A Jewish Study--------------Labor pains are the indication of impending birth This is a sign of the beginning of the geulah,(the process of Redemtion) as is known, but it is specifically after finishing the time of pregnancy, which is at the end of nine months. Although she is pregnant before this, and has painful contractions, these are not called labor pains, because labor pains are only right before the onset of the actual birth. The birthpangs come upon her in order to bring about the birth, and they are the sign that the time has arrived for birth; but as long as she still isn't undergoing birthpangs, she won't be able to give birth because it means that time of birth still hasn't arrived because the duration of the pregnancy hasn't been completed. We find that the matter of the birthpangs is specifically to bring about the birth, after the completion of the time of pregnancy. Pregnancy is the opposite of birth, because pregnancy is confinement and concealment of the baby in the womb of its mother, specifically in the higher part of the womb during the last three months, as is known. At the time of birth, it turns over and goes out from the higher part of the womb to the lower part in order to come out and be revealed. This is leaving the narrow strait which presses the baby out, which requires birthpangs. The birthpangs do the opposite of birth, but specifically through them is the birth accomplished. Birthpangs seem to be the opposite of birth As is known, birthpangs are a strong, gripping pain on the sides of the baby to make it come out, which is the main part of the pain. But is is specifically through this that there is the strength and ability for birth, and that is why the birthpangs are called "mashber" ("crisis") like "the one who sits on the mashber (birthing stone)". It is at the moment of Israel's distress in the days of Yechezkiya, king of Yehuda who was beseiged by Sancheriv, king of Ashur, as is known. So it is regarding the birthpangs of Moshiach(messiah)--that close to his coming there will be the upheaval , which is the opposite of redemption, similar to birthpangs. But specifically through this upheaval will come the strength of the geulah,(process of redemtion) which is called birth. All this is because the geulah is the opposite of exile, because exile is the ultimate concealment (the level of pregnancy) and the geulah is the level of birth. Thus, birthpangs are required to bring about the geulah (redemtion) because they are the main things which facilitate the birth. Why is birth accomplished through its opposite? We must understand why the birth is brought about by something which is its opposite, referring to the birthpangs which are specifically right before the birth. Similarly the level of the strait of the golus and the enslavement that is right before the geulah, which is the sign of the beginning of the geulah, as the verse "eis tzora l'Yaakov u-mimena yevashea", "it is a time of trouble for Yaakov,(time of Jacobs trouble) and from this he will be saved". Clarity results from the battle between opposites (left and right) [Summary: clarity is a result of the refining process of the generation of an idea from the right side and the attempt to demolish it from the left side. This goes back and forth until the the idea is clarified to a center point where it raises no objections from the left side. Then the same back-and-forth process occurs in the emotions, resulting in its clarification in the center point. Similarly, the same left/right dynamic occurs in the realm of action--how is this idea to be actualized.] The purpose of obstacles Obstacles increase the urgency to reach the goal (as a river narrows, its speed increases). like the war of Gog before the coming of the great day (like the gloom of morning before the first rays of dawn), as it states "it is a time of trouble" to Yaakov, and specifically from this will he be saved--that the birthpangs bring about the birth because they generate strength for birth. Gestation is the concealment of the baby in the upper chamber and then he turns over and comes out, as birth is brought about by something that is its opposite, right at the same time. [Like the river, gaining speed through as it narrows], the strength for giving birth comes specifically from the birthpangs...thus it is understood that on the supernal level of "birth" of the collective entity of Jewish souls (which are in the belly of Malchus the entire time of exile) the birthpangs arise to give the strength for birth. That is to say, specifically at the end, right before the time of birth -- which is the time of the coming of Moshaich -- that is when she begins to cry out from the birthpangs, which are the troubles for Israel from which she will be saved, and this is the sign of the beginning of the redemption.