Labour Pains

The last Days & The End of The Age.

Last night, the 15th of January felt like I was in literal labour, which in itself is fascinating, because my middle child, a son-Reuben, was born on the 16th of January, yet that particular evening only a few days ago now, my womb was having severe intense painful contractions, and have been in menopause for nearly two years. Began praying and asking heavenly father about it as knew it also had to do with a spiritual application, as Heavenly father has often used literal things to explain His spiritual depths of truths, & He responded in saying severe birth pangs are intensifying and converging getting far closer together and far more lamentations upon this earth, and especially to those without repentance without living and walking according to the Holy Spirit before the absolute rejoicing of Jesus' return!

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It won't matter where you live, this whole earth is under God's judgement only those sealed and marked with the name of God and the lamb upon their foreheads by the Lambs blood and Gods holy spirit too, and living in loving obedience to heavenly father will come under His protection and blessings even under difficulties, testings, tribulations, sufferings and trials.

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1 Thessalonians 5:2-4 CSB — For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. When they say, “Peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you brethren are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you as thieves.

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For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These things are the beginning of the birth pangs [the intolerable anguish and suffering]. Mark 13:8 AMP

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Time of preparation is here and essential!!

The first wave of intense birth pangs signifies to a woman that the pregnancy is drawing to a close. The life within her that she has been nurturing ever since conception is ready to emerge. Her womb will no longer be needed; indeed, it will soon become fatal to her and the child if anything interferes with the approaching birth. That birth is a yet undetermined distance away, but it is now inevitable. What’s more, the contractions of hard labor will soon begin: she must get in the right place and position for them, since travelling during travail is both difficult and dangerous. Then, once the water breaks, there is nothing to do but hang on for dear life and push through to the other side, where (God willing) a healthy new-born baby will greet her.

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Birth pangs produce in all sensible women an entire reorientation of their attitudes and activities. Perhaps, up to now the mother-to-be has enjoyed the slow-moving time of pregnancy, while the child grew incrementally within her. Accommodations had to be made to the changing reality, of course, but these she accepted gladly for the sake of the child to come. New dreams, plans and hopes became her daily bread as she warmed her heart by the thought of one day seeing her child face to face. Nevertheless, most of her life went on as usual. Occasionally, towards the end of this season, she felt the precursors of the pangs. She knows instinctively that they aren’t the true pangs, but a brief shadow crosses her countenance as she wonders if the dreadful pains of labor are about to begin. Then, she returns to her usual duties and distractions.

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All this comes to a screeching halt with the first intense realization that the birth pangs have begun. The now fast-approaching birth takes center stage. The birthing clock has begun ticking and nothing can stop it!

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We are the generation feeling the Birth Pangs, the generation that is called to go through the tribulations. We can be sure that all previous faithful saints worth their salt, longed to be alive on the earth to see the things that we are seeing & will see. No woman bearing a child wants someone else to take her place at the time of labor. She wants to go through it herself to make sure that her child gets her best efforts for a safe arrival.

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This labor of the heart always involves a “burden” that needs to be delivered. There is no satisfactory solution to this travail until God brings the answer or unless He shows that sufficient prayer has been made for it to be accomplished.

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God brings to birth upon the earth the things that He desires to do using the intercessory travail of His believing sanctified people.

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It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you. Galatians 4:18-20

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The travail of intercession is not limited to people. The earth fell under the effects of the curse due to Adam’s fall, a sign that our sins always impact the innocent. The Lord is certainly “hearing” the cry of His creation as it groans “together in the pains of childbirth until now.” Is this not also a form of necessary intercession? If the earth is travailing, should we not join it?

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For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. Romans 8:20-22

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Jesus warned us: “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. Matthew 24:4-5

The deception will come through those who say that they have answers to the world’s problems.

“Messiah” is the word Jesus uses. It’s a term which means “savior,” not someone specifically by the name of Jesus (such as we know the true Messiah to be). The antichrist especially will appear to be the last best hope for humanity, someone uniquely “anointed” to lead us out of the earth’s many troubles. Such will be the problems, however, that even before that character is revealed “many will come” and through their false claims “they will lead many astray.” Keep in mind that not all deceivers are evil-minded. Many times, they are persuasive because they honestly believe they’ve come up with the right idea. Don’t believe people just because they seem sincere. Check everything out biblically prayerfully and by God's holy spirit asking to lead you into all truth.

