Jesus used the analogy of His return like that of a woman going into labor. When the birth pains come on they start out noticeable and far apart. As they get closer they become more intense and closer together.
Matthew 24:3-8 – 3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.
One thing fascinating about this portion of scripture is how it parallels Revelation 6.
Revelation 6:1-2 – 1 I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.
A bow but no arrows and bent on conquest, appears to be the one world ruler that is to come along and try to accomplish this with peace. Such as a peace treaty with Israel for seven years we read about in Daniel 9:27. What Jesus doing? He is warning the Jews to be careful and watch out because many will come along and try to say they are the Messiah. That is what the Jews will believe that the antichrist or one world ruler is and why they enter in the peace agreement.
In Matthew 24 verse 6 and 7 we read of wars and rumors of wars along with nation against nation and kingdom against kingdom.
The second horse is a horse of war.
Revelation 6:3-4 – 3 When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.
It doesn’t appear that the peace will last very long from the first white horse. Tomorrow we will continue on with the similarities of first part of Matthew 24 and Revelation 6.