The beginning of sorrows is mentioned by Jesus Christ in Matthew 24:4-8 (Mark 13:5-8). It is a period of time characterized by specific signs that indicate His return is near. These signs also cause an increase in pain and sorrow that the Bible likens to a woman as she goes through her pregnancy and is about to give birth.
The analogy of a pregnant woman to the end times is drawn from Old Testament passages such as Isaiah 13:6-8 that describe the Day of the Lord. Prior to a woman giving birth, she experiences painful contractions. The culmination of the sorrows or birth pangs comes at delivery when the pain is most intense. After that, there is joy because of the child that is born!
As with a woman about to give birth, the time from the beginning of sorrows until Jesus returns and establishes His eternal kingdom will be characterized by increasing pain and sorrow culminating with utter destruction when God judges the nations and in doing so destroys the beast’s (Antichrist’s) kingdom.
This page examines the specific signs Jesus told us to look for as well as other indicators from Scripture. The evidence shows that these things came to pass in the 20th century which would lead us to conclude that we are living in the beginning of sorrows timeframe.
Dramatic Increase in World Population
It is interesting to note that while the world population experienced very little growth for centuries. It was during the 20th century when the population quadrupled from about 1.5 billion people in 1900 to about 6.0 billion in 2000 and reached 8.0 billion in 2022. More people means more potential for increased pain and sorrow.
Specific Signs That Jesus Told Us to Look for
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24:4-8, Mark 13:5-8)
Other Indicators
Besides the specific signs that Jesus mentioned, the Bible mentions other indicators to look for:
Persecution of the church increasing
Antichrist’s kingdom begins to form
Many Shall Run To and Fro and Knowledge Shall be Increased
An analysis of other current events related to the end times can also be found on my other website Understanding the Times and What To Do.