Are We Having Birth Pangs Yet?

Q. As always thanks for your teaching and insight. May God continue to grace you.

My question is, ‘considering the present state of affairs, are we experiencing birth pains or is that terminology reserved for the tribulation period?’

A. According to Matthew 24:8 the birth pangs precede the Great Tribulation which begins in verse 15.  The Lord referred to them as birth pangs because as they increase in frequency and intensity they will ultimately “give birth” to the Great Tribulation.  I believe they’ve already begun, but as it is with a woman’s birth they only tell us the Tribulation is coming.  They don’t say when.