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.

HIV and TB at risk of ‘epidemic rebound’ as funding gaps increase, MSF warns 

The Telegraph. October 7, 2019

Countries across the globe are at risk of witnessing an HIV and tuberculosis “epidemic rebound” because of a decline in funding, experts have warned. 

In a 56-page report published on Monday, global aid agency Médecins Sans Frontières said that a rapid shift in funding models for HIV and TB is putting a decade of progress in jeopardy. 

The diseases continue to kill more than two million people every year, with 10 million new TB infections in 2017 and 1.7 million new HIV cases last year. Only five countries have met targets to reduce HIV deaths by 75 per cent by 2020. 

But investment in essential prevention, diagnostic and treatment services is falling as the financial burden is shifting from international donors to affected countries. 

According to MSF, this transition is taking place too quickly – with developing countries struggling to compensate for shortfalls. 

In 2018 funding for HIV programmes from domestic and international sources fell for the first time in more than a decade, dropping by roughly $1 billion (£800 million) in low and middle income countries. 

The gap for TB programmes is also growing – according to UN figures, the shortfall has now reached $3.5 billion (£2.8 billion).

The MSF report, titled ‘Burden sharing, or burden shifting?’, is based on nine countries where the organisation runs HIV and TB programmes: Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Guinea, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Myanmar and Zimbabwe. 

It calls for an urgent “reality check” and funding boosts to prevent disease resurgence – as well as a new assessment to determine how much more money affected countries can realistically commit to TB and HIV programmes in the immediate future. 

“This recent downward trajectory in funding comes at a critical juncture for the HIV and TB response,” said Dr Mit Philips, one of the contributing authors of the report. 

“While gains made in countries such as Mozambique are at significant risk of backtracking, there is an even higher risk that countries in regions such as West and Central Africa, which are already lagging behind in the HIV and TB response, may see the situation deteriorate even further,” he said.  

The report comes ahead of a major funding conference in Lyon later this week. The Global Fund to Fight Aids, Malaria and Tuberculosis will host its three-yearly “replenishment” event, where it will ask for $14 billion (£11.4 billion) from donors for 2020 to 2023 – an increase of $1.1 billion from 2016. 

The fund says the money will help save 16 million lives, cut the mortality rate from HIV, TB and malaria in half and build stronger health systems.

“Every day, MSF teams… witness how patients are suffering and dying from these treatable diseases,” says Dr Maria Guevara, another of the report’s contributing authors. “The number of people on lifetime HIV treatment keeps on expanding, but the money available to support them keeps on shrinking.

“Donor countries must urgently reverse the recent decline in HIV and TB funding and adapt their approach to the challenges facing their partner countries. Failing to fix this will undermine past achievements and may lead to an epidemic rebound that will cost many lives. 

She added: “The Global Fund replenishment conference should mark a crucial moment in mobilising the necessary resources to prevent the response from veering further off track.”