https//www.raptureready.com/2022/04/20/are-we-on-the-verge-of-the-tribulation-by-britt-gillette/ Here is one excerpt: World War III – The Bible says there will be a World War III (Revelation 6:4), and we’re much closer to it today than when 2022 started and probably the closest we’ve been since the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. Every day seems to bring a new escalation between NATO and its allies and Russia over the latter’s invasion of Ukraine. NATO has sanctioned Russia, is providing arms to the Ukrainian resistance, and many of its members have called for direct intervention in Ukraine. Even if NATO avoids a direct military conflict, all it takes is for Russia to make one mistake that leads to a deadly strike in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, or Romania (all NATO members bordering Ukraine), and all of NATO will be obligated to respond. A full-blown war between Russia and NATO means World War III and the likely use of nuclear weapons. In 2019, the U.S. ran a war game to simulate what would happen in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. The result was nuclear war with over a billion people dead. It’s a stark reminder that, at any moment, the war in Ukraine could escalate into World War III. The link is not working. you might want to copy and paste. Thank you Kolleen. I don't know how WW3 plays into any of this but what a bad mix that would be. I think we will at least go through the birth pangs in Mathew 24. The events and world conditions Jesus mentions seem to be a time when they escalate in frequency and magnitude globally. "The end is not yet" and the beginning of sorrows... "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. IOW - Consider a time coming where there're 2 pandemics going on, food shortages everywhere, earthquakes going on one after another. Reports of war here and war there. Nation against nation means one ethnic/religious group against another. The 'beginning of sorrows' may be a key turning point. Everything you said above Jim has a strong possibility of being very accurate, however also take into consideration that the primary audience of Matthew 24 is a Jewish audience, not the church, since the church had not yet been called out and formed at that point in time. So it is very likely that the church misses out on the majority of the scenario that you spelled out above, but this scenario will be very real and very present for the Jewish remnant that will eventually come to faith during the tribulation. Of course this does not discount that we should be prepared for anything, we have no guarantees of avoiding some of the more severe contractions of labor as in reality, we are the “child” being birthed - the sons and daughters of light! “For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, 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 glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.” “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”” Keep in mind …. Matthew chapter 24 is for the Jews, not the church The disciples were asking Jesus when His kingdom will be on the earth not when they will be going to heaven. Big difference. Jesus is describing the GREAT tribulation period prior to the millennium kingdom. And when Jesus says “no man knows the day or the hour” … He is referring to the 2nd Coming not the rapture. During the tribulation the sun will not shine anymore, the moon will turn to blood and the stars will fall from the sky. It will be total darkness … plus with time speeding up … “unless the days be shorten .. no flesh will survive” its going to be very hard to figure out day from night and those that flee to Petra will not be holding 3 1/2 year paper calendars and if they have their iPad, cell phones, watches with them … will their batteries stay recharged for 3 1/2 years? I don’t think so … so they will not be able to physically count the remaining days that easily. And those that don’t flee when the AC defiles the temple … will probably be worshipping the AC so they will not be looking for Jesus to return nor counting the days and will be shocked when Jesus appears in the clouds with Great Glory. Luke chapter 21 is for the church 25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men's hearts failing them for fear (the vaxx is causing deadly heart attacks/strokes? ), and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken (nuke explosion?) 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (The rapture - I don’t think it will be a secret event … all eyes will see it … the believers bodies will change instantly but I think the going up flying away might be slower … like in Acts 1:11 when Jesus ascended up into the clouds … the disciples were able to watched Him go up). 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. Paul gives the order of events: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 the rapture happens For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. II Thessalonians … then the Antichrist appears II Thess 2:3-4 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Revelation 4:1 (the rapture) After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. Revelation 5: The church is worshipping Jesus … He alone is worthy and is able to open the scroll. Revelation 6:1-2 Jesus breaks the first seal and the Rider on the White Horse (AC is revealed) I’m surprised the church is still here to witness the “prelude of events” that we’ve seen these past 2 years with covid mandates, etc. I’m shocked its the evil people running the 🤡 show that is causing the GREAT famine to happen this fall by destroying our food chain supply vs. God allowing the 2 witnesses to shut up the heavens so it doesn’t rain for 3 1/2 years. I seriously doubt any personal home gardens will be successful in the tribulation period with no rainfall. Its going to be horrific. Praise the Lord He takes His church home prior to judgement for Jacob’s trouble and the unsaved.
All these are the beginning of sorrows".
Romans 8:19-22
Luke 21:28
