"BIRTH PAINS"!
Jesus said, "All these things are the beginning of BIRTH PAINS." (Matthew 24:8) This verse is part of His Olivet Discourse where Jesus described the tumultuous events that would occur in the end times. These happenings include wars, rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes and various other calamities. Jesus used the imagery of Birth Pains to convey that these events were the beginning of a process that would surely intensify over time, but that the disciples should NOT BE FRIGHTENED! Jesus warned that believers in Jesus would experience tribulation and suffering in this present world. In Jesus' own words, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) Believers in Jesus will experience BIRTH PAINS that lead up to the return of Jesus to this planet! But again and again, Scripture tells us that we do not need to fear!
We have reached a real time in history that none of us will forget. We are literally standing on the precipice of the unthinkable, and most people seem to not even realize it! Of course, the horrific wars have a way of erupting when most people are not expecting them. Case in point is the global war that began in 1914 and though hardly anyone foresaw it coming, tens of millions of people died over the next four years. Then in 1939, probably very few expected another global war. Again tens of millions of people perished over the six years of the major conflict. Hopefully this time, people should be seeing the reality of what is taking place on a global scale. Are we seeing that?
If a drastic change of direction does not take place shortly, billions of people could die in a conflict that looks to be rapidly approaching. Perhaps very few Amercans envision a war between the United States and Communist China, but just recently, the Chinese President boldly discussed their "preparation for war" as he was dressed in military clothing. The reports are that "he commanded troops to strengthen their preparedness for war, when he visited his People's Liberation Army Rocket Force following military drills of surrounding the sovereign country of Taiwan." (Barrons Saturday) It appears that Communist China is purposefully planning to invade Taiwan and that could bring about military conflict with the United States.
North Korea has reportedly sent 1,500 troops to Russia and are currently being trained and equipped to fight for Russia against Ukraine. This is a possible cause for conflict between Russia and the United States.
Now suddenly the conflicts of the Middle East have greatly expanded. Israeli forces have targeted main areas in southern Lebanon with ground combat units to fight Hezbollah. Iran itself recently launched a barrage of hundreds of ballistic missiles into Israel and Israel has just retaliated with powerful fighter plane air strikes into Iran hitting a number of important military installations. It appears that an all-out war in the Middle East has arrived. Of course, Iran has vowed to make Israel pay for their air strike. The US has promised Iran there would be "severe consequences" if the Iranians launched additional missiles at Israel.
Recent headlines in major news outlets include: "World On Brink of Four Simultaneous Conflicts", "World At War", "The US Preparing For World War 3", "WW 3 Spotlight", "Cold War Pales in Comparison To Multifaceted Threats From China", "Global Instability: Prelude To The End Times", "Apathy and The End Times", "Global War IS Rapidly Approaching".
There are so many current events taking place and Biblical prophecies being fulfilled (as noted and described in my last three blogs) that easily signal that THE WORLD IS ON FIRE! An encouragement for all of us is this: We are told by God not to be fearful of anything! God has been directing the course of human history for thousands of years, and HE CONTINUES TO DO SO TODAY! What we are witnessing right now should be a major league wake up call for all of us, but for the moment most of the population, including many Christians, still appear to be in a very deep state of sleep. It is indeed time for all of us to wake up and prepare for the last days and Jesus' return. "And that knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep, for now is our salvation (Jesus' return) nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand, let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." (Romans 13:11-12) So, while we are not to fear, we ARE to PREPARE.
I want to get very personal here. I am very concerned! I believe the end times are in the development stages with more signals of it occuring every day! Let me note some of my concerns:
Signs of the End Times are everywhere and increase daily, yet many people including lots of Christians appear to be oblivious to that fact and even disinterested.
Current events and threatenings of destruction are abundant and yet we proceed through the daily grind as though life will continue on as is.
So many of our pulpits are silent about the second coming of Jesus. When I was growing up, to be very honest, the second coming of Jesus was taught and preached regularly. I was made aware of it and its ramifications from Scripture since elementary school and I have never forgotten it. I preached and taught it many times in the span of 40 years pastoring churches. Oh, how I wish there were no pulpits silent and that Christians were being made aware and summoned to prepare for Jesus' return through powerful and Biblical preaching and teaching! I understand that there are probably some who do not preach or teach on this subject because of fear, lack of knowledge or because they have had negative experiences somewhere in their life as this subject has been taught. If you are not hearing this truth, PLEASE tune in to messages from Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, Rev. Greg Laurie, Rev. Franklin Graham, Dr. John MacArthur, Dr. John Hagee, Dr. David Jeremiah, Max Lacado, Dr. Robert Jeffress and a few others. I know there are many Christians including Christian leaders who do not want to think or talk about Jesus' return and perhaps are afraid of discussing Biblical prophecy. But I have a sense that when the trumpet announcing Jesus' return sounds, we may well wish we had. "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the blast of the trumpet of God. . . ." (I Thessalonians 4:16) "From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things (signs and prophecies), you know that He is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." (Matthew 24:32-35) "For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man (Jesus). For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were UNAWARE until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." (Matthew 24:37-39) Pre-occupation with lesser and more unimportant, material things and activities means that for many life goes on as usual and people being UNAWARE until. . . There will be a time when it is too late to make preparations!
Many parents are not educating their children regarding Jesus' return. Our children are not being prepared for the future that the Bible teaches. Do your children know and understand these truths? It is our responsiblility and privilege to teach our children these spiritual truths. "These words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them faithfully to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." (Deuteronomy 6:6-7) Please note this: While our children must know about Jesus' return and the events leading up to it, WE ALSO NEED TO TEACH THEM NOT TO FEAR OR BE AFRAID! Jesus, Himself, said, Do not be afraid because of these prophetical events.
So, I want to reiterate that the most important thing we can do in these very critical days is to prepare ourselves, our children and our families for the return of Jesus! The way to prepare is to personally give our lives to Jesus in saving faith! We must turn to Him while there is yet time. "Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold now is the day of salvation." (II Corinthians 6:2) "Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near." (Isaiah 55:6) Scripture teaches us we can be personally ready for Jesus to come back as He promised. Do you remember this song by Larry Norman emphasizing the need to be ready for Jesus' ?
"Life was filled with guns and war, and everyone got trampled on the floor,
I wish we'd all been ready!
Children died, the days grew cold, a piece of bread could buy a bag of gold,
I wish we'd all been ready!
A man and wife asleep in bed, She hears a noise and turns her head, He's gone!
I wish we'd all been ready!
Two men walking up a hill, one disappears and one's left standing still,
I wish we'd all been ready!
There's no time to change your mind, the Son has come and you are left behind,
There's no time to change your mind, how could you have been so blind?
The Father spoke, the demons dined, the Son has come and you've been left behind,
I wish we'd all been ready!
The Son of God is coming back, perhaps sooner rather than later! Those who are ready will be taken with Him and others will be left behind. God's Word says those left behind will personally face the most horrendous time and suffering ever known. "For then there will be great tribulation, such as not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be." (Matthew 24:21) We only need to be fearful of not being ready for His return and being left behind.
LET'S GET READY; THE BIRTH PAINS ARE IN PROCESS!
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