Many of us identify the beginning of sorrows in terms of the fall of man. To be certain this is sorrowful. However the title of this segment is a direct reference to Christ’s comments on questions about himself, and the heavenly rule. Christ is sited in all of the Gospels except John, as making statements similar to this regarding the end of the age.Scholars have debated the meaning and timing of these events ever since.
Matthew 24:4-14
4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, “I am the Christ,” and will deceive many. 6 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. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
(NKJV)Mark 13:4-13
4 “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?” 5 And Jesus, answering them, began to say: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 6 For many will come in My name, saying, “I am He,” and will deceive many. 7 But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.
9 “But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. 11 But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 13 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
(NKJV)Luke 21:8-11
8 And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, “I am He,” and,”The time has drawn near.” Therefore do not go after them. 9 But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.”
10 Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.
(NKJV)
Upon reflection, these statements are profound and worth our study and reflection.
They demonstrate that the Gospel or “good news,” was not always what we in modern culture would call good.
But Christ is recorded as teaching; these things must come to pass. They are called the beginning of sorrows, fearful sights, and great signs. How are these things good?
To understand that, context is required. Since the end of the age is noted, and significant events which have since come to pass are indicated. The context hold for the immediate future as well as the future not yet completed. Some of the events are larger than the destruction of the temple, or the fall of Jerusalem.
The good news? That’s comes in the form of promised delivery, not from the terrors, but rather through them, or after them. The assurance of salvation, frees us from the terrors, of disasters, illness, and even wars.
We are His children and as such we need to practice the blessings we have received, so God may be glorified.
Paul said it this way,
Romans 7:22-25
22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God-through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
(NKJV)Romans 8:31-39
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(NJKV)
So, what are a few wars, earthquakes and terrors.
Context is everything, and once we are in Christ. Nothing is ever the same.
Blessings!
