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.
Late-season fires flare up in drought-stricken parts of Alaska
By Yereth Rosen. Reuters•August 19, 2019
ANCHORAGE (Reuters) – Late-season wildfires during one of the driest summers on record in Anchorage have destroyed homes, forced evacuations, closed roads and schools and poured sometimes-dangerous levels of smoke into the state’s most populous region.
About 80 miles north of Anchorage, the 3,000-acre McKinley Fire was burning on both sides of the Parks Highway. That blaze had destroyed more than 50 structures as of Sunday night and residents of the area, which lies between Wasilla and Talkeetna, were under evacuation orders, fire officials said.
Some schools in the fire area were closed, local officials said, and thousands of other residents were facing possible evacuation orders.
Anchorage is currently classified as being in a “severe” drought, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System, a first for the city.
“The fuels are dry,” said Rick Thoman, climate specialist with the Alaska Climate Assessment and Policy Center. “With the ground being dry, the low-level humidity is lower. It’s the perfect combination.”
Smoky wildfires have been a near-constant in Anchorage this summer, which so far has been the hottest on record and, for many areas, the driest on record.
As of Monday, Alaska had 659 wildfires for the year that burned about 2.5 million acres, making 2019 among the biggest fire seasons on record for the state, according to fire managers.
Alaska fire officials are being aided by firefighting teams from the Lower 48 states and Canada.
The McKinley and other new or rekindled fires are burning at a time of year when blazes are usually winding down and when late-summer rains normally drench the landscape, said Tim Mowry, a spokesman for the Alaska Division of Forestry. “It’s not raining, unfortunately.”
On the Kenai Peninsula south of Anchorage, the Swan Lake Fire that had simmered down after burning during much of June and July roared back to life in the past few days.
The fire, estimated at 138,479 acres on Monday, spewed particulate pollution that is currently among the worst in the world, according to the monitoring site Purple Air.
Air quality conditions in the tourist community nearest to the fire, Cooper Landing, and along nearby Kenai Lake were classified as hazardous, with emergency conditions in place for everyone.