Birth Pains: The Beginning of Sorrows

"For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows." ~ Mark 13:8

It is quite certain the first part of this particular bible verse is coming to fruition as there is so much unrest around the world today. Especially in the Middle East where fighting has been going on for decades (2 Chronicles 15:5). Then there is the North Korean conflict that is worrying many leaders around the world. That Kim Yong Un is threatening to "push the nuclear button" has many dignitaries scrambling to find a peaceful solution. 

And ISIS is one the most dominant renegade factions in the world today, killing anyone who gets in their way, including women and children (Isaiah 59:8). Even countries, such as America, France and Argentina are trying to find solutions to the civil unrest that is uprising in their nations. 

The Christian Bible states that during the End Times there will be much turmoil in the world and Earth will be a testament to the events in the form of Mother Nature herself. We have wildfires spreading their destruction, earthquakes rumbling all around the globe, unprecentented hurricanes tearing up coastal cities and volcanoes that had lain dormant for hundreds of years coming to life. The prophets of the Old Testament were quite precise when talking about earthquakes during the End Times (Isaiah 24:18-20; Ezekiel 38:19,20; Joel 2:10(?); 3:16; Amos 9:5; Zechariah 14:4). The Roman Catholic priest, Padre Pio (who was born Francesco Forgione), was also quoted as stating that during the End Times the seasons would not know one another.

“You will know when that time is approaching because the seasons will change so the only way you will know the seasons is by the leaves on the trees.” ~ Padre Pio

This quote comes from a translation of a copy of a personal letter written by Padre Pio and addressed to the Commission of Heroldsbach appointed by the Vatican that testifies to the truth and reality of these revelations on the "Three Days of Darkness" given by the Lord Creator to Padre Pio, a Capuchin priest who bore the stigmata.  

"Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains." ~ Matthew 24:7-8 

In the last decade alone, famine has become a major concern around the globe like has never been seen before. (Jeremiah 8:13) According to a United Nations report conducted in 2017 there are over 20 million people suffering from famine, including an estimated 1.4 million children. 

While famine is being experienced in a number of nations around the world, the major countries that are being affected are northern Nigeria, Somalia, Yemen and South Sudan. Sadly, these famines are not being caused by natural disasters like crop failure or droughts, but rather are "man-made" -- the direct result of bloody wars and insurgencies that are raging in these countries. (Ezekiel 30:12)

Among holy scripture, one the most controversial and debated prophetic subjects is Matthew 24, which is also referred to as "The Olivet Discourse". The debate primarily revolves around the timing of the fullfillment of the prophecy. There are some scholars of religion that maintains the prophecies in the Apocalypse have already been fulfilled during the events that surrounded the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. 

Other theologians disagree and believe that Jesus was speaking about the "End Times", which was to happen in mankind's future, not during the dawning of a new epoch (changing from the B.C. era to the A.D. era). Then there are yet other biblical commentators that see some portions of the prophecy as having been fullfilled in 70 A.D. and other sections referring to the "End Times" that are to occur in the future. C.A. Carson, a brilliant biblical scholar, outlines the passage as follows:

vv. 4-14: General prophetic warnings for all of history.  

vv. 15-28: Prophecy concerning the events of 70 A.D. 

vv. 29-31: Prophecy concerning the second coming. 

vv. 32-35: Prophecy concerning the great tribulation. 

vv. 36-44: Timing here is unclear.

Most scholars and theologians of religion find Carson’s outline of the passage both confusing and confused, arguing Jesus meant the passage to be more literal than subjective. Yet this is what prophecy is made of - a race to unravel an understanding of the Creator's meaning of prophetic words. 

Related Topics:

Birth Pains are Increasing

Tracking the Birth Pangs

What the Bible Says About the Beginning of Birth Pains