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.
Carp deaths at Schweitzer’s Gabonese home worry villagers
Monique NGO MAYAG. AFP•August 15, 2019
Lambarene (Gabon) (AFP) – For generations, carp have been intertwined with Lambarene, the village where Albert Schweitzer set up a hospital in the Gabonese rainforest.
The French-German doctor and philosopher famously had a pet pelican that he had saved, and fed the bird on the prized local fish.
But the alarm has sounded after a mass dieout of carp. In July, hundreds of the fish, a local staple, were spotted floating belly-up on the lakes of the Ogooue river.
The cause of death is not yet known. The finger of suspicion initially pointed at local fishermen for allegedly using unorthodox techniques, and at illegal miners working the banks of the Ogooue.
The government has imposed a ban until the end of August on fishing and trade in carp while investigations are carried out, to much anger and frustration.
“Poisoned carp? In Lambarene? It’s nonsense,” taxi driver Yvlain Magwala told tourists who had come to visit Schweitzer’s renowned hospital and village complex.
“All this ban wants to do is kill the local economy,” he said. “Why does this phenomenon only affect carp and no other species of fish?”
Authorities in Libreville have made no move so far to compensate residents of Lambarene, whose 40,000 people are hugely dependent on the carp trade.
When the fish began to wash up on the shores of the lakes, thrashing feebly and dying in the open air, locals at first could not believe their luck.
Men, women and children rushed to scoop up dead fish to cook or to sell, rousing the attention of a government agency and leading to tests of the lake water.
Experts released early findings on Tuesday, noting “abnormally high” levels in the water and fish samples of a naturally-occurring bacterium called Aeromonas veronii.
“For the time being, no cases of sickness have been reported among people who have eaten carp, although we don’t know the risks,” said Daniel Franck Idiata, director of the National Centre for Scientific and Technological Research.
People eating the fish would have to be monitored to be sure they suffered no long-term consequences to their health, he said.
Researchers are awaiting the results of analysis of biological samples sent to the University of Oslo in Norway.
Aeromonas veronii can cause acute diarrhoea if ingested in contaminated water or food, and infect wounds from exposure to contaminated water, say scientists. It is typically treated with antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin.
Regardless of the ban and any risk, carp was trading briskly when AFP visited the market while a nearby restaurant still touted carp soup on its menu.