The birth pains

Micah has been prophesying about the fulfillment of the Messianic Kingdom and the salvation of Israel. In today’s passage, he prophesies about the Great Tribulation that will come before the Messianic Kingdom is established. (1) In both the Old and New Testaments, the Great Tribulation is often described as “birth pains.” During this time, Israel will be without a leader (a king or counselor). Then “birth pains” will come upon them. As it says, “Now, why do you cry out loudly? Is there no king among you, or has your counselor perished, that agony has gripped you like a woman in childbirth? Writhe and scream, Daughter of Zion, Like a woman in childbirth.” In Jeremiah 30:4-7, the Great Tribulation is called “the time of Jacob’s distress.” (2) In the end times, Babylon will become the center of the world. The people of Israel will be taken to Babylon. However, the Lord will rescue the people of Israel there from the hand of the enemy. Concerning this, a more detailed prophecy is given in Zechariah 14:1-2. (3) “And now many nations have been assembled against you who say, ‘Let her be defiled, and let our eyes gloat over Zion’” (v 11). This verse is a prophecy of the battle of Armageddon. A more detailed prophecy is given in Zechariah 12:1-9. The armies of the Gentile nations will gather in the plain of Megiddo (the Valley of Jezreel), and from there they will advance against Jerusalem. They will wage war in order to disgrace Jerusalem. (4) The prophet Micah understands the Lord’s plan, but the people of Israel do not know it. The Lord will strengthen the people of Israel who remain in Jerusalem and cause them to fight bravely against the enemy. As a result, the enemy will suffer great losses. (5) In the Hebrew Bible, 5:1 is numbered as 4:14. It says, “Now muster yourselves in troops, daughter of troops; they have laid siege against us; with a rod they will strike the judge of Israel on the cheek.” This indicates that although Jerusalem will resist, it will ultimately be defeated. “With a rod, they will strike the judge of Israel on the cheek” was, in the ancient Middle East, a symbolic act expressing victory in battle (ref. 1 Kings 22:24).

The Second Coming of the Messiah

Summarizing what we have studied so far, it is as follows: (1) The armies of the Gentile nations gather in the plain of Megiddo. (2) They advance against Jerusalem. (3) The people of Israel fight valiantly, but because they are few in number, they are ultimately defeated. (4) After achieving victory in Jerusalem, the Gentile armies will advance further to destroy the people of Israel who have taken refuge in Bozrah. (5) The people of Israel hiding in Bozrah will accept the Messiah. (6) Then the Messiah will return to the earth. Micah the prophet, by revelation from God, knew what would take place in the end times. We are able to study that revelation. What a blessing it is to live in the present with confidence about the future. For that reason, let us praise the name of the Lord.