Birth Pains
CCCAG 6-29-25
Scripture-(Matthew 24:1-8)
Introduction: Last week, we finished our series on the book of Daniel.
Over the next few weeks, we will look at some of the other prophetic references in the bible that deal with both our present day and the near future. As we look at these scriptures, we will see how God’s prophetic word is coming true right before our eyes.
I’m going to start by telling you the story of a church in Southern California.
Back in the 1970’s, a televangelist named Robert Schuller had a TV program called “Hour of Power.” At it’s height, it reached 20 million viewers. Late in the 1970’s, he got an idea to build a giant glass church.
He did a huge fundraising campaign, and built what came to be called the Chrystal Cathedral in 1980.
It boasted 10,661 panes of reflective glass,
a 236-foot steel spire, and
the Hazel Wright Organ with over 17,000 pipes, one of the largest musical instruments in the world.
It cost over $69,000,000 in today’s money, and seated over 2200 people.
It started having financial and upkeep problems almost immediately. Eventually, the financial collapse of 2007 caused it to go into bankruptcy, owing over 55 million dollars to its creditors. The Roman Catholic archdiocese of Orange County eventually bought the building and made it into a catholic parish.
You might be wondering, why am I talking about a failed building project on Sunday Morning?
It’s to show that sometimes, in our human efforts to do something great for God, we focus on the wrong things.
When it comes to something like the Chrystal Cathedral, I would humbly ask this question:
Was this project truly about God’s glory, or was it a monument to human pride?
With that in mind, let’s travel back 2,000 years to Jerusalem.
In Matthew chapter 24, we read about how the disciples were awestruck by the grandeur of the Jerusalem Temple, which had been rebuilt by Herod the Great after being destroyed by Babylon several hundred years prior.
This temple was massive- stones—some 40 feet long—gleamed with white marble and gold plating, a sight that rivaled the wonders of the ancient world. Given it’s position in Jerusalem on the high place, it radiated the reflected light of the sun no matter which direction you were coming from.
This was Israel’s Crystal Cathedral, a symbol of national pride and religious devotion. But like Rev. Schuller’s glass empire, it was tainted by a basic human emotion- hubris.
The man who built it- King Herod the Great was a Roman puppet king who murdered members of his own family and ordered the slaughter of Bethlehem’s infants to try to kill Jesus as an infant.
Herod poured huge amounts of tax money into this temple, not for God’s glory but to cement his legacy and pacify his subjects.
We should note Jesus’ reaction to his disciples fawning over this building.
He wasn’t dazzled.
Jesus, creator of the universe, wasn’t impressed with a building made by humans.
In Matthew 24:1-8, He turns the disciples’ admiration into a sobering prophecy, foretelling the temple’s destruction and unveiling signs of the last days.
Let’s read about that this morning
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Matthew 24:1-8
24:1 As Jesus left and was going out of the temple, his disciples came up and called his attention to its buildings. 2 He replied to them, “Do you see all these things? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down.”
3 While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what is the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
4 Jesus replied to them, “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many. 6 You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines[a] and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these events are the beginning of labor pains.
Prayer
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As we continue our study of the end times, we’re diving into Matthew 24 to uncover what the world will look like as Christ’s return draws near.
First we see in Matthew’s Gospel is this humbling fact- God doesn’t need our glittering monuments.
In fact, Herod’s temple, even though it was bigger and more majestic then the original temple, it lacked to important things.
1. The ark of the covenant and the mercy seat, both disappeared during the invasion by the Babylonians over 600 years prior. Without those items- the priest couldn’t sprinkle the blood on the day of atonement as prescribed in Leviticus 16. Instead, when they built that temple they placed a large rock, calling it the “Foundation stone” where the ark should have been located.
2. The Shekinah glory of God never entered Herod’s temple like it did Solomon’s temple. Again, the temple in Jesus’ day didn’t have God’s manifest presence there- that’s critically important.
I would also note- although moved on David to give Solomon the plans to build the temple, it was, in my opinion, a case of God’s permissive will.
Israel having a temple of stone was like Israel having a king. Again, in my opinion God allowed it, but didn’t prefer it.
God’s preference was The Tabernacle because of what it represented.
Everything within the tabernacle pointed both to Jesus. Furthermore, the Tabernacle being made from animal skins pointed to Gods’ design for humanity- us being this “tent” made of skin, and infused with a Spirit and presence of the Almighty.
The Crystal Cathedral and Herod’s temple both fell because they leaned on human pride, not God’s plan.
Now that we have established that, this morning we are going to look at the condition of the world during the time immediately before the rapture and the tribulation begins.
