We probably all feel something when we watch the news. We see wars. We hear of rumors of wars and of

famines and natural disasters all over the globe, not to mention corruption and large-scale crimes.

It's very easy to get overwhelmed by all the bad news,

or we just go completely numb to it all.

But what if Jesus said don't do either of those two things?

Instead, see those things as signs, as birth pains of the end times.

Today on Ask Pastor John, our main calling in the end times. Today I'm asked Pastor John, our main calling in the end times.

We get there from this question from Grace, who lives in Charlotte, North Carolina.

She asks about this and a very timely question for us, Pastor John, thank you for this podcast.

In Matthew 24, verses 3 to 14, which is in our Bible reading today, we read it today,

Jesus describes signs of the end time, such as wars, famines, earthquakes, and false prophets,

as you see events in the news, natural disasters, political unrest, or the spread of fake news

and deception online.

Do you think of this passage and its warnings?

How does this text shape your understanding of world events?

Jesus calls these the beginning of birth pains, reminding us that such troubles are part of the world's history before his return.

When you encounter these signs in the media, do they deepen your

sense of urgency to live faithfully and share the gospel? Well, the short answer is yes, but let me

preface what I have to say about the signs at the times with something I think is just as important

or probably more important and that

caused me to write a whole book three years ago about the Second Coming. The biblical text that

took hold of me and still captures my attention and my heart, especially as I come to the end

...