BBP: 1 Understanding the Beginning of the Endtimes

Chapter 1

Understanding the Beginning of the Endtimes

Contents

A) The importance of The Beginning of Birth Pains The Church will be there!

B) God expects us to interpret even difficult prophetic Scripture correctly

C) Watching for the Endtimes to begin

D) Determining when the Endtimes begin 3 testimonies

Primary Points

One reason The Beginning of Birth Pains is a vital biblical topic is that The Last Generation Church will have to face these catastrophes.

Interpreting the Scriptures addressed in this book will be challenging. In order to obtain more detail on the Endtimes, we need to study the more obscure visions of Daniel and Revelation. This is the most difficult kind of Scripture to confidently interpret.

Even if we correctly interpret the meaning of a biblical prophecy in Scripture, we can rarely be absolutely certain about even our very reasonable suggestions of how they will be fulfilled in the world.

God inspired the biblical prophecies in the OT and Revelation because He did want them correctly interpreted and explained (2 Tim 2:15).

Throughout Christ’s sermon on the Endtimes He said: “Be on guard! Be alert!” … “keep watch” … “What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” (Mark 13:33, 34, 37 NIV). Watch! for what? Current events in our world that would signal the beginning of the Endtimes. Obeying Christ will help the Church to be eagerly waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed (1 Cor 1:7).

• God wanted signs of the Endtimes to occur in every generation because He wanted every generation of Christians to believe they could be the Last Generation Church.
• Many Christians have misinterpreted signs of the Endtimes.

Antichrist’s Resurrection seems to be the first certain sign the Endtimes have begun.

It seems God will want us to follow the biblical rule that Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses (Matt 18:16) to have sufficient confidence that the Endtimes have begun.

It will be suggested that a modern political, economic, and military coalition is emerging today that is a reasonable candidate to fulfill the biblical prediction of a 10-nation Endtime Coalition.

It will also be argued that there is a person emerging in the world today that reflects some of the biblical attributes predicted for the Antichrist in rather remarkable ways.

This book may help you understand how close we may be to the Endtimes.

65% of Christians believe we are already living in the endtimes, but only 21% believe Jesus will return in their lifetime. Therefore, it is important to carefully define the “Endtimes” as the events predicted in Scripture that will rather immediately precede and follow Christ’s Second Coming.

A) The importance of The Beginning of Birth Pains The Church will be there!

Hopefully, you have read the previous book, Endtimes Essentials book #1, Christ’s Endtimes Teaching (CET). In it the Pre-Wrath Rescue position was thoroughly demonstrated from Scripture. It can be portrayed in the following graphic:

The circled Beginning of Birth Pains indicates where we are at in the sequence of Endtime events in this book. Therefore, the graphic tells us one reason The Beginning of Birth Pains is a vital biblical topic. THE CHURCH WILL BE THERE. Contrary to popular views of the Endtimes, the Church’s Rescue (“rapture”) does not occur until Christ’s visible Return and after the completion of The Greatest Persecution. Therefore, the first reason The Beginning of Birth Pains is such a vital biblical topic for the Church is because Christians in the Last Generation Church will have to face them.

B) God expects us to interpret prophetic Scripture correctly

As noted, in the previous book the above sequence of Endtime events was clearly confirmed by Christ’s Endtimes Teaching, Christ’s Revelation, the Apostle Paul’s epistles to the Thessalonians, and Daniel. There should be no doubts about the biblical truth of the Pre-wrath Rescue position that these Scriptures describe. It has been confirmed by the testimony of at least three witnesses in Scripture. And two of those witnesses were not symbolic visions, but clear teachings by Christ and the Apostle.

Interpreting the Scriptures addressed in this second book, The Beginning of Birth Pains, will be more challenging. The clear teaching of Jesus and Paul has given us a clear and general outline of Endtime events. But in order to obtain more detail on these events, we need to study the more obscure visions of OT Prophets and Revelation. This is the most difficult kind of Scripture to confidently interpret.

