Foreshadow Now, ‘Season of the End Times’:

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.

Two senior cadets, among 1,000 seniors isolated at the Air Force Academy, died by suicide within days. ‘Men’s hearts failing with fear for what is coming on the earth.’ US is already short of military pilots. ‘What if, in the twinkling of an eye’?

Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY•March 31, 2020

WASHINGTON – Two deaths of cadets by suspected suicide since Thursday at the Air Force Academy, where 1,000 seniors are the only students on any military campus in the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic, rattled the service from senior leadership to its trainees. 

The Air Force’s top civilian and military brass rushed to the academy Monday to reassure cadets and steer the service through the turbulence of a global crisis and tragedies close to home. 

Unlike the Army and Navy, the Air Force has kept cadets on campus – socially distant in single rooms, away from their roommates – since the coronavirus began upending military and civilian life this month. Upon graduation, cadets and midshipmen are commissioned as U.S. military officers. At the Air Force Academy, new grads could serve as a source of new pilots to fill a shortfall, or new officers for the Space Force.

Alumni of the academy and parents of cadets told USA TODAY, and filled private online chats, with concern about the Air Force response to the coronavirus and the deaths of the two students.

The parent of one member of the 2020 class said the first suicide should have triggered a massive response by Air Force leadership to prevent a copycat act. It was not clear from communication from academy staff to the parents that enough attention was given to each cadet after the first death, said the parent, who asked not to be identified to protect their child from retribution.

Precautions taken to fight coronavirus could have meant fewer civilian and uniform staff members were on campus to have eyes on cadets to see how they handled stress, the parent said.

Underscoring the gravity of events, Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett, chief of staff Gen. David Goldfein and the commander of the newly minted Space Force, Gen. John Raymond, flew to Colorado Springs on Monday to meet with seniors, known as first-class cadets, as well as staff at the academy. There are about 1,000 cadets scheduled to graduate.

“I am heartbroken to confirm that since Thursday we have mourned the loss of two of our First-Class cadets here on our campus, and our entire Academy community is understandably shaken,” Air Force Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria wrote in an email sent Monday to cadets, their families, staff and alumni.

Silveria announced in the email one effort to balance fighting the virus with combating the isolation some of the senior cadets have felt.

“We are having discussions with our healthcare professionals about how to balance cadet safety during a pandemic with providing the same sense of family and teamwork cadets are used to,” Silveria wrote. “Based on those discussions, along with feedback from our cadets, we are allowing two cadets in a room again if they so choose.”

Army and Navy officials decided in March to close down their academies as the coronavirus spread across the country, continuing online education and not allowing their cadets and midshipmen to return to school. It’s unclear when those graduation ceremonies, scheduled for May, will take place and in what form.

“Keeping the Corps at home will better ensure the safety of the Corps, staff, faculty and the West Point community,” Army Lt. Gen. Darryl Williams, the West Point superintendent, wrote in a letter March 19.

The Air Force chose a different path, Silveria noted in his email, because his cadets were not on spring break when the pandemic exploded. Three lower classes were sent home, while the seniors remained in single rooms to facilitate social distancing.

“Our cadets were still weeks out from Spring Break, so we had the opportunity to make the call on whether they should stay at (the academy) in a more contained and safe environment with our leadership and healthcare professionals, or return home to varying situations that could preclude them from graduating in May,” Silveria wrote.

Silveria acknowledged the concerns of parents and said he balanced those with the needs of the Air and Space Forces.

“As a parent myself, I understand the feelings of concern our (academy) parents have for the cadets who have remained on our campus,” Silveria wrote. “Likewise, as a graduate I understand and share the concern felt by our close-knit and protective community of graduates. We made the decision to keep First-Class cadets here because our Air and Space Forces have deemed us essential to their missions.” He added that the students have access to coronavirus testing and top-flight medical care. 

At least one cadet has tested positive for the virus.

Keeping fourth-year cadets at the academy comes against the backdrop of a shortage of pilots and the effort to begin staffing the Space Force, which was created in December when President Donald Trump signed legislation giving it birth. 

The Air Force, according to written testimony March 3 to the House Armed Services Committee, was short 2,100 pilots from the 21,000 it requires to execute the Trump Administration’s National Defense Strategy. 

The 2020 Air Force Academy is set to commission 64 officers directly to the Space Force, making them among the new branch’s first personnel. 

“The goal of this action is to maximize the chances of graduating the senior class on time for the Air and Space Forces while ensuring the best possible care for the entire base populace,” Silveria wrote in his letter.

Brig. Gen. Ed Thomas, the Air Force’s top spokesman, said there was little or no consideration given to the pilot shortage or staffing the Space Force in deciding to keep cadets at the academy. 

“But our intent is to use the best data we have to strike a wise balance between military readiness and protection of all our people – service members, families, our communities, while we support the national effort,” Thomas said. “These are all exceptionally difficult decisions that we are making with the greatest care.”

If you are thinking about suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255).

 (Night Watchman Note: What will happen when millions of Christians suddenly ‘disappear’ in the ‘twinkling of an eye”??? Those who may be first-responders, doctors, nurses, support staff, policemen, firefighters, homeless volunteers, those in the red cross or other emergency aid and relief organizations, in the national guard or military, pharmacies, grocery stores, etc. You get the picture.)

1 Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Jesus Christ’s Offer of Salvation:

The ABCs of Salvation through Jesus Christ (the Lamb)

A. Admit/Acknowledge/Accept that you are sinner. Ask God’s forgiveness and repent of your sins.

. . . “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23).

. . . “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10).

. . . “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8).

B. Believe Jesus is Lord. Believe that Jesus Christ is who He claimed to be; that He was both fully God and fully man and that we are saved through His death, burial, and resurrection. Put your trust in Him as your only hope of salvation. Become a son or daughter of God by receiving Christ.

. . . “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:15-17). For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13).

C. Call upon His name, Confess with your heart and with your lips that Jesus is your Lord and Savior.

. . . “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10).

. . . “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (John 1:8-10).

. . . “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (John 2:2).

. . . “In this was manifested the love of god toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.” (1 John 4:9, 14-15).

. . . “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” (Romans 5:8-10).

. . . “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23).

. . . “Jesus saith unto them, I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6).

. . . “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.” (Romans 1:16).

. . . “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts: 4:12).

. . . “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth for there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:4-6).

. . . “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9).

. . . “But as many as received him, to them gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12).

True Church / Bride of Christ Spared from God’s Wrath:

 Romans 5:8-10. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”

Romans 12:19. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 1:10. And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

1 Thessalonians 5:9. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Romans 8:35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Jeremiah 30:7. Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.

Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.