Dear John and Doves,
 
  Pang, noun, often plural.  Sudden sharp pain of painful emotion.  (Oxford desk dictionary).  Birth pangs are understood to be the sudden, sharp pains in the expectancy of a new birth.  Matt. 24: "But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs."  (NASB)   All of what things?  Jesus foretold of the following.
 
  Earthquakes.  9.0 on 12-26-04, the day after Christmas in Indonesia, and one year to the day from a major quake in Iran.  8.7 on 3-28-05, the day after Easter in Indonesia, and 91 days after the 12-26-04 quake.
 
  Wars and rumors of wars. United States, Iraq, Israel, Russia, China, Taiwan, India, Pakistan, Syria, Lebanon, N. Korea, all are major players, with many more countries in regional conflicts.
 
  Terrors. Terrorists across the world.
 
  Famine and pestilence.  Bird flu, AIDS, SARS, flesh-eating bacteria, loss of farmable lands, droughts.
 
  Betrayal.  Terri Schiavo case.  Betrayed by her spouse and her country.
 
  False prophets.  New Age religion, mystics, mediums, fortune tellers.
 
  Apostacy.  New interpretaion of and writing of a "kinder, gentler Bible."  Denominations falling away from teaching sound Bible doctrine.
 
  Lawlessness.  Recent mass shootings in Wisconsin, Georgia, and Minnesota.  Child abductions and killings in Flordia and Iowa.
 
  These are only a few of the "things" Jesus told of.  He also said in Luke 21: 28 "But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
 
  I see, feel, and sense that there are currently, right now, major events just ready to explode at any moment; like a pressure-cooker.  The latest earthquake in Indonesia was described by a news commentator as happening "in the middle of the night, and totally unexpected."   "People were running around panic-stickened."  This type of scenario can be further referenced in 1Thess. 5:1-6, to summarize/paraphrase, we know the Lord will come as a thief in the night, while they say peace and safety destruction shall come upon them suddenly, and they will not escape.  So, we are not to be in darkness in this time, but awake and alert.
 
  My own witness, when I present it, largely falls on deaf ears.  My family and friends don't want to recognize what is going on around us, or they are afraid, or they are just too attached to this world.  Therefore, scoffers will be present, just as in the days of Noah, for they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away.
 
  Dear friends at Five Doves, this is by far the best web site of its kind that I know of.  I want to thank everyone who has posted articles there that have helped me enormously in my day-to-day life.  We are in the season.  The signs and birth pangs are upon us.  A major event is imminent in fulfillment of God's plan for mankind.  I hope and pray for that major event to be the Rapture of the Church!
 
  God's blessings to all!
 
  JM

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Thanks for the encouragement, JM!
John