The Time of Jacob’s Trouble – Part 1
by admin | Oct 10, 2021 | Antichrist, Articles, Mark of the Beast, Rapture, Special, Tribulation |
The Time of Jacob’s Trouble – Part 1
“Woe to those who desire the day of Jehovah! Of what good is this to you? The day of Jehovah is darkness, and not light. It is as if a man fled before a lion, and a bear met him. Or he goes into the house and leans his hand against the wall, and a snake bites him. Is not the day of Jehovah darkness, and not light; even very dark, and not any brightness in it?” Amos 5:18-20
The “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7) should in light of the Holy Scriptures truly be called the Seventh Week (Da. 9:24-27), but the world and most of those who are Believers generally simply call it the Tribulation or the Great Tribulation.
Truly the Seventh Week is most accurate because there are seven years of time (plus possibly a bit more, 2 ½ months?), however, not all of that is actually the ‘Tribulation’, in terms of how it is thought about via Hollywood and many people, but half of it, the second half appears to be rightfully called the ‘Great Tribulation’. The time period between the Rapture of those who were truly Saved when Christ judged at ‘His appearing’ (2 Tim. 4:1) is seven years, therefore it should rightfully be called the Seventh Week.
As an introduction let’s begin with understanding what the book of Revelation is about, as well as the key to understanding that book of the Bible.
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His servants; things which must happen quickly.” Revelation 1:1a
Here we can see what is rightfully the actual title of the book of Revelation. A true translation should call the book The Revelation of Jesus Christ. This book of the Bible is actually about the revealing of Jesus Christ to Israel, God’s chosen people (Duet. 7:6). The Church age will have ended at the Rapture, so now the focus will be turned back to Israel, yet the world will also be judged for their sin. The mercy of God will still allow people to repent and believe into Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, though at this point, if death doesn’t occur naturally or due to one of the catastrophic Judgments or fellow mankind, they will be martyred for their faith (more later).
revelation, n.
The act of disclosing or discovering to others what was before unknown to them: in theology, the disclosure or communication of truth to men by God himself or by his authorized agents, the prophets and apostles.
Webster’s Universities Dictionary Unabridged, 1942, Noah Webster
As mentioned in an earlier chapter, this is not a commentary on the book of Revelation, but rather making His paths straight (Matt. 3:3). So there will be a lot of jumping around, not going about the Tribulation as a roadmap for the seven year time period, but rather going over certain things that can be ascertained that will happen at some point during that time.
There will be some speculation and that will be notated by question marks, whether or single one (?) or a very serious pondering (???). Where the Bible is clear what will take place, this will be stated, but quite often with prophecy, these things will not be fully known until they take place in hindsight.
“For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when the complete whole comes, then that which is in part will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put an end to childish things. For now we see through a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall fully know just as I also am fully known.” 1st Corinthians 13:9-12
If even Daniel did not understand (Da. 12:8), then who could say they know these things to be certain? After the Rapture the Bible clearly tells us the things ‘which must take place’ (Rev. 4:1). We might not know all of the details, but we do know that God is righteous in His judgments (Rev. 16:7; 19:2) and His hand of mercy is still extended to those who will repent.
“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.” Revelation 1:3
There are many things people suppose about the Tribulation, many things that people assume, but in reality most of it is utter ignorance of God’s Word. I can become extraordinary frustrated when I see these liars proclaiming things that the Bible can easily rebuke, such as claiming a post-trib Rapture when the Bible clearly states it will happen prior to the Seventh Week (Rev. 3:9-10).
Recently on one of the mailing lists that I am on, I can across someone who can obviously see there are some similarities in the world that we live in with what is presumed will take place during the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7), but erred greatly in suggesting that we might be in the Great Tribulation now. This ignorance and clear error of the teachings of the Holy Scriptures just shows how terribly apostate that which calls itself Christian is in the world.
As I have told my family and close friends who inquire about such things, if there was preaching going on about these things and people readily saw that things happening in the world nowadays seem to be linked directly to what is prophesied in the book of Revelation, then I could ascertain that the time for such things to take place would probably not be quite yet. However, when we see these things in the world happening today and hardly a soul, including pastors, seem to take notice, we know that the world will be caught unaware, just as the Bible teaches.
“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with giddiness, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come upon you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34-36
So the key to understanding the book of The Revelation of Jesus Christ is the following:
“Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things.” Revelation 1:19
The book of Revelation is about history, current events and prophecy all in one, said another way it is about past, present and future. If one does not understand this properly then all attempts to understand the basis of the book of Revelation will be futile. Revelation is not a road map beginning in chapter 4 and essentially ending in chapter 19, but rather jumps back and forth with some things having already happened, some things that are going on and some things that are the prophetic future of the world. You must remember while reading this that the book of Revelation is about past, present and future.
Don’t Be Left Behind
While some might find such a read to be interesting and it is, the reason for writing such things is not only to clarify some of what will be, but also to place some questions, some ponderings about the world we live in and relay that the time might be much sooner than people anticipate, in fact there is no guarantee that this work even gets published. The reader should seek God while He may be found.
