Chapter VIII

Jacob's Trouble

“And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face:
therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity;
Judah also shall fall with them.”

Hosea 5:5

After describing what He referred to as “the beginning of sorrows,” Jesus explained that certain events would accelerate the end of this age. These events include a great persecution of His people.

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. (Mt. 24:9-10)

This will not be the first time God’s people will have been persecuted. The eleventh chapter of Hebrews describes great heroes of faith and the tremendous sacrifices they made for the Kingdom of God. Notice the powerful words that conclude this chapter.

And what shall I more say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: and others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. (Heb. 11:32-38)

The Fifth Seal

The book of Revelation indicates that those who have been martyred down through the ages will not be alone in their suffering: that there is another great martyrdom yet to come. Notice the apostle John’s words when describing the fifth seal of Revelation.

And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: and they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. (Rev. 6:9-11)

These end-time servants of God will suffer, and even die because they will refuse to reject their faith. Their story is a very interesting one and is told in part in the twelfth chapter of the book of Revelation. Here it describes an event in which many in God’s true Church are taken to a special place where they will receive supernatural protection from Satan and his agents on earth.

And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.(Rev. 12:13-16)

This deliverance of God’s people is similar to the protection given to the children of Israel at the time of the exodus. The scriptures reveal that when Moses and Aaron were leading the Israelites out of Egypt, Pharaoh dispatched an army to destroy them. It is hard to believe this action was not inspired by Satan the devil in an attempt to wipe out a people he knew would play such a prominent role in God’s plan of salvation. However, God thwarted this effort when He commanded the waters of the Red Sea to swallow that army up. The story of God’s deliverance of Israel is recorded in the fourteenth chapter of the book of Exodus.

The flood described by John in Revelation which is cast out of the serpent’s mouth (Rev. 12:16) is in all likelihood a great army, under the direction of a government referred to as the “beast” (Rev. 13). This government receives its power and authority from a great dragon (Rev. 13:2). Here, once again, Satan is bent on massacring God’s people and thwarting His plan. But once again God supernaturally intervenes. He does so by commanding the earth to literally open up and swallow this army. However the battle is not over.

The Remnant

Regrettably, not all of God’s church will be delivered. Some, due to their own complacency, will be left behind. However, many of those will eventually repent and return to the faith with a great zeal for God and His law. These children of God are referred to as a “remnant” and are the target of a great attack by Satan the devil.

And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Rev. 12:17)

Notice this remnant “keeps the commandments” (see also Revelation 14:12), and they will pay for this obedience with their lives. The persecution they will suffer will be lead by a great false church (Rev. 13:15, 17:6) and her daughters (lesser churches) under the direct supervision of the great dragon (Satan). This persecution will be unspeakably cruel and will continue until the return of Jesus Christ. The prophet Daniel described this attack on God’s people in the seventh chapter of the book bearing his name.

I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them until the Ancient of Days came. (Dan. 7:21-22)

The Church at Laodicea

These saints which are persecuted to the very end represent a part of God’s true church. Their path is a turbulent one with great disappointments, but in the end there is redemption. They are identified in the third chapter of Revelation as the church at Laodicea. This church at first reflects an attitude of complacency regarding their faith (Rev. 3:15). They are characterized as feeling “rich and increased with goods”(verse 17). Little do they know that in reality they are spiritually impoverished. When speaking to this church, God exhorts them to “be zealous and repent” (Rev. 3:19). Their martyrdom is a great testimony that they will heed God’s rebuke.

An Interesting Parallel

The fifth chapter of the Song of Solomon tells an interesting story that may very well be referring to the end-time church at Laodicea. Here it describes a virgin who is very prosperous and comfortable (verse one)--so much so that when her beloved knocks on her door she doesn’t immediately rise and meet him (verses 2-3). When she finally does go to open the door, her beloved is gone (verse 6). She then becomes grief stricken and beseeches the daughters of Jerusalem to help her seek out her beloved. During their quest, this virgin is persecuted and beaten (verse 7). But her desire for her beloved will not be quenched (verses 9-16). This story corresponds perfectly with that of the end-time remnant of God’s true church.

The Testimony of Jesus Christ

When describing this persecuted “remnant,” the book of Revelation also states that they have the “testimony of Jesus Christ” (Rev. 12:17). But what is this testimony? God’s word answers this question and in doing so introduces a very interesting possibility concerning these believers. In Revelation chapter nineteen, verse ten it states, “for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” The Greek word for prophecy in this verse is “prophetia” and can mean “inspired speaking” or “to proclaim the future.” This being the case, it is possible that instead of being a small underground community of believers trying not to bring attention to themselves, this remnant of God’s church eventually becomes a vital instrument in preaching the gospel. Under this scenario these servants of God are far more visible and stand as an indictment against a rebellious world. At the very least, they could play an important role in the support of two end-time witnesses God will raise up during the last days (see: Rev. 11). The scriptures strongly suggest that virtually all of this “remnant” will be martyred but will be rewarded for their sacrifice when Jesus Christ returns to establish His kingdom (see Rev. 20:4).