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And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. 🪔See that you are not alarmed🪔, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. Matthew 24:6 Jesus cautions us to not be "alarmed" no matter how many people say it's the end. A war is alarming enough. Don't add to it the false idea that it is any kind of indicator of the world's end. In fact, He sees that a steady succession of wars "must take place." This is a reality that cannot be wished away or legislated away. Know this: No amount of tears or treaties, prayers or politics, can change this lamentable fact. There will be wars. We also need to know with assurance that as long as there are wars, "the end is not yet." Ironically, the son of perdition antichrist will come as a man promising to end all wars. His covenant of peace will set in motion the Last Battle.

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The Hard Labor that Follows

Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. Matthew 24:9 FIFTH SEAL Revelation 6.

Every crucial component of the Last Days has already “appeared” in the Biblical prophetic narrative in the past history & since Jesus’ ASCENSION, somewhat like a dress rehearsal for the final drama. These foreshadows are called “types” because they precede their ultimate expression (the “antitype”). As shadows of the future reality, however, they cast a revealing light of their own. Jesus transitions to the next stage on the timeline.

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With the word "then" He reveals that the birth pangs lead into a time of "tribulation." During the initial phase there will be world-wide persecution of believers: "You will be hated by all nations for my name's sake." Never in history has this happened. Just as there has always been persecution, it has always been limited in scope to one or two or a handful nations at a time inflicting the persecution. During this tribulation, there will be nowhere to run to. The whole world will have turned against those of the ekklesia the called out church. As with physical birth, the "contraction pains" of catastrophic events will continue. To them will be added the "hard labor" of persecution. Please Compare with Mark 13.

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Brother Paul explains : Sudden Destruction for Some

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-4

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Those who do not pay attention to the Birth Pangs in these Last Days will find themselves woefully unprepared for the hard labor that is coming. Paul wrote that unbelievers will be caught by events bringing sudden destruction, like a woman who is unable to escape labor pains once they begin. This is not a warning for the awake and aware body of Jesus the living Christ,—we will understand the times and seasons. It is a description of what will happen to those who aren’t “fully aware” of the signs. This will sadly include many many unprepared Christians, the lukewarm, those in name only, those who are not abiding as fruit bearing branches, those practising sins, all those in Christ who have let their oil run out like the foolish virgins of the parable, alongside with unbelievers who are totally lost & in the dark.

(Matthew 25)

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How many times do we hear Christians complain that the beloved Lord doesn’t tell us enough about what’s coming up in our lives? It’s the unknown that scares many, when He leads us beyond our comfort zone. A little extra information would sure help us trust Him better, or so we may think. Unless you carry that thought into all the revelation He has given us about the greatest time of trial of them all—the time of Tribulation coming upon the whole earth. We know far more about Jesus’ Second Coming, than Israel knew about His first coming. Yet, rather than feel prepared to go through it, many devoutly wish to be whisked away, or are asking to not be here, or to die! This time of trial is worth a much closer look and as before, as today, now is the day of our preparation with beloved Lord Jesus. A fuller view will only come as these still distant components draw nearer in fully grasping how they all fit together.

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These coming trials, and the temptations that accompany them, will touch every aspect of our lives. Our need for insight and understanding about what to do will go through the roof! With that in mind, it turns out that there are many facets to being watchful and prepared.

The greatest preppers of all time are found amongst God’s faithful. Spiritual and indeed physical preppers. Not only are they praised for prepping, but in certain outstanding cases it was the Lord God who ordered them to do it. Noah and Joseph should come immediately to mind and settle this question for one and all. If it is more “spiritual” to just trust the Lord, then why isn’t that what the Lord told those two to do? Are we more spiritual than those giants of the faith?

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Prepare to Go through It

If you have ever seen someone experience the sudden, unexpected death of a loved one, then you know that there is a lot to being mentally and emotionally prepared. You can brace yourself. That’s why it is usually such a mercy to the ones left behind, if there was the sort of illness that prepared them for the inevitable letting go. Going through grief is hard, but if it catches you suddenly and unprepared it can sweep you off your feet. Surely, this is a major reason why the Lord has given us so much advance warning about the times to come.