What makes this even more difficult is Christ’s command to “Watch!” for signs of His Return in current events (cf. sec. D below). This requires us to do our best to recognize current events that are fulfilling and matching our interpretation of the complex visions in Daniel and Revelation. Therefore, even if we have correctly interpreted the meaning of a biblical prophecy in Scripture, we can rarely be absolutely certain about even our very reasonable suggestions of how they will be fulfilled in the world. For example, we read in Daniel:

The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints (Dan 7:24-25 NIV).

The last sentence of the prophecy is rather easy to interpret. The NT teachings of Jesus and Paul enable us to recognize this is describing “the abomination of desolation” (Matt 24:15) when the man of lawlessness … sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God (2 Thess 2:4) and begins the greatest persecution (Matt 24:21; cf. CET, chs. 4-5). But how will we confidently recognize the emergence of these ten kings or when the Antichrist arises … after them? What will it look like when the Antichrist subdues three kings? And another question. Where do these events, that Christ never mentioned, fit into the sequence of Endtime events? Answering these questions will be a primary purpose of this book, The Beginning of Birth Pains.

But it must be admitted that all of these details are not absolutely clear in Scripture. Therefore, the conclusions in this book are simply the best interpretation of prophetic Scripture, based on the careful biblical arguments provided. There is no claim here that everything that will be suggested in this book will turn out exactly the way it is proposed. In fact, there is probably one thing you can be certain about. Things will not work out exactly as they are suggested in The Beginning of Birth Pains. This includes the sequence of Endtime events that will be suggested.

It is only as God fulfills Endtime events that we will be able to understand and confirm more specific details about the Endtimes. No one can be absolutely certain of these things until after they are fulfilled. For example, think about how much better we understand the specific and literal fulfillments of the OT prophecies about Christ’s First Coming after it occurred. The same will be true of the events surrounding Christ’s Second Coming.

Therefore, it is necessary to approach the interpretation of prophetic Scripture with humility. This is why the word “seems” is used repeatedly in this book. In addition, probabilities of correct conclusions are suggested, not certainties. Nevertheless, based on the biblical arguments provided, it is claimed that these probabilities are very reasonable. In addition, it is humbly suggested that the reasonable probabilities given in this book are high enough, and the issues critical enough, that its conclusions should be carefully considered.

Again, this study must be approached with humility, both by the author and the reader. But, as discussed in chapter 1 (sec. C) of Christ’s Endtimes Teaching, God expects especially His Teachers to correctly interpret Scripture. This includes the more difficult texts of biblical prophecy. It was written there:

God gave us hundreds of verses of Scripture about the Endtimes. Let us not dishonor God by putting these Scriptures into virtual trash cans labeled “too obscure,” “too controversial,” or “just symbolic.” This does not please the Author of these Scriptures.

If we love God, we will obey His command to: Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. (2 Tim 2:15 NLT)

Again, this command includes the word of truth in the more difficult passages of prophetic Scripture. God inspired the prophecies in the OT and Revelation because He did want them correctly interpreted and explained. Otherwise their value is very diminished and they do not accomplish all of God’s purposes for them.

The command in 2 Timothy 2:15 exposes the unbiblical nature of the popular views addressed in the previous book. Apathetic Pan-tribulationism claims the biblical details of Endtime events are too obscure to understand, or to be important (cf. CET ch. 3, sec. A; ch. 11, sec. C). This view does not even try to Work hard to correctly explain the prophetic Scriptures. Instead, it often hides behind some kind of false humility that accuses others of arrogance for attempting to do so. But surely, God is more pleased with a good worker and Teacher who does not need to be ashamed and who does their best to correctly explain the word of truth. Even the truth in the prophetic Scriptures.

As also demonstrated in the previous book, popular Pre-tribulationism, Amillennialism, Historicism, and Preterism have also largely failed to correctly explain prophetic Scripture (cf. CET chs. 12-16). Therefore, those teaching and believing such views will not be able to readily recognize the fulfillment of biblical prophecy even if it is occurring in the current events of their day. But because of the biblical foundation of correctly interpreting Christ’s Endtimes Teaching in the previous book, we are in a much better position than most, to correctly interpret other prophetic Scriptures, and correctly and confidently recognize their fulfillment.

