11月29日
标 题：产难
经 节：这一切事情的发生正像产妇的阵痛开始一样。（马太福音廿四章8节，现代中文译本）
耶稣什么时候会再来？这是历世历代以来，许多人沉思默想的问题。祂再来的急迫感，是基督徒做任何事背后的心态。基督并没有指明何时再来，然而，祂已经告诉我们一些当注意的预兆。祂再来的时间并不清楚，但是祂要再来是肯定的事实。
耶稣说，某些事件会是祂再来的征兆。到那时，会有战争和战争的风声，会有饥荒和地震；基督徒会因基督的缘故受迫害；会出现假先知教导异端，带领许多人走了岔路；不法之事会增多，人们做自己眼中为对的事；执法单位不能控制罪行。因为无法，人们会变得冷嘲热讽及心怀恐惧，并且他们的爱心会渐渐冷淡（马太福音廿四：6—12）。
耶稣说，末世的记号就像产难。生产痛苦的频率渐渐加增，并且强度也增强。耶稣说，战争、饥荒或是假先知的出现，并不代表祂就来了。祂说，这些事只是灾难的起头。祂说，战争、地震和罪行的频率会逐渐加增，直到最后耶稣到来，结束一切。战争、饥荒及其他人类危机的严重性，将会逐日加增。
我们的时代似乎已经看到耶稣所讲的一部分，这是过去所没有看到的现象。今日基督徒应当为耶稣的再来而儆醒。
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.
