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.

Kashmir residents say they are starving as first accounts surface of lock-down

Joe Wallen The Telegraph•August 7, 2019

Fears are growing of food shortages among Kashmir’s poorest residents as the region enters the third day of an unprecedented lock-down.

In some of the first accounts to surface after India shocked the world by stripping the area of Kashmir’s special status, witnesses have told The Telegraph of mounting desperation as food supplies and money has dried up.

India announced a strict curfew and communications blackout on Monday, with the movement goods and people in and out of the region also strictly controlled.

But panic buying last week, as rumours circulated of an imminent curfew, saw shelves stripped of food, ATM’s emptied and prices rocket – leaving many of Kashmir’s poorest without key supplies.

Sanna, 23, a Kashmiri student, was one of few residents to have been allowed to leave the region so far. When leaving she told The Telegraph she had been approached by “five or six” different people who claimed their families were starving.

Recalling the panic buying, she said: “Everyone flooded into the grocery markets, the livestock markets, the spice markets; thousands and thousands of people buying essentials.

“Gas stations had cars lined up from blocks and the bank ran out of cash because people had got so much out of ATMs.”  

Muzamil Jaleel, the Deputy Editor of the Indian Express, told The Telegraph he had also visited around ten different neighbourhoods in Srinagar and every ATM was out of money.  

Residents are now surviving with what they had to hand and many of the state’s poorest residents have no cash savings. 

Kashmiri residents have been entirely cut off from the outside world since the Indian government scrapped legislation on Monday that had granted the state’s population autonomy since 1947. 

Media and television reports have been severely restricted to state sanctioned broadcasts. One top Indian official denied there were shortages, saying the “Kashmir Valley has more than three months’ food supply”.

Activists say the blackout – which includes mobile networks, internet and landlines – is allowing the Indian authorities to act with impunity by detaining those in opposition to the removal of Article 370. Article 370 had allowed Kashmiris to self-govern themselves excluding foreign policy and forbade non-Kashmiris from settling in the state and buying land.

Opponents of the Indian Government say the ruling BJP party intends to change the region’s demographics by encouraging Hindu migration.

Sanna said the blackout triggered widespread chaos and confusion. “It was a very painful, very scary mess,” she said.

“You are going to muzzle us and blind us and then you are going to make your decision behind this tall black wall that you have carved out between Kashmir and everyone else.”

A senior official within the Jammu and Kashmir administration told news agency PTI over 100 people had been arrested so far.

This includes two former state Chief Ministers, Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah.

A source told AFP that at least six people had been admitted to hospital in Srinagar with gunshot wounds while sporadic protests had erupted across the state.

Several deaths have also been reported although this is difficult to confirm due to the blackout.

The curfew which has been implemented since Monday morning is also contributing to growing hunger as residents are too scared to leave their homes.

A Kashmiri source living outside the state told The Telegraph her parents had been informed they would be shot on sight if seen out in public.

“You know you have to listen because there is 30 men in a 20 foot area with giant AK-47s so you are not going to try and pick a fight,” Sanna said. “It didn’t matter where you were, if you walked five minutes in any direction they would tell you to go back home.”

She said Kashmiris could only leave their homes to travel to the airport or the hospital, and she had struggled to leave even though she had a plane ticket purchased before the crackdown.

Pakistan, which also claims ownership of Jammu and Kashmir in its entirety, escalated its unyielding response to the removal of Article 370 today.

It announced it would be suspending bilateral trade with Delhi and expelling the Indian High Commissioner, as well as taking its objections to the United Nations Security Council.