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.

Wedding photo showing masked newlyweds in burning California looks apocalyptic. ‘As in the days of Noah, eating, drinking and getting married. Then destruction came.’

Adrianna Rodriguez USA TODAY. November 1, 2019

Brides are told to always expect the unexpected on their wedding day.

But that took on a new meaning for a Chicago couple who got married in California’s wine country during the Kincade Fire.

Curtis and Katie Ferland traveled from the Windy City to have their dream destination wedding in Sonoma County Saturday, according to the Mercury News. When they landed, they were confronted with the enormous blaze that was ravaging the northern end of the county.

The couple continued their nuptials as planned at the Chateau St. Jean Winery in Kenwood, about 30 miles south of where the fire started, but not without a few hiccups, the paper reported.

The air was heavy with smoke, and the skies were as red as the flames that continued to burn. However, it wasn’t the first time the couple’s photographer had shot weddings during wildfires.

“It was the third year in a row that I had a wedding in the wine country and had smoke,” Karna Roa of KMR Photography told local station KNTV.

One particular photo went viral, depicting the couple hand in hand with masks over their mouths to protect them from the smoke as the fire raged in the background.

“Is this the ‘new normal’ for the California wine country in 2019?” Roa wondered in an interview with the Mercury News.

The couple’s wedding planner, Sara Sugrue, told the paper that the newlyweds didn’t exchange vows with the masks on and that they were only worn briefly outside for pictures.

Curtis told KNTV that his wife had to be talked into taking the picture with the masks because she feared it would be “tacky.”

“All we wanted was to have our dream wedding,” Katie said, “and we did. It’s crazy.”

The Kincade Fire has burned 76,000 acres, destroyed 19 buildings and forced 200,000 to leave their homes as of Wednesday morning.

Wildfires are nothing new to wine country. More than 40 people died and 5,000 homes were destroyed in fires that swept across Napa and Sonoma counties in 2017. More than two dozen wineries were damaged by the blazes, although most had recovered and were operating again within a few months.