The Contractions Are Getting Closer

“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.”— Matthew 24:7-8 (NIV)

When a woman is nearing the time of childbirth, she begins to feel contractions. At first, they come slowly, sporadic, and spaced apart. But as delivery draws near, those contractions intensify and become more frequent, more urgent, and more painful. This is the very image Jesus used when describing the signs of the end of the age.

“All these are the beginning of birth pains.”

He was speaking of wars, famines, earthquakes, deception, and a world increasingly marked by chaos and confusion. Sound familiar?

Today, we are witnessing contractions that seem to be getting closer together.

• Nations are rising against nations with renewed aggression.

• Famines and economic instability are spreading in both developed and developing countries.

• Earthquakes and natural disasters are more frequent, more severe.

• Truth is being twisted, and deception is rampant—even within the Church.

• Morality is being redefined, and lawlessness is celebrated.

Many of these things have existed throughout history, yes. But just as contractions in early labor can be misread, it's the pattern and intensity that signal how close we are to delivery. Jesus didn’t say these signs would be new—He said they would grow more intense and closer together as the end approaches.

What Are We Birthing?

Jesus didn’t use this image to scare us—but to prepare us. Birth pains precede something new, something promised. They are painful, but they have purpose. For the believer, these contractions point not to destruction, but to deliverance—the return of Christ and the birth of His Kingdom in full.

This truth brings both warning and hope:

• Warning, because many are asleep. They see the signs, but don’t recognize what they point to. They continue in complacency, unaware that the clock is ticking.

• Hope, because we know who holds the future. We don’t brace for the end—we prepare for the beginning.

As believers, we’re called to be like watchmen—awake, alert, and anchored. The darkness may be intensifying, but so is the urgency of our mission. We must not grow numb to the signs or become overwhelmed by fear. Instead, we press in, knowing our redemption is drawing near (Luke 21:28).

What Should We Do?

1. Stay rooted in God’s Word. Let truth guard your heart against deception.

2. Live in readiness. Not in panic, but in purpose—walking in righteousness and faithfulness.

3. Share the Gospel. The world needs hope more than ever, and we carry the Good News.

4. Pray with urgency. The time is short. Pray for the lost, for discernment, and for endurance.

The contractions are getting closer. The signs are not random—they are reminders. Don’t ignore them. Don’t fear them. Let them awaken you to the reality that Jesus is coming back, and He’s coming soon.

Are you ready?