It’s my prayer that was we do, we ask ourselves this question-
Are we building in our lives for God’s glory or ours?
So let’s look at the first thing we see-
I. A Symbol of Corrupted Religion – The Temple’s Fall (Matthew 24:1-2)
Let’s re-read verses 1-2: “Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. ‘Do you see all these things?’ he asked. ‘Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.’”
Imagine the disciple’s reaction to Jesus’ words.
This wasn’t just any building—it was the epicenter of Jewish faith and national pride. Pilgrims came from around the world to see it. To the disciples, it was untouchable, eternal, a testament to Israel’s covenant with God.
But Jesus sees through the façade.
His response is a prophetic bombshell: this temple, this symbol of human achievement, will be utterly destroyed.
Why is Jesus so unimpressed? Because this temple had become a monument to corrupted religion.
It wasn’t a symbol of faith at all, but of one evil man’s pride and need to be remembered. It was meant to be a “house of prayer for all nations” (Isaiah 56:7), but Jesus called it a “den of robbers” (Matthew 21:13).
Is it any wonder why Jesus lost his mind when he entered just the court of the Gentiles and saw the open corruption in broad daylight- taking advantage of those coming to meet with God?
Not only that-The priesthood was a political machine, with high priests often appointed by Rome or Herod’s cronies, more loyal to power than to God.
The temple courts were a marketplace where money-changers and animal sellers exploited the poor, charging exorbitant prices for sacrifices.
This temple wasn’t God’s heart; it was a stage for human pride and oppression.
When Jesus predicts the temple’s fall—fulfilled in 70 AD when Roman legions burned Jerusalem and left the temple in ruins—He’s pronouncing judgment on corrupted religion. The temple’s stones couldn’t hide its spiritual decay, just as the Crystal Cathedral’s glass couldn’t mask its financial ruin.
My friends, this is a wake-up call. Not just for church’s or religious organizations, but for us as individuals.
If Jesus entered into the temple of our being- our hearts and minds, would HE have to form a whip to chase out corruption, or would HE be comfortable, and let HIS glory fill us?
Jesus continues showing us the condition of the world right before the tribulation begins by warning against false Christs-
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II. Do Not Be Deceived – False Christs (Matthew 24:3-5)
I think the disciples were pretty shaken by Jesus’ words. Remember, they think he is about to take the throne of Israel as the King, and they would be high officials in HIS kingdom. But now Jesus is foretelling the fall of their holy temple.
That’s what led them to pull Jesus aside on the Mount of Olives and ask, “Tell us, when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (verse 3).
Now look at what Jesus says in verses 4-5: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.”
Jesus’ first warning is urgent: Do not be deceived.
As the last days approach, deception will run rampant. False messiahs will rise, claiming to be the Christ, leading people astray.
This was already brewing in Jesus’ time. Acts 5:36-37 mentions Theudas and Judas the Galilean, who led revolts claiming divine authority. Later, figures like Simon Magus (Acts 8) dazzled crowds with false miracles. Today, the danger persists with cult leaders, Evangelical Celebrity pastors who are self-help gurus, even charismatic politicians.
Speaking of politicians- I caution you- be very careful who you put your trust in when it comes to our national leaders. I’m not disparaging our president or other political leaders, but I just want to remind you- if you are a Christian, your first loyalty is to the Kingdom of God, not a political party.
I love the American Constitution, but- The Bible is our standard of faith, conduct, and practice.
I’m not just picking on human government, because We also have to acknowledge that the church has a lot of skeletons in our closet as well.
From Jim Jones, Benny Hinn, and other charlatans and cult leaders to modern internet influencers and celebrity pastors. All of these hold themselves up as false saviors and messiahs.
These people are experts at manipulating, gaslighting, and promising you the hidden secrets of the kingdom of god, if you give them the right offering.
Another way false teachers will lead others away from the Gospel is that they are telling you only what you want to hear.
2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear.
You know, I could make the bible sound like it prescribes smashing a child against a rock if I took Psalm 137 out of context.
That’s an extreme example, but it’s what many people are doing today- refusing to preach the entire truth of the word of God, and instead skipping the uncomfortable parts or explaining that “those ignorant religious conservatives don’t know what they are talking about.”
My friends, Jesus said not one jot or tittle, meaning not one dot of an I, or cross mark on a t will pass from this book until all is fulfilled.
Anyone who tells you differently is at least deceived, and at worst a liar.
Itching ears.
This is why so many churches and denominations in our time have turned away from the truth of the Bible. It’s because their pastors care more about pleasing people than pleasing God.
