The Worldwide Persecution of Israel.
Question: "What is the time of Jacob’s trouble?"
Answer: The phrase "the time of Jacob's trouble" is a quote from Jeremiah 30:7 which says, "Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it" (KJV).
In the previous verses of Jeremiah 30, we find that the Lord is speaking to Jeremiah the prophet about Judah and Israel (30:3-4). In verse 3, the Lord promises that one day in the future, He will bring both Judah and Israel back to the land that He had promised their forefathers. Verse 5 describes a time of great fear and trembling. Verse 6 describes this time in a way that pictures men going through the pains of childbirth, again indicating a time of agony. But there is hope for Judah and Israel, for though this is called "the time of Jacob's distress" (NASB), the Lord promises He will save Jacob (referring to Judah and Israel) out of this time of great trouble (verse 7).
 |
| The Time of Jacob's Trouble |
In Jeremiah 30:10-11 the Lord says, “‘I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid. I am with you and will save you,’ declares the LORD.”
Also, the Lord says He will destroy the nations who held Judah and Israel in captivity, and He will never allow Jacob to be completely destroyed. However, it should be noted that the Lord describes this as a time of discipline for His people. He says of Jacob, “Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only with justice; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.”
The Old Testament presents at least five purposes for the Tribulation. 1 . The Tribulation will complete the decreed period of national Israel’s judicial hardening as punishment for its rejection of the messianic program, which the partial return from exile did not remove and which culminated in the national rejection of Jesus (Isa. Isa. 6:9-13; Isa. 24:1-6; cf. John John 12:37-41; Rom. Rom. 11:7-10).
2 . It will produce a messianic revival among Jewish people scattered throughout the world (Deu. Deu. 4:27-30; cf. Rev. Rev. 7:1-4+; Mtt. Mat. 24:14).
3 . The Tribulation will convince the Jewish nation of their need for the Messiah in order to produce a national regeneration (Dan.Dan. 12:5-7; Jer. Jer. 31:31-34; Eze. Eze. 20:34-38; Eze. 36:25-27; Eze. 37:1-14; Zec. Zec. 12:9-Zec. 13:2; Isa. Isa. 59:20-21). This will result in a massive return of Jews to the land of Israel (Zec.Zec. 8:7-8; Eze. Eze. 36:24; Eze. 37:21).
4 . It will end the time of the Gentiles and effect the deliverance of the Jewish people from Gentile dominion (Isa. Isa. 24:21-23; Isa. 59:16-20; cf. Mtt.Mat. 24:29-31; Mark Mark 13:24-27; Rom. Rom. 11:25).
5 . The Tribulation will purge the earth of wicked people in order to establish the Messianic Kingdom in righteousness (Isa. Isa. 13:9; Isa. 24:19-20; Eze. Eze. 37:23; Zec. Zec. 13:2; Zec. 14:9; Isa. Isa. 11:9). This violent reduction of the world’s unbelieving population will result from the divine judgments unleashed throughout the Tribulation (Rev. Rev. 6:1+-Rev. 18:1+), climaxing with the Battle of Armageddon under King Messiah (Rev. Rev. 19:1+) and His purge of rebel Jews and oppressive Gentiles at the end of the Tribulation (Eze. Eze. 20:33-38; Mtt. Mat. 25:31-46).15 <http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/revelation>
Dan 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
at that time — typically, towards the close of Antiochus’ reign; antitypically, the time when Antichrist is to be destroyed at Christ’s coming.
Michael — the guardian angel of Israel (“thy people”), (Dan_10:13). The transactions on earth affecting God’s people have their correspondences in heaven, in the conflict between good and bad angels; so at the last great contest on earth which shall decide the ascendency of Christianity (Rev_12:7-10). An archangel, not the Lord Jesus; for he is distinguished from “the Lord” in Jud_1:9.
there shall be — rather, “it shall be.”
| Gustave Dore Jonathan and the temple Dragon |
time of trouble, such as never was — partially applicable to the time of Antiochus, who was the first subverter of the Jews’ religion, and persecutor of its professors, which no other world power had done. Fully applicable to the last times of Antichrist, and his persecutions of Israel restored to Palestine. Satan will be allowed to exercise an unhindered, unparalleled energy (Isa_26:20, Isa_26:21; Jer_30:7; Mat_24:21; compare Dan_8:24, Dan_8:25; Dan_11:36).
thy people shall be delivered — (Rom_11:26). The same deliverance of Israel as in Zec_13:8, Zec_13:9, “the third part ... brought through the fire ... refined as silver.” The remnant in Israel spared, as not having joined in the Antichristian blasphemy (Rev_14:9, Rev_14:10); not to be confounded with those who have confessed Christ before His coming, “the remnant according to the election of grace” (Rom_11:5), part of the Church of the first-born who will share His millennial reign in glorified bodies; the spared remnant (Isa_10:21) will only know the Lord Jesus when they see Him, and when the spirit of grace and supplication is poured out on them [Tregelles].
written in the book — namely, of God’s secret purpose, as destined for deliverance (Psa_56:8; Psa_69:28; Luk_10:20; Rev_20:15; Rev_21:27). Metaphor from a muster-roll of citizens (Neh_7:5).
