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.

Authorities record a spike in Ebola cases as outbreak rages for a year

Anne Gulland The Telegraph•July 30, 2019

There has been a surge in the number of cases of Ebola in Democratic Republic of Congo in the last week, with the outbreak still moving into new areas despite desperate efforts to control it.

Since the end of last week DRC has recorded 41 new cases of the disease – one of the highest weekly totals since April when disease numbers suddenly accelerated. 

On August 1 the outbreak will have been raging in the North Kivu and Ituri regions of the country for exactly 12 months, with no signs of it coming to an end.

As of July 29 there have been a total of 2,687 cases including 1,798 deaths.

In an interview with the Telegraph to mark the one-year anniversary of the outbreak Dr Mike Ryan, the World Health Organization’s executive director of emergencies, said that the disease had returned to the city of Beni, the epicentre of the outbreak earlier this year. But there have also been new cases in smaller towns to the north.

One of the challenges for responders throughout the outbreak has been gaining the trust of the community and Dr Ryan said that the spread of the disease into new areas meant that engagement efforts had to be started “almost from scratch”.

He added that the community was currently “refusing to engage with the response”.

“Ebola is a traumatic event. When a cluster of cases comes into a community it’s shocking. People look for reasons and causes. 

“There are so many underlying issues of trust in North Kivu and Ituri – trust in government, trust in outsiders. These communities have survived years and years of a lack of services and years and years of violence. When something new happens it takes them time,” he said.

He said there was a tension for responders between getting the community on board but also ensuring that the outbreak is brought under control.

Earlier this month the WHO declared the outbreak an international public health emergency which Dr Ryan said had “focused the minds” of countries which border the affected area in terms of improving preparedness activities.

Declaring an international emergency does not automatically trigger extra funding and Dr Ryan said that more resources were needed. 

“Was there a massive rush [of funding] in the aftermath of the declaration? No. We still need more resources but that was never the point of the declaration,” he said.

He praised the “courageous” work of the many people responding to the outbreak on the ground but he added that the outbreak was far from over.

“It’s going to be a long haul, it’s not going to be easy,” he said.

WHO has been looking at what part of the response was going well and what could be improved. He said that surveillance of the disease needed to be improved – experts say that to bring the outbreak under control 70 per cent of cases need to come forward for treatment within three days.

“We need to detect earlier and isolate cases earlier,” he said. 

He added that the vaccination programme was improving, with more than 170,000 people vaccinated so far.

Earlier this month the DRC government ruled out the introduction of a second vaccine – manufactured by Johnson & Johnson – to the consternation of many experts who believe that the country needs to use all the tools at its disposal.

But in recent weeks the DRC president has reorganised its Ebola response, prompting the resignation of health minister Oly Ilunga Kalenga. The new response chief, Jean-Jacques Muyembe, is now looking to convene a new scientific committee which will consider all vaccines – including the J&J candidate as well as a Russian and Chinese vaccine.

“WHO is not pushing any product,” said Dr Ryan. “We are trying to ensure we have the maximum number of tools in our tool box,” he said. 

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