As we explain here on Endtimes.org, the term Endtimes refers to a specific period of time where the events described in the Book of Revelation have begun. As of this writing (update: May, 2025), we are NOT yet in the Endtimes.

The Bible does have various terms described here that point to that coming period, either very specifically or in a general sense. For example, the Bible does say that were are in The Last Days now, while in the Old Testament that term usually describes the future Millennial Kingdom.

Hebrews 1:1 – God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son

1 Corinthians 10:11 – Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come

Remember though that the disciples of Jesus didn’t know how long this current Church Age would last. The Church was a mystery in the Bible. And yet, the Bible left placeholders in Old Testament Prophecy for the Church – between Messiah the Prince (first coming), his rejection, and the Second coming in Judgement. Jesus shows this gap as he reads from Isaiah (described in Luke 4)

From our PreMillennial and Pretribulation Rapture perspective, the next event on God’s Eschatological timetable is the Rapture of the Church, and then the events of Revelation 4 can begin.

Birth Pangs

Ok, let’s go a bit deeper. In Matthew 24 Jesus mentions some events that will take place during the first half of the 7-Year Tribulation, and then uses the metaphor of Birth Pangs to describe those events. (ὠδίν) (see also 1 Thessalonians 5:3 where the same Greek word is used. (then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child)

Although Matthew 24 speaks to events that happen during the Tribulation, some have taken the liberty of using this metaphor to speculate that the idea of Birth Pangs may start well before the Tribulation period, as a requirement to set things up. That makes sense. For example, the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem (The Holy Place – Where the AntiChrist will sit, Matt 24:15) might need to begin before the start of the Tribulation, so we follow any talk in Israel about rebuilding the Temple. Looking for Wars and Rumors of Wars is a bit too generic. The Mark of the Beast seems to assume some modern technology to enable the AntiChrist to stop people from buying and selling worldwide – that technology is here now, but it was not as little as 20-years ago. (BlockChain, Crypto, World Currencies, Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC), Smartphones, etc)

The Regathering of Israel

If the idea of Birth Pangs can logically start before the Tribulation, then surely the regathering of Israel into their covenant land in 1948 was the first obvious and miraculous Birth Pang. 

From Endtimes.org Background

.. by the power and purpose of God, current day Israel was regathered into their land in 1948. In other words, God has not forgotten Israel, and preparations for the Endtimes are under way — wake up! The most critical step following the Jewish diaspora has already been taken, ethnic and National Israel back in their land. How miraculous that we live in a time with the Nation of Israel in their covenant land and in the news. From 70 A.D. to 1948 this was not the case. Destroyed and disappeared for almost 1900 years

 

Conclusion

While we are not in the Endtimes as defined by the Bible, it does seem like we are seeing preliminary steps being taken, and as Birth Pangs go, they seem to be speeding up. Keeping things in perspective, we have no secret knowledge and neither does anyone else. (Secret Knowledge)