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This might be for the podcast crowd, but God really impressed me to say this-
If you or someone you know is considering entering the ministry, A good litmus test to see if they have the calling of God and the strength of character to do the job is this:
Do they thrive on and need the approval of others?
And really- this has to do with all Christians, not just the pastors.
None of us should ever be dependent on the approval of the masses.
Remember this from the bible- The same people who cried Hosanna to Jesus on Sunday screamed Crucify HIM! On Friday.
Think about that for a minute when you are tempted to chase the approval of the crowd.
That true for the individual Christian, and especially for those called of God into the ministry-
If you don’t rid yourself of needing the approval of the crowd, you will either compromise the truth to maintain their approval or simply preach a self-help gospel so you don’t offend them.
Listen closely- this is a very harsh reality and truth to stomach.
If God sets you apart for a ministry position, from a human perspective, it’s a very lonely existence. If you are going to be obedient to the call, you have to accept that God will strip away any hindrance in your life that keeps you from speaking the truth in love.
Let’s continue on.
So after false Christs, the next evidence we see in the world that shows us that that we are in the end times is
Jesus continues in verses 6-7: “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.”
Wars will escalate, shaking the earth. Our world knows this all too well. The 20th century saw World War I and II, conflicts that killed millions. Just in my lifetime- Vietnam, Panama, Desert Storm, Yugoslavic wars, GWOT,
In the last few years, Ukraine, Israel, Iran, terrorism, and many other conflicts that don’t make the evening news. Social media and news channels buzz with fears of “World War III.”
What did Jesus tell us? This is our anchor, church: “Do not be alarmed.”
Why? Because God the Father has planned every detail.
As we saw Daniel 7-12 map out empires rising and falling, from Babylon to Rome, and Jesus is now extending that timeline to the end. These signs—false christs, wars—are part of His sovereign script.
NONE OF THIS IS CATCHING GOD BY SURPRISE!!!
If He’s not surprised, and neither should we be.
God’s got you, beloved, and His plan is unfolding right on schedule.
What does this mean for us?
Stay rooted in the Word.
Pray for discernment.
Share the true gospel in a world hungry for answers.
All of this drama we see today points to Christ’s return. Trust Him, and stand firm.
Jesus had a vivid description for what we are all going through right now in the days before the rapture and tribulation begin-
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III. Beginning of Birth Pains – The Ramp-Up to Tribulation (Matthew 24:6-8)
Jesus presses on in verses 6-8: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.”
These words paint an intense picture: the “beginning of birth pains.” If you’ve ever witnessed labor, you know birth pains start subtly but grow more intense and frequent.
That’s the end-times trajectory Jesus describes—a slow, steady ramp-up toward the Tribulation.
These signs aren’t the end; they’re the opening act, signaling the world’s labor pains before Christ’s return.
Let’s unpack the signs:
? Wars: Nation against nation, kingdom against kingdom, echoing Revelation 6:3-4’s red horse of bloodshed.
? Famines: Hunger stalks millions, worsened by climate shifts, war, and economic collapse. In 2025, reports highlight food shortages in Africa and Asia, with grain prices soaring. Revelation 6:5-6’s black horse brings scarcity, where a day’s wages barely buys a loaf.
? Earthquakes: Seismic activity spikes, from California to Japan. USGS data shows an increase to over 1,000 quakes annually above magnitude 5. These aren’t just natural events; they’re God’s wake-up call.
? I’m not saying the seals are being broken, but again these are the beginnings of birth pains.
These signs aren’t just chaos—they’re God’s megaphone, urging us to prepare.
The birth pains are intensifying, church, and they point to the glorious delivery of Christ’s kingdom.
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But here’s the hope, church: we believe the church will be raptured before the worst hits.
In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Paul says believers will be “caught up” to meet Jesus in the air, spared from the wrath to come.
The birth pains are for the world, but we’re destined for the Bridegroom to come and bring us to an event called the wedding supper of the Lamb.
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Conclusion: We’re Living in Bible Prophecy – Be Ready!
These events we talked about aren’t just headlines—they’re God’s script unfolding, just as Daniel and Jesus foretold.
Our redemption draws nigh (Luke 21:28). The rapture could come any moment, whisking us to Jesus before the Tribulation’s full fury. So, let’s live ready: love fiercely, share the gospel boldly, and pray constantly. The world’s birth pains are growing, but our Bridegroom is coming.
Stand with me, church, and let’s worship Him, committed to shining His light until He returns in glory.
What do we do?
Watch and pray (Luke 21:36).
Live holy by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT (1 Peter 1:15-16).
Share the gospel (Matthew 28:19-20).
All Rise/Altar Call
