Matthew 24:5-8

The Beginning of Birth Pains (the Early Contractions) (24:5-8).

Jesus begins by describing the turbulent future that the world must face. This should not have been surprising to anyone who knew the Scriptures. The Old Testament is full of descriptions of war and famines and earthquakes and tribulations which were to come and would occur at various stages. So Jesus' words are simply confirming what the Scriptures had foretold. All that the prophets have spoken of must come about, but this particular aspect of it is not necessarily to be seen as the sign of the end. These wars (including the Judaean war) are simply initial birth pains.