Thursday, January 31, 2019

Pestilence

Patients in Northwest measles outbreak traveled to Hawaii - AP
The AP reports: "A measles outbreak in the Pacific Northwest became more worrisome Wednesday with word that people infected with the extremely contagious viral illness traveled to Hawaii and central Oregon after being exposed. [...] Clark County, where the first case was documented, has a 78 percent vaccination rate — far below the 95 percent required for 'herd immunity' for such a contagious virus. [...] Before mass vaccination, 400 to 500 people in the U.S. died of the measles every year, 50,000 people were hospitalized and 4,000 people developed brain swelling that can cause deafness, Melnick said. One to three cases out of every 1,000 are fatal, he said."

Comment: The antivaxxer movement would be comical if it wasn't so tragic. You are free to say you don't believe in vaccines, just like you are free to say you don't believe in gravity. Your beliefs, however, don't change the real world we all live in.

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Fearsome Events

Parts of Midwest colder than Antarctica during deep freeze - AP
The AP reports: "The deadly deep freeze enveloping the Midwest sent temperatures plunging Wednesday to rival some of the most frigid spots in the world, triggering widespread closures of schools and businesses, and the canceling of more than 1,600 flights from Chicago’s airports. [...] The bitter cold is the result of a split in the polar vortex that allowed temperatures to drop much farther south than normal. That meant temperatures in parts of the Midwest were lower Wednesday than in Antarctica, where the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station hit negative 25 degrees (negative 31.7 Celsius) — balmy compared to Fargo, North Dakota’s negative 31 degrees (negative 35 Celsius) and Minneapolis’ negative 27 degrees (negative 32 Celsius), according to the National Weather Service."

Comment: Unlike many BP commentators, I'm reluctant to view the weather as a prophetic event. The closest I ever come to this is to note when record breaking events happen that impact many lives and cause unease and anxiety.  I think that is happening now the the polar vortex. To me, it's not so much the event itself as it is the feeling in people that it inspires. I lump these into the "fearsome events" found in Luke 21:11 but I feel that it's not a good fit, it's really stretching, and that there are no specific scriptures which suggest that bad weather have anything at all to do with the unfolding of Bible prophecy. Of course, I'm distinguishing between "weather" and "climate" and I do feel that long-term climate change is consistent with the specific prophecy regarding roaring seas (ie. sea-level rise and coastal storm damage) found in Luke 21:25. This is, of course, my opinion and you are free to agree or disagree. Still, it's cold out there! Stay safe.

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Persecution

Pakistan upholds acquittal of woman in blasphemy case - AP
The AP reports: "Pakistan’s top court on Tuesday upheld its acquittal of a Christian woman who spent eight years on death row after being convicted of blasphemy, dealing a blow to radical Islamists who had staged violent mass protests last year calling for her execution. [...] Following Bibi’s initial acquittal, radical religious parties took to the streets in mass protests, calling for the killing of the judges behind the ruling and for the overthrow of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government. [...] Joseph Francis, a Christian activist who attended Tuesday’s hearing, said the decision was good news for Pakistan’s minority Christian community."

Comment: Can you imagine a situation where a woman being a Christian is such an issue that is sparks mass protests, violence, murder and such unrest as to threaten to bring down a government? Even though Bibi's acquittal has been upheld by the court, it's not over yet for her, not until she is safely out of the country and reunited with her daughters in Canada. Please join me in continuing to pray for Bibi and her safe departure from Pakistan.

Monday, January 28, 2019

Persecution

Duterte sees bombed church, tells army to crush Abu Sayyaf - AP
The AP reports: "President Rodrigo Duterte and his top security officials on Monday visited a Catholic cathedral in the southern Philippines where suspected Islamic militants set off bombs that killed 20 people and wounded more than 100. [...] The attack occurred in the Sulu provincial capital on Jolo island, where Abu Sayyaf militants have carried out years of bombings, kidnappings and beheadings and have aligned themselves with the Islamic State group, which claimed responsibility for the attack."

Comment: Can you imagine, they just went for worship service and 20 people were killed. Please join me in praying for the families and friends of the victims and justice for those responsible for this terrible attack. 

