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.

One Maine Theme In February: (Apart from the coronavirus and locusts plagues) Floods. Flooding around the world broke record after record during the 2nd month of 2020

The Big Wobble. February 25, 2020

Indonesia

Torrential rain flooded Indonesia’s overpopulated capital on Tuesday for the second time this year, paralyzing wide areas and prompting rescue workers to evacuate people by boat from murky, brown waterways. Jakarta was hit by some of the heaviest rain since records began at the beginning of the year, causing floods that killed more than 60 people and displaced about 175,000. Several other minor floods have hit different parts of the city since. Indonesia’s weather agency linked the rains to tropical cyclones, but the agency head also said such extreme weather events were happening with greater intensity and more frequently. Jakarta and surrounding areas are home to more than 30 million people and extremely vulnerable to flooding. Parts of the city are below sea level and uncontrolled population growth has exacerbated the problem. Reuters

Peru

Massive mudslides and flooding in the Cusco Department of Peru have left at least 3 people dead, 20 missing and 300 homes destroyed. The tragedy follows weeks of severe weather in Peru. Days earlier at least 3 people died in flash flooding and mudslides in Tacna Department. Peru’s disaster authority, Centro de Operaciones de Emergencia Nacional (COEN), said that heavy rain caused a sudden increase of the Salkantay River, triggering flooding and mudslides in Santa Teresa district, La Convention province, Cusco, on 23 February 2020. Floodlist


Bolivia

Bolivians clean up after river flood forces evacuation The Bolivian town of Tipuipaya in the central region of Cochabamba was evacuated after intense precipitations led the Taquina River to overflow. Several residents trapped by the floods had to be flown out by helicopters. The area was affected two years ago by a similar disaster which was attributed to deforestation work carried out to clear out land to build housing. EuroNews

Sweden 

Flood warning: Swedish towns on high alert after rivers burst their banks. Halmstad in south-western Sweden has called for national aid as flood warnings rise to the highest level possible. A total of 15,000 sandbags and 1,500 metres of barriers were being sent to the Halland region by Sweden’s Civil Contingencies Agency on Monday, as the region braced itself for rising water levels. The Local

Samoa

Residents stranded after Cyclone Wasi floods rivers in Samoa. Some residents on the Samoan island of Savai’i are stranded due to rivers flooded by the weekend’s Cyclone Wasi. Although there were no casualties or major building damage reported due to the cyclone, some rivers and roads remained flooded. The Samoa Observer reported two rivers on Savai’i, Mali’oli’o River and Sasina Fiord rose to dangerously high levels and have cut off-road access. Residents from Letui and Aopo – who attended a church gathering at Faletagaloa Safune on Sunday – were stranded and unable to travel home because the water at Sasina Fiord was so high after the heavy rain. RNZ

Malawi

Streets of the capital were flooded up to 1.5 metres deep, causing severe traffic disruption. The severe weather also caused major damage to a newly built hospital in the city. Police in Malawi report that 3 people died in the Lilongwe River in the Kawale area of the city. Floodlist

South Africa

The government of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province in South Africa reports that thunderstorms have caused widespread damage in the province, and one person has died in flash floods. KZN Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) said it has dispatched disaster management teams to several areas in the province following severe thunderstorms. The storms uprooted trees, damaged roofs and caused localised flooding in multiple locations across the province. Cogta said Disaster Management teams responded to a number of incidents in Umuziwabantu, Umgeni, Ndwedwe, Umvoti, Kokstad, Umzumbe, Newcastle, Ubuhlebezwe and Umzimkhulu municipalities. Floodlist

Texas

Last week, days of heavy rain caused rivers and dams in Mississippi and Tennessee to rise, prompting evacuations and some flood rescues. Among the worst-hit areas in Jackson, Mississippi, where the Pearl River exceeded Major Flood stage and reached 36.67 feet on 17 February 2020, its third-highest level on record. The state government of Mississippi moved quickly in anticipation of the flooding and declared a state of emergency on 15 February. Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves said: “This is a historic, unprecedented flood. With projections showing the potential of this being the 3rd worst flood in our state’s history, I’ve declared a state of emergency to deploy the necessary resources to take care of all Mississippians impacted…Protect yourself and your family — have a plan in place and evacuate if and when you are asked.” TBW

