Jesus provided a description of the chaotic period prior to the start of the end times. At first glance, Jesus’s description about the conditions of the world near the end of the age sounds like end times prophecy (especially the prophecy about the seals). However, He qualified His statement by saying that though these conditions (False Christs, wars and rumors of war, etc) will occur near the end of the age they are not actual end-times events (as “the end is not yet”). Jesus stressed that people should not be rattled by these occurrences since these events are preordained to happen before the end of time.
- Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
- Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
- Mat 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
- Mat 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
- Mar 13:4 Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?
- Mar 13:5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:
- Mar 13:6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
- Mar 13:7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.
- Mar 13:8 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.
Luke’s account of Christ’s message is similar to Matthew’s account and Mark’s account except Luke’s account also included a warning to watch out for disturbances:
- Luk 21:7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
- Luk 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
- Luk 21:9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
“Disturbances” is a broad English term that can be interpreted in a variety of ways. The Greek indicates a more precise word than the one given in the version of the Bible I am using here. The Greek word is “akatastasia”, which means “instability” or “a state of disorder”.[1] This definition implies that political disorder, including revolutions and coups, is a condition prevalent during the time period that Christ described.
Jesus compared the period preceding the beginning of the end times as the beginning of birth pangs (sorrows).
- Mat 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
The birth pangs analogy is a very important one to analyze because it reveals about how severe the period will be. Birth pangs begin with initial pain followed by a period of relative painlessness. However, as time goes on the frequency that the pain is felt increases. Therefore, the severity of the crisis period that precedes the end times will worsen as time progresses. The frequency of war will increase, the frequency where there are rumors of war will increase, the frequency of revolutions will increase, etc.
Part 3 will feature one birth pang indicator that is making big headlines today: Earthquakes.
References
[1] G182 ἀκαταστασία Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries
