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.
Russia fires: Panic as 91 new, separate forest fires rage – Putin declares state of emergency
WILDFIRES are raging across vast areas of eastern Russia and Siberia with a state of emergency being declared in two regions as authorities battle to tackle the blazes.
By SIMON OSBORNE
PUBLISHED: 08:25, Tue, Aug 27, 2019 | UPDATED: 08:45, Tue, Aug 27, 2019. Express.co.uk
Officials from the Aerial Forest Protection Service (AFPS) said more than 90 separate wildfires had been registered in territory covering 43,300 hectares. An AFPS spokesman said 1,200 personnel from 133 fire units had been deployed to combat the fires. He said firefighters had extinguished 36 wildfires in the past 24 hours.
The spokesman said: “As of 12am Moscow time on 27 August 2019, 91 wildfires were registered on the territory of 43,335 hectares in Russia, with active firefighting efforts underway.”
Most wildfires are raging in heavily forested region of Krasnoyask, Kamchatka and Chukotka regions.
Forest fires have also been reported in Irkutsk, Amur, Magadan, Yakutia and Zabaikalye regions.
Eastern Russia and Siberia has struggled with massive forest fires all summer.
Acting Head of the Federal Forestry Agency Mikhail Klinov said the damage from the blazes has reached £87m since the beginning of the year.
The environmental cost of the wildfires is also high with experts estimating more than 130 megatons of carbon dioxide – the equivalent to the exhaust fumes from 36 million cars – have been released into the atmosphere.
More than 13.1 million hectares have burned, including 4.3 million hectares of forest in Siberia.
Meanwhile, scientists are warning of the devastation caused by wildfires in the Amazon rainforests of Brazil.
Startling images created using data from NASA’s Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument aboard the Aqua satellite show a giant carbon monoxide plume gathering over Brazil.
A NASA spokesman said: “Carbon monoxide is a pollutant that can be transported large distances and persist in the atmosphere for about one month.
“At the high altitude mapped in these images, the gas has little effect on the air we breathe; however, strong winds can carry it downward to where it can significantly impact air quality.
“Carbon monoxide plays a role in both air pollution and climate change.”
Brazilian authorities are struggling to control the fires raging in the Amazon rainforest.
On Friday, the country’s President Jair Bolsonaro announced 44,000 soldiers would be sent to help battle the fires, which are scattered across a region 10 times the size of Texas.
Brazil’s satellite monitoring agency has recorded more than 41,000 fires in the Amazon region so far this year – with more than half of those coming this month alone.
Experts say most of the fires are set by farmers or ranchers clearing existing farmland.
The Amazon is several months into its dry season, during which these fires can more easily spread out of control.
Environmentalists say that those setting the fires have been emboldened because they hear President Jair Bolsonaro calling for more development of the Amazon and think they will not be punished.
Deforestation has risen 67 percent year-on-year in the first seven months of 2019 and more than tripled in July alone.