Jesus Himself Predicted
Mat 24:15 When therefore ye see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let him that readeth understand),
Mat 24:16 then let them that are in Judaea flee unto the mountains:
Mat 24:17 let him that is on the housetop not go down to take out things that are in his house:
Mat 24:18 and let him that is in the field not return back to take his cloak.
Mat 24:19 But woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days!
Mat 24:20 And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on a sabbath:
Mat 24:21 for then shall be great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be.
Mat 24:22 And except those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
 |
| The Seven Year Tribulation and the second half of GREAT TRIBULATION |
v.21 For then shall be great tribulation - No history can furnish us with a parallel to the calamities and miseries of the Jews: - rapine, murder, famine, and pestilence within: fire and sword, and all the horrors of war, without. Our Lord wept at the foresight of these calamities; and it is almost impossible for any humane person to read the relation of them in Josephus without weeping also. St. Luke, Luk_21:22, calls these the days of vengeance, that all things which were written might be fulfilled.
1. These were the days in which all the calamities predicted by Moses, Joel, Daniel, and other prophets, as well as those predicted by our Savior, met in one common center, and were fulfilled in the most terrible manner on that generation.
2. These were the days of vengeance in another sense, as if God’s judgments had certain periods and revolutions; for it is remarkable that the temple was burned by the Romans in the same month, and on the same day of the month, on which it had been burned by the Babylonians. See Josephus, War, b. vi. c. 4.Adam Clark
 |
| Bomb Attacks in Aleppo |
Rev 12:13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast down to the earth, he persecuted the woman that brought forth the man child.
Rev 12:14 And there were given to the woman the two wings of the great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness unto her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
Rev 12:15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth after the woman water as a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream.
Rev 12:16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
Rev 12:17 And the dragon waxed wroth with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, that keep the commandments of God, and hold the testimony of Jesus:
What will happen to the Jews during the Time of Jacob’s trouble?
 |
| Jews in Riga Ghetto WW2 |
They will travel down one of three Roads.
- Many Israelites will be slaughtered by the AntiChrist.The Prophet Zecharia says
Zec 13:7 Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith Jehovah of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered; and I will turn my hand upon the little ones.
Zec 13:8 And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith Jehovah, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.
Zec 13:9 And I will bring the third part into the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried. They shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people; and they shall say, Jehovah is my God.
- Some Israelites will follow the Antichrist.
Mat 24:10 And then shall many stumble, and shall deliver up one another, and shall hate one another.
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall arise, and shall lead many astray.
Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall be multiplied, the love of the many shall wax cold.
Rev 2:9 I know thy tribulation, and thy poverty (but thou art rich), and the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews, and they art not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
Rev 3:9 Behold, I give of the synagogue of Satan, of them that say they are Jews, and they are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
- A Remnant will be saved.
Rev 12:14 And there were given to the woman the two wings of the great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness unto her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
Zec 13:9 And I will bring the third part into the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried. They shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people; and they shall say, Jehovah is my God.
From these Scriptures it appears that one Third of Israel will remain true to God and be allowed to escape into a special Hiding Place. While it is not specified in Scripture many believe that it will be in the area of Petra. This is based on the following:
 |
| The massive stone walls which completely encircle the city of Petra make it nearly impossible to get at anyone who would be hiding inside. |
Zec 14:3 Then shall Jehovah go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
Zec 14:4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east; and the mount of Olives shall be cleft in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
Zec 14:5 And ye shall flee by the valley of my mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azel; yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah; and Jehovah my God shall come, and all the holy ones with thee.
Isa 63:1 Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.
The first few Verses of Isaiah 63 deal with the Second Coming of Messiah.
He comes to Edom of which Petra was the Capital, and to Bozrah (a city of Edom). Many believe He comes to rescue the Hebrews who are hiding there.
 |
Jews carrying their possessions during deportation to the Chelmno killing center. Most of the people seen here had previously been deported to Lodz from central Europe. Lodz, Poland, between January and April 1942.
— Beit Lohamei Haghettaot
|
Dan 11:41 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall be delivered out of his hand: Edom, and …………..
Thus Edom will be delivered out of the hand of the Antichrist. It is assumed that it is there that the Remnant of Israel will be protected.
No comments:
Post a Comment