Published on Saturday, 12 November 2011 00:36 | Written by Vernon Gillispie | | | Hits: 7544
Time of Jacob's Trouble*
5 "For thus says the LORD:
'We have heard a voice of trembling,
Of fear, and not of peace.
6 Ask now, and see,
Whether a man is ever in labor with child?
So why do I see every man with his hands on
his loins
Like a woman in labor,
And all faces turned pale?
7 Alas! For that day is great,
So that none is like it;
And it is the time of Jacob's trouble ,
But he shall be saved out of it. Jer 30:5-7, NKJV (italics mine).
The scriptures quoted here above and below clearly refer to a disasterous time for Israel the time of Jacob's trouble. A time of great distress, so great that none is like it . Notice though that the Lord cleary promises that they will be delivered. Some may be inclined to look at Israel's history and assume that this has already been fulfilled - but look at the verses that follow.
8'For it shall come to pass in that day,'
Says the LORD of hosts,
'That I will break his yoke from your neck,
And will burst your bonds;
Foreigners shall no more enslave them.
9 But they shall serve the LORD their God,
And David their king,
Whom I will raise up for them. Jer 30:8-9, NKJV (italics mine).
We can, again, be sure this is a future event because it speaks of Israel serv(ing) the Lord their God and David their king whom the Lord will raise up for them. Further, it speaks of Israel never again (no more) being enslaved by another nation (foreigners).
We see, again, the references to that day indicating a brief period and other references that coincide with passages elsewhere referring to the tribulation period during which the Lord will bring judgment on the nations that have abused Israel, showing the world, and Israel, that He is their God and freeing Israel, once and for all, to take their rightful place among the nations as they return to the Lord God in faithful worship and service.
While most conservative christians agree that Israel will be redeemed and restored as chief among the nations not all agree on the unfolding of the events prophesied for the future.
PROPHECY
Much controversy surrounds the roles of the church and Israel in the final days preceding Christ's Second Coming, known as the "day of Jacob's trouble " (Jer 30:7)[above], "the great tribulation" (Matt 24:21), or "the great day of His wrath" (Rev 6:17). This will be a period of seven years with the most intense trial in the last three and one half years of this time (Dan 12:11-12; Rev 12:6; 13:5).
As Christ's Second Coming approaches, many difficult prophecies about the Tribulation will be understood more clearly (Jer 30:24; Dan 11:32-35; 12:3,9-10). Premillennialists point to the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 as just one of these signs of Christ's approaching return.
While premillennialists agree upon the restoration of Israel in the earthly reign of Jesus Christ, many are divided over the relation of Israel to the church, particularly just before Christ's appearance at the end of the Tribulation. Covenant theologians see Israel and the church as one people who go through the Tribulation together. Dispensational theologians believe Israel and the church are always separated in the Bible. As a result, dispensationalists believe the church will not join Israel in its days of tribulation, but will be transported to heaven before it begins, at the beginning of the seven years.
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
As we see the article above clearly treats the "day of Jacob's trouble", "the great tribulation", and "the great day of His wrath" as a single period of seven years "Daniel's seventieth week". This, however, is a debated point. It is entirely possible, perhaps even probable, that they refer to different periods within Daniel's seventieth week.
It is fairly well accepted among concervative christians that Daniel's seventieth week refers to a seven year future period beginning when Israel signs a seven year treaty with a political leader referred as the antichrist. While many call this seven year period the "tribulation" scriptures in Revelation make it clear that the first three and one half years will be a relatively peaceful period during which Israel will apparently rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. During this period there will likely be numerous natural disasters escalationg in severity after all we are experiencing this even now.
The real trouble will begin when the antichrist enters that temple and declares that he is god. It is after this that he begins the persecution of Christians and Jews who will not accept his mark. The day he goes into the temple could be the onset of "the day of Jacob's trouble". It also appears to be right after this that the world goes into turmoil with severe natural disasters. This could well be "the great tribulation". Then come the judgments of God as He pours out wrath upon the earth and its inhabitants and those in Heaven respond:
The nations were angry; and your wrath has come. Rev 11:18; NIV.
Category: Tabernacle
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