Saturday, January 26, 2019

Pestilence

Measles outbreak grows in northwest US, 31 cases reported - AP
The AP reports: "The number of confirmed measles cases near Portland grew to 31 on Friday — an outbreak boosted by lower-than-normal vaccination rates in what has been called an anti-vaccination U.S. 'hot spot.' [...] Twenty-six of the confirmed patients had not been vaccinated against measles, and the vaccination status of four others who were infected is unknown. [...] The measles vaccine has been part of routine childhood shots for decades, and measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000. But measles is still a big problem in other parts of the world. Travelers infected abroad can bring the virus into the country and spread it, causing periodic outbreaks. [...] People who choose not to vaccinate their children are underestimating the dangers of the illness, said Melnick, who himself had measles as a child, before the vaccine was commonplace. Before the vaccine, 400 to 500 people died from the measles each year, 50,000 people were hospitalized and 4,000 people developed brain swelling that can cause deafness, he said. Between one and three cases out of every 1,000 are fatal, he said."

Comment: It's a tragic development that we have advanced medical technology to prevent a terribly contagious disease and yet some obstinate people refuse vaccination.  God bless the doctors who are working on the front lines to combat this outbreak.

Friday, January 25, 2019

Rumors of War - Kings of the East

Analysts: Japan wants military tension with South Korea to expand military power - UPI.com
UPI reports:  "Japan wants to escalate military tension with South Korea to create an excuse to revise its anti-war constitution to strengthen its military power, analysts said. Diplomatic tensions between two neighboring countries have heightened in a series of incidents involving Japanese patrol planes and South Korean warships since last month. [...] Abe and right-wing groups have been in pursuit of strengthening Japan's military power and the U.S.-Japan alliance against the emergence of China and North Korean threats, according to Hankyoreh."

Comment: I think this report is purely sensational and is way off base in suggesting actual military tension between Japan and South Korea. I'll grant that there may be political grandstanding going on, attempts to score points with a domestic audience, but I've seen nothing that would make me think that those two countries are on the brink of war. This is truly a "rumor" of war and nothing more than a rumor. 

Thursday, January 24, 2019

Fear for the Future

Doomsday Clock frozen at two minutes to apocalypse - BBC
BBC World News reports: "The 'new abnormal' the world is facing from risks like nuclear war and climate change has led the symbolic Doomsday Clock to be frozen at the closest it has ever been to midnight. The clock, created by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BAS) in 1947, intends to warn of impending disasters. Its 2019 setting was announced on Thursday - staying in the same perilous position it was set at last year. The BAS has warned we are 'normalising a very dangerous world'. It marks only the third year the clock has been so close to midnight - first reaching the position in 1953 after the US and the Soviet Union tested highly destructive hydrogen bombs. [...] The group cites nuclear weapons and climate change as the two major ongoing threats to mankind - and warned their risks were being "exacerbated" by the 'increased use of information warfare to undermine democracy around the world'."

Comment: I know that there will be some who will call this "fake news" but I think it's important to remember that this is an old group made up of professionals who take a long-term view. They are not highlighting short-term political or partisan issues, they look at long-term threats to civilization. When we talk about people being afraid and apprehensive about the things coming upon the world nuclear war and climate change are at the top of the list.

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

King of the North - Gog Alliance

Russia, Turkey Mull Next Steps in War-Torn Syria - VOA
VOA News reports: "Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Wednesday to coordinate their moves in Syria as their governments bargain over zones of influence in the war-torn country. The leaders share strong opposition to the U.S. military presence in Syria, seeing it as an obstacle to their clout in the country. The Kremlin meeting marked their first encounter since U.S. President Donald Trump announced the pullout of American troops in a Dec. 19 tweet. [...] Putin emphasized Moscow's readiness to respect Turkey's interests, but encouraged it to talk to the Syrian government to help stabilize the border areas."

Israel: Advanced missile defense system successfully tested - The Washington Post: Israel said Tuesday that it has successfully tested the country’s advanced missile defense system capable of defending against long-range ballistic missile threats. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toured an Israeli aerospace facility following the test and leveled a thinly veiled warning at Iran, just days after Israel struck Iranian military targets in neighboring Syria. [...] The test came amid mounting tensions between Israel and Iran along its northern border with Syria. Israel is concerned about Iran establishing military bases in neighboring Syria as the eight-year civil war winds down."


Comment: Strange to think of Russia, Turkey and Iran carving up Syria like old colonial powers. The loser in all of this is Assad. Does he really think he "won" his civil war? And the U.S. pulling out, that was unexpected. The wild card remains Israel. Netanyahu has already stated on the record that Iran keep troops based permanently in Syria is a non-starter and Israel recently raised the public profile of their frequent military strikes at Iranian targets inside Syria. The message has been delivered. What happens next?

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Roaring Waves - Future Fear

Greenland ice melting faster than previously thought: study - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The Greenland Ice Sheet is melting faster than scientists had previously thought - a lot faster. According to a new study published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the Greenland Ice Sheet is now melting four times faster than it had been prior to 2003, National Geographic reported. [...] 'The melting process is going non-linear in time. It will accelerate. This means sea-level rise will accelerate," Bevis said. 'That is bad news at most coastlines, including most of the Atlantic coast, all of Florida, all of the Gulf Coast of the USA, but also worldwide.'"

