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.

Fresh case of swine fever in Slovakia as eastern Europe scrambles to contain disease

By Marina Jenkins  & Ioannis Karagiorgas • last updated: 8/6/2019 Euronews

A fresh case of African Swine Fever (ASF) has been discovered in Slovakia in a village near the Hungarian border.

The farm, in Košice province, had just four pigs but all of the pigs in a three-kilometre radius of the outbreak were culled.

It was found approximately five kilometres from the initial outbreak, which occurred two weeks ago.

Slovakian authorises say they will establish protection and surveillance zones in a bid to prevent further spread of the disease.

Meanwhile, nearly 130,000 pigs have been slaughtered in Bulgaria.

Three hundred cases were reported in Romania in July and Bulgarian veterinary authorities said that wild boars swimming from Romania and across the Danube into Bulgaria were responsible for spreading the disease.

But the Bulgarian Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, has blamed Romanian tourists to the country for helping to spread the disease.

“I’m sure Romanian tourists brought the plague,” he said. “They eat on the roads and throw away the waste [of meat]. Then birds and wild pigs pass by and eat the waste.

“After that, we go and clean. 57,000 cars pass daily on the Thrakiya highway every day. 700 vehicles leave Bulgaria on Friday night. There is nothing we can do. People grow rich and travel.”

These outbreaks of swine fever could be a danger to Europe’s pork industry. Greece has already banned pork imports from Bulgaria and stepped up checks on the border.

Romania’s pork producers are accusing authorities of failing to implement preventative measures in full, branding the issue a “political disease”.

The European Commission has issued a decision singling out Bulgaria, Poland and Lithuania as new high-risk areas.

So far, no cases have been seen in western Europe.