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.

Brazil’s agricultural minister defends record pesticide approvals

AFP•August 6, 2019

Brasília (AFP) – Brazil’s agriculture minister on Tuesday defended a record number of pesticide and weedkiller approvals this year, saying the government was not “putting poison on anyone’s plate.”

The remarks by Tereza Cristina, who is close to the country’s powerful agribusiness industry, come as Brazil faces growing criticism over deforestation in the Amazon and its heavy use of toxic farming products.

Both issues could create problems for a free trade agreement between the South American Mercosur trade bloc, that includes Brazil, and the European Union.

“We can’t terrorize Brazilian consumers or external consumers from more than 162 countries that import Brazilian products,” Cristina told journalists, claiming Brazil’s reputation was being “denigrated”.

“We have different cultures, different climates (to other countries), and Brazil does not use anything that can’t be used.”

Official data shows 262 new pesticides and weedkillers were approved in the first seven months of this year — a record for that period.

But Cristina said only seven of those products were actually new. The rest were classified as generics.

The process to approve the products started before President Jair Bolsonaro took power in January, she added.

Brazilian law “does not permit the registration of a product that is more toxic or as toxic as those that exist in the market,” she said.

Bolsonaro last month slammed as “disinformation” news that Brazilian farmers were heavy users of toxic pesticides.

“Brazil is the country that least uses toxic pesticides because if we were selling poison, you wouldn’t be buying. I’m surprised by this disinformation,” Bolsonaro said.

Meanwhile around 600 agricultural products previously rated as “extremely toxic” have been moved into lower categories, G1 news site said Friday, following a review of nearly 2,000 products by a government agency.

Only 43 products remain in the highest-risk category.

A Greenpeace report published in June showed Brazil registered more than 1,200 pesticides and weedkillers in the past three years, some of which contained chemicals banned in the European Union.