6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all this must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these things are the beginning of sorrows (birth pains).
I first began studying the book of Revelation over 30 years ago. The title of this book of the Bible is ἀποκάλυψις - apokalypsis - which means a disclosure or revealing.
However, I believe that in the last two years there has been a shift and things have changed and will not be going back to the way things were.
Dispensationalism understands that there are different periods of history (ages/eras) in terms of the way in which God is relating to and dealing with the world. For example, the period of the Law under Moses was a different system to the current period of Grace in the Age of the Church.
However, it seems that we are currently transitioning from the the era of Grace, characterised by God’s love, mercy and forgiveness (following the sacrificial death on the cross of Jesus for the sins of the world) to the period of the Tribulation for 7 years, divided into two halves, which will be characterised by God’s judgement.
It seems that the birth pains have begun, and this means that events will now continue to progress rapidly towards further future events.
It has been described that the period of the Church age of Grace was hidden from the Old Testament prophets like a valley between two mountains. The event which will finally end the Age of Grace is the Rapture of the Church where Christians will be taken out of the earth for the 7 year Tribulation period.
Time is now rapidly progressing towards this period of Tribulation. We must try to prepare for this, but more importantly prepare ourselves to be in a position of peace with God before His judgement that is coming.
Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes at hand, so that he will not be caught naked and his shameful condition be seen.
For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?