7 Last Years: The Time of Jacob’s Trouble

Discussing current events and how they relate to Biblical prophesy. What are some critical signs are pointing to the imminent Rapture of the Church?

These are the words the Lord spoke to Israel and Judah. Yes, this is what the Lord says:

We have heard a cry of terror,
of dread—there is no peace.
Ask and see
whether a male can give birth.
Why then do I see every man
with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor
and every face turned pale?
How awful that day will be!
There will be none like it!
It will be a time of trouble for Jacob,
but he will be delivered out of it. (Jeremiah 30:4-7)

Throughout history, God has had a special relationship with Israel, His chosen people. He made an everlasting covenant with Abraham, promising him descendants as numerous as the stars and a land of their own. Yet Israel’s history has been marked by cycles of obedience and rebellion, blessing and judgment. Time and again, the people turned away from God to worship idols and follow the practices of pagan nations. And time and again, God disciplined them through invasions, exile, and hardship – always with the goal of bringing them back to Himself.

This pattern will reach its climax in a final seven-year period known as the Tribulation or “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7). It will be a time of unprecedented suffering and upheaval for Israel and the world, as God pours out His wrath on unrepentant humanity and brings His purposes for history to their fulfillment. Yet even in judgment, God’s mercy will be evident as multitudes turn to Him in faith.

The Tribulation will begin when Israel signs a seven-year peace treaty with her neighbors, seemingly achieving the peace and security she has long sought. But this agreement will prove to be a terrible mistake, setting in motion the very events that will bring Israel to the brink of destruction – and ultimately to redemption.

The Origins of the Peace Treaty

From the time of her rebirth as a nation in 1948, Israel has faced hostility and opposition from her Arab neighbors. Despite winning several wars, true peace has remained elusive. Various peace initiatives over the decades have failed to resolve the fundamental issues dividing Israel from the Palestinians and surrounding nations.

Yet the Bible foretells that in the last days, Israel will enter into a significant peace agreement:

“He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.” (Daniel 9:27)

This passage describes a future leader making a seven-year covenant or treaty with Israel and others. It will seem to usher in a new era of peace and stability for the region. Israel will likely gain international recognition of her borders and the right to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. In exchange, she may agree to land concessions and other compromises with her neighbors.

On the surface, such an agreement will appear to be a positive development. Israel’s leaders will no doubt view it as a diplomatic triumph, finally achieving the acceptance and security the nation has long sought. Much of the world will hail it as a breakthrough for Middle East peace.

Yet in reality, this treaty will be a catastrophic mistake that violates God’s commands and sets Israel on a path to judgment. Throughout the Old Testament, God repeatedly warned Israel not to make treaties or alliances with the surrounding pagan nations:

“Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare among you.” (Exodus 34:12)

“Do not make a covenant with them or with their gods. Do not let them live in your land or they will cause you to sin against me, because the worship of their gods will certainly be a snare to you.” (Exodus 23:32-33)

God knew that such alliances would inevitably lead Israel into idolatry and sin. By relying on human agreements for security rather than trusting in Him, Israel would be rejecting God’s protection and provision. The peace treaty that begins the Tribulation will be the ultimate manifestation of this error.

Rather than bringing true peace, this agreement will set the stage for Israel’s greatest time of trouble. It will give a false sense of security while leaving the nation vulnerable to betrayal and attack. Most significantly, it will be a covenant with death and the grave, aligning Israel with the satanic powers that will soon engulf the world.

The First Half of the Tribulation

Once the seven-year treaty is signed, the Tribulation period will officially begin. The first 3 1/2 years will be a time of relative peace and prosperity, as the terms of the agreement are implemented. Israel will likely be able to rebuild the Temple and reinstitute the Levitical sacrifices and offerings. To many, it will seem that a new era of harmony between Israel and her neighbors has dawned.

Yet beneath the surface, ominous developments will be unfolding. A powerful leader – known in Scripture as the Antichrist or “the beast” – will be rising to global prominence, likely as the architect of the peace plan. Through his charisma, cunning and supernatural empowerment by Satan, he will position himself as the head of a revived Roman Empire centered in Europe.

