Jacob's Trouble

Jer 30:4 And these [are] the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah.
Jer 30:5 For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.
Jer 30:6 Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?
Jer 30:7 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.
Jer 30:8 For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, [that] I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:
Jer 30:9 But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.
Jer 30:10 Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make [him] afraid.

Jeremiah is prophesying to Judah and telling them what is in store for them in both the immediate and distant future. He is speaking both of the immediate and of the futuristic events for Israel and Judah, in which He uses an interesting phrase in verse 7, "Jacob's Trouble." This phrase is interesting because it is referring back to a 7 yr. period of trouble during which Jacob was serving Laban for Rachel. You may recall the story, how Jacob was fleeing Esau. He went to Laban and worked 7 yrs. for Rachel and "they seemed but just a few days." Then he was tricked and given Leah, after which he was forced to work another 7 yrs. for Rachel. Now, before we get into this and all it means, let me just say that the immediate implications were realized and fulfilled. God sent Judah into captivity in Babylon for 70 yrs. because of their idolatry, after which they were allowed to return home.

As you know, after returning home, Israel sinned again, and this time they cut the Messiah, Jesus Christ. They held out against and under Roman rule until A.D. 70 when Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed by Titus the Roman; and they were again dispersed throughout the world. This brings us to the futuristic implication of this passage, and in particular what the phrase, "Jacob's Trouble could mean." The dispersion lasted until 1917. This year was at the close of WWI, and the Balfour Declaration was made. This made it legal for Jews to return to Palestine.

Then, in 1938 the intense persecution of the Holocaust began (they actually started placing the Jews in concentration camps in 1933) and lasted until 1945 (7 yrs.). Three years later on May 14th, 1948 Israel became a nation again, and as Ezekiel 36 had prophesied, God began to regather the Jews to her homeland.

In the future, probably not so distant, Israel will undergo another 7 yrs. of intense persecution. It will begin with the signing of a peace treaty by Antichrist, who will break it after 3.5 yrs. And it will end with the Woman, Israel, giving birth to a Son, Jesus the Messiah, when He returns all the way to the earth to set up His Kingdom.

So, let's review what we've learned about Jacob's Trouble. Jacob labored 7 years and received Leah as His reward. Leah was a good wife and gave birth to Judah from whom King David and our Lord would come. But she wasn't who Jacob longed for. So, he labored another 7 yrs. and received the one he loved, Rachel.

Israel toiled 7 yrs. during the Holocaust under the regime of a demon-possessed man with the spirit of Antichrist, Adolph Hitler, after which she was given birth again as a nation. It is great but it is not what she longs for! She will toil again for 7 yrs. under the regime of a Satan possessed man, Antichrist, after which she will give birth to Her Messiah, the Millennial Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

During both times the world, by and large will turn its back on Israel. In WWII, all nations except China closed their borders to the Jews fleeing from Hitler. In today's world, it seems that even the U.S. is turning its back on Israel. We have been seduced by this spirit of Antichrist which is beguiling us into forcing Israel to give up her land for a false peace. We are even corresponding with Iran, who has sworn the destruction of Israel and is currently trying to obtain nuclear weapons. Prime Minister Netanyahu said this week that Israel cannot afford to let this happen and warns of attacking Iran. This could lead to the War in Ezekiel 38 & 39, in which Iran and others come against Israel in the latter days.

Anyway, the point is this. Christ Jesus could come for His bride at any moment. After this the 7 yr. treaty will be signed and the last 7 yrs. of Jacob's trouble will begin. Until we are called home, as believers in Jesus the Messiah, we cannot and must not ever turn our backs on Israel. No matter what all the governments of the world and the U.N. might do, we must stand with Israel. Because, Psalm 121:4, says, "Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep." God is keeping good records. Let us stand together and keep looking up as we await the soon return of Christ!