Labor Pains
Birth Pains, Birth Pangs, Blog, Christ, Delivery, Egypt, End, End Times, Enemy, Erik Garthe, God’s will, Gospel, Hated, Israel, Jesus, Kill, Kingdom, Labor Pains, Nation, Nations, No Longer Conformed, Nourished, Preached, Retuirn, Safe, Sorrows, Spiritual Insight, Ten Plagues, Uncategorized, witness, world
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In Matthew 24:4-26, Jesus outlines the end times, culminating in The Tribulation and His Return. He used the imagery of birth pains and delivery of a child. First, the beginning of labor pains—“All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
(v. 8) The word “sorrows” literally means birth pangs and you will know when they begin. But “the end is not yet,” (v. 6) it is only early labor. The things Jesus mentioned characterize our world now, but it will get much worse they will escalate as the end approaches. Bruce Wilkerson used this imagery in “Walk Thru The Bible.” God took the fetus of Israel (approximately 70 people) and implanted it in the surrogate womb of Egypt. It was kept safe and nourished until it grew to full term. The “child” Israel was uncomfortable to “mother” Egypt: he had to be delivered. Egypt suffered the labor pain of ten plagues and the new nation was born. Contractions are needed to deliver, but the delivery is not yet. Second, the frequency of the labor pains—“They will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.” (v. 9) Stronger pains for longer periods of time. “The End” of verse 14 refers the final, intense pains just before delivery. And in spite of all that the world and the enemy does, God’s will is accomplished—“this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations.” Third, the intensity of the labor pains—“There will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time.” (vv. 21) Those intense, final labor pains just before delivery will be almost unbearable. The labor process must occur—but if anyone says to you, “Look, here is the Christ!” or “There!” Do not believe it. The key is, “See, I have told you beforehand.” (v. 25) Be careful who you listen to for spiritual insight! The entire process must occur. No pre-mature births or c-sections.
Sin cera, Erik
Erik O. Garthe is Associate Pastor at Canton Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland.
