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.

Drug-resistant malaria ‘spreading aggressively’ across South East Asia, scientists say Researchers warn of ‘terrifying prospect’ strain could reach Africa 

The Independent. July 23, 2019

Drug-resistant malarial parasites are spreading rapidly across South East Asia amid fears the new strain could reach Africa.

The new strain has moved from Cambodia to Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, with up to 80 per cent of malarial parasites in circulation resistant to the two most common antimalarial drugs.  

Researchers said the findings of twin studies published in Lancet Infectious Diseases raise the “terrifying prospect” drug-resistance could spread to Africa where most malaria cases and deaths occur.

The report also found that the spread of the new strain, known as KEL1/PLA1, is also linked to the failure of treatment in half of cases to one of the newest and most potent frontline drug combinations.

“We discovered (it) had spread aggressively, replacing local malaria parasites, and had become the dominant strain in Vietnam, Laos and northeastern Thailand,” said Roberto Amato, from the Wellcome Sanger Institute and University of Oxford, who co-led the study.

Malaria is caused by parasites which are carried by mosquitoes and spread through their blood-sucking bites.

The disease can be treated with medicines if caught early enough, but evolving drug-resistance has hampered efforts to eliminate it.

“This highly successful resistant parasite strain is capable of invading new territories and acquiring new genetic properties, raising the terrifying prospect that it could spread to Africa… as resistance to chloroquine did in the 1980s, contributing to millions of deaths,” said Olivo Miotto of Oxford University, who co-led the study.

The first-line treatment for malaria in many parts of Asia in the last decade has been a combination of dihydroartemisinin and piperaquine, also known as DHA-PPQ.

Researchers found in previous work that the KEL1/PLA1 strain of malaria which evolved and spread across Cambodia between 2007 and 2013 was resistant to both drugs.

The latest research shows that this strain has now crossed the Cambodian border and spread to Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.

Its prevalence had risen to more than 50 per cent in all of the surveyed countries except for Laos, the study found.

In northeastern Thailand and Vietnam, the parasites made up 80 per cent of cases.

“The speed at which these resistant malaria parasites have spread in south east Asia is very worrying,” said Olivo Miotto, who co-led the work

“Other drugs may be effective at the moment but the situation is extremely fragile and this study highlights that urgent action is needed.”

Professor Tran Tinh Hien, from the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, in Vietnam, said: “With the spread and intensification of resistance, our findings highlight the urgent need to adopt alternative first-line treatments.”

However, Professor Colin Sutherland, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said that, while the drug-resistant parasite has undoubtedly spread, it is not necessarily a global threat.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates there were 435,000 deaths due to malaria across the globe in 2017, of which 403.000 were in Africa.

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