Today we are seeing unrest in nations around the globe, economic instability, wars and rumors of wars, moral decline, unusual weather patterns, increase in earthquake activity and other natural disasters, and voices proclaiming impending doom. If we keep our eyes in the wrong place, we may be tempted to become fearful. However, over and over again God’s Word tells us to fear not. We are told in 2 Timothy 3:1 (NKJV), “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.” The word translated “perilous” in the New King James Version has also been translated terrible, stressful, difficult, and grievous. We are living in a terrible, stressful, difficult, and grievous day, but Jesus said in the midst of it all “Let not your heart be troubled.”

What is going on in the world around us? In Numbers Chapter 11 we find the griping of the children of Israel in the wilderness. In verse 5 they complained to Moses, “We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt...” Some translations say “…which cost us nothing.” They complained, “Our food was free!” Verse 5 continues, “…the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic.” It is amazing that the children of Israel remembered the free food, but forgot they received that free food while in slavery to the Egyptians!

In Matthew Chapter 24, Jesus spoke of the days in which we are living. 

Matthew 24:4-7: (ESV)

 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.”

When Jesus said these things must come to pass, He didn’t mean God is causing or manipulating the conditions mentioned. God does not manipulate problems; He provides answers to problems. Satan is the author of problems. The curse in this earth is the author of problems. We serve a God who is the Author of answers. In essence, the earth is “pregnant” and Jesus is simply explaining the conditions that will exist leading up to the rapture of the Church and ultimately the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. However, in the midst of all these indicators, we are not to fear.

Why can we be without fear in these perilous times? Because we know the end! God has recorded end time events in His Word and we know the final score. We win! It is like watching reruns of your favorite football team that has already won a game against their greatest opponent knowing the outcome of the game. Our team, which belongs to God, makes the final touchdown! We will win this game and the “score” is already recorded! Jesus will return and we will be shouting at the end of the game, “He’s King of kings and Lord of lords!”

 The Earth is Pregnant

 Romans 8:19-23: (NKJV) 

For the earnest expectation (eager anticipation) of (all) the creation eagerly waits for the revealing (manifestation) of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility (vanity), not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the (same) glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit (the new birth), even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption (which is), the redemption of our body.

 The Church is pregnant, the earth is pregnant, and we groan together because we’re both under the same curse. The curse entered into creation, into the dust of the ground, and everything made from the dust of the ground received a curse including plants, animals, and the human body of Adam and Eve. 

As born-again believers, our human spirit has been redeemed (born again). Our soul is daily being renewed through the Word of God into the image of the Lord Jesus Christ, but the redemption of our body is yet to come. Until then, we have the nature of the flesh. We overcome that nature by walking in the Spirit and applying the Word of God. We overcome it by the walking in God’s love. However, we are still under pressure, we still face temptations and trials of life because we’re clothed in a natural body which carries the curse. We can identify with nature because nature is also under a curse and we groan together. We travail together because we’re both pregnant and we’re both waiting for the day of delivery, which is the Rapture of the Church. On that day, this mortal will put on immortality. This corruptible will put on incorruption. This natural body will be made into a spiritual body. In a moment, a twinkling of an eye, we will receive a body just like the body of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Church is pregnant with our resurrection bodies. Until that day comes, the birth pangs will continue to be closer and closer until the final delivery. And because the earth is also pregnant, we groan and travail together.

What is that groaning and travailing? Earthquakes in diverse places, tsunamis, famines, pestilence, wars, and rumors of wars, everything happening in the world today is occurring with greater and greater frequency. All of these things are rapidly coming upon us like a woman approaching her day of delivery. The time of delivery for the earth is called the Tribulation. The earth is not pregnant with the Tribulation; the earth is pregnant with the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ.

I want to challenge you to commit yourself to more study of the Word of God. You may think, “I just don’t have time.” Yes, you do. You have time to slide in a CD while you’re driving around town or listen to MP3 teachings of the Word while you’re cleaning or working in the yard. Turn off the radio and the music you normally listen to, or at least listen to these things much less than you are now. Make up your mind to pray. Make up your mind to study the Word. Make a commitment in your heart to spend more time with God in fellowship, in praise and in worship.