But the Apostle Paul also taught a few verses after 2 Timothy 2:15, But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations (v. 23 NASB). Unfortunately, when one reads Christian literature on the Endtimes, or listens to teachings on the topic, one often encounters proud-sounding people making bold and dogmatic speculations based on doubtful interpretations of prophetic Scripture. Such an approach often seems foolish, arrogant, and gives the godly endeavor of understanding the Endtimes a bad name.

There will be a great attempt in the following chapters to avoid foolish and ignorant speculations. Suggested interpretations or applications of the prophetic Scriptures discussed will be supported by careful, biblical, and reasonable arguments as much as possible.

Interpreting prophetic Scripture accurately, and recognizing its fulfillment confidently, is a difficult challenge. But contrary to the practice and attitude of many in the Church today, we should diligently pursue these things because God commanded us to do both. In 2 Timothy discussed above He clearly commanded His Teachers to correctly interpret prophetic Scripture. His commands to also Watch! current events in light of biblical prophecy will be discussed next.

C) Watching for the Endtimes to Begin

C.1) Christ’s clear and repeated command to watch for signs of His Return in current events

This book, The Beginning of Birth Pains, will seek to answer a very important question: How will we confidently know when the Endtimes have actually begun? The answer to this question is important for several reasons. First, if we are able to recognize the beginning of the Endtimes, then we will know all the other predicted events will follow rather quickly. This is one reason Jesus called them birth pains (Matt 24:8). Once we know the birth pains have begun, then we know devastating wars, famines, and plagues will follow rather immediately and The Greatest Persecution will occur next. Recognizing this will help us prepare for these unprecedented catastrophes.

But perhaps the clearest reason God wants us to know when the Endtimes begin, is because Christ repeatedly commanded His people to “Watch!” for biblical signs of the Endtimes. Therefore, it is both surprising and disappointing how little is taught in the Church today to answer the question biblically and clearly: What will be the first certain sign the Endtimes have begun?

In chapter 10 of Christ’s Endtimes Teaching you read:

There are also several practical reasons God wants us to understand the Endtimes. First, He wants His Church to be watching and ready for it when it begins. We read: As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said … what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (Matt 24:3 NLT). In response Jesus very carefully and intentionally described many signs and events that will signal His Return.

This is why throughout Christ’s sermon on the Endtimes He said: “Be on guard! Be alert!” … “keep watch” … “What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” (Mark 13:33, 34, 37 NIV). Watch! for what? Current events in our world that would signal the beginning of the Endtimes, and that Christ’s Return is near.

Elsewhere, Christ rebuked the Pharisees for not understanding biblical signs. He said, “You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky [to predict the weather], but you cannot interpret the signs of the times” (Matt 16:1-3 NIV) to recognize Christ’s First Coming. Likewise, Christ would confront Christians today who cannot interpret the signs of His Second Coming.

Christ could not have been clearer. A repeated command in His Endtimes Teaching was to “Watch!” current events so that we would recognize the beginning of the Endtimes. Unfortunately, this command is widely ignored in the Church today. Popular views on the Endtimes discourage this very thing. It is the popularity of these teachings on the Endtimes that has led to the statistic that 45% of American Evangelical Christians claim: “it is impossible to know the circumstances that will precede Jesus’ return.” Therefore, it is impossible for such Christians to intelligently obey Christ’s command to “Watch!” (sec. D)

It is especially the “apathetic” and “metaphorical” views on the doctrine of the Endtimes that have not encouraged or equipped Christians to obey Christ’s repeated command.

Many misapply Christ’s famous statement: “No one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows” (Matt 24:36 NLT). This is often interpreted to mean we should not be looking for signs of Christ’s Return. Or that it is misguided or impossible to accurately recognize current events that are fulfilling biblical prophecy.

This common misinterpretation of Christ’s statement is partly corrected by noticing that knows is in the present tense. In other words, Jesus said “No one now knows 2,000 years ago the day or hour when these things will happen.” Jesus did not say no one will ever know the timing of His Return. In fact a few verses earlier in the same sermon He said, “When you see all these things predicted in His sermon, you can know his return is very near, right at the door” (Matt 24:33 NLT). Therefore, just because we cannot currently know the exact day or the exact hour of Christ’s Return, does not mean that we cannot confidently know his return is very near, right at the door because we have seen current events fulfilling the signs He gave us.

