Are We Entering the Age of Sorrows?
Written by Jimmie Burroughs
“Was only ever brought forth in sorrow.” – Walter Scheidel
Was Scheidel talking about life in general in the quote above? Whether or not, it is true that life is brought forth in sorrow. Is there any doubt that sorrow is very much a part of life? Jesus spoke of the “beginning of sorrows” in the Bible. The world has always known sorrows, but what Jesus is talking about is the intensification of sorrows. This is a reference to the time just preceding the “great tribulation.” The tribulation will be a time of God’s judgement on a wicked world preparing the way for the second coming of the Lord Jesus, when He will usher in the Millennium reign, a thousand years when Christ will rule and reign on this earth before the heavenly ages. All this is spoken of in the book of Revelation.
In Matthew 24:3,7-8,14 – The disciples of Jesus asked Him about things, which He had spoken concerning the end time events and His second coming: “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be?” And Jesus answered and said unto them… For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows…” And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
To answer the disciple’s question, Jesus spoke of several things, things that had actually happened from the beginning of the world but would intensify in the last days before His second coming. He pointed to wars, and rumors of wars and added there would be famines, pestilences and earthquakes. All these things were to precede the beginning of sorrows. Also, Jesus added that the gospel of the kingdom would be preached to every nation, which is close to a reality today.
The question is, have we now entered the beginning of sorrows that Jesus spoke about? There is no question that numerous shootings, natural disasters, and recent wars have brought much sorrow. And now the COVID-19 virus (pestilence) has brought untold sorrow across the entire world with more than 250,000 deaths and over 3 million infected with the virus. Pestilence is defined as a fatal epidemic disease. Since the flu epidemic, that killed between 50 to a 100 million in 2018, many new deadly viruses have risen killing millions, and the pattern continues across the country and across the world. There is a continues spike in new infectious diseases, which is becoming the new norm. According to medical professionals, we can expect new virus pandemics in the future.
There is a fear that COVID-19 will mutate like the flu. In fact, there has already been mutations, but it is yet to be determined if they are more contagious and fatal than the original; if they are, it could complicate the present efforts to discover a vaccine and bring the pandemic under control. If, like the flu, the mutation of the virus is so different from earlier ones, it means that people who have immunity would not be immune to the new versions; like the flu shots are ineffective to new strains of flu. That would be a difficult medical issue to deal with.
Presently, COVID-19 has literally closed down the entire world. As the result, millions are jobless; in the U.S.A. alone, there is more joblessness than in the great depression of the early 1930s. According to medical professionals, there will never be a return to the way we once lived. Even if there is an effective vaccine and treatment, other viruses (Pestilences) are expected to follow which could be even more deadly.
Some may wonder why God allows things to happen, which cause so much sorrow. Actually, there is an underlying reason: In 2 Corinthians 7:10-11 we read: “For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.”
The sorrow caused by COVID-19 can result in a twofold response, according to the Bible verse above. Millions across the world could look upward to God and repent of their sins with no regret because they will receive salvation and peace like they have never know before. On the other hand, millions will also continue as before, searching for that one thing that will fill the void in their heart and never finding it, and as the Bible says, it is a sorrow that ultimately produces death. That doesn’t mean just physical death but also includes spiritual death, referred to in the Bible as the second death.
There is little doubt that most do not understand the consequences of the second death, and yes, I know some will be turned off about what I’m about to say, although it is not me be doing the saying. The Bible says in Revelation 20:14 – “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” Death means separation; the second death means eternal separation from God and His love. There is no way to imagine how awful that will be, but we know that it means to be forever separated from God’s love, alone in darkness, with anguish, suffering and with no hope of ever escaping for all eternity. The knowledge of that alone should be a wake-up call for every living soul on earth. Nevertheless, the warning of the Bible is like someone shouting fire in a crowded building, and the majority of the people paying no attention, and as a result they perish.
Some may say, well I don’t believe in hell. If that is you, you have the freedom to believe whatever you please, but you have nothing to back up your belief but your own personal supposition. Whereas the believer has the inspired Word of God as proof. Again, some may say, I don’t believe in the Bible, and once again you have no proof for what you believe; it is only based on your personal supposition, which can be wrong. What if it is wrong, and there is a hell, and the Bible is true? You have everything to lose for all eternity. Think about it, everything to lose for all eternity! If believers are wrong, they have nothing to lose.
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About the author: Jimmie Burroughs is a motivational speaker and author who has been involved in teaching the Bible and Christian Personal Development for more than 50 years. There are hundreds of articles to help you, in your personal growth, on this website: (Website Contents)