Jer 30:7a Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble;
What a blessed day it is!! Are you excited? Are you afraid? There is no greater way to start your day than to be in the Word and listen to God as He speaks to you. This series may be an eye opener for some, and a refresher course for others. In my previous post, we touched a bit on the “time of Jacob’s Trouble.” In a few Scripture references, the Bible refers to the Israel’s great tribulation as this time of trouble. This phrase refers to the descendants of Jacob so it stands to reason that it is meant for only the Jews, not the Church. Just as the Church isn’t mentioned in the Old Testament, the Church won’t play a role in the “time of Jacob’s Trouble.” Today’s verse states that this trouble will come just before the Lord returns to save them.
That final week of Daniel’s 70th week hasn’t taken place yet. An angel told Daniel that, “70 weeks are determined upon thy people” (Dan 9:24).
Dan 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
The Bible doesn’t say that the Tribulation is meant as a time of testing and judgment for believers. We have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus and, therefore, our sins have been judged already. They have been washed away once we receive salvation through Christ and eternal life with Him.
However, some proponents of the post-Tribulation viewpoint claim that Christians will be tested during the Tribulation. To make this fit into that viewpoint, they have to “spiritualize” the 144,000 Jewish believers in Revelation 7:2-8 who receive God’s protective seal. If the Church was to go through the Tribulation, don’t you think the Apostle John would have used the word “church” here as he did in chapters one through three? The Post-Trib proponents are forgetting the different dispensations. Before the Ecclesiastical Dispensation (the Age of Grace or the Church Age), there was the Legal Dispensation, the Age of Law. After the Church Age, God is dealing with Israel once again and only Israel. That is why references to the Age of Law (i.e., the temple), are made in Revelation. The post-Tribulation view tries to combine these two dispensations of the Law and Grace into the Tribulation. However, Revelation is filled with judgment and the Scriptures tells us that God’s wrath is not upon the church.
1 Thess 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thess 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
We have the blessed hope, Christian! This is such a positive and powerful verse. Does it even resemble Paul trying to tell us that we would go through the judgments of the Tribulation? Not to me, it doesn’t! The judgments of Revelation are severe and horrifying! Paul wanted to make sure that his followers were well taught about what was to come so they wouldn’t fall for every wind of doctrine.
(Tit 2:13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
But God is very clear on who will receive that wrath during the Tribulation:
(Joh 3:36) He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
(Rom 1:18) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
(Eph 5:6) Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
(Col 3:6) For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
(Rev 14:10) The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
(Rev 14:19) And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
(Rev 15:1) And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
(Rev 15:7) And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
(Rev 16:1) And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
Logically speaking, if the Church is to go through the Tribulation, they would also receive God’s wrath. Why would the Lord do this to His Church if we are not appointed unto wrath?
1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
Does this excite you, reader? It surely does me! But to the one who is not saved, it is a different story. Friend, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!