Therefore, it is wrong to allow our misinterpretation of Matthew 24:36 to give us an excuse for not obeying Christ’s repeated command in the same sermon to “Be on guard! Be alert!” … “keep watch” … “What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” (Mark 13:33, 34, 37 NIV).

God wants us to be diligently, carefully, wisely, and biblically monitoring current events in our world so that we can know when the Endtimes have begun, and Christ’s Return is near. That is the only way to practically obey Christ’s command to “Watch!” Accordingly, the respected Christian teacher John Piper recently wrote:

Jesus’s repeated command that we be awake, ready, on guard, watchful, and vigilant is not because the second coming will take obedient disciples off guard, but because spiritual stupor results in being oblivious to what is happening in the world…

The uncertainty of the time of Christ’s return functions to warn all of us to be spiritually alive and awake and sober because the alternative is a spiritual condition that will be blind to signs [of Christ’s Return]… Another way to describe our zeal to be spiritually awake and sober and discerning is to say that we love the Lord’s appearing (2 Tim. 4:8), or that we are “eagerly waiting for him” (Heb. 9:28; cf. 1 Cor. 1:7; Phil. 3:20). ^[1]

Indeed, the NT Christians had a very different perspective on the Endtimes than many in the Church today. Paul wrote to the Philippians: We are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior (3:20 NLT). He wrote the Corinthians, you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed (1 Cor 1:7 NIV). The Apostle writes of all who have loved His appearing (2 Tim 4:8 NASB) and in Hebrews we read of all who are eagerly waiting for him (9:28 NLT). This eager and vigilant expectation of Christ’s Return is not the experience of many Christians today. They are far too consumed with the details of their daily lives.

Why is this? For one reason they have been discouraged from obeying Christ’s command to “Watch” current events for signs of His Return. This is one reason Christ gave us this command. To help us to be watching expectantly for His Return. Correctly understanding the biblical signs of the Endtimes and accurately recognizing them in current events helps us to be eagerly waiting for him to return (Phil 3:20).

C.2) Unbiblical criticism about obeying Christ’s command to “Watch!”

Unfortunately, it has become popular in the Church to make fun of Christians who monitor the news for signs of the Endtimes. Pagans of course do this, as was described long ago in the Bible. We read in 2 Peter:

Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth, and following their own desires. They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.” (2 Pet 3:3-4 NLT)

Do not be like these pagan scoffers who would criticize Christians for evaluating current events in our world to recognize biblical signs of the Endtimes. Unfortunately, too many Christian scholars, Pastors, and others sound too much like these pagan scoffers. The mocking that comes from Christian Teachers in particular is often supported by errors in their interpretation of Christ’s Endtimes Teaching. Rather shockingly, it has become common for them to actually claim Christ was not teaching us signs to look for to recognize the beginning of the Endtimes. ^[2] This skepticism is often based on the view that The Beginning of Birth Pains have been fulfilled throughout Church history. But as explained in the first book, Christ’s Endtimes Teaching (ch. 3, sec. B), this misleading teaching called Historicism does not reflect Christ’s intention in His Endtimes sermon.

If we are to obey Christ’s command to “Watch!” we must avoid the errors of pagan skepticism. We must also ignore the common scholarly skepticism in the Church that would also discourage us from honoring Christ’s command.

At this point, let us answer some very important questions. Why have the things Jesus predicted for the Endtimes happened throughout human history? A related question is this. Why did the first century Christians believe Christ’s Return was near? A brief answer to these questions can be offered. God has had purposes for allowing wars, famines, plagues, and earthquakes to occur throughout history. One of them is this: God has wanted every generation of Christians to believe they could be the Last Generation. Including Christians in the first generation. This is because such a belief has a very positive effect on our Christianity. Some of these were explained in Christ’s Endtimes Teaching (ch. 2, sec. B). There are many spiritual benefits to having evidence in your generation of the possibility of Christ’s Return. And that is why God has planned it that way.

