It’s The Season to Watch

During whale season, I perch on a vantage point and scan the horizon. I wait and watch, fully anticipating a reward for my efforts—a burst of air and water from a spout, a pectoral slap, and the ultimate reward, a breach.

Humpbacks migrate to the islands every winter to give birth and breed again before the trek back to Alaska. They frolic off shore. Last year, my cousin Valerie and I climbed a path, sat on the side of the mountain, and watched pods of very animated whales enjoy the sea. We lost track of how many whales we saw breech or the number of rolls and slaps. It was a dream. We sat and watched until we needed to leave.

Every time I’m near the sea, I’m searching, watching, waiting.

Watch Therefore

As I watched the other day, a scripture filled my mind

Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

The pattern appeared in my mind (because I’m visual).

• I know what season whales come to Hawaii
• During that season, I find a place to watch for whales
• Sometimes I don’t see any whales
• More often, in the right place at the right time, I see whales

Also as I stared at the sea, I imagined the disciples asking Jesus about His second coming. He’d said He would come in glory!  Would they be alive to see it?  How would they know when it would be?

And Jesus answered, and said unto them: Take heed that no man deceive you…

And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another;

And many false prophets shall arise, and shall deceive many;

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold;

But he that remaineth steadfast and is not overcome, the same shall be saved.

The Lord described the season when He would return. I recognize so many of the signs He indicated today!

False Christs

For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Here’s some folks from the 20th and 21st centuries associated with a claim to be Jesus Christ.

John Hugh Smyth-Pigott, Haile Selassie, Lou de Palingboer, Ernest Norman, Krishna Venta, Ahn Sahng-Hong, Sun Myung Moon, Jim Jones, Marshall Applewhite, Yahweh ben Yahweh, Laszio Toth, Wayne Bent, Ariffin Mohammed, Mitsuo Matayoshi, Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda, Inri Cristo, Thomas Harrison Provenzano, Shoko Asahara, David Koresh, Hogen Fukunaga, Marina Tsvigun, Sergey Torop, Apollo Quiboloy, Alan John Miller, David Shayler, Maurice Clemmons, Oscar Ramiro Ortega-Hernandez

Wars

And they shall hear of wars, and rumors of wars.

Behold I speak for mine elect’s sake; for nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom;

This image depicts ongoing world conflicts as of January 13, 2018.

Rumors of Wars

Until January 13, 2018, I just assumed rumors of wars meant precursors to wars.  However, because of a mistaken button pushed by someone in Hawaii’s Emergency Management Agency, a viral rumor of war panicked an entire state.

Famines, Pestilences, Earthquakes

There shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

Famine

The UN considers famine a technical term, to be used sparingly. The formal famine declaration in South Sudan means people there have already started dying of hunger.

More specifically, famine can be declared only when certain measures of mortality, malnutrition and hunger are met. These are:

• at least 20% of households in an area face extreme food shortages with a limited ability to cope;
• acute malnutrition rates exceed 30%;
• and the death rate exceeds two persons per day per 10,000 persons.

Other factors that may be considered include large-scale displacement, widespread destitution, disease outbreaks and social collapse.

Previous famines include southern Somalia in 2011, southern Sudan in 2008, Gode in the Somali region of Ethiopia in 2000, North Korea (1996), Somalia (1991-1992) and Ethiopia (1984-1985).

The possibility of three further famine declarations in Nigeria, Somali and Yemen would be an unprecedented situation in modern times.

Pestilence

Earthquakes

Love Shall Wax Cold

And again, because iniquity shall abound, the love of men shall wax cold; but he that shall not be overcome, the same shall be saved.

Homicide rates seem like a good way to measure love for fellow man. This visual of global homicide rates surprised me.

Gospel Preached

And again, this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come, or the destruction of the wicked; And again shall the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, be fulfilled.

Red outlines the missions of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Each mission across the world brings Jesus Christ’s prophecy that the Gospel will go to all the world one step closer to completion.  I believe that at some point, missions will encompass every country.  That season is drawing closer.

Then Shall They See the Son of Man

And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

And, as I said before, after the tribulation of those days, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken, then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven, and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn; and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory;

Jesus Described the Season

Jesus shared a visual lesson with the disciples.  Just like I know that whales come to Hawaii during the winter season, Jesus reminded His disciples that they knew that summer was nigh when they saw a fig tree’s leaves.

So likewise, mine elect, when they shall see all these things, they shall know that he is near, even at the doors….

And what I say unto one, I say unto all men; watch, therefore, for you know not at what hour your Lord doth come.