, tissue death and amputations. The paper’s authors wanted area doctors to be on the lookout for vibrio infections, since patients do best when treated with early antibiotics and surgery.
Troubling symptoms include redness, pain, significant swelling and large blisters on the skin that should be seen quickly at a hospital emergency department.
All five patients treated at Cooper had another risk factor that made them more susceptible to the illness, such as liver disease, diabetes or a condition suppressing their immune system, Doktor noted.
The patients were all men ages 38 to 64 and were rushed into the operating room soon after arriving at the hospital. Patients usually need two to three surgeries to remove infected tissue, Doktor said.
The severity of infection depends on the number of risk factors, Doktor said.
One patient with untreated hepatitis C arrived at Cooper with a severely swollen hand two days after cleaning and eating crabs caught on the Delaware Bay. He died after three surgeries on his arm.
Another developed sepsis and needed his legs amputated below the knees, and his arms amputated below the elbows. Another needed skin grafts on his leg.
Vibrio infections here are rare. Before 2017, Cooper doctors saw only one case in the previous eight years. Researchers speculated the recent increase in cases could be related to rising water temperatures and climate change.
Not everyone who comes into contact with vibrio bacteria will come down with an infection. “Somebody who is healthy and goes swimming in these waters (isn’t) likely to come down with something like this,” Doktor said.
But the New Jersey native recommended a few precautions: Avoid eating raw seafood and wear protective gloves while cleaning raw crabs.
And be especially careful with any cuts or open wounds that don’t look good.
“I grew up crabbing – I loved the shore, so I’m definitely not saying that people shouldn’t go,” Doktor said. “But if you do sustain a cut in the water and it starts to look bad, then you should seek medical attention.”
Pestilence
Disease
Death
Virus
Bacteria
Superbugs
Contagion
Epidemic
Pandemic
Spreading from one person to another
Perilous times have come
Pestilence spreading around the world
Pestilence in diverse places
Disease spreading around the world
Disease in diverse places
Disease increasing in frequency
Disease increasing in size
Disease increasing in strength
Disease increasing in duration
Increasing like the pains of a woman in labor