Skeptics would claim the first century church was wrong to believe Christ was returning soon. No they were not. They believed what God wanted them to believe. Of course it may be wrong to be absolutely certain of such things, but God wants us to eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed (1 Cor 1:7 NIV). And that means believing there is a good possibility it may happen in our lifetime. And that God-honoring perspective is helped by having an understanding of the biblical signs of the Endtimes and diligently monitoring current events in our world.

This is what the skeptical and critical pagans, Pastors, and scholars described above fail to appreciate. As a result, they criticize Christians for doing what God wants them to do: believe that Christ’s Return could be near. It is God’s will that every one of His children live as if the Endtimes could begin TODAY. Because they very well could. Which is why our Lord commanded us: “Watch!”

C.3) Common mistakes made in obeying Christ’s command to “Watch!”

However, it must be admitted that many Christians make mistakes in their desire to “Watch!” current events for signs of the Endtimes. These extremes are one reason why Pastors and scholars have gone to the other extreme to discourage Christians from watching at all. What are some of these errors?

First is the embarrassing practice of setting dates. Cults like the Jehovah Witnesses have been especially guilty of this. But a Christian leader as well-known as Pat Robertson has done this twice. ^[3] He is the founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network, a foremost leader in the Pentecostal movement, and was a candidate in a U.S. presidential election. Twice he has claimed certain Endtime events would occur at certain times and twice he has been embarrassingly wrong. ^[4]

The first problem with obeying Christ’s command to “Watch!” current events for signs of biblical prophecy being fulfilled is that too many have dogmatically set dates and made predictions without careful and reasonable biblical arguments.

A second problem is that too many Christians have looked for and proclaimed signs of the end that are not biblical. For example, some popular “prophecy experts” have made a big deal about “blood moons.” Of course, the instant right before Christ Returns, the whole moon will become blood red (Rev 6:12; cf. Matt 24:29). But Scripture does not teach that such a thing would be an initial sign the Endtimes have begun.

Some claim the prediction in Daniel that Many will go here and there to increase knowledge (12:4), points to the exponential growth of information in our day. But this prophecy is specifically referring to an increase in the understanding of the words of the scroll that contained Daniel’s prophecy, when these prophecies are being fulfilled. ^[5]

Some claim conspiracy theories of the world moving to a “cashless society” are evidence we are moving closer to the time when we cannot buy or sell unless we have the mark … of the beast (Rev 13:17). But there will be no problem enforcing this circumstance even if the world’s physical currencies are operating.

Others claim modern technology that might make it possible for imbedded chips to contain medical and personal information are a sure sign of the Endtimes. This is because they believe such a device will become the mark … of the beast (Rev 13:16-17). There may be other reasons for Christians to reject such technology, but fear of taking Antichrist’s mark is not one of them. First, the Bible says the mark will be the name of the beast or the number of its name, not your personal medical or financial information. Second, the mark will be visibly printed on the skin of people’s right hands or on their foreheads, not invisibly embedded under their skin.

Third, no real born-again Christian will receive the mark because all who do so will be damned forever (cf. Rev 14:9-11). If you believe the Bible teaches that no predestined, irreversibly re-created, completely paid for, and spiritually sealed Christian can lose their salvation, then you know that no real Christian will take the mark. This is not something that is going to “sneak up” on God’s people and trick them into doing so. Christians in the Last Generation Church will know what the mark is, be clear on what they are being asked to do, and will refuse to do so. Therefore, embedded chip technology is probably not a biblical sign of Christ’s Return.

A third common mistake is overlooking what the Bible says will be the first certain sign the Endtimes have begun. What will this event be? That is not an easy question to answer. Which is why chapters 10-12 of this book will be devoted to understanding this topic. There it will be noted that the first “birth pain” that Jesus described was the emergence of False Christs (cf. Matt 24:4-5). It will be argued that the Antichrist will be the first and foremost of these False Christs to appear. In addition, it will be the Antichrist’s Resurrection that will clearly confirm his identity. Therefore, it seems the first certain sign the Endtimes have begun will be the Antichrist’s Resurrection.

