11月29日

標 題：產難

經 節：這一切事情的發生正像產婦的陣痛開始一樣。（馬太福音廿四章8節，現代中文譯本）

耶穌什麼時候會再來？這是曆世歷代以來，許多人沉思默想的問題。祂再來的急迫感，是基督徒做任何事背後的心態。基督並沒有指明何時再來，然而，祂已經告訴我們一些當注意的預兆。祂再來的時間並不清楚，但是祂要再來是肯定的事實。

耶穌說，某些事件會是祂再來的徵兆。到那時，會有戰爭和戰爭的風聲，會有饑荒和地震；基督徒會因基督的緣故受迫害；會出現假先知教導異端，帶領許多人走了岔路；不法之事會增多，人們做自己眼中為對的事；執法單位不能控制罪行。因為無法，人們會變得冷嘲熱諷及心懷恐懼，並且他們的愛心會漸漸冷淡（馬太福音廿四：6—12）。

耶穌說，末世的記號就像產難。生產痛苦的頻率漸漸加增，並且強度也增強。耶穌說，戰爭、饑荒或是假先知的出現，並不代表祂就來了。祂說，這些事只是災難的起頭。祂說，戰爭、地震和罪行的頻率會逐漸加增，直到最後耶穌到來，結束一切。戰爭、饑荒及其他人類危機的嚴重性，將會逐日加增。

我們的時代似乎已經看到耶穌所講的一部分，這是過去所沒有看到的現象。今日基督徒應當為耶穌的再來而儆醒。

Birth Pangs

But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. (Matthew 24:8 NASB)

When will Christ return? This question has been pondered much through the generations. The imminence of His coming provides the backdrop for everything the Christian does. Christ has not revealed exactly when He will come, but He has told us signs to watch for. The time of His coming is unclear; the fact of His coming is certain.

Jesus said that certain events would signal the nearness of His coming: There will be wars and rumors of wars; there will be famines and earthquakes; Christians will suffer persecution for the sake of Christ; false prophets will come and teach heresy, leading many astray; lawlessness will abound as people do what is right in their own eyes; the authorities will be unable to control crime. Because of lawlessness, people will become cynical and fearful, and their love for others will grow cold (Matt. 24:6–12).

Jesus said that the signs of the end times will be like birth pangs. The pain of childbirth increases in frequency, and it increases in intensity. Jesus said that the presence of war or famine or false teachers does not mean that His coming is upon us. These things, He said, are merely the beginning. He said that the frequency of wars, earthquakes, and crime will increase until finally Christ’s return brings everything to a finish. The intensity of wars and famines and other human crises will also escalate.

Our day has seen everything Jesus spoke of reach unprecedented proportions. If there were ever a time Christians should be alert to Jesus’ coming, it is today.