Birth Pangs of the New Creation

The analogy of the birth pangs in Romans 8, demonstrate very clearly that the last days events of resurrection, the coming of the Lord and birth of the new nation or creation was imminent. Dispensationalists skew the meaning of the text by focusing on geopolitical and socioeconomic events of the current time. Eschatology in scripture is not a subject for modern media news headlines, yet, many get their vision for the end directly from the most sensational news story.

Mello Means About to Be, An Event Soon to Occur

At least three times, God indicated the imminent proximity of the end in Romans 8:17-23. He uses the words “the present time” versus the glory about to be (mellousan) revealed in us. This word means something that is soon to occur. Scholars often through bias, mistranslate and apply the word to a long protracted future, but the context suggests always reveals an imminent time.

Firstfruits Suggest A Harvest is Already Underway

Another word in the context which suggests imminence is the concept of Firstfruits. The firstfruits, from aparche suggests that the harvest is already underway. Harvest is an analogous term used for the end times events. See Matthew 3:10-11 where John the Baptizer speaks of separating the chaff from the wheat. Jesus uses a similar analogy in the parable of the tars.

Birth Pangs - Imminent Consummation of Pregnancy

The third term of imminence in the text is that of the birth pangs. We cover this in more detail in the recording. The birth pangs suggest a women who as gone into labor and is about to deliver a child. The time is extremely urgent and immeinent. This hardly is a fitting term for a last days program that is already near to being two millennia. Such does not “cut the mustard.”

The solution is found is applying these terms in their imminent context, showing these events to have already occurred. As you listen to today’s podcast, note the references and seek to understand them as they were first utter to first century disciples.

Summary of Imminent Texts and the Last Days

Mello, firstfruits and birth pangs, all indicated an near or soon to occur event. This is incontrovertible proof that Paul did not speak of far off events, but those which we already in progress and ready for consummation. The end has ended.