Comment: I know I lose subscribers when I post such news but the links have been established between ice melt, sea-level rise, storms and coastal flooding.  More than that, as our frequent visitors know, the editors believe this is a reflection of unfolding BP and backed up by scripture. You are free to not believe in climate change. You are also free to not live on the coast, lol.

Friday, January 18, 2019

Signs in the Moon

Total lunar eclipse meets supermoon Sunday night -AP
the AP reports: "Here comes a total lunar eclipse and supermoon, all wrapped into one. The moon, Earth and sun will line up this weekend for the only total lunar eclipse this year and next. At the same time, the moon will be ever so closer to Earth and appear slightly bigger and brighter than usual — a supermoon. “This one is particularly good,” said Rice University astrophysicist Patrick Hartigan. 'It not only is a supermoon and it’s a total eclipse, but the total eclipse also lasts pretty long. It’s about an hour.' The whole eclipse starts Sunday night or early Monday, depending on location, and will take about three hours."

Comment: Happy sky-watching. I think it may  be cloudy in my area, but I'm looking forward to the photos on the net. 

Thursday, January 17, 2019

Pestilence

Argentina town hit by Hantavirus outbreak; 10 dead
UPI reports: "A southwestern province in Argentina has been hit by what appears to be a Hantavirus epidemic that's killed ten people and sickened more than two dozen. [...] Hantavirus outbreaks have been seen in Argentina in recent years, with nearly 600 cases between 2013 and 2018 that killed 111 people. The mortality rate in the new breakout appears to be higher and has authorities concerned, El Pais reported."

Comment: This is a relatively unfamiliar virus to many of us, but it is nonetheless a very dangerous and deadly disease. 

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Rumors of War - Kings of the East

China's modernized military could threaten Taiwan, U.S. - UPI.com
UPI reports: "China has rapidly modernized its military and increased defense spending over the past two decades, posing a security threat to Asia, and Taiwan in particular, a U.S. military intelligence report said. The report released Tuesday by the Defense Intelligence Agency said China saw a nearly threefold increase in defense spending from 2002 to 2018. [...] A dispute over control of Taiwan has been a driving factor in the increase of modernization."

Comment: There may have been a time in the late 20th Century when the U.S. would have gone to war against China to defend Taiwan but that time has long past. It's increasingly likely that should China resort to force Taiwan will stand alone.

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Final Empire

British lawmakers strike down Theresa May's Brexit deal; no-confidence vote to be debated - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Britain's House of Commons voted against Prime Minister Theresa May's plan for the country to leave the European Union on Tuesday, an overwhelming defeat that is prompting calls for a no-confidence vote. MPs voted 432-202 to reject the Brexit deal more than two years after voters approved Britain's departure. The move has proven difficult, as new trade deals, border laws and other sovereign issues have to be worked out beforehand."

Comment: I note this because, as many BP enthusiasts know, the European Union has long figured in commentary and analysis of Daniel as representing the final world empire in his prophetic vision. The thought is that if the UK does leave it may inspire other countries to do the same, unraveling the EU. Stay tuned!

Monday, January 14, 2019

Signs in the Stars

Mysterious 'repeater' fast radio burst detected from faraway galaxy
UPI reports: "Canada's CHIME telescope has detected 13 new fast radio bursts, or FRBs, including a mysterious "repeater" signal of six bursts from the single source, a galaxy located 1.5 billion light-years from Earth. [...] Several dozen FRBs have been recorded over the last decade, but CHIME's observations mark just the second time a repeating signal has been documented."

Comment: From what I gather, the significance of this is that these radio bursts are not random but repeat, therefore scientists are excited to get the bottom of the mystery. Astronomers have observed many cosmic events (collisions, explosions, implosions, etc.) that generate radio, x-ray and gamma-ray bursts that we can observe at random intervals but events that repeat are unusual.

Saturday, January 12, 2019

Persecution

33 Vietnamese Christians Terrorized by Government for Refusing to Bow Down to Buddha - CBN News
CBN News reports: "Vietnamese government officials assaulted and arrested several Hmong Christians after they refused to renounce their faith in Christ according to the persecution watchdog group, International Christian Concern (ICC). [...] Christians are often times viewed as threats to Vietnam's oppressive communist system of government. Vietnam passed a law earlier last year giving Vietnam's government more powers to control religious practices in the country. [...] Christians make up approximately 300,000 of the one million Hmong people in Vietnam."

