Are the events of Matthew 24:8 the wrath of God or only the beginning of sorrows?

Les explains that the first three and a half years will be bad enough, but they are not referred to as the outpouring of God’s wrath until a later point. The last three and a half years, he says, will be beyond human comprehension. Returning to Matthew 24, Les notes that Jesus Himself speaks of these things in verse 8. The events taking place—the appearance of the Antichrist, the great invasion, the tremendous loss of life of one-fourth of the world, and the attending pestilence and famine—are called the beginning of sorrows. It is not the wrath of God yet. Then verse 9 speaks of deliverance up to be afflicted, the time of Jacob’s trouble, which is predominantly God dealing with the nation of Israel, although it will be worldwide. Les also points out that the hatred of the Jew is already bubbling to the surface and will keep increasing, with people hated of all nations for His name’s sake. Verse 10 adds that many shall be offended, betray one another, and hate one another, and false prophets shall rise and deceive many. Because iniquity shall abound, Les reminds us the Church is gone, and today the Church is really the only break on wickedness across the world.