In This Issue:
Sorrows
When Will the End of the World Come?
Volume: 913 July 3, 2023
Theme: End Times
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Beginning of Sorrows
Bill Brinkworth
“For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.” Matthew 24:5-8
Matthew 24 speaks of sorrows that will occur before the seven years of the future Great Tribulation. It warns that some will declare that they are the Christ, nations will war against nations, famines and pestilences will occur, and earthquakes will increase.
Many of those occurrences have happened throughout history. However, before the end of day’s tribulations, they will increase. The Bible says those happenings will be the beginning of sorrows to come.
Sorrows have always plagued mankind. Because of the introduction of sin by Adam and Eve, all experience hardship and great sadnesses.
Because we temporarily reside on a sin-cursed planet, all have and will experience sorrows. Even Jesus did, as was prophesied centuries previous to His ministry on Earth.
“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” Isaiah 53:3
Most will face:
Personal sorrows.
“I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.” Job 9:28
God allowed sorrows
“How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.” Job 21:17
“Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.” Psalm 16:4
Remembered Sorrows.
“It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.” Psalm 127:2
“For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.” Ecclesiastes 2:23 Also: Isaiah 13:7.
Forgotten sorrows.
“They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows.” Job 39:3
Sorrows from losing loved ones.
“The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.” Psalm 18:4 Also: Psalm 116:3.
However, the most devastating sorrows will be experienced by those who have not been saved by trusting Christ’s sacrificial death to pay for their sins.
Sorrows of the unsaved.
“Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.” Psalm 32:10
The greatest sorrow the lost will experience will be when one finds oneself in a tormenting, unescapable Hell.
“The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.” Psalm 116:3
“The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.” Psalm 18:5 Also: II Samuel 22:6.
One can avoid the sorrows of Hell by being born-again (John 3:3) into God’s family. However, even the child of God will experience many sorrows. Be encouraged, Christian; you are not alone in the valleys of despair. Your mighty God will be your guide and helper through the turbulent times.
“So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” Hebrews 13:6
“For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.” Psalm 72:12 Also: Psalm 54:4.
“God doesn’t give us what we can handle. God helps us handle what we are given.” Author Unknown
When Will the End of the World Come?
Bill Brinkworth
Since the time of Jesus’ disciples (Mat. 24:3), many have wondered, “When will the end of the world come?” Many have given dates for the end or dates for biblically predicted end-time events such as the rapture, the last judgment, the Battle of Armageddon, and even the future of humanity. All foretold dates have been wrong, obviously!
One internet site, Wikipedia.com, has recorded more than 158 predicted days for end-time events that never occurred. Many of the prediction dates came from fairly well-known people such as Martin Luther (“not later than 1600”), Christopher Columbus (1658), John Wesley (1836), Jeanne Dixon (2/4/62), Jim Jones (1967), Charles Manson (1969), and Nostradamus (7/1999).
Some “religious” folks have also given their predictions, including Catholic popes (1/1/1000, 1284, 1901), Herbert W. Armstrong (1936, 1943), Hal Lindsey (1980s), Jehovah’s Witnesses (1908, 1914, 1916, 1941, 1971, 1975, 1984), Seventh-day Adventists (1999), and Sun Myung Moon (2000). Since 1977, someone has set a date for an end-time event almost every year.
There are also many predicted dates for the future. Jean Dixon (a psychic) also claimed something will happen between 2020 and 2037. Nostradamus again predicted another date of 3797.
When the projected dates were given, I imagine some were concerned. Many may have been alarmed and tried to prepare for what they thought would be a cataclysmic event by stockpiling and hoarding supplies, as some are doing today.
Although all the past predicted dates were wrong, some overlook the only source that has never been wrong about predicting events. That source has foretold many historical events, and most prophecies have already come true. Some predicted events were even warned about 1,000 years before the event occurred.
This authority told about the coming of God’s Son and what He would do on Earth. All those prophecies about Jesus came true. The reliable source also gives many predictions about future events. That source is God’s Word, the Bible. If it was correct about hundreds of past prophecies, we can also trust its accuracy about future events that have not occurred yet.
However, the King James Bible, as accurate as it has been in the past, does not give dates for end-time events. God’s Word has indicated that it is not for mankind to know when God will begin the last-days events. He even states that the angels do not know the day and hour, nor does His only Son, Jesus.
“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” Matthew 24:36
If the heavenly host and Jesus do not know when such events will occur, we can be assured that a common, sinful man will not know either. Certainly, those who believe contrary to what the Bible commands will not be told the details of God’s plan, including psychics, unbiblical religions, astrologists, and even some preachers. Why anyone would think that a Holy God would whisper end dates to human-sacrificing, false god worshipping Mayans is even more ludicrous.
Many sense that the “end” is getting closer. Cataclysmic events may occur. This year may be a challenging year financially and physically for many. Most have been snubbing their noses at God for a long time. Why would He not begin to exercise His promised events soon?
However, the last day’s events will begin when God says it is time, and they will be according to how His Word records them. God’s Word says the rapture of God’s people will happen first, followed by the seven-year tribulation, the 1,000-year reign of Christ, and other judgments on the Earth’s inhabitants. After they have occurred, this world will be “passed away” (Revelation 21:1), and a new Earth will replace the old. If people would read and believe their Bible more than what the television or some newspaper writer says, they would realize that most predictions are not even close to what will happen. Read and