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, duration and scope.

Pandemic warning: Terrifying new report warns every country on Earth is at risk. What is North Korea up to?

NOT a single country on Earth is adequately prepared for a biological warfare attack or a global pandemic, a new study has said with its own authors admitting the findings were “alarming”.

By CIARAN MCGRATH PUBLISHED: 16:23, Fri, Oct 25, 2019 express.co.uk

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1195719/global-pandemic-ebola-epidemic-pathogen-disease-biological-warfare-latest-news-update#t=1s

But the report also revealed the UK is the second best-prepared in the world, second only to the United States, while warning the risk posed by biological warfare and others sources of deadly pathogens was outstripping the capability of mankind to contain them. Research undertaken by the Economist Intelligence United (EUI) as part of a joint project launched by the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) and the Johns Hopkins Center for Heath Security (CHS) identifies severe weaknesses in countries’ abilities to prevent, detect and respond to significant disease outbreaks.

In particular, the study concludes countries are unprepared for a globally catastrophic biological event, including those which could be triggered by the international spread of a new or emerging pathogen or by the deliberate or accidental release of dangerous or engineered agent or organism.

NTI co-chairman and CEO Ernest J Moniz said: ”The results are alarming: all countries – at all income levels – have major gaps in their capabilities, and they aren’t sufficiently investing in biological preparedness.

“The bottom line is that global biological risks are growing – in many cases faster than health systems, security, science, and governments can keep up.

“We need to ensure that all countries are prepared to respond to these risks.”

The inaugural Global Health Security Index, developed with guidance from an international panel of experts from 13 countries, rated 195 countries in terms of their states of readiness using a sliding scale, from 1 to 100, 100 indicating full preparedness.

The average score is 40.2, while even along the 60 high-income nations assessed the figure was 51.9.

The UK’s score was 77.9, significantly higher and bettered on by the USA’s 83.9.

The only other countries to crack the 70 mark were the Netherlands (75.6) and Denmark (70.4).

CHS director Tom Inglesby said: “Whether naturally occurring, intentional, or accidental, outbreaks in any country pose risks to global health, international security, and the worldwide economy.

“We hope this index will help countries identify gaps, build preparedness and best practices, and track progress over time.”

NTI co-chairman and former US Senator Sam Nunn added: “This index is a powerful tool for citizens and civil society to hold their government officials accountable for health preparedness.”

The GHS Index assessed countries across six categories, 34 indicators and 140 questions, purposely using only public information.

The index benchmarks health security in the context of other factors regarded as critical to fighting outbreaks, including political and security risks, the broader health system and country adherence to global norms.

In addition to its overall finding that national health security is fundamentally weak around the world and no country is fully prepared for epidemics and pandemics, the GHS Index finds:

• Countries are not prepared for a globally catastrophic biological event, including those that could be caused by the international spread of a new or emerging pathogen or by the deliberate or accidental release of a dangerous or engineered agent or organism
• 92 percent do not show evidence of requiring security checks for personnel with access to dangerous biological materials or toxins
  
  
• Fewer than five percent show a requirement to test their emergency operations centres at least annually.
  
  
• More than half of countries face major political and security risks that could undermine national capability to counter biological threats.

The GHS Index findings and recommendations for how to address significant gaps in global health security come amid an ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and five years after the United Nations (UN) Security Council met in crisis over the Ebola epidemic in West Africa.

The report describes that despite entry into force of revised International Health Regulations more than 10 years ago, decision makers only sporadically focus on health security and remain caught in a cycle of perpetual surprise when outbreaks occur in unanticipated locations.

Recommendations include:

• The UN Secretary-General should call a heads-of-state-level summit by 2021 on biological threats including a focus on financing and emergency response.
• National governments should commit to take action to address health security risks.
• Health security capacity in every country should be transparent and regularly measured, and results should be published at least once every two years.