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.
South Korea confirms first swine fever outbreak. Five (5) pigs found dead at a farm in Paju. What do we know about the number Five (5)? Pork prices rise by up to 50 percent. Five (5) million pigs in Asia had died or been culled. Five (5) years since 500,000 birds culled because of avian flu.
AFP•September 17, 2019
South Korea on Tuesday reported its first cases of African swine fever, becoming the latest country hit by the disease that has killed pigs from China to North Korea, pushing up pork prices worldwide.
Five pigs found dead at a farm in Paju, a city near the inter-Korean border, were confirmed to have been infected with the virus, an official with Seoul’s agriculture ministry told AFP.
“At this point, it’s too early to confirm if the case stemmed from the North,” the official added.
Seoul’s agriculture minister Kim Hyun-soo said 3,950 pigs from three farms in Paju were to be culled.
The country has raised its animal disease alert to the highest level and a nationwide 48-hour ban on the movement of pigs was issued, he added.
The virus is not harmful to humans but causes haemorrhagic fever in pigs that is almost always fatal.
There is no antidote or vaccine and the only known way to prevent the disease from spreading is a mass cull of affected livestock.
Although this was the first confirmed outbreak of African swine fever in the South, the country has battled a number of animal diseases in the past.
In 2014, outbreaks of avian flu in poultry farms resulted in the culling of more than 500,000 birds.
A 2011 outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease resulted in the culling of nearly 3.5 million cattle, pigs and other animals.
The confirmed cases in the South came around three months after Pyongyang told the World Organisation for Animal Health that dozens of pigs had died from the disease at a farm near the Chinese border, according to the South’s agriculture ministry.
In June, Seoul said the disease was “highly likely” to enter the country from the North and ordered fences to be erected at farms along the border to prevent possible contact between pigs and wild boar.
There are around 6,700 pig farms across South Korea and pig farming accounts for 40 percent of the total livestock industry.
In May, the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization said pork prices had risen by up to 50 percent both in China and on the Chicago futures exchange as a result of the outbreak.
Last month, it said almost five million pigs in Asia had died or been culled because of the spread of the disease.