This leader will initially appear to be a champion of Israel, guaranteeing her security and right to worship. But his true nature as “the man of lawlessness” (2 Thessalonians 2:3) will gradually become apparent. He will seek to unify the world under his rule, establishing a one-world government, economy and religion.

As his power grows, so will turmoil and conflict around the globe. The book of Revelation describes a series of judgments that will unfold during the Tribulation, with the first six seal judgments occurring in the first half:

“I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, ‘Come!’ I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.” (Revelation 6:1-2)

The rider on the white horse represents the Antichrist going forth to conquer through deception and false peace. He is followed by riders on red, black and pale horses, bringing war, famine, and death to a quarter of the earth’s population. The fifth seal reveals the martyrdom of believers, while the sixth seal brings cosmic disturbances that terrify earth’s inhabitants.

By the midpoint of the Tribulation, the world will be reeling from natural disasters, war, and economic upheaval. Yet the worst is still to come, as the Antichrist prepares to reveal his true colors and begin his reign of terror.

The Great Tribulation Begins

At the 3.5 year mark, a dramatic series of events will mark the transition to the second half of the Tribulation – known as the Great Tribulation. These 3 1/2 years will see the full unveiling of the Antichrist’s diabolical agenda and the outpouring of God’s wrath on a rebellious world.

This period will also see the rise of two witnesses in Jerusalem who will preach and perform miracles for 3.5 years:

“And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” (Revelation 11:3)

These two individuals (possibly Moses and Elijah returned) will be a source of frustration for the Antichrist, as he is unable to silence their testimony: If anyone wants to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and consumes their enemies; if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. (Revelation 11:5) Their ministry will be a lifeline to Jews and others coming to faith in the true Messiah during this time.

The catalyst for this shift will be the Antichrist’s desecration of the Jerusalem Temple, as foretold by Daniel and Jesus:

“So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.” (Matthew 24:15-16)

The Antichrist will enter the Temple, stop the sacrifices, and set himself up as God to be worshiped. This blasphemous act will make clear his true nature as the ultimate enemy of God and His people. It will also mark his betrayal of the peace treaty with Israel, as he turns against the Jewish people with murderous rage.

The Antichrist’s desecration of the Temple will coincide with several other key events:

• Satan and his angels will be cast out of heaven to earth, filled with fury (Revelation 12:7-12)
• The Antichrist will appear to suffer a fatal wound and then be miraculously healed, increasing his cult-like following (Revelation 13:3)
• A false prophet will arise, performing signs and wonders to compel worship of the Antichrist (Revelation 13:11-15)
• A one-world economic system will be imposed, requiring people to take the mark of the beast to buy or sell (Revelation 13:16-17)

These events will plunge the world into the darkest period of human history. The Antichrist, empowered by Satan, will launch a campaign of persecution against Jews and Christians, seeking to annihilate all who refuse to worship him. Israel will face invasion and catastrophic losses:

“I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city.” (Zechariah 14:2)

Two-thirds of the Jews in Israel will be killed, with the remainder fleeing to the wilderness for supernatural protection (Zechariah 13:8-9, Revelation 12:14). It will truly be the time of Jacob’s trouble, as Israel faces the greatest threat to her existence in history.

Yet even as Israel and believers worldwide endure fierce persecution, God’s judgment will be poured out on the unbelieving world. The seven trumpet judgments and seven bowl judgments described in Revelation will bring increasingly severe plagues and disasters upon the earth. Natural systems will be thrown into chaos, the seas and freshwater sources will be poisoned, and horrific demonic creatures will be unleashed to torment humanity.

Despite the clear divine origin of these judgments, most of humanity will continue to rebel against God rather than repent:

“The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.” (Revelation 9:20-21)

The world will reach the brink of self-destruction, as the armies of the world gather for the final battle of Armageddon. It will seem that Israel and the faithful remnant face certain annihilation. Yet in that darkest hour, the glorious appearing of Christ will dramatically bring the Tribulation to an end.