Unfortunately, many Christians ignore or overlook such initial biblical signs of the Endtimes and focus on events that will follow. For example, many will point to the growing threat of nuclear war as a sign that the Endtimes are near. But the world has had nuclear weapons for almost 80 years. Until we see Antichrist’s emergence, the Endtime wars will probably not occur.

Likewise, some claim that famines, plagues, and earthquakes are a sign the Endtimes have begun. But these things have been occurring throughout human history. For example, some have claimed the number of earthquakes have been increasing, but the data does not support this. ^[6] Nevertheless, no matter how severe these catastrophes may be, until we see Antichrist’s emergence, they are probably not reliable signs of the Endtimes. ^[7]

Unfortunately, all of the above mistakes have created a lot of skepticism about any Christians attempting to obey Christ’s command to “Watch!” But the concern is greatly exaggerated. It is true that many people throughout history have suggested current events in their time that they thought may be fulfilling Endtimes prophecy. Many do the same today. And if such statements are made as merely suggestions, then they are probably sincere attempts to obey Christ’s command to “Watch.” But frankly, few of those suggestions have ever been based on careful, accurate, and comprehensive interpretations of Scripture. It is suggested you will find something different in this book, The Beginning of Birth Pains.

It is understandable that the reader will be skeptical about some of the suggested conclusions in this book. It is easy to assume that many people have produced similar research on biblical prophecy and current events and have been wrong. But it is suggested that assumption is not true. For the assumption to be true, you would have to find a great number of Bible studies, books, and teachings that have offered reasonable interpretations of a lot of prophetic Scripture and reasonably applied them to current events. It is easy to imagine such a thing has been done by many people throughout Church history. But, again, that assumption simply is not true. You simply will not find very much of that kind of careful study available anywhere.

It is suggested that relatively few have supported their conclusions with as many reasonable interpretations of prophetic Scripture as you will find in The Beginning of Birth Pains. That does not mean these conclusions are correct. Again, they are shared as probabilities, not certainties. However, the reader is being asked to evaluate the arguments in this book without assuming they are based on the same shallow and misguided biblical interpretations that have been too common among Christians and even cults on this matter. It is suggested there is a recognizable difference in the biblical exegesis in this book. It is also suggested that the current events being discussed are also very unique. It will be argued that these current events seem to be fulfilling biblical prophecy in ways that are unprecedented in human history. But again, all of this will be for the reader to decide.

But it can be said to all Christians: obey Christ’s command to “Watch!” by monitoring current events for the emergence of the biblical signs of the Endtimes. This book, The Beginning of Birth Pains, is offered to help you biblically interpret the signs of the times (Matt 16:1-3 NIV) that point to Christ’s Second Coming. As a result, you will be better equipped to obey Christ’s repeated command to Watch! for His Return. In addition, this book may help you understand just how close we may be to the beginning of the Endtimes.

D) Determining when the Endtimes begin 3 testimonies

There are several obstacles to understanding what the Bible teaches on recognizing the beginning of the Endtimes. First, is the widespread confusion on this topic. Again, 45% of American Evangelical Christians claim: “It is impossible to know the circumstances that will precede Jesus’ return.” Such people have little hope of clearly understanding when the Endtimes have actually begun.

Likewise, according to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, 65% of American Evangelical Christians claimed to “believe we are already living in the endtimes.” However, only about 21% of American Evangelical Protestants “say they believe Jesus will definitely or probably return during their lifetime.” ^[8] Therefore, it would seem a considerable number of Christians would claim the Endtimes have already begun, but they do not believe Christ will Return anytime soon. That seems to reflect a lot of confusion about what the Endtimes even is.