“Seek Jehovah while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to Jehovah, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7
“For this let everyone who is godly pray unto You, in a time when You may be found; surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come near him.” Psalms 32:6
In the middle of summer I was driving home through a rural area in northeast Michigan. There was no traffic and the darkness of the sky was just barely starting to take hold. The colors in the sky, with the smoke in the distance visible in the trees was eerie and surreal at twilight. The smoke traveled some distance from the western part of the North American continent and was now settling over the trees, a light fog that seemed to take the crispness of vision and make it slightly out of focus.
With COVID having become a predominant focus on our society, the striking abnormalities of the world that we are living in became overwhelming and I pondered the future of mankind, the future of the man traveling down this same highway, that same man, possibly with his wife next to him and his children in the back of the vehicle, seemingly with no hope, no future, uncertain and fearful.
I imagined driving such a distance, wondering what it would be like to know that finally God’s Judgment against the world was taking hold, that people had disappeared and there was no soundness in finding answers, that I knew that I couldn’t trust anyone. Consider for a moment…
The dust traveling behind your vehicle in the middle of nowhere near Blackleaf, Montana. Looking out on the horizon, there it is, a home tucked away in the middle of nowhere, a middle class home, out of place, looking like it should belong in a community in a nice neighborhood in any zip code, USA.
Pulling up to your home, for the world has gone berserk, the time has come for you to flee, though your future is not so great either…
Traveling in a place like northeast Michigan, on US-23 between Rogers City and Alpena, cruising along at nearly 70 mph, watching for deer at twilight, with the smoke of what appears to be the Judgment of the Most High lingering in the distance, knowing that you are one of the unrepentant, you have been Left Behind…
Perhaps a place like Faith, South Dakota, standing outside the town’s museum, pondering the past, peering in the windows to get a glimpse of what life was like before our world got so bad. Considering the things of God and not knowing what to make out for the future, just a certain fear of God about the things to come…
Maybe Orlando, Florida, taking a cruise on OBT and watching as the sky darkens during the summer for the afternoon shower, a bit of relief from the heat. Though you know something has happened, the world isn’t quite the same, watching and wondering whether or not people are suddenly going to become even more violent, worrying about the future and realizing that you are left smack dab in the middle of what could become a very violent and bleak city in the near future…
In all of these situations, consider the thoughts racing through the mind of those Left Behind, whether or not they fully understand the exact times that they are in. That uncertainty, that knowing that things will not get better, the understanding that certainly the day at hand will likely be better than the next.
Rumors begin to fly, censorship is rampant. People say that eventually the houses will be shut up and no one will come out…
“The city of emptiness is broken down; every house is shut up so that no one may come in.” Isaiah 24:10
They begin to here rumors to watch out for loose dogs and wild beasts…
“So I looked, and behold, a pale green horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed behind him. And authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.” Revelation 6:8
If one only began to ponder, if one only began to realize what a time, what a place to live in this world, at that moment in the history of mankind, those who were without Christ, those who refused to repent towards God and by faith believe into Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, sitting there in a world that is seemingly without hope, fear taking hold. Yet as you will find, for those who didn’t purposely forego the Truth (2 Thes. 2:11-12), there will still be hope, though your life will be given in exchange for Him who died for you. Then again, Christ always expected that we died to self and lived for Him, we were to be new creatures.
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
“No one is able to serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. It is not possible to serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24
“But Jesus said to him, No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62
“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, and wife and children, and brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:26
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2nd Corinthians 5:17
Take a drive, look through the eyes of what this world will become. Understand, that for those Left Behind, over the course of seven years, around 90% of all humanity will be killed. Imagine driving by house after house after house, empty, the former residents dead, awaiting, for those without Christ, the Great White Throne Judgment where God Almighty will met out His holy judgment against those who refused the free gift of Salvation.
Eventually, if you do not yourself become victim earlier than later, your demeanor hardened by the sight of dead bodies laying everywhere, tragedy after tragedy played out on television or news outlets and the hope for the future quashed by the government still bent on claiming they are serving God, but in realty, at that time, making preparations in their deluded minds to make war against Him who Created them and the ground that their unrepentant hearts walk on!
“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 16:25
My friend, you do not want to be in a situation where one day you awake to having been Left Behind, that the little bit of Bible that you heard was enough to realize that something in the world just doesn’t seem right, that something bad seems to be a coming.
Well right now something just doesn’t seem right and the end appears to be coming. Yet, if you are reading this beforehand and you have seen that something just isn’t right, now, yes now my dear friend is time to seek God, now is the time to seek your Creator before it is too late! In fact if that is you, I myself would tell you in person to immediately cease reading this book, cry out to God, read His Word, particularly a good copy like the King James Version, and repent towards God and accept Jesus Christ, His Son who died on the Cross for your sins and rose again, as your Savior. Don’t put it off!
“For He says: In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you. Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2nd Corinthians 6:2
