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.

US Air Force orders all units to stand down for one day as suicide rate rises

Ryan Pickrell. Business Insider•August 1, 2019

The US Air Force has ordered all units to stand down for one day to address rising suicide rates, the service said in an emailed statement.

As part of the “Resiliency Operational Pause,” each unit will select one day between August 1 and September 15 to look at ways to address this problem, it said.

The pause “is about giving our airmen time back to connect and break down barriers to getting help,” the Air Force said, adding that “this is the start of an ongoing dialogue about the force’s well-being.”

The service said it had seen 78 suicides this year, not far off the total for last year. The Air Force has had about 100 suicides a year for the past five years, Air Force Magazine reported. The figures for this year point to an upward trend.

“Suicide is an adversary that is killing more of our airmen than any enemy on the planet,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein said in a letter to commanders ordering the operational pause, according to ABC News.

He said that if the service failed to respond to this growing problem, it could see more than 150 suicides by the end of this year.

While Goldfein communicated with commanders, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright filmed a message on resiliency for airmen.

“Our teammates are taking their own lives,” he said in the video, adding that the service loses “more airmen to suicide than any other single enemy, even more than combat.”

“Seventy-eight of our brothers and sisters have given up on life this year alone. Seventy-eight. That’s 78 teammates. That’s 78 wingmen. That’s 78 spouses. That’s 78 brothers and sisters and sons and daughters. Seventy-eight who couldn’t find a single reason to keep going.”

“We can’t let this keep happening,” Wright said, adding that there have been 28 more suicides so far this year than there were by this time last year.

“We have to get this thing turned around,” he said.

The latest pause comes after last year’s operational stand-down to focus on safety in the wake of mishaps and crashes, some of which cost the lives of US service members.