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.
Eight killed in quake, aftershocks in Philippines, 60 injured – agency
By Neil Jerome Morales Reuters•July 26, 2019
* Quake brings down some buildings
* Several stronger aftershocks hit northern islands
* Rescue, medical teams being deployed (Adds details, background, residents’ comments)
By Neil Jerome Morales
MANILA, July 27 (Reuters) – An earthquake and aftershocks struck islands off the north of the Philippines on Saturday killing eight people and injuring 60, disaster officials said.
An initial quake of magnitude 5.4 that struck the Batanes islands was followed shortly by an aftershock of magnitude 5.9, according to Philippine government data. Another big aftershock struck a little later.
The first quake killed five people while three people were killed in aftershocks, Ricardo Jalad, executive director of the disaster agency, told Reuters.
“It’s traumatic … we’re still feel strong aftershocks,” Edna Gato, a school teacher in Itbayat town, told Reuters.
The national disaster agency said it was sending medical and rescue teams to the islands, about half way between the main Philippine island of Luzon and Taiwan.
The military was also deploying an aircraft to send supplies and bring out injured, he said.
Gato said she was standing outside in an open space with more than 1,000 people.
“New houses were damaged and the old houses which we were preserving were completely destroyed,” she said, referring to traditional stone homes.
The Philippines is on the geologically active Pacific Ring of Fire and experiences frequent earthquakes.
Series of strong earthquakes hit Batanes, the Philippines on July 26 and 27, 2019, leaving at least 8 people dead and dozens injured.
Watchersnews
The series started with M4.2 (PHIVOLCS) at 04:13 PHT, July 26, followed by M2.8 at 19:17, M2.4 at 22:13, M5.4 at 04:16 PHT, July 27, M5.9 at 07:37 (the strongest so far) and 18 subsequent quakes with magnitudes ranging from 1.7 to 5.8 over the next 12 hours.
The epicenters of all but M5.4 at 04:16 were located about 14 km (8.7 miles) E of Itbayat, Batanes (population 2 867). M5.4 struck northern parts of Itbayat island and is the primary cause for damage and deaths.
There were no tsunami warnings issued, but the quakes caused considerable infrastructural damage across Batanes region.
Mayor Raul de Sagon told AFP that 8 people had been killed and around 60 others were hurt. The extent of their injuries was not immediately clear, he said.
“We saw houses shaking. Some of the walls of the houses collapsed and fell on the victims. Some people died because they were sleeping soundly since it was still early,” he added.
Roldan Esdicul, head of the Batanes provincial disaster-response office, said the initial quake [M5.4] severely cracked the bell tower of the island’s old limestone church, the 19th-century Santa Maria de Mayan, a popular tourist attraction. The tower crumbled down when the second temblor hit the island, he said.
A one-story hospital was damaged, prompting patients to be evacuated and brought out in the open with dozens of injured quake victims. Some were later crammed into a basketball court with a roof due to heavy rains, Esdicul said.
Itbayat residents were advised not to return to their homes and stay in the town plaza.