What is the beginning of sorrows?
The beginning of sorrows is the opening period of end time events that Jesus described in Matthew 24, marked by wars, nation rising against nation, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes, followed by the persecution of believers, false prophets, and love growing cold as iniquity increases.
Jesus described the beginning of sorrows in Matthew 24:6-8 as a season of wars and rumors of wars, nation rising against nation, kingdom against kingdom, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. These are called the beginning of sorrows because, though there have been troubles before, the true sorrows of the end times are just starting to unfold. The four horsemen of Revelation, especially the black horse bringing famine through economic collapse and the pale horse bringing death through sword, hunger, pestilence, and beasts, are the spirits responsible for carrying out this beginning phase.
This period is not only marked by outward calamity but also by a spiritual falling away. Matthew 24:9-12 describes persecution rising against the saints: believers will be hated, afflicted, and killed for the name of Christ. Many will be offended and turn against one another, even betraying loved ones. False prophets will rise and deceive many, and because iniquity abounds, the love of many will wax cold. This is called the spirit of iniquity, the same spirit that persecuted the early church being revived by the forces of evil in the last days.
The beginning of sorrows covers the first three and a half years leading up to the midpoint of the end time timeline, with the great tribulation making up the last three and a half years. The trumpet judgments themselves are identified as the sorrows, coming while the church is still on the earth, the testimony of Jesus Christ is still being given, and the saints are still being tried. This is distinguished from the Day of the Lord, which is a time of wrath beginning only after the church is removed.
These signs are understood as present realities rather than distant future events. Wars driven by land, religion, race, and ethnicity, worldwide pestilence and incurable disease, and earthquakes occurring with increasing frequency are all pointed to as evidence that the beginning of sorrows is already underway, setting the stage for the revelation of the antichrist.
The scriptures
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
From the books
This answer is drawn from these passages in the Mary Banks Faith Library.