Jacob’s Trouble

The scriptures declare that those in God’s true church are not the only ones to suffer great persecution. The physical descendants of Joseph on whom the patriarch Jacob bestowed his name (Gen.48:16) will also go into a horrible captivity.

This period is referred to in the scriptures as “Jacob’s trouble” (Jer.30:7).

When describing this tribulation, Jeremiah wrote that the men of Israel and Judah would be in such agony that it would feel like a mother going through transition labor.

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. 30:6)

Jeremiah went on to write that this tribulation would be so great that there is nothing to which it could be compared.

Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble... (Jer. 30:7)

History and the scriptures reveal that both the nations of Israel and Judah were defeated and led away captive over twenty five hundred years ago. Israel was crushed by the armies of Assyria in 721-718 B.C. Assyria was a war-like kingdom and their approach to the conquest of other lands has been characterized as “brutal” and “unmerciful.” As a general rule, they would destroy the culture of a territory’s prior inhabitants. Additionally, they would often resort to great acts of savagery in their treatment of the people they conquered. According to the early twentieth century scholar Dr. Henry Halley, the Assyrians would subject their captives to acts of unspeakable cruelty.

Assyrians were great warriors... They built their state on the loot of other peoples. They practiced cruelty. They skinned their prisoners alive, or cut off their hands, feet, noses, ears, or put out their eyes, or pulled out their tongues, and made mounds of human skulls, all to inspire terror. (Halley’s Bible Handbook, p. 209)

After their defeat, Israel was led out of Samaria and relocated to other lands. They were scattered, never to return to the home they had dwelt in for centuries. These descendants of Jacob would come to be known as “the lost tribes of Israel.” However, history reveals that they would eventually migrate to Europe and that the descendants of Joseph would settle in Britain and later colonize America and the New World.

The southern kingdom of Judah would also fall at the hand of their enemy. They would be conquered by Nebuchadnezzar and the Chaldean Empire over one hundred years after the fall of Israel. And although they, too, were led away captive, unlike Israel, the Jews would be allowed to return to Jerusalem by the decree of the great Persian king Cyrus. The nation of Israel today is for the most part the descendants of this southern kingdom of Judah, not the northern kingdom of Israel as some assume.

The scriptures reveal that both Israel and Judah will go through a great tribulation at the end time. Jesus indicated that this tribulation will be worse than any in human history, past or future (Mt. 24:21). His words confirm those recorded six hundred years earlier by Jeremiah (Jer. 30:7). If Jesus’ words are true, the near future of the United States and Britain as well as that of modern day Israel will be very dark. These great nations will suffer unmercifully at the hands of their enemies and go into a captivity whose brutality will be unmatched by any in human history. It is interesting that today these three nations are so closely allied to each other while at the same time held in such low regard by the rest of the world.

Recently, a leading nationally syndicated radio personality made a very interesting observation regarding the Arab world’s view of Israel and its loyalties to the West (United States). He said, “Arabs don’t hate the United States because of their close ties to Israel. They hate Israel because of their close ties to the United States.” The great prestige the United States once enjoyed throughout the world has seriously eroded. Today its enemies are brazen in their defiance and contempt of America.

A Warning to the Cynic

Those who believe it is inconceivable that the United States and the United Kingdom could be attacked and defeated in war do not fully appreciate the lessons of history. The world has known many great empires that once saw themselves as invincible. The Chaldean Empire dominated the world only to be conquered by a less sophisticated Medo-Persian kingdom. However, it, too, fell to the great armies of Greece, under the direction of Alexander the Great. Then there was Rome, whose influence extended to every corner of the known world.

Each of these empires dominated the earth and struck fear in the hearts of their enemies. But fear eventually became contempt, and today, these great empires reside in the ashes of history. Their demise began with the erosion of a moral and ethical underpinning. Each became complacent and even drunk with arrogance.

Great empires throughout history have crumbled because of political corruption and a national obsession with self-indulgence. Today, this is the story of the United States and Britain, and if it continues, it will be their epitaph. When reporting the horrific events taking place on September 11, Jeff Greenfield of ABC news said, “I hate to say it this way, but this may be the day when America’s luck ran out.”

Global Annihilation

When describing the last days, Jesus said that the tribulation inflicted upon this world would be so intense it would threaten the very survival of the planet. Notice His words.

For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. (Mt. 24:21-22)

The word “saved” in verse 22 is not referring to spiritual salvation, but rather physical survival. The Moffatt translation renders it “saved alive.” The point Jesus was making was that His intervention in world events would be necessary for the survival of mankind and the planet.

Today, the possibility of global annihilation is not science fiction but rather science fact. It is a reality of which world leaders are very much aware. President Dwight Eisenhower once made a sobering observation regarding the days in which we now live. He said, “Science seems ready to confer upon us, as its final gift, the power to erase human life from this planet.” The words of Jesus are a promise from God Almighty that He will not let this happen.

A Dark Picture

When describing the great tribulation that will come upon both the physical descendants of Israel and the remnant of His church, God’s word paints a very bleak picture. But it also explains why this judgment takes place. To those who wonder why a great and merciful God could so severely punish His people, or how He could allow the horrors of 9/11 to happened to a “Christian nation” such as the United States, read on. But prepare yourself for a painful truth.