12: Preparation for Childbirth [Excerpt]

“For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.” (Romans 8:22-23)

The Biblical description of the End Times is characterised by the language of childbirth. During a mother’s labour, as the time to deliver her baby draws near, her contractions become stronger and closer together until, at the height of her suffering, new life comes forth. We learn more about the nature of these eschatological birth pangs in the Gospels.[1] We read of false messiahs, war and rumours of war, earthquakes, famines, pestilences, and the sea roaring. As the time of the Lord’s return draws near, earthquakes will become more frequent and powerful like labour pains. Tsunamis are caused by earthquakes under the sea, and so this fits with the concept of the sea roaring. If current international unrest and war escalates, earthquakes and tsunamis could be triggered by modern sub-terranean weapons. At the time of writing the second edition of this book, the situation between Russia and Ukraine could yet trigger World War III. This could even involve nuclear or emerging electromagnetic weapons of war. Modern warfare in our technological age is likely to include state-sponsored cyber-attacks that paralyse the internet, crippling critical infra-structure for essential utilities such as water, electricity and gas.

We should not let the significance of preliminary birth pains such as pandemics, inflation and wars pass us by. Jeremiah warned his readers that they need to gather strength as situations become worse. “If you have run with footmen and they have tired you out, then how can you compete with horses?”[2] We must prepare both ourselves and those around us for times to become increasingly tough. It is inevitable that troubles like the Covid-19 pandemic will cause many to question their personal faith. We owe it to our young people to teach them about what is ahead, lest their love grows cold through disillusionment. As difficulties deepen and life be-comes more challenging, we want to see those in our churches prepared to dig ever deeper into the word of God and invest yet more in their relationship with the Lord. We want to be like King David who “made ample preparations before his death” for his son Solomon to build the temple.[3] We need to consider the words of Jesus, “but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.”[4]

[1] Luke 21:7-25

[2] Jeremiah 12:5

[3] 1 Chronicles 22:5

[4] Matthew 24:13

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