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On the Birth Pains of Matthew 24:8

"But all these-(things) (are) beginning of-birth-pains."

April 7, 2020 Draft

It seems to me that birth-pains have been occurring for some time.  My thinking: “Birth-pains” [ὠδίνων, G6504] in Matthew 24:8 is plural, and these – may - be seen as multiple events…the beginning of birth pains.  There are birth-pains which bring forth Jesus, the physical State of Israel, Christians (Jews & Gentile) and these birth pains last through to the spiritual birth pains of national/ethnic Israel.

In Isaiah 9:6 a child is born, AND a son is given. A child is born: Jesus.  A son is given: Jesus, at the cross, but also in type in the Garden of Eden.

 John 3:16 “For thus the God cherished the world so-that he-gave his son, namely-the only-begotten, in-order-that every-(one) the (one) trusting with-reference-to him might not perish, BUT he-might-be-having life eternal.
v17 For the God dispatched not his son into the world in-order-that he-might-be-judging the world, BUT in-order-that the world might-be-saved through him”.

This is The Gospel in the Garden:
  Genesis 3:15 “and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed: he shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel”.

Genesis 3:21 “And Jehovah God made for Adam and for his wife coats of skins skin [עוֹר `owr - singular], and clothed them”.
This sacrifice by God in the garden was a type or shadow of the sacrifice of Yeshua/Jesus:

Leviticus 17:11 – “I have given (past tense) it (the blood of Messiah) to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls”

Revelation 13:8 “And all the (ones) residing on the earth will-worship him, of-whom his name has not been-and-is-still-written in the little-book of-the life of-the lamb, namely-of-the (one) having-been-and-still-slain from casting-down of-(a)-world”.
 

John 3:3  “The Jesus answered and said to-him, Amen amen I-am-saying to-you, Unless someone might-be-begotten [γεννηθῇ] from-above [ἄνωθεν], he-is not being-able to-see the kingdom of-the God”.

“from above” [ἄνωθεν a-nō-then. See Strong’s G509]

So then it follows that there could be birth-pains involved with being “born from above”.

But also, Israel is called God’s firstborn son (Exd. 4:22).   The LAND of Israel was physically born (reborn?) in one day (May 14, 1948): Isa 66:8a  “Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day?”

As *prophesied by Isaiah, Messiah Yeshua/Jesus came before the State of Israel.

This occurs BEFORE her travail and pain of delivery:

Isa 66:7  “Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man-child”. (This child is Messiah Yeshua/Jesus. Cf. Isaiah 9:6)

AFTER her travail, the nation/people of Israel are “brought forth”:

Isaiah 66:8b “shall a nation [גֹּוי goy] be brought forth [יִוָּלֵֽד] at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth [יָלְדָה]  her children”.

*This is one way of looking at this.  As with many scriptures, there are different ways/levels of understanding.  For example, one of the definitions of “brought forth” [יָלְדָה] is “to assist or tend as a midwife”, which might allow for a different understanding of who the “nation/goy” are, and/or if they are brought forth and/or if they bring forth.  I am hopeful that these things will become fully understood by Jew and Gentile in Messiah, during the millennial reign of Messiah.  

We know that Messiah Yeshua was born in Bethlehem (the bread/manna of life was born in “house of bread” :

Micah 5:2 “But thou, Beth-lehem [בֵּֽית־לֶחֶם  H1053 -from H1004 and H3899] Ephrathah, which art little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall one come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting”.

Matthew 2:1 “But (as) the Jesus (was) having-been-born in Bethlehem of-the Judea, in days of-Herod the King, behold, sorcerers from (sun)-risings came-to-be-alongside with-reference-to Jerusalem.

v2 Saying, Where is the (one) having-been-brought-forth king of-the Jews? For we-saw his star in the (sun)-rising, and we-came to-worship to-him.

v3 But Herod the king having-heard, he-was-disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.

v4 And having-gathered-together all the chief-priests and scribes of-the people, he-was-inquiring of them, where the Messiah is-being-born.

v5 But the (ones) said to-him, In Bethlehem of-the Judea:  for thus it-has-been-written-and-is-still-written through the prophet,

v6 And you Bethlehem, land of-Judah, you-are not-at-all least among the governors of-Judah, for out-of you will-come-out (one)-being-governor, one-who will-shepherd my people namely-the Israeli”.

Jesus and the State of Israel (land) have already been “born”; therefore the “beginning of birth pains” in Matthew 24 (post 1948) now also may be seen as referring to the people of Israel being born, or better, “born from above”  in Messiah Yeshua.  [While also referring to a process of being born from above for all believers in Jesus Christ.]

