Matthew 24:4-8

1) Outline of the General Future of The World Describing the Initial Birth Pains Of The New Age (24:4-8).

Jesus begins by outlining the coming initial sufferings of the world, the ‘birth pains' of the new age. Such, consisting of war, famine and earthquakes, etc. will cause suffering among the nations and will lead up to and include the invasion of Judaea and the destruction of Jerusalem.

Analysis.

a And Jesus answered and said to them, “Take care that no man lead you astray, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah', and will lead many astray” (Matthew 24:4).

b “And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars, see that you are not troubled” (Matthew 24:6 a).

c “For it is necessary for these things to happen, but the end is not yet” (Matthew 24:6 b).

b “For nation will rise against nation, and kingship against kingship” (Matthew 24:7 a).

a “And there will be famines and earthquakes in many different places, but all these things are the beginning of birth pains” (Matthew 24:7).

Note that in ‘a' they are to be careful not to be led astray by what is to happen, especially by false Messiahs, for in the parallel it is like the beginning of birth pains, which often lead men and women astray into thinking that the time for birth has arrived, when there is in fact still more to come. In ‘b' there will be wars and rumours of wars, and in the parallel nation will rise against nation. Centrally in ‘c' is the necessity for these things to be.