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.

Australia’s severe fires an ‘omen’ of blazes to come. Over 50 fires in TWO states.

By Julia Hollingsworth, CNN. Updated 12:33 AM ET, Mon September 9, 2019

Australia is battling over 100 wildfires across two states, with authorities warning that the severe blazes are an “omen” of a brutal fire season to come.

In Queensland, 57 wildfires were burning as of Sunday, the state’s acting premier Jackie Trad said, while in neighboring New South Wales, 53 wildfires were burning as of Monday morning, according to the state’s Rural Fire Service. Both states are in eastern Australia.

In around 130 years of records, Queensland has never seen fires this severe this early in spring, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services’ predictive services inspector Andrew Sturgess told media Sunday.

“It is an historic event,” he said. “This is an omen if you will, a warning of the fire season we are likely to see ahead in the southeastern parts of the state, the driest parts of the state, where most of our population lives.”

The fires are being aided by dry, swift winds and low humidity — and there’s no prospect of rain for the next week, said Bruce Gunn, the Bureau of Meteorology’s Queensland state manager. “The seasonal outlook is rather bleak for getting anything above average rainfall,” he said, adding that the region’s high temperatures were exacerbating the situation.

Micheal Wassing, the acting commissioner of Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, said hundreds of firefighters are working to control the blazes.

“It’s going to be a very long season for us ahead, given the conditions that we’re already seeing this early into the bushfire season.”

In a Facebook post Sunday, New South Wales’ Rural Fire Service said over 630 firefighters were working through the night to contain the fires and protect properties. “Without any significant rain, a number of the fires are expected to burn for six to eight weeks,” the post said.

Already the impact of the fires is “historic,” with the number of houses lost to the blazes “into the double figures,” according to Sturgess. On Monday, 11 schools in Queensland and four schools in New South Wales closed due to the fires.

There have been no deaths or serious injuries due to the fires in Queensland, although in New South Wales a volunteer firefighter has been seriously injured.

Why Australia has bushfires

Bushfires are common in Australia — in fact, they’re part of the country’s ecosystem. Areas of the country are very hot and dry, and many native plants are fire prone and combustible.

Queensland and New South Wales are particularly prone to wildfires in spring and early summer.

This year’s fires follow Australia’s hottest summer on record, which brought worsening drought, damaging bushfires and very low rainfall.

While bushfires often spark naturally, Queensland police said one of the fires in the state appeared to have been deliberately lit.

“That’s extremely disappointing,” said Steve Gollshewski, the deputy commissioner of the Queensland Police Service. “Not only are people’s lives — including emergency services workers — put at risk, the people who do these sorts of acts tie up police resources for the investigations.”