Chapter 1: Watching the Birth Pains
As I have been reading and meditating deeply on the Great Tribulation and the Rapture, three truths have become increasingly clear:
1️⃣ The Great Tribulation will be a time of unimaginable terror.
2️⃣ End-time events will center around Israel — the Promised Land.
3️⃣ We must prepare for eternity, even amid the busyness and distractions of our daily lives.
These truths are sobering, yet they are also a call to watchfulness, prayer, and spiritual readiness.
The Unimaginable Terror of the Last Days
Reflecting on the first truth, I feel a deep sadness. The destination of ou journey here on earth is heaven but for some of us, this might not be the case and so my heart is troubled. The time leading up to the Great Tribulation will be marked by fear, chaos, and suffering. Jesus Himself described it as a time of unparalleled distress:
“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.”
— Matthew 24:21 (NKJV)
The prophet Daniel foresaw the same unparalleled trouble:
“And at that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book.”
— Daniel 12:1 (NKJV)
These two Scriptures — spoken centuries apart — agree perfectly. Both reveal a future period of suffering so severe that no past calamity will compare. Yet both also point to deliverance for those whose names are written in God’s Book of Life.
The Beginning of Sorrows
Jesus spoke of “birth pains” — events that would intensify before the Tribulation begins:
“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
— Matthew 24:6–8 (NKJV)
These birth pains are not isolated events; they are labor contractions in the world’s final hour. Each earthquake, famine, or war is a trembling in the earth’s womb, heralding the birth of a new age — the return of the King.
Today, we see these signs accelerating:
• Wars and political instability dominate the headlines.
• Earthquakes and natural disasters increase in frequency and magnitude.
• Pestilences — from global pandemics to new diseases — sweep the world.
• Food shortages and inflation bring famine to millions.
• Lawlessness and moral confusion grow unchecked.
Jesus warned that these signs would mark the beginning, not the end.
“Because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.”
— Matthew 24:12 (NKJV)
Isaiah foresaw the same moral collapse in his time, echoing our generation’s confusion:
“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”
— Isaiah 5:20 (NKJV)
The acceptance of sin as virtue, and virtue as intolerance, reveals a world under spiritual deception. The normalization of abortion, sexual immorality, and rebellion against God’s design are symptoms of this growing lawlessness. These are not merely social trends; they are prophetic signs.
Fear Not — Our Redemption Is Near
Amid all this darkness, Jesus offers words of hope:
“Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
— Luke 21:28 (NKJV)
The same events that terrify the world should awaken the saints. These are not signals of defeat, but of approaching deliverance. God has not called His people to fear, but to readiness and faith.
Israel — The Center of End-Time Events
The second truth is that end-time events will center around Israel, the Promised Land. From Genesis to Revelation, Israel remains the stage upon which God’s redemptive plan unfolds.
The prophet Zechariah recorded God’s declaration concerning the last days:
“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem.
And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.”
— Zechariah 12:2–3 (NKJV)
Today, the world’s attention is increasingly fixed on Israel — its borders, its conflicts, and its right to exist. Every peace agreement, every war, and every international dispute involving Jerusalem fulfills prophecy and draws the world closer to the Great Tribulation.
Ezekiel, too, prophesied a coming invasion from the north (Ezekiel 38–39), describing nations aligning against Israel in the last days — alliances that we already see forming in our time.
Yet, despite the gathering of enemies, God will defend Israel:
“Then the Lord will go forth
And fight against those nations,
As He fights in the day of battle.”
— Zechariah 14:3 (NKJV)
Israel is not a random nation — it is the spiritual compass of prophecy. When we watch Israel, we are watching God’s timepiece for the end of the age.
The Call to Prepare for Eternity
The third truth is both personal and urgent: we must prepare for eternity amid the distractions of daily life.
Preparation for eternity is not merely avoiding sin; it is knowing God deeply. It is living in daily fellowship with Him through prayer, worship, and obedience. Jesus warns:
“Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.”
— Matthew 24:42 (NKJV)
Spiritual preparation involves vigilance — not fear, but faithful expectation. The Lord calls us to endure, to remain faithful, and to overcome:
“Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
— Revelation 2:10 (NKJV)
In our busy lives, it’s easy to get distracted by work, technology, and personal ambitions. But eternity is drawing near. Jesus could return at any moment, and the call of the Spirit is clear: be ready.
Living in the Light of Redemption
The signs of the last days are not meant to fill us with terror, but to ignite urgency and hope. They remind us that God’s plan is unfolding perfectly, and His promises are sure.
The Apostle Paul wrote:
“For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.
But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:2–4 (NKJV)
We are called to live as children of light, discerning the times, and walking in holiness and hope.
“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
— Matthew 24:44 (NKJV)
The world may grow darker, but God’s light shines ever brighter for those who trust in Him. As the birth pains intensify, may we hold fast to Christ, study His Word, and strengthen one another in faith.
Let us watch, pray, and live ready—knowing that our redemption is near and the Lord is coming soon.
