pregnancy verses

Mat 24:7-9  “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.  Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.”

So, I’ve been doing different words searches on words like “pregnancy” and “children.”  It has been really encouraging.  These were some particular verses that stood out to me over the last week or so.  There is a common theme of referring to the end times, directly preceding the Return of Christ as “birth pains.”

I found these references particularly encouraging, because I have been reading and studying the scriptures that predict some of the events of the end times this year and I am well acquainted with the fact that these events are going to be rather horrifying on several levels.  HOWEVER, the fullness of what we receive as Christians will also be literally “brought” to us at the same time.  Hence, the comparison.  The pains of birth are incredibly intense for a woman, but as Jesus also says concerning this…

Joh 16:21-22  “When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.  So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”

So…these “birth pains” will bring forth the fullness of our salvation, and we will see face-to-face what our hearts have literally ALWAYS longed for.

Luk 21:28  “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”