Comment: Please join me in praying for the church in Vietnam, that they will endure this persecution with fortitude, grace and faith. 

Monday, January 07, 2019

Persecution

Egyptian policeman killed while defusing bomb outside church
AP reports: "Egypt’s Interior Ministry said a policeman was killed as he was trying to defuse an explosive device near a church in a residential Cairo district. [...] The blast came just two days before the Orthodox Coptic Church, the dominant denomination among Egypt’s estimated 10 million Christians, celebrates Christmas. [...] Saturday’s incident likely will force authorities to further tighten security around churches ahead of the Coptic Orthodox Christmas. Already, armed policemen guard churches, and security guards check the identity of visitors. Metal detectors have also been set up outside churches. The heightened security followed a spate of attacks claimed by the Islamic State group that has targeted churches and buses carrying pilgrims to remote desert monasteries, killing more than 100 Christians over the past few years."

Comment: Please join me in praying for the persecuted church in Egypt and for the professionalism and diligence of the security services fighting the Islamist terrorists. 

Fearsome Events

Australia heat wave bakes southeast with temps near 110 degrees
UPI reports: "A heat wave in Australia is torching to the southeastern part of the country, where areas saw temperatures Friday well above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. In Melbourne, the city recorded its hottest day in five years -- 108 degrees -- before the mercury quickly tumbled 30 degrees in about 30 minutes, forecasters said."

Comment: As the new year begins, we are again reminded that nature is spinning out of control. I sincerely hope that those who dismiss climate change can at least admit that maybe something else is going on? 

Friday, January 04, 2019

Pestilence

Flu season starting to pick up, CDC reports
UPI reports: "The flu is now spreading throughout the United States, health officials said Friday. Since last week, when nine states and New York City were reporting high flu activity, 19 states and New York City are now seeing a lot of flu, and it's widespread in 24 states, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [...] In 1918, H1N1 flu killed 50 million people around the world. But the current vaccine works exceedingly well against H1N1 -- it is up to 65 percent effective, which is highly effective for a flu vaccine, according to the CDC. "

Comment: The more I learn about that 1918 outbreak the more I think our society is not prepared for a pandemic on that scale. 

Thursday, January 03, 2019

False Christs

Two men stabbed at Scientology center in Australia, 16-year-old arrested
UPI reports: "One man died and another was injured Thursday after being attacked with a kitchen knife at a Scientology center in Sydney. Police arrested a 16-year-old boy in connection with the stabbings after what they called a 'domestic incident.' [...] Both victims were members of the Scientology center. [...] The Chatwood center is the Asia-Pacific headquarters of Scientology and is the largest complex outside the United States. The 145,000-square-foot facility offers 'unbridled expansion of spiritual progress for Scientologists across Australia, New Zealand and Asia,' according to its website. Scientology is considered a religion in Australia, which grants it a tax exemption."

Comment: I guess once of the benefits of that unbridled expansion of spiritual progress is a sudden detour to the afterlife. Hope they made peace with their Creator. 

Wednesday, January 02, 2019

Jerusalem - Cup of Trembling

U.S., Israel, formally leave UNESCO - UPI
UPI reports: "The United States and Israel on Tuesday formally exited UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, after accusing the agency of anti-Israel bias. The countries announced their intention to leave the agency in October 2017 after UNESCO countries voted to make the Palestinian city of Hebron a world historical site. Israel, whose occupation of Palestine violates international law, argued that UNESCO's decision to recognize Palestinian sites was inspired by anti-Israel sentiment.

Comment: The use of the word "occupation" in the above news report is representative of the world bias against Israel. Historically, disputes over territory are resolve by war. If the winning side gains territory then it is thereafter owned by right of conquest. This historical precedent is somehow ignored by the world so that the Palestinians can claim land they already lost in war. So, please join me in rejecting the use of "occupation" to refer to land that Israel won and instead accept their victory by recognizing that the land belongs to Israel. 

Pestilence

Over 600 cases of Ebola in Congo and 268 deaths, health ministry reports - UPI
UPI reports: "Over 600 cases of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been reported since August, the country's health ministry said on Wednesday. The number of probable patients is 608, with 368 deaths and 207 recoveries, and another 29 people are suspected of having the illness. Ebola typically kills about half of those infected, but the fatality rate in the latest outbreak is about 60 percent. [...] The latest Ebola epidemic is the second-deadliest in history. An outbreak in West Africa in 2014 killed 11,000 people before it was controlled."

Comment: Praying that the clinical trial of the possible Ebola vaccine (reported in November) is going well and they are able to make progress treating this deadly outbreak.