OMG! Condi Rice's "Birth Pangs" is a freakin' Rapture reference!

Ian_rd

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Wed Aug-23-06 06:45 PM
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OMG! Condi Rice's "Birth Pangs" is a freakin' Rapture reference!

Condi Rice's infamous words on July 21, 2006:

"But I have no interest in diplomacy for the sake of returning Lebanon and Israel to the status quo ante. I think it would be a mistake. What we're seeing here, in a sense, is the growing -- the birth pangs of a new Middle East."

What a strange way to describe such extreme human suffering and violence. Then again, it turns out our Secretary of State isn't the only one to use "birth pangs" in such an interesting way. "Birth pangs" is a common term among End Timers to describe the turmoil that precedes the tribulation and rapture supposedly foretold by biblical prophecy:

From Pastor Ron Graff at Bible-prophecy.com:

BEGINNING OF BIRTH PAINS - Matthew 24:4-8

This is a picture of the times in which we are living. This is the generation which has seen the rebirth of the nation of Israel, exactly as prophesied in Ezekiel, chapters 36 and 37 ...

The events of this period of time are like the onset of labor pains. They are strong enough to let the mother know that the time of birth is near, but they are not as severe as they will be later. Thus, the dreadful events of the Tribulation are prefigured by many smaller versions of the same things before the intense trouble of the Tribulation actually begins.

From Tribulation Forces, Signs of the times and Bible prophecy:

There are two periods that Jesus taught about the end of times. During the first period we will experience the "birth pangs" <Matt 24-25>, <Mark 13>, and <Luke 21> which are setting the stage, so to speak of things to come. The second period will be the actual "signs" of the end. Here are the "birth pangs" (again, NOT signs of the end):

- Israel becomes a country again. <Ezek 11:14-18> In 1948 Israel became a nation again for the first time in 1500 years.
- In 1967 after the 6-Day War, Israel regained control of Jerusalem.

- Many people will claim to be the Christ (the Messiah) <Matt 24:3> Since 1900 alone there have been over 1100 public figures claiming to be Christ.
- Among them Sun Myung Moon, Maharaj Ji and countless others.
- People will be decieved by these fakers.

- Wars and Rumors of wars, revolutions. Since World War II there have been over 170 limited scope conflicts.

- Famines, earthquakes, pestilences. Billions of people go to bed hungry each night. Just view the happenings in Africa.
- The number of earthquakes has increased in both numbers and intensity within the last 30 years. From 1960 to 1979 there were over 64 earthquakes measuring over 6.0 on the richter scale. From 1980 to present there have been over 200. Compared to even the early 1900s when there was only 8 in a 30 year period.

- Nations and kingdoms at war. It seems that on any given day somewhere in the world there is an ongoing armed conflict.

From Rapture Ready:

The unending avalanche of catastrophes has convinced me that they are part of the end-time warning signs called the birth pangs. The Bible predicts they will increase in frequency as we get closer to the tribulation hour. I expect the world media will soon be covering new calamities in the coming months.

The birth pang factor is not the only end-time indicator at work today. Jesus told His disciples that apathy would also be the calling card of His return. In the Book of Mathew, the Lord repeated himself four times in the space of a few verses. He obviously was trying to make a point of how slothfulness will relate to the last days.

And from the Rapture Ready Forums:

Guess what folks: The birth pangs are still coming

pains(sic) are still coming. Some thought things had quieted down for now but it looks like we were just in a lull before the next hard contraction. With all that's going on is the world today, it looks like the rider on the white horse of Revelation is busy taking peace from the earth. Are we next. We seen a glimpse of it in N.O. Now its like a wild fire that's spreading over the earth as people seemly goes nuts.

From a piece called Eschatology, Different Rapture Views by Greg Rugh:

"Essential to this view is the division of the Seventieth Week into three major, distinct, and identifiable periods of time; The beginning of "birth pangs," the "great tribulation," and "the day of the Lord." Ibid. p. 223

And finally from Max Blumenthal's piece in The Nation, Birth Pangs of a New Christian Zionism, but he doesn't mention Rice's statement:

Brog's recently published book, Standing with Israel: Why Christians Support the Jewish State, expands his case for Jewish acceptance of evangelical political goals. Brog told National Review that his book has universal appeal and will help anyone to "better comprehend the birth pangs of what in time will be a very important alliance." The phrase "birth pangs" is clearly understood by evangelicals as a scriptural citation from Matthew 24, which refers to the apocalyptic struggle that will usher in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

And hits from Google just keep on comin'.

So, now the Bush administration has taken politically coded language to a new low by throwing a big, greasy bone out to the lunatics who are soiling their underwear at the prospect that we are witnessing the end of the world.