End Times - Part 6

         The Birth Pains: 15 Trends (Mt. 24:1-14)

A.           Scripture describes three prophetic time frames in the end times. This can be seen by comparing Matthew 24 with 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 and Daniel 9:27. The first time frame is the beginning of birth pains occurring over a generation leading up to the final seven years of this age which is made up of two periods each lasting 3½ years—counterfeit world peace and the Great Tribulation.

1. Beginning of birth pains (Mt. 24:4-8; Mk. 13:5-8; Lk 21:8-11)—leading to the final 7 years

2. Counterfeit world peace (increased labor pains)—the first 3½ years of the final 7 years

3. The Great Tribulation (hard labor pains)—the last 3½ years of the final 7 years

B.            The “baby” that is birthed includes the end-time harvest of souls, the purifying of the Church, and the return of Jesus to rule and fill the earth with God’s glory in the millennial kingdom. The pressure of the birth pains also creates the context for the Antichrist to come forth with “solutions.”

C.            The second time frame in the end times will be a time of counterfeit worldwide peace and safety.
It will come just before the third and final time frame (Great Tribulation) and will continue through
the first 3½ years of the final 7 years of this age. This period begins with the Antichrist appearing
as a “man of peace” solving many international conflicts and establishing world peace (1 Thes. 5:3).

³When they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction [Great Tribulation] comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. (1 Thes. 5:3)

²⁷Then he [Antichrist] shall confirm a covenant with many [nations and Israel] for one week [7 years]; but in the middle of the week [3½ years] he shall bring an end to sacrifice [in the temple]… (Dan. 9:27)

D.           Haggai prophesied five areas that the Lord will shake: heaven (sky), earth, sea, dry land (vegetation), and all nations (2:6) in a way that will destroy the strength of Gentile kingdoms (2:22).

⁶“…I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; ⁷and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations [Jesus], and I will fill this temple with glory,” says the Lord of hosts…²²I will destroy the strength of the Gentile kingdoms.  (Hag. 2:6-7, 22)

E.            15 birth pains: Jesus identified 10 trends as the beginning of birth pains (Mt. 24:4-8; Mk. 13:5-8,
Lk. 21:8-11) and 5 trends that will escalate greatly during the final 7 years of this age. The 15 birth pains describe the increased turmoil in a sin-filled social order. Earthquakes, famines, and pestilence are mentioned as trends that will cause chaos in society to increase greatly.

F.             Premise: Most of the positive and negative trends that will come in fullness at the time of Jesus’ return are occurring now and will continue to increase until He comes.

G.           We resist the negative sign trends by praying against them and for mercy to those affected by them.

II.           Overview of the birth pains: 15 trends 

A.           Believers are to recognize when these things begin in the generation Jesus returns (Lk. 21:28, 32).

B.            You will hear of: As many of these trends and/or the news about them accelerates at the same time on a global level, making headline news, we are to understand that we are in a unique season in history. These signs make a greater impact as a prophetic sign when more people are aware of them.

⁶And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars…⁷For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes…              (Mt. 24:6-8)

C.            Jesus identified 10 trends as the beginning of birth pains (Mt. 24:4-8; Mk. 13:5-8, Lk. 21:8-11). Matthew mentioned seven trends and Luke added three more—“commotions” (21:9), “fearful sights” which includes great signs from heaven, and “perplexity at the roaring seas” (21:11, 25).

⁵For many will come in My name, saying, “I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. ⁶And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled…⁷For nation will rise against nation [ethnic conflict], and kingdom against kingdom [economic warfare]. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes…⁸All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Mt. 24:4-8)

⁹But when you hear of wars and commotions…¹¹And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven… ²⁵And…earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring.       (Lk 21:9-11, 25)

1.  Deception and false christs: Many will come in Jesus’ name and will deceive many (v 5).
2.  Wars: military and political conflict (Mt. 24:6; Mk. 13:7; Lk. 21:9)
3.  Ethnic conflict: civil disorder and racism as nation (ethnos) rises against nation (Mt. 24:7)
4.  Economic warfare: economic-related hostility, aggression, and conflict (Mt. 24:7)
5.  Famines: massive food shortages (Mt. 24:7)
6.  Pestilences (disease): The horrors of biological warfare will bring this to a new intensity.
7.  Great earthquakes: great in destruction and loss of life (Lk. 21:11)
8.  Commotions: chaotic events in society and creation (Lk. 21:9)
9. Fearful sights as great signs from heaven: signs in the sky and related to the weather (Lk 21:11).
10. Perplexity at the roaring of the sea (Lk 21:25)

D.           Jesus identified five trends that will increase in the final 7 years (after the beginning of pains). This includes the second time frame (counterfeit world peace) and the third time (Great Tribulation).

⁹“They will…kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. ¹⁰And then many will be offended, will betray… and will hate one another. ¹¹Then many false prophets will rise up…¹²And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold…” (Mt. 24:9-12)

E.            The five trends in the final 7 years include a great increase of persecution (24:9), social anarchy (24:10), false prophets (24:11), lawlessness abounding (24:12) and love growing cold (24:12).

