The prophetic signs from the synoptic gospels that Jesus calls the “beginning of Birth Pangs”, are listed as follows:

1. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.
2. You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars.
3. Disturbances; rebellions; unrest (from the Gospel of Luke only).
4. For nation will rise against nation.
5. Kingdom will rise against kingdom.
6. In various places there will be famines.
7. Earthquakes in various places.
8. Plagues (from the Gospel of Luke only).
9. Terrors and great signs from heaven (Luke only).

But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

Matthew 24:8

These are prophetic indicators or signs that portend the late hour of the end times. I am speculating that after Jesus had told the disciples about the coming destruction of the temple, they must have been confused because of some of their preconceived notions about when and how the Kingdom of God would come about. So they asked Jesus very direct questions and He gives very direct answers, (except for the “when” question because even Messiah does not know). The Father in Heaven alone knows the answer, just as in a Galilean wedding only the father of the groom knows the exact date of the wedding.

NOTE: Many would say “if Jesus is God then He would know everything”. A decision among the godhead (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) that only the Father would know the exact time of the return of Messiah does not make Jesus or the Holy Spirit any less divine. In biblical Christian doctrine, there is one God as the substance of divinity existing in three separate and distinct persons in the godhead – each with their own roles and responsibilities and in complete unity about what those are. So, collectively, the godhead is indeed omniscient, knowing all things.

Many Christians would say we should not read the prophecies of the bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other. That’s like saying I should not check the weather before I travel. I have a small RV and I sure don’t want to travel into severe weather. Tornado outbreaks can happen in the midwest if certain conditions are present. All of the necessary factors must converge for tornadic supercells to develop. You might say that “all these things” must be present to know the storms are going to happen. Its not just wind, or rain, its a very specific set of conditions for tornados to develop. When all of the conditions are present, the National Weather Service issues a tornado watch. This means keep watch. Be aware and on the look out. And so it is with prophetic indicators given by the Lord.

If we are not aware of what is happening around us then how can we make good decisions? The Lord told us what to look for. Maybe its wise to keep watch for “all these things”. The only other option is to be ignorant of what is happening in the world today and miss the signs.

Unfortunately, most of the culture, to include most Christians, are missing the signs because they are not watching and scoffing at those who do watch. Don’t scoff at a NWS issued tornado watch. Be aware and prepare. Likewise, don’t scoff at prophetic conditions indicating the coming end times storm. Be aware and prepare.

We have instant access to information so we are able to keep watch about what is happening in the world as never before and look for the prophetic indicators. Should we be doing that? Absolutely! Here is what Jesus says later in the Olivet Discourse:

Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door.

Matthew 24:32-33 (emphasis added)

Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.

Matthew 24:42

Be alert, see, and recognize. The word sometimes translated “recognize” carries the meaning of “perceive” or “understand”. To “see” means to “have knowledge of”. We are to observe, know and understand. If we are unaware of the reports of these signs then how can we draw biblically guided conclusions?

Keep aware of what is happening in the news from any source you can, to include the main stream media as well as more trustworthy sources. That said, lets see if we can relate the data about what is happening in the world today to see if they qualify as a sign.

Keeping watch and discerning of the prophetic criteria is met is a three step process: 1) observe conditions in the culture, 2) decide if individual signs are present and 3) decide if all signs are present at the same time (to meet the prophetic criteria of “when you see all these things”).

In order to determine if the beginnings of the birth pangs have begun, we must see if all of the indicators from the gospels identified above are manifesting in increasing measure as time goes on (just like birth pangs).

Next posts, I will take these one by one and try to relate them objectively to world happenings to see if we can determine if they present. But I think you already know what I am going to say because you know it in your own heart already.

The birth pangs have begun…