Of course, there is a biblical sense in which the last days began with Christ’s First Coming (Acts 2:17; Heb 1:2; Jms 5:3; cf. 1 Cor 10:11; 1 John 2:18). Theologians call this “realized eschatology” or the “already not yet” aspect of God’s Kingdom on Earth. This important but complex topic is discussed more thoroughly elsewhere. ^[9]

Christ’s First Coming and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit have initiated some things that will be consummated in Christ’s Second Coming and even after the completion of His 1,000 year Reign on Earth. However, some focus so much on what can be included in “realized eschatology” that they neglect a biblical understanding of what is still to be fulfilled in biblical prophecy in the future. There will come a day when the first birth pain (Matt 24:8) occurs and the first of the seven seals is opened (Rev 6:1) and the Endtimes have truly begun.

Therefore, it is important to carefully define what we mean by the “Endtimes.” From the very beginning of the Endtimes Essentials, the Endtimes have been defined as the events predicted in Scripture that will rather immediately precede and follow Christ’s Second Coming.

Another challenge to understanding Scripture’s teaching on recognizing the beginning of the Endtimes is determining what God intends to be the first certain sign this has occurred. It was noted earlier that there are several supposed signs of the Endtimes that people commonly claim. But are these what will tell us the Endtimes have begun? What does God truly want His people to “Watch!” for? For reasons just given, correctly understanding this is important. But the Church today is very unclear about this.

Unfortunately, the popular views on the Endtimes have contributed to this. As noted above, popular Pan-tribulationism has taught the Church “the details don’t matter” regarding Endtimes events. Such a view does not encourage any careful study on how the Endtimes will actually begin.

Likewise, Amillennialism has not prioritized an understanding of the literal fulfillment of Endtime events. Instead, it has focused on the metaphorical aspects of “realized eschatology” that recognize that in some ways the “endtimes” began with Christ’s First Coming. But such a focus minimizes the much more biblically prevalent and important topic of the literal events predicted around Christ’s Second Coming. For these reasons popular Amillennialism is not very interested or helpful in understanding what Scripture predicts to be the first biblical sign the Endtimes have begun.

Also, popular Historicism focuses on proving that Christ’s Endtimes Teaching has been fulfilled throughout Church history. Therefore, it also is not very helpful in providing a biblical answer to how we can confidently discern the Endtimes have begun.

Finally, popular Pre-tribulationism has taught millions of Christians that the very first Endtime event is the “secret, silent, rapture” of the Church. Therefore, from this unbiblical perspective, there has been no need for Christians to understand the first Endtime events and be prepared to experience them.

There is another important reason this issue is not clearly understood. The Bible does not clearly tell us what the first certain sign of the Endtimes will be. In addition, there is a common misunderstanding that obscures this issue. It is easy to assume that the very first real Endtime event that will occur, will also be the very first certain sign the Endtimes have begun. But it is possible that Endtime events predicted in Scripture will actually begin before we can recognize this with absolute confidence.

Therefore, it seems God will want us to follow His own rule for confirming truth: Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses (Matt 18:16; cf. Num 35:30; Deut 17:6; 19:15; John 8:17; 2 Cor 13:1; 1 Tim 5:19; Heb 10:28). This is how God wants us to determine if something is true, especially if the issue lacks clarity. Therefore, it seems this is how God would want us to gain sufficient confidence the Endtimes have begun.

Here we distinguish between sufficient confidence and certain confidence. By sufficient confidence we mean that current events are fulfilling biblical prophecy to a degree that it seems reasonable to believe the Endtimes are beginning and we should prepare for it. Certain confidence would mean we have absolutely no doubts the Endtimes have begun. As noted above, it will be argued in future chapters that the Antichrist’s Resurrection will be the first certain sign the Endtime have begun. But it will also be argued that prophesied events will occur before that to give us sufficient confidence to prepare for this.

That sufficient confidence would be based on having two or three witnesses or prophesied events fulfilled in current events. What would those be? It will be argued in chapters 4-6 that the formation of the 10-nation Endtime Coalition seems to be the very first predicted Endtime event to occur. Clear biblical arguments will be presented that enable us to identify its appearance with some confidence. In addition, a modern political, economic, and military coalition that is emerging today will be suggested as a reasonable candidate to fulfill the biblical prediction of a 10-nation Endtime Coalition.

Therefore, it is suggested that when a 10-nation Coalition forms that matches biblical predictions, then it will be the first testimony to the possibility that the Endtimes have begun. Like the first witness in a trial, their testimony is important. But before making a final decision on such a critical matter, we will want more testimony.

