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.

Vaping patients had acute lung damage similar to gas poisoning. Pestilence in diverse places, including the lungs in the UK. Some are just beginning.

Telegraph.co.uk Henry Bodkin, health correspondent 2 OCTOBER 2019

Vaping damages the lungs in the same way as gas poisoning, tests have revealed.

Experts have warned of a “public health crisis” after close examination of tissue samples found “direct” injuries from noxious chemicals.

For the first time, scientists reviewed lung biopsies from a disparate group of patients who had fallen ill after smoking e-cigarettes, two of whom died.

The team at the Mayo Clinic had been expecting to find lung damage as a result of fatty deposits from the vaping liquids.mInstead, they found more serious “acute” injuries of the type commonly seen in victims of a gas attack.

Published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the study comes amid rising concern about the safety of e-cigarettes across the world, and a week after Britain’s first death linked to vaping came to light.

Last month Donald Trump announced plans to ban flavoured e-cigarettes, over fears of their impact on young people.

Dame Sally Davies, England’s now-former Chief Medical Officer, also described vaping as a “ticking time bomb”.

Of the 17 patients from whom the samples were taken in the new study, only eight had previously smoked.

However, all exhibited foamy accumulations in the lungs indicating acute fibrinous pneumonitis, a type of scarring.

Dr Branden Larsen, senior author, said: “While we can’t discount the potential role of lipids, we have not seen anything to suggest this is a problem caused by lipid accumulation in the lungs.

“Instead, it seems to be some kind of direct chemical injury, similar to what one might see with exposures to toxic chemical fumes, poisonous gases and toxic agents.”

Of the patients in the study, 12 had previously vaped with marijuana or cannabis oil.

This could be significant because the vaping lobby and some scientists have argued that the recent spate of e-cigarette-related illnesses are a result of THC, the principal psychoactive compound in marijuana, or cannabidiol (CBD).

In both the former and non-smokers, the Mayo team also found across the small mixed brown and black particles resembling particulate matter that often found in smoking, leading them to conclude they may have originated from the vaping liquid or device.

“This is a public health crisis, and a lot of people are working frantically around the clock to find out what the culprit or culprits could be — and what chemicals may be responsible,” said Dr Larsen.

“Based on what we have seen in our study, we suspect that most cases involve chemical contaminants, toxic byproducts or other noxious agents within vape liquids.”

Public Health England encourages vaping as a means of quitting cigarettes and has argued that the habit is no more than five per cent as dangerous as smoking.

However, critics believe that the nuance is lost on the wider public, particularly young people, who interpret the guidance as a clean bill of health.

Earlier this year a Telegraph investigation exposed how Instagram is was promoting vape products to children as young as 13 through posts prompting children to post pictures of their favourite vapes.

“Everyone should recognize that vaping is not without potential risks, including life-threatening risks, and I think our research supports that,” said Dr Larsen.