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.

WTO urges quick ban on harmful fisheries subsidies. 50 politicians. Over $20 million in subsidies. Increasing harm over the past Five (5) years.

Agnès PEDRERO. AFP•October 8, 2019

Geneva (AFP) – The World Trade Organization on Tuesday called for countries to speed up talks aimed at hammering out an agreement on banning harmful fisheries subsidies.

“It is clear today that the harm done by many fisheries subsidies cannot continue,” WTO chief Roberto Azevedo told a conference in Geneva.

“No one questions the link between government subsidies and the depletion of global fish stocks,” he said, stressing the need for “a range of urgent actions… if there is to be anything left for the future.”

The United Nations has said that countries should by 2020 ban all fisheries subsidies that “contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and refrain from introducing new such subsidies”.

The UN estimates that a third of the world’s fish stocks were harvested at unsustainable levels in 2015, compared to just 10 percent in 1974.

But more than two decades of talks at the WTO on the issue of eliminating harmful fisheries subsidies have been largely unproductive.

– Looming deadline –

“It is time to finish,” Azevedo said, pointing out that “these negotiations have been going on already for a very long time.”

“We have less than three months to meet the end-of-year deadline,” he said.

“If we do not meet this deadline, our marine resources will not wait, they will continue to decline and this should be of pressing concern to all of us.”

With his appeal, Azevedo joined a call by the World Economic Forum’s so-called Friends of Ocean Action coalition, made up of some 50 politicians, business leaders and environmentalists, for countries to step up efforts to conclude the talks.

But negotiations appear as deadlocked as ever, with countries even unable to agree on nominating a new chair of the talks after Mexican Roberto Zapata Barradas left in August.

Today, countries are estimated to spend over $20 billion (20 billion euros) on such subsidies, with devastating effect.

“Government subsidies are keeping boats fishing even where there are too few fish left for fishing to be profitable,” veteran conservationist David Attenborough said in a video message played at the WTO conference.

“These subsidies… fund the ongoing destruction of the natural world on which we all depend,” he said, but added “all is not lost.”

“We can turn this around right now… It is time to put an end to subsidies that harm our oceans.”

Most of the harmful fisheries subsidies today come from China, the European Union, South Korea and Japan, according to Remi Parmentier, an advisor to the Friends of Ocean Action.

He said he hoped WTO’s call would “crack the whip” on negotiators.

Alice Tipping, of the International Institute for Sustainable Development think-tank, also stressed the urgency of the situation and the need to push the talks to the “political level”.

Speeding things up is especially important given that the next WTO ministerial meeting, scheduled to be held in Kazakhstan next June, will likely be heavily focused on other topics: global trade wars and far-reaching WTO reform.