Jesus reminded us that before He returned there would be false prophets, many wars, and threats of war on the earth. In troubled times, many people assume that the end of the age is near, but Jesus said that wars and rumours of wars are not signs of the end. Things such as false prophets, wars, famines, and earthquakes have certainly marked our history since the time of Jesus’ Ascension. In effect, Jesus said, Catastrophes will happen, but these do not signal the end. They are the beginning of sorrows, which is the beginning of labour pains. The idea is both of giving birth to a new age and perhaps implying an increase in the intensity and frequency of catastrophes.

(Belgic Confession Art 37)