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.

Thousands of chickens die in heatwave at farm supplying major UK supermarkets: ‘There was nothing we could do’

‘This is beyond words – they must have suffered terribly’

Jane Dalton July 30 2019. Independent.co.uk

Thousands of chickens died in last week’s heatwave at a Red Tractor-endorsed farm that supplies major supermarkets including Tesco and Sainsbury’s.

As the UK sweltered in record temperatures of more than 38C on Thursday, swathes of birds at an intensive farm in Lincolnshire succumbed to the intense heat inside sheds.

Critics said the chickens would have suffered terribly before dying.

Workers at Moy Park farm in Newton on Trent told The Lincolnite: “We tried to do everything but there was nothing more we could do. The freak weather has done this to them. Please don’t turn this into anything bad.

“It has been really tough carting these animals out of the farm over the past couple of days. Animal activists don’t think that we care about them, but we really do.”

Northern Ireland-based Moy Park, which says it is one of the UK’s top 15 food companies, supplies supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Ocado.

Moy Park farms are endorsed by the Red Tractor scheme, which says its members provide food that is “farmed with care” and “responsibly produced”.

Farm staff were seen piling up the corpses outside the sheds on Friday.

Philip Lymbery, chief executive of Compassion in World Farming, tweeted: “This is beyond words. They must have suffered terribly. Intensive farming of sentient animals has to stop.”

Another critic tweeted: “No excuse. Technology exists to cool buildings like this to keep the inside at a comfortable temperature. 

“Even on normal summer days those tin boxes must be uncomfortable. Yes it would cost money, but I’m guessing consumers would sooner pay more than see stories like this.”

Compassion in World Farming says most chickens reared for meat are confined in industrial, barren sheds where birds cannot avoid the heat as they would in natural conditions.

“It can get very hot inside the sheds, especially in summer. If the ventilation system fails, thousands of birds can die of heat stress,” the organisation says.

A spokesperson for Red Tractor said: “Animal welfare is our top priority and we require all certified poultry farms to do all they can to protect their birds. Record temperatures last week posed significant challenges for livestock, pets and humans alike.

“We will continue to work with the poultry industry to review how to minimise the impact of extreme weather conditions on their farms.”

A spokesperson for Moy Park, which processes more than 280 million birds a year, said: “We are working closely with our farming partners to monitor the situation and have implemented procedures to help protect our birds against the extreme heat.” It was not immediately clear whether that was after Thursday’s disaster.

He could not say how many birds died of the heat, nor whether any survived.

A spokeswoman for the British Poultry Council said she was not aware of any previous cases of mass deaths caused by extreme weather.

Farmers worked to Red Tractor best practice guidelines, including providing extra ventilation and temperature-controlled systems, and being more vigilant, she said.

Tesco has been asked to comment.

A Sainsbury’s spokeswoman said: “Animal welfare is extremely important and we’re in close contact with our suppliers about last week’s record temperatures.”

An Ocado spokesperson said: “We carry out regular audits of all our suppliers to ensure the welfare of livestock is managed to the highest standards. We are working closely with our supplier to fully investigate.”