What are the Bible's "beginning of sorrows"?

Definition and Scriptural Context

The phrase often rendered “beginning of sorrows” in older translations appears in the account of Jesus’ prophetic teaching about the end times. In the Berean Standard Bible, the phrase corresponds to the words “beginning of birth pains.” These words occur in passages such as Matthew 24:8: “All these are the beginning of birth pains.” Similar statements appear in Mark 13:8. In these verses, Jesus outlines specific events—wars, rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes, and other tumultuous signs—as preliminary indicators of a greater future culmination.

Old Testament Foreshadowing

Biblical prophecy often includes patterns of calamities and judgments that serve as both immediate warnings and future signs. In passages like Isaiah 13:6–8 and Jeremiah 4:31, dire events such as destruction and distress are depicted symbolically as labor pains. These Old Testament examples provide a foundation that helps interpret the language of Jesus in the Gospels: the image of intense pain preceding a new beginning or a significant historical turning point.

Immediate Historical Background

The disciples initially heard these warnings in the context of first-century Judea (Matthew 24:1–3). Jewish historian Flavius Josephus documented a series of catastrophic events spanning the period leading to the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD, affirming that famines, earthquakes, and unrest formed part of the historical backdrop.

• Famine in the time of Emperor Claudius (c. AD 46), referenced in Acts 11:28.

• Social upheavals and confrontations in Judea preceding the destruction of the Temple.

Jesus’ words about the “beginning of birth pains” were seen, in part, in these early turbulent decades. Yet, the biblical narrative also portrays them as precursors of a final, climactic period known as the end times, suggesting a dual or ongoing fulfillment pattern.

Signs and Their Significance

1. Wars and Rumors of Wars

In Matthew 24:6–7, Jesus speaks of conflicts among nations as an unmistakable indicator. Across history, numerous accounts—from ancient records to modern news—record persistent warfare. These continual conflicts highlight a perpetual cycle, yet Christians emphasize that these wars serve as reminders that the greater culmination has yet to arrive.

2. Famines and Pestilences

Episodes of severe scarcity appear throughout Scripture (e.g., Genesis 41:56–57 and the famine predictions in Acts 11:28). The biblical text indicates that such widespread suffering would intensify in the last days. Historical and contemporary records of food shortages and outbreaks of disease align with Jesus’ forewarning.

3. Earthquakes and Geological Upheavals

Matthew 24:7 further includes earthquakes as part of the prophetic signs. Scientists have long studied seismic activity, and geological evidence shows patterns of major earthquakes throughout recorded history. While earthquakes have always occurred, the biblical outline posits that such events are part of broader birth pains leading to a final culmination.

4. Spiritual and Moral Decline

Though not always captured by the phrase “beginning of sorrows” directly, passages like 2 Timothy 3:1–5 point to moral decay in society, complementing Jesus’ forewarnings. The connection between moral decline and global turmoil forms an overarching pattern that believers interpret as consistent with Jesus’ description.

Purpose of Birth Pain Imagery

In childbirth, labor pains signal an imminent birth—a time of difficulty that will yield new life. Scripture uses this comparison to show that the troubling events, while distressing, lead toward the fulfillment of divine purposes. The image is not merely negative; it contains hope of renewal and the eventual restoration outlined in passages like Romans 8:22.

Continuity with Biblical Prophecy

Throughout both Old and New Testaments, prophetic messages form a coherent narrative. The documented manuscripts, reinforced by sources such as the Dead Sea Scrolls (which contain portions of the Hebrew Scriptures with remarkable consistency), corroborate that prophecy forms an integral structure of the biblical message. Events described in Matthew, Mark, and Luke about the end times consistently align with earlier prophetic themes.

Archaeological and Historical Corroborations

• Dead Sea Scrolls: These ancient texts, discovered in the mid-20th century, authenticate the textual accuracy of significant portions of the Hebrew Bible, supporting the transmission of prophetic writings that allude to days of judgment and deliverance.

• First-Century Records: Josephus’s works confirm historical events that resemble some immediate fulfillments of Jesus’ words before and around AD 70—adding credibility to the reliability of the Gospel accounts.

• Continual Documentary Evidence: Through subsequent centuries, chronicled earthquakes, famines, and wars further illustrate that the “beginning of birth pains” is not confined to a single moment in history.

Relation to the End Times Timeline

Many readers interpret “the beginning of sorrows” as the initial phase leading to a more intense period of tribulation. In the broader prophetic landscape of the Bible, this phrase signals that the creation itself (and humanity at large) experiences mounting upheaval prior to what Revelation describes as the culmination of human history. While not every interpreter aligns the events in a specific chronological order, consensus remains that these signs precede the ultimate fulfillment of redemption and the restoration of all things.

Exhortation and Practical Application

1. Watchfulness: Matthew 24:42 underscores the importance of being alert to the spiritual realities behind the global phenomena.

2. Faith and Hope: Believers are encouraged not to be alarmed but to rest in the promise that redemptive outcomes lie beyond the trials.

3. Encouragement to Seek Truth: Considering Jesus’ warnings leads to examining one’s faith stance. As these signs intensify, the consistent biblical message encourages individuals to reflect on personal and spiritual alignment with God.

Conclusion

The “beginning of sorrows,” or “beginning of birth pains,” centers on events that foreshadow a more drastic culmination. Wars, natural disasters, and moral decline, while historically recurrent, are constant reminders of what Scripture describes as the surging pains before a new era. In this light, these foretold troubles serve not only as a warning but as a prompt toward seeking hope and resolution in the promises of God.

Citation for Scripture:

All Scripture quotations taken from the Berean Standard Bible.

© Berean Standard Bible, used by permission. All rights reserved.