Flooding in North Korea, Philippines, Taiwan, and China

North Korea has had flooding, 88 deaths, and now has a new food shortage crisis:

August 3, 2012

(CNN) — The World Food Programme said Friday it is stepping in to feed people in North Korea, where floods have ruined crops and left nearly 63,000 homeless, according to reports.

The United Nations declared the situation in North Korea an emergency Thursday after torrential rain soaked the country between July 18 and 29. Eighty-eight people have died, a U.N. report said, though national media put the toll at more than 100.

Counties most affected by the floods are in need of immediate food assistance, the report said. http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/03/world/asia/north-korea-floods/index.html

The Philippines and Taiwan also had flooding problems:

THE death toll from Typhoon Saola has risen to 42 in the Philippines and Taiwan, and 300,000 people have been evacuated in China as Typhoon Damrey makes landfall.

The Philippines recorded 37 deaths in floods and accidents caused by Saola’s torrential rains and strong winds, officials said on Friday. Four people were missing and feared dead. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/world/typhoon-toll-rises-as-300000-flee-in-asia/story-fnd134gw-1226442503027

A killer storm makes its way across Taiwan

Philadelphia Inquirer – ‎3 August 2012 TAIPEI, Taiwan – A tropical storm inched across northern Taiwan on Thursday after already dumping up to five feet of rain that has flooded farmland, swollen rivers, and paralyzed life on much of the densely populated island of 23 million people…It has caused five deaths and left two people missing in Taiwan after killing more than two dozen in the Philippines. http://www.philly.com/philly/news/nation_world/164839406.html

China is also having flooding issues as today’s TW News & Prophecy reports:

Flooding in China.

Torrential rains inundated China’s capital city last weekend, overwhelming the drainage system. More than 75 people died and 65,000 had to be evacuated due to the powerful rains and subsequent flooding (China Daily, July 26, 2012; BBC, July 26, 2012). Some are calling the torrential rains and flooding in Beijing the “Chinese Katrina,” in comparison to the devastation and government ineptitude following the powerful hurricane that hit the U.S. Gulf coast in 2005.

Many Beijing residents were left wondering how a world-class city that hosted the Olympics just a few years ago could have an infrastructure that cannot withstand torrential rain. Some cited the governmental focus on promoting its image to the world, while neglecting the basic needs of its citizens. Many Chinese also question the accuracy of the government-reported death toll (Los Angeles Times, July 25, 2012).

Extreme flooding is just one of many signs to watch for as the end of the age approaches (Amos 4:7). Additionally, the Bible tells of world leaders who “eat the fat” and neglect their own people (Ezekiel 34:3-4). China’s situation is not unique in the world. Many of today’s leaders rule for themselves and support only those who will support them. “Selfish ambitions” are a key motive among leaders in this Satan-inspired world (Galatians 5:19-21).

However, one day soon, Christ will return to this earth and usher in 1,000 years of righteous government (Zechariah 14:9; Revelation 5:10; 20:4-6). For greater insight into this incredible future time, review our eye-opening booklet, The World Ahead: What Will It Be Like?

And of course, in 2012, weather problems, including flooding, drought, and heat have affected other areas as well (see, for example, TW: Drought USA and Flooding UK; Russia Having Both, Quarter Million Affected by Flooding in Japan,Severely Cold Weather in South Africa and Australia, Drought in Mid-USA Affecting Grain,2012 Drought Declared USA’s Largest Ever Natural Disaster, Drought Reducing Wheat Yields in US, Australia, Russia, and Ukraine and Weather Extremes in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK).

Flood, droughts, and weather problems contribute to food shortages, higher food prices, and sometimes famines.

Floods, droughts and odd weather problems should serve as a wake-up call. Weather-related troubles with their related food issues, of course, have been biblically expected:

7…And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24:7-8).

8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. (Mark 13:8)

The rains and flooding in Asia, while not the Great Tribulation, certainly can be considered “troubles.”

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2012, 2013, or 2014? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters Where did the Chinese people come from? This article provides information showing that the Chinese peoples must have known about various accounts in the Book of Genesis up until their dispersion after the Tower of Babel.
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: The Sabbath and Some of God’s Witness in China When did Christianity first come to China? And is there early evidence that they observed the seventh day sabbath?
Islands and Bible Prophecy What’s ahead for islands? What does the Bible prophesy about them?
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Who are the “Kings of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, Indians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon?
Korea in Prophecy, Any Witness? Where did the Korean people come from? Does God have a plan for the Koreans? Is Korea mentioned in any prophecies? Will Koreans be among the first in the Kingdom of God? 한국의 언어로 : 한국 예언, 모든 증인에?
Japan, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Any Witness? Where did the Japanese people come from? Have they had any witness?
Japan, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: Prophecy Japan in prophecy. What is prophesied for Japan? Will God save the Japanese?
End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? Are there Mayan calendar predictions for change in 2012? Changes were centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans. Do Mayan/Hindu/Hopi/Buddhist/New Age/Nostradamus prophecies have any value here? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Does the Dresden codex show destruction of the earth by flood? Can the great tribulation start before 2012? How might Barack Obama and Julia Gillard be involved in 2012? Have predictions written by Bob Thiel related to Barack Obama and Julia Gillard began to come to pass?