Europe

Last week Storm Dennis Bomb Cyclone Update: Record wind gust of 255.6 km/h (159 mph) hit Iceland: The Met Office issued a ‘Danger to life’ warning: 2nd most intense storm in the North Atlantic ever: All-time-lowest pressure on record for a North Atlantic storm. Two people drowned as Storm Dennis brought more chaos to North-Western Europe with 70mph winds and further flood misery and hundreds of flights were cancelled. The Army was drafted into towns still reeling from last week’s Storm Ciara. The powerful cyclone combined forces with another intense storm currently that pounded Iceland and Greenland, bringing extreme waves and hurricane-force winds. This storm-battered northwestern Europe just days after Storm Ciara pounded several countries with high winds and torrential rain and killed at least eight people. Storm Dennis, named by the U.K. Met Office, rapidly intensified over the North Atlantic Ocean and the U.K and Iceland. It is the second most intense winter storm in the North Atlantic since records began more than 150 years ago. Already, the United Kingdom has received wind gusts as high as 87 mph and several inches of rain. TBW

European storms continue: the UK has 6 weeks rain in 24 hours: 15-meter / 50-feet waves hit Ireland and the UK: winds as high as 200 kph (124 mph): Up to 500,000 without power. A storm-battered Europe faced hurricane-force winds and heavy rains, killing at least seven people and causing severe travel disruptions as the latest storm moved eastward across the continent and bore down on Germany. After striking Britain and Ireland on Sunday, the storm moved on, leaving a trail of damage including power cuts for tens of thousands of homes across Europe. A woman and her 15-year-old daughter died in Poland after the storm ripped off the roof of a ski rental equipment building in the mountain resort of Bukowina Tatrzanska and sent it hurtling into people standing near a ski lift, police said. Three people also were injured in the incident. TBW

UK

The homes and businesses flooded in the UK are now in the thousands after three once-in-a-lifetime storms have hit the UK in the first two months of 2020, with yet another storm rolling in from the Atlantic today. Almost 2,000 homes had been flooded by Storm Dennis more than a week ago, and the rain has been relentless since last October.
More people have been rescued by fire crews as river levels continue to rise in Shropshire. Two severe “danger to life” flood warnings are in place for the River Severn at Shrewsbury and Ironbridge. Shaun Davies, leader of Telford and Wrekin Council, said it looked “like the barriers will be breached at some point over the next 24 hours”. Shrewsbury’s three main shopping centres have been closed “for the safety of staff and customers”. TBW

Australia

There are currently two tropical systems along northern Australia, the Severe Tropical Cyclone #Ferdinand and remnants of the Tropical Cyclone #Esther. Both look quite interesting on the satellite. While Ferdinand is very intense and should remain over the open waters this week, remnants of Esther are likely to organize back into a Tropical Cyclone when it ejects back to the sea this weekend.  SWE

After months of heat, drought and bushfires New South Wales was battered by rain, wind and flooding which plagued the state on the 11th of Feb. Sydney suffered the worst downpour in recent history. At least 134,000 NSW households were left without power on as utility companies scrambled to deal with the rain, wind and flooding plaguing the state. Ausgrid tweeted Sunday night that power was out for more than 110,000 of its customers across Sydney, the Central Coast and Newcastle.” Crews worked in the rain and storms to make areas safe and restore power. TBW

 Egypt

Heavy rains pummeled the Egyptian capital of Cairo and other parts of the country Monday, causing massive traffic jams and flooding on many key roads. The downpour also forced authorities to suspend classes the following day at schools and universities across the country, from Alexandria in the north to Aswan in the south. Egyptians shared scenes of the rain and flooding on social media, including submerged cars and snarled traffic. Parts of Cairo were left impassable, and trucks were seen fanning out to drain water from flooded areas of the city, home to some 20 million people. People also took to social media to criticize the government’s lack of preparedness for the downpour. Nearly every year, the capital or other major cities are crippled by flooding from a rainstorm. Last October, heavy rains left eight people dead. RSOE