Matthew 24:8, all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.
Here are my notes on this message.
Here is the audio if you prefer.
The past weekend there was a party in Hollywood. The Police received at least five calls from residents who reported instances of disturbing the peace in the neighborhood beginning about 6:30 p.m. Monday, and when officers arrived they found a large party taking place at a three-story home with about 200 people attending, according to the LAPD.There’s a huge house party on Mulholland Drive tonight, with maybe 200 cars jamming up the street— they’ve even hired three valets. Not a mask in sight. Great night for a super spreader event it seems.
This remindes me of what Jesus said the world would be like as we get closer to His return. "And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until theday that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them al" (Luke 17;26-27).
Matthew 24:2-14 NLT, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?” 4 Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, 5 for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. 7 Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. 8 But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.9 “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. 10 And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. 11 And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. 12 Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.
Jesus said to watch these things as the birth pains become more INTENSE. Why did He use this termonalgy, "Birth Pains?
The biblical reason women experience pain at birth is because of the orginial sin. Genesis 3, "Your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children." I believe one of the reasons Jesus used this phrase is because birth pains do not last, they go away as soon as the baby is born. Oh! The joy, love and peace the follows the instant that mother holds her new baby in her arms. In the same way, the birh pains of the end times will lead to the birthing of God's New Kindom Age and all sorry and pain will be forgotten.
Haggai 2:6 “For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; 7 and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the Lord of hosts. 8 ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts. 9 ‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the Lord of hosts.”
1. Heaven and earth
2. Sea
3. Dry Land
4. Nations
The Purpose of Shaking is to bring multitudes of nations to salvation. "And they shall come to the Desire of All Nations." I love that Prophetic description of Jesus! This is talking about what I call the, End Time HARVEST of GENERATIONS.
How does this relate to us, The Church?
Hebrews 12:26-29 NLT, “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.” 27 This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain. 28 Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. 29 For our God is a devouring fire.
1. God Shaking is going to reveal that which is unshakable. CHURCH needs to UNDERSTAND what is UNSHAKABLE! What is worth LIVING FOR. What you want to give your life for!
2. God's Shaking is so we know what to spend our lives for. How to Invest in the Unshakable kingdom. Matthew 10:42,"If you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.”
3. God's Shking is so we know what we are to do. Two things for sure, “Watch and pray.” (Luke 17, Matt 24)
This is Shake-up Time is God's WAKE-UP TIME.
Until He Comes . ..
Larry & Janet Neville