Prepare to Meet Him

This could be easily overlooked, especially if we don’t stop to examine what may be hidden away in the depths of our heart. Do we really want His Kingdom to reign directly over us? Are we truly ready to meet Him face to face? There is quite a distance between Adam and Eve who hid from God and those whom Paul says, “love His appearing.” Part of being prepared, therefore, is making sure that there is nothing left in our hearts that would secretly want Jesus not to come!

Prepare to Join the Rescue

Possibly, everyone’s first thought about the Last Days is how to either avoid or survive the Tribulation. Then, we may shift our focus to the lovely reality of Jesus being down here with us, God's presence and spirit and an entire host of angelic armies. Concern for the Great Harvest at the end of the age might be low on a lot of lists. We can be sure, however, that it’s high on the Lord’s. In fact, we’re told that the Lord is delaying His Return in order to save as many as possible before things come to a screeching halt. No one will make it through the last days by trying to save themselves alone. Heartily joining this colossal, divine effort to save others is the way forward. Get ready for that now.

Prepare with heavenly father, Jesus and God's holy Spirit by Prayer and Fasting & by making sure you are right with God asking Him

From the teaching of Jesus about casting out spirits, we know that prayer and fasting are at times essential elements of spiritual power. We see this same dynamic combination taking place in the Early Church when they needed clear direction from the Lord. We will need both Creator God's supernatural power and divine guidance, perhaps like never before, as we seek to navigate the treacherous currents of the dark days ahead. Indeed, from a certain perspective the Last Days are an impassioned prayer movement (“Come, Lord Jesus”) fueled by the power of an imposed fast—as famines sweep the earth. Practice now as a way of life for what will be perfected later.

Prepare by Discerning the Times The gospels reveal that Jesus fully expected people to discern the times they were living in. He royally dressed down the Pharisees for not doing so. If this applied to the relatively peaceable events surrounding Jesus’ first coming, how much more must it apply to His second? From today, all the way through to His Return, we will need to have a “weather eye” for shifts and changes in the spiritual atmosphere surrounding us. How can you seek shelter from a storm, if you don’t know one is coming your way? How can we learn to discern the times we will be going through?

Prepare by Studying the Scriptures As always the written Word is our anchor and our rock-solid source of revelation. Since over 100 chapters in the Bible carry messages about the Last Days, we would be wise to study them. Those passages are there for a reason. Apparently, Jesus believes that His, will need to know with an absolute assurance many vital things about the days ahead. Much has already been gathered by others and we can also learn from them, but as we know, nothing takes the place of hearing for yourself “what the Spirit says to the ekklesia.” There is so much that is still “hidden in plain sight” that will need study, unfolding events and revelation by the Holy Spirit to make known.

Prepare for Judging Prophecies Scripture can help inexorably, but it is God's holy spirit that is our unfailing guide, as scriptures doesn’t cover all the details of upcoming events. Fortunately for us, the Lord is giving to his body and using his body with visions, dreams and even direct encounters with Jesus and the righteous angels so that we can have prophetic guidance individually and collectively in the days ahead. Unfortunately, the enemy is doing the same! All manner of misinformation, demonically inspired visions, rumors, teachings, and lies are being spread abroad in the land—just as Jesus foretold. We must never be discouraged that there are so many false prophets, but keep seeking out Jesus as your true good shepherd for yourself.

Prepare by Learning Guidance & through application via obedience

Jesus says that His sheep hear, listen to, & know His voice. They not only know Jesus, and heavenly father, and He them, they also know and understand not only scriptures, but live off every word that proceeds out of God's mouth for their lives daily, & they are able to listen for direction, encouragement, guidance wisdom, understanding, and correction coming directly from Him. Discerning what is from Him and what is not especially In the days ahead, it won’t be enough to know His Word. It’s won’t be enough to hear from prophets or others. We will all need to listen directly to Him, as we already should be now, and especially when faced with situations of danger or hardships one after another. The truth is that we should all be doing this now, and have been since we became new creations in Christ! If we aren’t, there is a short window & still time to learn, but guidance isn’t a science that can be taught in a classroom. It’s an art that is best learned by daily practice.