The second testimony that will be suggested will be Antichrist’s Rise. In chapters 8-9 biblical arguments will be provided for identifying the Antichrist in the early stages of his emergence on Earth. The Bible does speak about these things. It will also be argued that there is a person emerging in the world today that reflects some of the biblical attributes predicted for the Antichrist in rather remarkable ways.

The emergence of the 10-nation Endtime Coalition and Rising Antichrist in the world, at the same time, both reflecting attributes in biblical prophecy, would be a rather remarkable confirmation by two witnesses that the Endtimes have begun. At that point, it would seem wise to make some preparations for this very thing. This will be discussed in chapter 9 (sec. D).

In the next chapter, we will discuss a general outline of the catastrophic events that will be experienced by the Last Generation Church during The Beginning of Birth Pains.

May God give you the grace to study the Scriptures discussed in The Beginning of Birth Pains with a clear mind and a brave heart.

1. Piper, Come, 257-9. ↑

2. For more on scholarly Christian scoffers (2 Pet 3:3) see “Modern Christian Cynicism about Watching for Signs” in Additional Studies on the Endtimes, ch. 9; online at www.trainingtimothys.com. ↑

3. In late 1976 on his 700 Club TV program, Robertson predicted that the end of the world would come in 1982 (Matthew Restall and Amara Solari, 2012 and the End of the World [Rowman & Littlefield, 2011], 121). In his 1990 book The New Millennium, Robertson suggests April 29, 2007 would be the day the Earth is destroyed by God (Richard Abanes, End-Time Visions [Four Walls Eight Windows, 1998], 138). ↑

4. One resource describes historical examples of people predicting dates for the end of the world:

   An example in post-Reformation Britain is in the works of Charles Wesley, who predicted that the end of the world would occur in 1794, based on his analysis of the Book of Revelation. Adam Clarke, whose commentary was published in 1831, proposed a possible date of 2015 for the end of the papal [then believed to be Antichrist’s] power.

   In 19th-century America, William Miller proposed that the end of the world would occur on October 22, 1844, based on a historicist model used with Daniel 8:14. Miller’s … approach to the Book of Daniel spawned a national movement in the United States known as Millerism. After the Great Disappointment [when the end of the world did not occur in 1844] some of the Millerites eventually organized the Seventh-day Adventist Church… Millerites also formed other Adventist bodies, including the one that spawned the Watch Tower movement, better known as Jehovah’s Witnesses.

   (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historicism_(Christianity) ↑

5. Wiersbe comments on Dan 12:4, “Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased” is not a reference to automobiles and jet planes or the advancement of education. It has reference to the study of God’s Word in the last days, especially the study of prophecy.” For more on Dan 12:4 see BBP ch. 17, sec. C. ↑

6. For data on the frequency of earthquakes see online at https://www.statista.com/statistics/263105/development-of-the-number-of-earthquakes-worldwide-since-2000/ ↑

7. Likewise, Piper comments:

   There is no calculating how many earthquakes (Matt. 24:7), or how many famines (24:7), or how many wars (24:6), or how many false christs (24:5) or false prophets (24:10), or how much lawlessness or coldness of love (24:12), or what intensity of tribulation (24:9, 21, 29) will signal with certainty how near the second coming is. Let me say that again: most of the “signs” of the end that Jesus gives us are the kinds of events that do not lend themselves to date-setting. Quantities and intensities and frequencies of such events are not precise indicators of how close the coming of the Lord is…

   The heart of the Christian should not be vulnerable to speculations about the end times. We should not be carried away by sensational predictions without solid biblical warrant. We should not be drawn into any frenzy or mania, nor into schemes built on human theorizing about signs that are no sure evidence of the Lord’s imminence. (237, 263) ↑

8. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2022/12/08/about-four-in-ten-u-s-adults-believe-humanity-is-living-in-the-end-times/ ↑

9. For more on the NT Church’s view on the beginning of the Endtimes see Additional Studies on the Endtimes, ch. 15 online at www.trainingtimothys.org. ↑