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The Beginning Of Birth Pains!!!

One question that I often hear other Christians ask is: I wonder when Christ is coming back? I must say that this question has been asked and pondered over ever since Christ ascended that day with the disciples watching. The imminence of His return provides all us Christians the backdrop for everything we do. Jesus has not revealed exactly when He will return, but He has told us, through His Word, the signs we are to watch for in anticipation of His return. Let me say this, the time of His return is unclear; the fact of His return is certain!

" All these are the beginning of birth pains." Matthew 24:8.

Jesus has told us that certain events would signal the nearness of His return: There will be wars and rumors of wars; there will be famines and earthquakes; Christians will suffer persecution for the sake of Christ; false prophets will come and teach heresies, leading many astray; lawlessness will abound as people do what is right in their own eyes; the authorities will be unable to control crime. Because of lawlessness, people will become cynical and fearful, and their love for others and God will grow cold.

Jesus told us that the signs of the end times will be like birth pains. The pain of childbirth increases in frequency, and it increases in intensity. Jesus said that the presence of war or famine or false teachers does not mean the His coming is upon us, rather, He said these things are merely the beginning of the time of His return! He said that the frequency of wars, earthquakes, and crime will increase and the intensity of wars and famines and other human crises will escalate. All these things until His return brings everything to a finish.

Friends, lately our day has seen everything Jesus spoke of in unprecedented proportions. Am I saying that I know of His return? No. I am merely reminding us that Jesus Himself said we know how to tell when summer is approaching but cannot see when the return of Christ is upon us. (Matthew 24:32-33.) Some of us might actually be ignoring the signs insisting instead that He isn't going to come in our time. My question: Is He not the Lord and can He not return at anytime? I believe that if there was ever a time Christians should be alert to His return, it is today!

May God Richly Bless You Today!! H Trent!

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