Israel’s Redemption

The seven years of Tribulation represent in microcosm Israel’s entire history of rebellion, judgment and restoration. Just as Israel repeatedly turned away from God to worship idols throughout the Old Testament period, so in the Tribulation she will make a covenant with the ultimate false messiah. And just as God used Israel’s enemies as instruments of judgment in the past, so the Antichrist and his forces will be allowed to oppress Israel for a time.

Yet God’s purpose is always redemptive. Jeremiah, speaking of this future time of trouble, declares:

“‘In that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will break the yoke off their necks and will tear off their bonds; no longer will foreigners enslave them. Instead, they will serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.” (Jeremiah 30:8-9)

The intense suffering of the Tribulation will ultimately bring Israel to repentance and faith in her true Messiah. As the prophets foretold, a remnant will turn to God in their distress:

“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.” (Zechariah 12:10)

This national repentance will prepare the way for Christ’s return to save Israel in her hour of greatest need. As the armies of the world close in on Jerusalem, Jesus will appear in power and glory:

“Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle. On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south.” (Zechariah 14:3-4)

The return of Christ will mean salvation for the Jewish remnant and believing Gentiles, but judgment for the armies gathered against Jerusalem. John describes the scene:

“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war…Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter.’ He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.” (Revelation 19:11, 15)

The Antichrist and false prophet will be cast into the lake of fire, Satan will be bound, and Christ will establish his Millennial Kingdom on earth. Israel will finally fulfill her calling as a light to the nations, with the Lord reigning from Jerusalem.

Thus the seven years of Tribulation, while a time of unprecedented trouble, will ultimately serve God’s purposes in purifying Israel and bringing her to saving faith. It will be the crucible through which God’s covenant people finally and fully embrace their Messiah.

Lessons for Today

While the seven-year Tribulation is yet future, its themes and warnings are deeply relevant for Israel and all people today. Some key lessons include:

1. The danger of trusting in human effort for peace and security rather than God. Israel’s misplaced trust in the peace treaty parallels how people today often look to government, technology or human achievement to solve the world’s problems rather than turning to God.
2. The reality of God’s judgment against sin and rebellion. The Tribulation judgments are a sober reminder that God’s patience with human wickedness will one day come to an end. This should motivate repentance and holy living now.
3. The futility of fleeing from God. Despite overwhelming evidence of God’s hand in the Tribulation judgments, most of humanity will continue to rebel. Yet there is no escaping God’s sovereignty – He will accomplish His purposes.
4. God’s heart to redeem. Even in the midst of judgment, God will be working to bring people to repentance and salvation. His ultimate goal is restoration, not destruction.
5. The importance of standing firm in faith. Believers in the Tribulation will face intense pressure to compromise and overwhelming persecution if they don’t. We must cultivate a faith that will endure trials.
6. Christ’s certain triumph. Though evil will seem to prevail for a time, Jesus Christ will ultimately return in victory to establish His Kingdom. Our hope is in Him, not human solutions.
7. God’s faithfulness to His covenant. Though Israel will pass through the fire, God will preserve a remnant and fulfill all His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He remains faithful even when His people are not.

As we see events aligning with Biblical prophecies about the last days, we must not give in to fear or hopelessness. Rather, we should be motivated to pursue God wholeheartedly, stand firm in the faith, and share the gospel while there is still time. Though dark days may lie ahead, we know the final outcome – Christ will be victorious and God’s purposes will prevail.

Even as we see the stage being set for the Tribulation, we can rejoice that the time of our redemption is drawing near. May we be found faithful when Christ returns, whether in the Rapture or His glorious appearing. And may we have a burden for Israel and the Jewish people, praying for their eyes to be opened to their Messiah before the time of Jacob’s trouble begins. The God who preserved them through centuries of persecution will not fail to keep His covenant promises. Israel’s ultimate salvation and restoration is assured – may it be sooner rather than later.

If you are not sure that you are saved, you can accept Christ into your life right now, by praying:

“Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins.  Please forgive my sins and give me the gift of eternal life.  I ask you in to my life and heart to be my Lord and Savior.”

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Current events are aligning with Biblical prophecy

Source: https://raptureandendtimes.com/2024/09/07/7-last-years-the-time-of-jacobs-trouble/