1. The Beginning of Sorrows
Matthew 24:4-8

2. The past is the key to the present and the future
The covenants have aspects yet to be fulfilled
The land is yet to be fully provided to Israel
The throne of David is to be filled by Messiah
The nation is to be saved & enter the kingdom
The church is an interim and separate entity

3. There are some major predicted events yet future
The Church is to be raptured
There will be a time of tribulation
There will be a literal return of Christ
There will be a physical, millennial kingdom
There will be specific resurrections/judgments
There will be a new heaven and a new earth

4. So, when will these things be?
What should we know about the timing?
How does the demise of the temple and Jerusalem relate to the coming of Christ?
What will signal the coming of Christ?

5. What sign?
“Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” (Matthew 24:30, NKJV)

6. Jesus had just alluded to His departure and return…
“See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ” (Matthew 23:38–39, NKJV)

7. The disciples asked, “When will these things be?”
“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.” (Luke 21:20, NKJV)
“Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.” (Acts 1:6–7, NKJV)

8. I. The Significance of the Birth Analogy
“All these are the beginning of sorrows.” (Matthew 24:8, NKJV)

9. A. The birth analogy gives a timing insight
The conception and growth are not immediately obvious
There is pain and distress immediately before birth
The birth is a new beginning with much more anticipated

10. Important observations:
The Kingdom will not be delivered until after the Tribulation
The Kingdom will not come until the King arrives
The Tribulation will not come until after a gestation period

11. B. The birth analogy gives an encouragement insight
There is warning that tribulation will come
There is encouragement that the Kingdom is coming
There is encouragement that the Kingdom’s coming is soon once the tribulation intensifies
There is encouragement that the tribulation is limited in time and intensity

12. C. The birth analogy has prophetic insight
The phrase “birth pains” had its metaphorical origin in the OT
This corresponds to Daniel’s seventieth week
Mt 24:4-8 refer to the 1st half of the tribulation
Verses 9-14 refer to the 2nd half [hard labor]

13. II. The significance of the King’s Anticipated Arrival
“And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” (Matthew 24:4–5, NKJV)

14. A. The danger of Deception
The nature of the 2nd advent lends to fraudulent imitation
-This text has a far interpretation (in future)
-It has a near application (for the present)
The timing of the 2nd advent lends to fanciful speculation

15. There are three common views regarding the timing of Mt 24…
Preterism (Past): Most prophecy including all of Mt 24 & Rev 4-19 was fulfilled in AD 70
Historicism (Present): Most prophecy including all of Mt 24 & Rev 4-19 is being fulfilled in the inter-advent age, between the two comings
Futurism (Future): Most prophecy including Mt 24 & Rev 4-19 will be fulfilled in the future

16. Matthew 24:6-7
“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.” (NKJV)

17. B. The indication of trouble
The nature of the predicted events
-Political instability
-Natural catastrophes
The timing of the predicted events
-The first seal judgments of Revelation 6 seem to correspond to this text

18. The beginning of birth pains (Matt 24)
5 False messiahs who will mislead many
6-7 Wars, rumors of wars, nation against nation
7 Famine
7 Death through famine, pestilence, earthquakes

19. The first four seals (Rev 6)
2 First seal: Rider on white horse, false messiah
3-4 Second seal: Rider on red horse takes away peace from the earth
5-6 Third seal: Rider on black horse holds balances, represents famine
7-8 Fourth seal: Rider on pale horse, represents death through famine, pestilence, wild beasts

20. Summary chart…

21. Concluding thoughts:
In the context, all these things (4-8) will happen during the period of the beginning of birth pains
The place and value of studying prophecy…
Prophecy is to give hope
Knowledge of the future encourages us to holy living
We look forward in hope to the return of Christ