But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs (NASB).
Matthew 24:8
When will Christ return? This question has been pondered much through the generations. The imminence of His coming provides the backdrop for everything the Christian does. Christ has not revealed exactly when He will come, but He has told us signs to watch for. The time of His coiming is unclear: the fact of His coming is certain.
Jesus said that certain events would signal the nearness of His coming: There will be wars and rumors of wars; there will be famines and earthquakes; Chrsitians will suffer persecution for the sake of Christ; false prophets will come and teach heresy, leading many astray; lawlessness will abound as peole 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 will grow cold (Matt. 24:6–12).
Jesus said that the signs of the end times will be like birth pangs. 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 that His coming is upon us. These things, He said, are merely the beginning. He said that the frequency of wars, earthquakes, and crime will increase until finally Christ’s return brings everything to a finish. The intensity of wars and famines and other human crises will also escalate.
Our day has seen everything Jesus spoke of reach unprecedented proportions. If there were ever a time Christians should be alert to Jesus’ coming, it is today.
Excerpts republished with permission from Experiencing God Day by Day by Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby c. 1997 B&H Publishing Group.
On Sept. 21 of this year I lost my husband to cancer. We were married for a little over 45 yrs.
I thought that because I was his caregiver for over a yr. that I was ready for his passing. I guessed wrong. I was with him when he passed and it was a hard death. He didn’t want to leave us. Although I know he is with our Lord, I’m not sure that he fully trusted Jesus as his Savior. He was very afraid of going on to the next step in our journey. He had been saved and baptized many yrs ago, but hardly ever attended church. I worry about his salvation. I also worry about my reaction to his death. I ask for your prayers to help me go on from here. Thank you Lord for loving us and holding us near.