III.        the beginning of birth pains: 10 trends

A.           Deception and false christs: These are those who claim to be one of God’s anointed (christ means anointed). The “many” includes political and military leaders, social reformers, warlords, and cult leaders, etc. Some leaders will gain a large following as “many” are deceived. Jesus warned more about deception than anything else related to the end times (Mt. 24:4-5, 11, 24).

⁴Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. ⁵For many will come
in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ’ [God’s anointed], and will deceive many. (Mt. 24:4-5)

⁶For many will come in My name, saying, “I am He,’ and will deceive many. (Mk. 13:6)

B.            Wars: military and political conflicts (Mt. 24:6; Mk. 13:7; Lk. 21:9)

1.              Since World War II, over 150 major wars have occurred with a death toll of over 25 million. Since the Berlin Wall came down (1989), conflicts have forced 50 million people from their homes worldwide. There were over 70 wars in 1995 (double from 1989). 1993 saw a record number of wars fought in one year (29).

2.              There have always been wars, but now there are weapons capable of destroying all life.

C.            Ethnic conflict: civil disorder, racism, and genocide as nation rises against nation (Mt. 24:7)

⁷For nation will rise against nation [ethnos], and kingdom against kingdom. (Mt. 24:7)

1.              The Greek word for nation in Mt. 24:7 is ethnos which translates ethnic or tribe. Ethnic wars in Cambodia, Albania, Rwanda, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Sudan along with Stalin’s purges and China’s Cultural Revolution caused the number of those murdered by their own people to exceed the deaths caused by wars outside their borders (totaling over 150 million deaths).

2.              Ethnic conflict or civil disorder fueled by racism is continually making world headlines. They are increasing in number and frequency. In the 20^th century this claimed more lives than all modern wars combined—Sudan 2,000,000; Ethiopia 1,000,000; Uganda 550,000; Nigeria 1,000,000; North Korea 2,000,000; Afghans (800,000); Chinese 35,000,000; Indonesians 500,000; Tibetans 1,600,000; Russians 15,000,000; Bosnia-Herzegovina (1992-1995) 200,000; Rwanda (1994) 800,000; Cambodia (1975-1979) 2,000,000;
Nazi Holocaust (1938-1945) 6,000,000; Rape of Nanking (1937-1938) 300,000;
Stalin’s forced famine (1932-1933) 7,000,000; Armenians in Turkey (1915-1918) 1,500,000.

D.           Economic warfare: This is economic-related hostility, aggression, and conflict (Mt. 24:7) or making war in the arena of national resources. The greatest influence of a government or kingdom is often financial. Economic warfare can devastate a nation. For example, economic warfare was used in the sanctions against South Africa, North Korea, Iran, etc. resulted in much hardship.

⁷For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. (Mt. 24:7)

E.            Famines: massive food shortages (Mt. 24:7; Mk. 13:8; Lk. 21:11). Nearly a billion people worldwide suffer from malnutrition. The numbers are projected to increase to 2 billion by 2025 (greatest famine in history). Over 25,000 people die every day from hunger-related causes. Nearly
5 million die of starvation every year. Famine in Ethiopia and Sudan are in the headlines regularly.

⁷There will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. (Mt. 24:7)

1.              Over 500 million people do not have enough clean drinking water, leading to more disease. Water shortages have reduced the global food supply by 10 percent. The world’s population
is growing, yet its agricultural capabilities are now diminishing.

2.              According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 864 million people worldwide were under-nourished between 2002-2004[1].  In 2007 in Sub-Saharan Africa, one in every three persons were undernourished, with famine also afflicting South Asia, who reported nearly 300 million underfed, followed by East Asia (225 million).[2] 

F.             Pestilences (disease): This includes epidemic diseases and biological warfare (Mt. 24:7; Lk. 21:11).

⁷There will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. (Mt. 24:7)

1.              Experts warn that one of the greatest threats in world today is biological warfare. Nations are developing genetically engineered viruses and bacteria that cannot be stopped by antibiotics. The Center for Biosecurity says, “bioterrorism is one of most pressing problems on the planet today.” Terrorists threaten to use smallpox since many have not been vaccinated against it.

2.              Deadly new strains of malaria, tuberculosis, and cholera are becoming resistant to all known antibiotics and are killing millions. Diseases are growing in an unprecedented way globally, especially viral killers like AIDS and Ebola. Cancer was virtually unheard of hundreds of years ago; now over 100 different kinds of cancer kill over 5 million people per year.

3.              Since the beginning of the AIDS pandemic (1981), almost 80 million people have contracted HIV and almost 40 million have died of AIDS-related causes. Over 35 million are now living with HIV. In 2014, about one million people died from AIDS, and about 2 million were newly infected with HIV (This is down from 2 million deaths and 3 million new affected in 2005, but the number has increased by 50 percent among adolescents).

G.           Earthquakes: Earthquakes are not increasing, but they are making world headlines, thus being “heard about” (24:6) much more than in the past. Luke added the word “great ” to qualify the earthquakes—great in destruction and in loss of life (Lk. 21:11). Earthquakes can shift the global mood drastically and create a desperation in a greater number of people for governmental and societal change. There is no evidence that earthquakes are increasing, but their destructive impact is.

