The Beginning of Birth Pains
I believe that the prophetic scriptures are a word puzzle/mystery. And though these passages are penned by many individuals, one must remember that there is only one author of the Bible, Christ. That said, when Christ stated:
Matthew 24: 3As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"
4Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. 6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are THE BEGINNING OF BIRTH PAINS.
Now, these "birth pains" could just a random statement with no forethought, or they could be well placed set of words designed into the Bible to provide more information about a another part of the Bible (I for one am more inclined to believe that these words are well placed and designed into the Bible) So, what other part of the Bible is discussing "birth pains?" How about Revelation 12 where the woman is "travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered."
If these passages are related and not random, then Matthew 24 provides us with a time reference in which the woman in Revelation 12 is going to birth the manchild. Specifically, at the "end of the age." And if the woman is going to birth the manchild at "the end of the age," then the manchild is not Christ.
Guy
I believe that the prophetic scriptures are a word puzzle/mystery. And though these passages are penned by many individuals, one must remember that there is only one author of the Bible, Christ. That said, when Christ stated:
Matthew 24: 3As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"
4Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. 6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are THE BEGINNING OF BIRTH PAINS.
Now, these "birth pains" could just a random statement with no forethought, or they could be well placed set of words designed into the Bible to provide more information about a another part of the Bible (I for one am more inclined to believe that these words are well placed and designed into the Bible) So, what other part of the Bible is discussing "birth pains?" How about Revelation 12 where the woman is "travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered."
If these passages are related and not random, then Matthew 24 provides us with a time reference in which the woman in Revelation 12 is going to birth the manchild. Specifically, at the "end of the age." And if the woman is going to birth the manchild at "the end of the age," then the manchild is not Christ.
Guy