So now, at this time, Gentile Christians have an opportunity to be “midwives” to Israel and assist their delivery into life in Messiah Yeshua:

Romans 10:1 “Brothers, on-the-one-hand the well-thinking of my heart and the petition to the God in-behalf-of the Israeli is with-reference-to salvation.
v2 For I-am-bearing-witness to-them that they-are-having (a) zeal of-God, BUT not according-to thorough-knowledge; (Hosea 14:2-3)
v3 For being-ignorant-of the righteousness of-the God, and seeking to-make-stand their-own righteousness, they-were not subjected to-the righteousness of-the God.

v4 For Messiah (is) finish of-law with-reference-to righteousness to-every (one) trusting.

v5 For Moses is-writing the righteousness the (one) out-of the law, that the MAN having-done them will-himself-live in them”. (Lev. 18:5)

Who hath heard this report? "Who trusted in our hearing?" @ vs16

v6 “But the righteousness out-of trust is-saying thus: Might-you not say in your heart: Who will-ascend into the heaven? This is to-lead-down Messiah;
v7 Or: Who will-descend into the abyss? This is to-lead-up Messiah out-of dead (ones).
v8 BUT what is-it-saying? The saying is near you, in your mouth and in your heart;*the saying of-the trust which we-are-preaching is this”; (Deut.30:12-14)

v9 “That *if you-might-confess with your mouth Jehovah Jesus, and you-might-trust in your heart that the God raised him out-of dead (ones), you-will-be-saved”;

(Cf. JAMES 5:15; *The Vow Of The Trust Will Save. Phil.2:9-11)
v10 “For with-heart he-is-being-trusted with-reference-to righteousness, but*with-mouth he-is-being-confessed with-reference-to salvation.
v11 For the scripture is-saying: Every one trusting on him will not be-disgraced.(Isa.28:16; 49:23)
v12 For (there) is not strict-order both of-Jew and of Greek. For the same Jehovah of-all, being-rich with-reference-to all*the (ones) calling-on him”;

v13 “*For every (one) whosoever might-call-on the name of-Jehovah will-be-saved.

(Joel 2:32; Phil.2:9-11; James 5:15)

v14 “How therefore might-they-call-on (one) with-reference-to whom they-trusted not? But how will-they-trust of-whom they-heard not? But how will-they-hear separate-from (one) preaching?
v15 But how might-they-preach if they-might not be-dispatched? Even-as it-has-been-and-is-still-written: As beautiful the feet of-the (ones) bringing-good-news-(of) good-things”. (Isa. 52:7)

v16 “BUT not all obeyed the good-news. For Isaiah is-saying: Lord who trusted in our hearing?
v17 So the trust (is) out-of hearing, but the hearing (is) through saying of-Messiah”. [or 'of-God'? MMS vary] (Isa.53:1)

Israel will also be sprinkled with clean water, at the compete finish of the age, when all of Jeremiah 31 and Hebrews 8 are completely fulfilled:

Ezekiel  36:23 “And I will sanctify my great name, which hath been profaned among the nations, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the nations shall know that I am Jehovah, saith the Lord Jehovah, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
 24 For I will take you from among the nations, and gather you out of all the countries, and will bring you into your own land.
 25 And I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep mine ordinances, and do them.
 28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God”.

And so all Israel shall be saved. 

Romans 11:26 “And thus all Israel will-be-saved, according-as it-has-been-and-still-is-written: The (one) delivering will-be-present out-of Sion, he-will-turn-back impiety from Jacob. (c.f. Isa.59.20)
v27 And this (is) the covenant from me to-them, at-the-time-that I-might-remove-for-myself their sins.
v28 On-the-one-hand enemies according-to the good-news because-of YOU, on-the-other-hand cherished (ones) according-to the choice because-of the fathers;
v29 For the bestowed-favors and the calling of-the God (are) unregrettable.
v30 For as-altogether YOU yourselves at-one-time disobeyed the God, but now YOU-had-mercy-bestowed in-the disobedience of-these”.


 

v31 “Thus these also now disobeyed in-order-that by your mercy they themselves also might now have-mercy-bestowed.
v32 For the God shut-together all the (ones) with-reference-to disobedience in-order-that he-might-have-mercy (on) all the (ones)”.

 

v33 “O depth of-God's riches and wisdom and knowledge; as unsearchable his sentences and untraceable his ways.
v34 For who came-to-know (the) mind of Jehovah? Or who became his fellow-counselor?
v35 Or who gave-before to-him, and it-will-be-repaid to-him?
v36 Because out-of him and through him and with-reference-to him (are) the all-things; to-him (be) the glory with-reference-to the ages:

Amen”.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu just announced that all Israel will be on lockdown on Passover night this year (Wed. April 8). Birth-pains?  The upside is there’s an opportunity for Jews to discover Yeshua in the scriptures (e.g. Isaiah ch53) while they are “sheltered in place” from their traditional "doing as told" role in Rabbinical Judaism.  It would also seem like a time when a false messiah could appear.  We live in interesting times. 

Finally, here’s a good article by John Parsons that you might enjoy:

https://www.hebrew4christians.com/Articles/Birthpangs/birthpangs.html