Prepare by Taking on Humility & through loving obedience to all the gospel

It is well known that pride goes before a fall. None of us want to fall during the days ahead. We want to walk faithfully, lovingly and bravely, courageously through them. That won’t happen if any pride or arrogance gets its way! And pride can be very difficult to see in ourselves. It’s the impulse to put our own needs ahead of others; to trust ourselves, rather than the beloved Lord; and to draw confidence from any of our own knowledge and strength. This just won’t work in the days ahead. Yielding submitting wholly fully to the Lord, extending ourselves for others, and a healthy recognition of how little we can do without Him—these are the “secret weapons” of humility. Fortunately, there are ways we can grow in it, in meekness, while there’s still time.

Prepare by Casting off Fear

Jesus’ words found in the gospels in the scriptures says that in the Last Days people’s hearts will fail them for fear of the things coming on the earth. That doesn’t have to be us at all! We have been forewarned both about the perilous times that are coming and of the danger that fear itself will hold for any who have not learned to vanquish this formidable temptation. If you are afraid then you must go to heavenly father and work this out and through with Him. With all of the other troubles surrounding us, the one thing we won’t need to add is fear. That only makes every problem far worse! But must be preparing now with Heavenly Father in how to be emotionally regulated, calm, at peace receiving His all surpassing Peace, our emotional gears in neutral, and having the mind of Christ for the peace of Christ Jesus to rule our minds our thinking, our thoughts and our heart. If we don’t, worse than that, it can even lead a frightened person to abandon the faith, rather than staying & remaining faithful in the face of fears & especially persecution. Martyrs’ of the past may not have always been entirely fearless, but they stood firm. We would do well to gain victories over fear now, so it won’t gain victory over us later.

Prepare for Calamities

Unquestionably, there will be all manner of natural disasters, civil crises and other dangers that we should prepare to face. Not everything has a purely spiritual answer.

If you can see a storm coming, don’t expect the Lord to close the windows for you. He won't batten down the hatches for you. Just as Noah was told what was coming and how to prepare for the flood, God gave Noah the blueprints of how to build the ark, he didn't build it for him. The hard labour was undertaken by mainly Noah, his wife, their sons, & their wives. We are preparing with beloved Lord Jesus as his living arks and of his precious blood covenant for the coming fire. Making plans and being prepared is a part of being faithful as well. Heavenly father will instruct you what to do, when you seek Him with all your heart. However, if practical preparation is impossible for you to do given your circumstances, then be assured that the Lord of course knows this and has made other plans. On the other hand, if the Lord has us placed in such a way that we can set things aside, then very likely His plans include us being prepared. Here are some things to take into consideration.

Prepare by Knowing the Timeline

(Matthew 24:1-31) Did Jesus give us a timeline for the major events of the last days of the end of this age? Yes, He did! This wonderful timeline includes the birth pangs, Tribulation, the rise of the son of perdition, antichrist, the ten kings, the beast from the sea, the land beast, the seven headed dragon that the harlot rides on, the false prophet, and all the stunning elements we see in the unveiling & then of Jesus’ return, where every eye will see Him. These elements given by beloved Jesus and in the scriptures & in the unveiling functions like a skeleton, providing the structural element that supports living flesh and connects it the right way. The only thing left for us to do is to “put meat on these bones” by taking other End Times passages from elsewhere in the Bible and attach them at the right spot. Of course, if you take this skeleton apart and rearrange it (as some do), you don’t get a lovely prophetic creation from Jesus, you will instead get a monstrosity.

Prepare with Strong Fellowship with beloved Lord Jesus & with others if able

The picture Paul gives in Ephesians of Christian maturity is of believers who have united together, finding their place and purpose within the Body of Christ as a whole. Not a fractured Body, but a living, loving whole, undivided by bitterness, jealousy and suspicion. But displaying and having the love Jesus had amongst each other and for all Heavenly father's truths and living them all out in real time in every aspect of our lives. To survive the troubled times ahead, it can and will be useful & helpful to be in close, committed fellowship with other believers, if at all possible, though I understand this is not a viable possibility for so many. Yet we are connected in the holy spirit together, so don't ever forget this important truth. That means we will need to trust each other and sacrificially serve one another at far more than any superficial levels. If we can’t do that now, how can we expect to be a part of the “spotless, without blemish or wrinkle” for whom the Lord is returning? And enter into an eternity with Him, how we live in Christ here and now, reflecting him and conforming into his same image, character and nature will only ever be able to enter into His kingdom now and to come.