The 'beginning of sorrows' is the opening stage of the seven-year tribulation, and Jesus Himself said it is not the end but only the beginning.
In Matthew 24:8, Jesus calls the wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes 'the beginning of sorrows.' Les Feldick explains that these are like a mother's first labor pains — relatively mild and far apart, but steadily increasing in intensity and frequency as the tribulation moves toward Christ's return.
Matthew 24:8 — Jesus directly uses the phrase 'beginning of sorrows' to describe the early signs of the end of the age.
Matthew 24:21 — This verse describes the far greater 'great tribulation' that follows the beginning of sorrows.
In Matthew 24, Jesus sits on the Mount of Olives with His disciples. They ask Him, "Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" (Matthew 24:3). Jesus answers by describing nation rising against nation, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places. In verse 8 He sums them up: "All these are the beginning of sorrows." Later in the same chapter, Jesus describes what follows the beginning of sorrows: "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be" (Matthew 24:21). The beginning of sorrows are not the end itself, but the early birth pains leading to that final period.
Les Feldick emphasizes that the 'beginning of sorrows' are just the start of the tribulation. He connects the four horsemen of Revelation 6 to Matthew 24:8, saying these events are like a mother about to deliver — her birth pains at first are relatively mild and far apart (Clip 1). He also points out that 'sorrows' is better translated 'travail' or 'earth pangs,' showing that the earth is approaching the day of her delivery from the curse (Clip 2). Les places the first half of the tribulation — including the Antichrist's seven-year treaty, the northern invasion, famine, and pestilence — in this 'beginning sorrows' category (Clip 5). He clarifies that these are not yet the outpouring of God's wrath; that begins at the midpoint, after which the last three and a half years will be beyond human comprehension (Clip 4, Clip 3). The whole tribulation, he says, is like birth pangs that keep increasing in intensity and closeness until Christ returns (Clip 7).
In Matthew 24, Jesus lists wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places. Les Feldick connects this to the opening of the seals in Revelation, including the appearance of the Antichrist, a great northern invasion, the death of one-fourth of the world, and the resulting famine and pestilence. All of these, he says, are the beginning days of the tribulation — bad, but not yet the final wrath.
Les repeatedly uses the illustration of a mother approaching delivery. The first birth pangs are relatively mild and far apart, and they increase in both intensity and closeness as delivery approaches. He applies this to the tribulation: it starts out relatively mild, but as it moves to the end, it crescendos until the last day has come and Christ returns. The earth itself is being delivered from the curse.
The last three and a half years of the tribulation, beginning with the abomination of desolation, will be the most awful time in all of human history. The first half is not yet God's wrath; at the midpoint, both Satan's wrath and God's wrath are poured out. Les describes the progression from the seventh seal into the trumpet judgments like birth pangs building to delivery, until Christ returns and the age comes to its end.
Why the Church Will Not Go Through the Tribulation
audience to just be part and parcel of our class. Get a Bible and pencil and paper and take some notes. Only reason we teach is to help people to understand what this book really says. And I've always warned my people, anybody that I teach, be aware of what isn't said or Scriptures that are not used as much as you are of what is said and what is used.
Connecting Revelation 6 to Matthew 24
Les shows that the horsemen of Revelation 6 are just the beginning of sorrows, like a mother's early birth pains that are mild and far apart.
Sorrows as Travail
Les explains that 'sorrows' means 'travail' or 'earth pangs' — the earth is approaching its delivery from the curse.
The Great Tribulation After the Midpoint
Les describes the last three and a half years as the most awful time in human history, beginning at the midpoint.
Beginning of Sorrows Is Not Yet God's Wrath
Les emphasizes that the first half of the tribulation, including the Antichrist and the death of one-fourth of the world, is still just the beginning of sorrows and not the wrath of God.
Beginning Days of the Tribulation
Les places the seven-year treaty, the northern invasion, famine, and pestilence as the beginning days of the tribulation.
Satan's Wrath and God's Wrath
Les notes that at the midpoint, not only Satan's wrath but God's wrath begins on the whole human race, making the last half mind-boggling.
Birth Pangs Crescendo
Les compares the tribulation to birth pangs that keep increasing in intensity and closeness until Christ returns.
Matthew 24:3: And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
This is the question Jesus is answering in Matthew 24.
Matthew 24:7: For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
These are the specific events Jesus lists before the 'beginning of sorrows.'
Matthew 24:8: All these are the beginning of sorrows.
This is the key verse that uses the exact phrase the question asks about.
Matthew 24:21: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
This shows the greater tribulation that comes after the beginning of sorrows.
No. The beginning of sorrows is the opening stage of the seven-year tribulation. Jesus says these events are just the beginning, not the end, and Les Feldick calls them the beginning days of the tribulation.
In Matthew 24, Jesus listed wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes. He then said, 'All these are the beginning of sorrows.'
According to Les Feldick, the great tribulation begins at the midpoint of the seven years, after the abomination of desolation. The last three and a half years will be the most awful time in all of human history.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Church Will Not Go Through the Tribulation