There have been an awful lot of articles I could have commented on today... a new high-tech GPS device for tracking children, increasing fears of the collapse of the dollar, the Euro becoming the reserve currency of choice, Israeli Prime Minister Olmert talking about peace with Syria, just to name a few. I just don't have enough time to cover it all! But I have chosen to comment on environmental issues this afternoon. While political, economic and technological changes are indicators of the days we are living in, I believe the environmental issues that we are facing today are most profound. For we assume that environmental conditions are generally not influenced by mankind, and may give a more sure indication of the imminent fulfilment of Biblical prophecy.

I have already comment several times on the price of bread. The extensive flooding has decimated crops worldwide, causing the price of wheat to rise significantly. Recently the Israeli government announced that it would increase the price of bread by around 12.5%, and would ultimately end the price-supervision completely following pressure from bakeries who are losing money due to increased costs. European grain prices are at their highest in 10 years following the torrential flooding in the first half of this year. And now Australia has announced that it has slashed its estimates on this year's wheat harvest due to lack of rain. Farmers have warned that unless heavy rain comes within the next few weeks, the country's harvest will be reduced by over 30% compared to initial estimates.

Quote: "It said the amount of wheat harvested would be 30% lower than it originally predicted. Even that might prove an optimistic assessment with farmers warning that if there is not heavy rain over the next few weeks, their crops will be even more meagre. Up until now, September's rainfall has been below average and adverse weather has already reduced harvests in Europe and North America. International wheat prices have risen by over 350% in the past five years, with global reserves now at their lowest level since the early 1980s.

Meanwhile, China is bracing itself for what is being described as the "most destructive typhoon in a decade". Typhoon Wipha is heading directly for the treaty port of Zhejiang, and around 200,000 people are being evacuated from neighbouring Shanghai. The typhoon is expected to make landfall in Zhejiang on Wednesday, and the Zhejiang provincial government has warned that it is heading directly for the most economically developed and densely populated region of the province.

Quote: ""Typhoon Wipha was 440 km (270 miles) southeast of the former foreign treaty port of Wenzhou in Zhejiang at 4:00 a.m. British time. With gusts of up to 198 km per hour, it was moving northwest at 20 km per hour, Xinhua news agency said, putting it on a course to skirt Taiwan. "East China, including the commercial hub of Shanghai, is preparing for what may be the most destructive typhoon in a decade," the agency said.

Revelation 6 mentions four world conditions that will characterize the tribulation period. The first is war, the second is terrorism, the third is hyper-inflation, and the fourth is disease and death. With today's news, it is easy to see how these prophecies will soon come to pass. We have talk of a third world war with Islam, terrorism is now a global phenomenon, extreme weather conditions are driving the cost of basic necessities up and my own country is experiencing yet more trouble with foot and mouth disease. Even the heavens and earth are witnessing that the judgement of this world is at hand. But who will heed the warnings?

Luke 21:25-28
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; 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. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

Source BBC, Reuters