READING TIME: 2-3 MINUTES
What is the meaning of the “the beginning of birth pains” concerning the future seven-year Tribulation?
December 12, 2019
The first four seal judgments can be connected to “the beginning of birth pains/pangs” in Matthew 24:8. The rabbis spoke of “birth pains” as sufferings that would come before the coming of the Messiah. These birth pangs will occur during the entire 70th week. The beginning of these pangs will be during the first half while the more severe pangs of hard labor will occur in the second half of this seven-year time of tribulation (for more detail, see Showers 1995, 21-29).
It is important to note that Christ is the One who will break the seals of the scroll deed of purchase since He alone is worthy to do this as the kinsman-redeemer. He is the One who will instigate the events that will occur when these seven seals are broken. These events are “irrefutable evidence that He is the true Kinsman-Redeemer with the right, authority, and power to evict Satan and his forces and take tenant possession of the earth” (Showers 2001, 53).
To expand on what I wrote above, I believe the contents of the seven-sealed scroll is “the title deed to the earth.” By the opening of the scroll, the Lamb takes as His inheritance that which He had already purchased (Rev 5:9). His inheritance includes an enduring kingdom and the title deed to the earth (Ps 2:6-8). I agree with Renald Showers that “the sealed scroll is the deed of purchase for mankind’s tenant possession inheritance or administration of the earth that was forfeited when mankind fell away from God. . . . a scroll deed of purchase was made when Christ paid the redemption price to redeem mankind’s tenant possession of the earth by shedding His blood on the cross” (Showers, 2001, 43).
Andy Woods explained in his sermon series on Revelation that in Revelation 5 there is a thorough investigation to try to determine who in the world is qualified to open this seven-sealed scroll thereby restoring the earth to its rightful rulers and the answer is nobody. You can understand why John was so upset thinking that no one was qualified to open this seven-sealed scroll. Can you imagine this world continuing “in the grip of Satan?” Thankfully it is determined that Jesus Christ is the only person qualified to open this seven-sealed scroll, thereby restoring the earth to its rightful owners. These events are “irrefutable evidence that He is the true Kinsman-Redeemer with the right, authority, and power to evict Satan and his forces and take tenant possession of the earth” (Showers 2001, 53).
It will not be the “first Adam,” but the “last Adam” who will rule the world for God the Father in the future 1000-year millennial kingdom. As each seal is opened a judgment will come to the earth further evicting Satan from this turf until the end of the judgments is reached. At that time Satan will be bound in the bottomless pit or the abyss and the world as it exists will be restored to its rightful authority.
Maranatha.
Sources Used
Garland, Tony. Online Commentary on Revelation. < http://www.spiritandtruth.org/teaching/Book_of_Revelation/commentary/htm/chapters/05.html#3.5>.
Showers, Renald E. Maranatha: Our Lord, Come! A Definitive Study of the Rapture of the Church. Bellmawr, NJ: Friends of Israel, 1995.
________. The Pre-Wrath Rapture View. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2001.
Woods, Andy. Transcript of Revelation 5:1-7 Sermon. < http://www.spiritandtruth.org/teaching/Revelation_by_Andy_Woods/021_Revelation_5_1-7/20181202_021_revelation_5_1-7_transcript.html?x=x>.