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.
“Incredible’ and ‘crazy:’ Antarctic sea ice shrinks dramatically to record low levels
Doyle Rice, USA TODAY Published 9:04 a.m. ET July 2, 2019 | Updated 3:42 p.m. ET July 2, 2019
Sea ice loss is one of the clearest signals of global warming.
Losing that much in just three years “is pretty incredible” and faster than anything seen before.
Sea ice also affects the polar ecosystem, including penguins and whales and seals.
Sea ice around Antarctica has shrunk to record low levels over the past few years, a new study suggests, following decades of expansion.
In recent years, “things have been crazy,” said Mark Serreze, director of the National Snow and Ice Data Center. He called the plummeting ice levels “a white-knuckle ride.”
Sea ice is frozen ocean water that melts each summer, then refreezes each winter. It floats on top of the ocean. Using satellite images, the study took a look at changes in Antarctic sea ice over the past 40 years.
Sea ice loss – especially in the Arctic but less so in the Antarctic – is one of the clearest signals of global warming, according to the National Climate Assessment.
Around Antarctica, sea ice averaged 4.9 million square miles in 2014. By 2017, it was a record low of 4.1 million square miles
The difference – about 770,000 square miles – covers an area three times the size of Texas. Losing that much in just three years “is pretty incredible” and faster than anything seen before, said study lead author Claire Parkinson, a NASA climate scientist.
Waleed Abdalati, a scientist at the University of Colorado, told the Independent that “the fact that a change this big can happen in such a short time should be viewed as an indication that the Earth has the potential for significant and rapid change.”
In addition to human-caused warming of the Earth’s atmosphere and oceans, several factors – including the geography of Antarctica, the region’s winds and air and ocean temperatures – affect the ice around Antarctica.
The National Snow and Ice Data Center said that even though sea ice occurs primarily in the polar regions, it influences our global climate and weather patterns around the world.
“Sea ice also affects the polar ecosystem, including penguins and whales and seals, petrels and albatrosses, krill and a whole range of additional animals and marine plant life,” Parkinson told CNN.
The study was published in the peer-reviewed journal the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Categories: Extreme Heat Update