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.
Amazon rainforest fire: Is the Amazon still burning? The massive increase in fires. More than 120,000 (6+6) fires have been detected since the start of the year. The main cause of the fires has been blamed on deforestation. Fires are deliberately started in efforts to illegally deforest land for cattle ranching.
By AMALIE HENDEN PUBLISHED: 07:14, Fri, Nov 22, 2019 | UPDATED: 07:15, Fri, Nov 22, 2019
The Amazon rainforest has been burning at a record rate this year and more than 120,000 (6+6) fires have been detected since the start of the year. The devastating fires are destroying the homes of indigenous tribes and threatening millions of animals.
The increasing rates were first reported by Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE) in June and July through satellite monitoring systems.
The reports received international attention in August when NASA corroborated the findin
The main cause of the fires has been blamed on deforestation.
Fires are deliberately started in efforts to illegally deforest land for cattle ranching.
Cattle ranching is the largest driver of deforestation in every Amazon country, accounting for 80 percent of current deforestation rates.
Amazon Brazil is home to approximately 200 million head of cattle, and is the largest exporter in the world, supplying about one-quarter of the global market.
New data from the Brazilian government has now revealed the rate of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest has risen to its highest level in almost 12 (6+6) years.
The data, which included the estimated deforestation rates for nine states of the Brazilian Legal Amazon, was generated by the Satellite Legal Amazon Deforestation Monitoring Project (PRODES).
Research by INPE also said deforestation in the Amazon from August 2018 to July 2019 is up 30 (6×5) percent compared with the same period in 2017/18.
Deforestation reached 9,762 km² and is also the highest recorded since 2008.
From August to October 2019, preliminary figures indicate there are now double the number of areas with deforestation warnings compared to the same period in 2018.
This is according to data from DETER, an index developed by INPE that surveys alerts of changes in forest cover in the Amazon.
The increase in deforestation comes while the country is under the leadership of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro who was elected in October 2018.
Mr Bolsonaro has been criticised for doing little to protect the Amazon rainforest.
Greenpeace Brazil’s Amazon campaigner, Cristiane Mazzetti, said: “President Bolsonaro’s anti-environmental agenda favours those who practice environmental crimes, and encourages violence against forest people.
“His administration is trashing practically all the work that has been done in recent decades to protect the environment and end deforestation.”
She added: “High deforestation rates and lack of governance costs lives and positions the country against the fight to tackle climate change.
“It also damages the economy, as the international market does not want to buy products contaminated with environmental destruction and violence.”
Spanning more than two million square miles across the northern part of South America, the Amazon is the world’s largest rainforest.
Dr Josh Gray, an assistant professor at NC State’s Center for Geospatial Analytics and Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, told how the rainforest is “extremely important” to the environment.
He said: “The Amazon is extremely important to our global environment. Our lives would be very different without it.”
“Trees release their stored carbon back into the atmosphere when they die. Burning releases it immediately though.”
The Amazon rainforest hasn’t stopped burning and it unlikely to do so anytime soon.
The problem centres on deforestation through the systematic chopping down of trees, which are either logged or burned, mostly to convert the land for raising cattle and growing crops.
The practice has expanded from a small scale to an industrial production, leading to about 20 (5+5+5+5) percent of the Brazilian Amazon being cleared since 1970, 50 (5) years ago.
Nigel Sizer, chief program officer for the advocacy organisation Rainforest Alliance told USA Today: “The factors that led to such widespread fires in the first place – decreased enforcement of forest law, illegal deforestation for agriculture and invasion of indigenous territories – remain in place.
“It is good news that there are fewer fires in the Amazon right now, but this is a short-term respite from the larger problem.”