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.

Turtles more likely to eat plastics that look like foods in their natural diet, study finds. One animal found with 183 pieces of plastic in guts.

Conrad Duncan Friday 9 August 2019 21:02 The IndependentTop of Form

Green turtles are more likely to swallow plastics that resemble foods in their natural diet, a new study has found.

The creatures are fooled by narrow lengths of plastic in natural colours like green and black, such as bin bags, because they look like seagrass, scientists found.

The team from the University of Exeter and the Society for the Protection of Turtles, came to the conclusion after they examined the guts of turtles found washed up on beaches in Cyprus.

All of the turtles whose full gastrointestinal tract could be examined were found to have swallowed plastic, with 183 pieces found in one animal.

“Previous research has suggested leatherback turtles eat plastic that resembles their jellyfish prey, and we wanted to know whether a similar thing might be happening with green turtles,” Dr Emily Duncan, from the University of Exeter, said.

She added: “Sea turtles are primarily visual predators – able to choose foods by size and shape – and in this study we found strong evidence that green turtles favour plastic of certain sizes, shapes and colours. The sources of this plastic might include things like black bin bags, and fragments from items such as fishing rope and carrier bags.”

Ms Duncan said the research, published in the journal Scientific Reports, suggested turtles favour threads and sheets that are black, clear or green.

However, the team could not determine what role the plastic may have played in the animals’ deaths – although they believed the majority of the 34 turtles examined had most likely died as a result of getting tangled in fishing nets.

The full gastrointestinal tracts of 19 turtles were examined, with the number of pieces found ranging from three to 183.Bottom of Form

“Research like this helps us understand what sea turtles are eating, and whether certain kinds of plastic are being ingested more than others,” Professor Brendan Godley, who leads the Exeter Marine research strategy, said.

He added that it was important to know what kinds of plastics were particularly problematic to sea turtles.

The research was supported by Plymouth Marine Laboratory, with funders including the Sea Life Trust and the European Union.