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.
Flying ants swarm into Britain in colossal hordes seen from space. Biblical Plague? Video
Elinor Aspegren, USA TODAY Published 12:11 p.m. ET July 18, 2019
Once a year, hordes of flying ants invade Britain – and this year was no exception.
The insects swept the southern part of the country early Wednesday morning in swarms so large they could be seen from space, according to the U.K. Met Office, which is the country’s national weather service.
The flying ant invasion was picked up by a weather radar that mistook them for rain.
“These ants are a particular size and they are probably hovering at a certain height in the atmosphere towards the base of a cloud, and the sheer number of them would suggest there’s enough for the radar systems to pick up,” said BBC Weather presenter and meteorologist Simon King.
King told the BBC that it was the biggest swarm of insects he had seen in the United Kingdom and was a more common sight in parts of the United States.
Twitter users captured the phenomenon and the influx of seagulls that came with it.
The huge number of flying ants is a yearly occurrence known as Flying Ant Day.
Flying Ant Day, however, isn’t a specific day: A study by the Royal Society of Biology found that flying ants descend on the U.K. on 96% of days between the start of June and the start of September.
The flying ants are not a different species of ant, but the queens and males of the common black garden ant.
The vast majority of these insects pick the same moment to head out from their colonies because they tend to mate when weather conditions permit.
This is not the first time the visitors have made headlines.
In July 2017, hundreds of flying ants invaded various courts at Wimbeldon, bugging tennis players who tried to combat the infestation while swatting at tennis balls.
While the annual attack may be inconvenient, the spectacle is essential for maintaining essential ecological processes.
The insects’ activity “allows for more oxygen and water to reach the roots of plants and they can even improve soil fertility and help control pests,” per the RSB.