¹¹ There will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences (Lk. 21:11)

H.           Commotions: chaotic events in society (Lk. 21:9); it is uncertain all that this trend includes, but many different activities could fit into this trend. The Greek word akatastasia means instability or a state of disorder and disturbance. It is translated as commotions (KJV, NKJV, Berean Literal Bible), uprisings (NIV, Young’s Literal Translation), rebellions (NET, Berean Study Bible), tumults (ESV, ASV), disturbances (NAS), revolutions (Intl Standard), and insurrections (New Living Trans.).

1.              Militant Islamic leaders have especially targeted Israel, the USA, and the European Union.

2.              Escalation of border disputes, social and religious conflicts, and international strife.

3.              It speaks of trends or events that cause pressure in society other than wars and ethnic conflict and includes communal violence involving militias, paramilitary organizations, and more.

I.              Fearful sights as great signs from heaven: weather causing disturbances in the sea (Lk 21:11, 25).

¹¹There will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven…²⁵And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars… (Lk. 21:11, 25)

1.              The Greek word phobetron come from the root phobos from which we get phobia or fear. Fearful sights mean terrorizing happenings, or that which strikes terror, or causes one to be struck with fear or startled by strange sights. Fearful sights will cause the hearts to faint for fear—as with the Holocaust, or expressions of injustice with violence and perversion, etc.

2.              The airplanes hitting the World Trade Center and crushing of people that followed.

3.              Biological or chemical warfare released on masses. Satanically inspired activities that strike terror. Demons appearing to sting people bringing such torment so that men will seek death (Rev. 9:5-6).

4.              The sea and fresh water will turn to blood, the sun will scorch people, darkness will come, and people will gnaw their tongues in pain (Rev. 16).

J.              Perplexity at the roaring of the sea (Lk 21:25): English translations vary and include perplexity at the roaring of the sea (NAS, NIV, ESV, American Standard, New Living Translation), bewildered by the roaring sea (Holman Christian), confused by the roaring of the sea (Intl. Standard), anxious over the roaring of the sea (NET) and with perplexity, sea roaring… (NKJV, Young’s).

²⁵There will be…distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring (Lk. 21:25)

IV.        the final seven years: 5 trends

A.           Persecution and hatred of believers (Mt. 24:9). This speaks of a whole new level of intensity when all nations hate and kill Christians—nothing like this has ever happened in history.

⁹They will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. (Mt. 24:9)

1.              Death sentences will be part of the legal codes because believers will resist the Antichrist who seemingly brought “peace” in society and to many nations. To be “delivered over to be killed” speaks of legislation. Laws will be hostile to the Church. Death sentences will be made legal because God’s people will resist the man (Antichrist) who established peace and safety.

2.              The number of martyrs over 1,900 years was nearly 25 million. In the 20^th century, there were almost 50 million martyrs. Persecution of believers continues to increase in parts of China, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Russia, North Korea, Sudan, the Middle East, etc.

B.            Social anarchy: The social order will be filled with offense, betrayal; hate will dominate society (Mt. 24:10). Imagine how the KGB and Gestapo seduced their informants to betray family members. Relational breakdown in society is not making world headlines. This does not refer specifically to hatred of believers, but to people in general being offended and betraying and hating one another. After people begin to hate their family because of their faith, they lose their bearings.

¹⁰ Then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. (Mt. 24:10)

C.            Deception and false prophets (Mt. 24:11): Note it is not false Christs in v. 9-12, but false prophets. There will be a falling away from the faith at the end of the age (Mt. 24:9-13; 2 Thes. 2:3; 1 Tim. 4:1-2; 2 Tim. 3:1-7; 4:3-5; 2 Pet. 2:1-3).

¹¹Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. (Mt. 24:11)

D.           Lawlessness abounding (Mt. 24:12): Paul spoke of people with a seared conscience in the end times (1 Tim. 4:1-2). This includes people being “given over” to sin (Rom. 1:24-28). Many will be given over to a spirit of delusion as global blasphemy of Spirit occurs related to the sixth bowl (Rev. 16). Sin will reach its fullest expression (Mt. 24:12). The increase of evil is a prophetic sign as humans reach the highest potential for evil (Rev. 9:21; 14:18; 17:5; 18:5; cf. Dan. 8:23; 12:10)

E.            Encouragements: Jesus injected two strong encouragements—first (v. 13), those who endure to the end will be saved (24:13); second a witness of the gospel will be given in every nation (24:14).

¹³But he who endures to the end shall be saved. ¹⁴ And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
(Mt. 24:13-14)

F.             Gospel preached to all nations: Jesus connected the timing of His return to the preaching of the gospel to all nations (12,000 people groups). Leading mission leaders project that the gospel will be preached to every people group by 2020. The greatest harvest of souls in history is occurring now. The Bible has been translated into 2,000+ languages (used by 98% of the world’s population).

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[1] Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations food security statistics, 2006

[2] World Development Report 2008: Agriculture for Development, p. 94