is "birth-pains" and is correctly rendered in the N.I.V. In this blackest of contexts,

perhaps this is a ray of hope looking forward to the light of the kingdom which is soon to

come when the Lord returns.

He goes on to predict many false Messiahs, false prophets, international conflict,

famines, earthquakes, persecution, betrayal, abounding sin, but in spite of all this, "the

end is not yet". As regards earthquakes, it seems they are increasing in number and

intensity. What is absolutely sure is one will occur in the last seven years of this age that

will eclipse all others. "And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there

was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an

earthquake and so great" (Rev. 16: 18). God will terribly shake the earth.

This terrible condition of the world is a prelude to the fulfillment of prophecy which

deals with the closing years of the age, and is ended by the return of Christ and the angels

of God in great glory and power. In other words this final working out is set in the last

seven years of Daniel's "seventy--sevens" (chapter 9:), as we have stated before. Any

attempt at trying to make all the details given here by the Lord fit a time prior to this is

bound to fail. During this period there can only be a partial fulfillment at the most. Let

us not forget it is the end time that perplexed the disciples, and the Lord is dealing with

this particular time, and it is wrong interpretation to ignore this and try to make it fit the

age in general.

Once we know and understand the prophecies which deal with the end time (largely

Daniel and The Revelation), we have the key to unlock the prophecy that the Lord is

giving and many problems then vanish. Too often we make our own difficulties by

ignoring to whom the Scripture is addressed and its time setting. The more this is

seriously considered the more one wonders at the once popular teaching that the Second

Advent cannot occur until the world is converted.

This idea has certainly not clear Scriptural foundation and must be rejected. The

world situation as described by the Lord Jesus is as black as can be painted, and leading

to a time of trouble the intensity of which has never occurred in past history nor ever will

again in the future (Matt. 24: 21 and 22).

It will be a tremendous testing time for the people of God.  Hence the Lord's

statement "but he who stands firm to the end will be saved" (13). If this verse is taken

out of its context it can be made to teach that salvation can be attained by human effort,

and this is directly opposed to the constant testimony of holy Scripture that salvation is

by grace alone, apart from works or human merit. Kept in its Scriptural setting of

overwhelming difficulty and danger, it teaches that the faithful one (aided by the Lord)

will surmount it all and this is given for strengthening and encouragement.

The Lord Jesus continues: