Birth Pangs bring Newborns

 "All this is the beginning of birth pangs" Matthew 24:8

Jesus and His disciples were standing on the Mount of Olives, the wonderful place of His Ascension and Triumphant return, when He shocked them with His insight on the destruction of Herods Temple. 

They began to ask about the Father's Time Line. He apparently agreed to tell them certain aspects but also clearly warned that all was not known or to be revealed. There is a reason for this.

"But of this exact day & hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father" Matthew 24:36

Actually there are several reasons but I will focus on the One the bridegroom would care most about. He would not desire for His beloved to be frightened of the birthing process. He called the church to bring forth new life but as foretold in Genesis, it would be labor intensive. 

As a birthing coach, who has attended many births, I can tell you what a sobering event a birthing is! 

We prepare our mothers & attendants for the "birthing pangs"...especially the stage called "transition" by letting them know about the entire process. We give them tools to deal with each stage and especially focus on the light at the end of the tunnel...the beautiful newborn. The treasure of their consummated love.

Transition can literally be like baptism, the woman can experience a form of death, burial & Resurrection because at transition she can feel she cannot go on. She can face death.

She can despair of getting through this shortest stage of birth (transition) due to the intensity. She can despair & give up, if...  she does not have encouragement & hope of her end result. It can be exhausting if she doesn't know there is an end to transition.

In birth class, we repeatedly go over each stage and even show them videos of other births to help them know that transition is the shortest stage before completing new birth & their ultimate reward.

I believe Jesus purposely used the words "birth pangs" (that is the original translation) so that the disciples understood that something new & wonderful would be birthed out of their future suffering. He was preparing them in love, there was no fear present in His instruction. 

End time teaching in a spirit of fear is never the right spirit. Perfect love casts out ALL FEAR.

They (His beloved disciples, whom He was lovingly preparing) were about to go through an intense "transition".  

Each new generation of believers have faced their own "birth pangs" for this is the way of birthing NEW on this fallen planet. 

Yet, it was not so in the beginning. Nor will it be in the fulfillment of His plan. The curse has been dealt with...but His Promise of NEW must be applied & engaged.

I do not understand the morbid focus of many last day or end time teachings. Nor, do I understand the extreme need to predict which part we are in. There is no such focus in the Gospels, Epistles or Revelation. 

The focus is on THE NEW! 

THE NEW BIRTH. 

The scripture focuses on Newness of life! Romans 6:4, 7:6.

Jesus declares in Revelation 21:5

"BEHOLD, I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW."

If we are Word of Faith people, then, we must take Him at His Word. Yet, we must participate in the process & learn to work with seed time & harvest, as well.

Yes, there is a church historical period of conception, development, birth pangs & new born. Then there is the rearing & maturation of the offspring. 

There is a time of confrontation of Heavenly seed toward the "seed of the serpent" but that's another story or blog session. Our focus is on...

THE NEW. AND GIVING JOY & HOPE TO THE BIRTHING MOTHER.

Scripture introduces us to...

NEW BIRTH

NEW WINE & WINE SKINS

NEW COVENANT

NEW TESTAMENT

NEW & LIVING WAY

PUT ON THE NEW MAN

NEW SONG

NEW DAY 

TREASURES NEW & OLD

Oh, and so much more! 

New life after a short immersion under the flow of NEW, FRESH LIVING WATER FROM HIS THRONE.

JESUS went through the transition of The Cross due to "the joy set before Him" and He would have His bride bring forth....with the same joy set before her. Joy in her royal birthing. 

Post Script:

In Acts 1, Jesus again tells the disciples, " It is not for you to know the times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me." 

Acts 1:7,8 

So, it is our purpose & occupation to work with Holy Spirit as birthing coaches, not to be "end time" zealots. It is simply our purpose to be witnesses of Good News. Witnesses of love, not fear. Witnesses of faith, joy & peace.

Yes, of course we are to study & meditate on all scripture but developing an "end time" theology was never our main focus or assignment. You are not saved by your correct theology but by being born again. 

In Revelation the LORD declares He is angry with "the destroyers of the earth"...He redeemed the earth & its people.. so to say He is angry & is going to rapture His own & then destroy the earth is actually a doctrine of demons.

There are way too many positive, loving, good plans for earth.... recorded in scripture...for true theologians to continue this nonsense. Just check out the "inherit the earth" scriptures. Psalm 37.

 It is the "world system" which will be destroyed & a new Kingdom Era which will be ushered in. The rapture is related to the bridal celebration of the remnant overcomers. Another subject for another time.

Somehow we have become enamored with dooms day,  apocalyptic, bad, destructive predictions rather than the wonderful, marvelous, 

Good, Good, Good News

 of the Gospel.