A SCRIPTURAL REVIEW OF JACOB’S TROUBLE AND THE ASCENT OF THE ANTI-MESSIAH - PART THREE

This post goes along with the previous two posts. Here we will uncover the scriptural basis for Israel’s final dispersion and re-gathering to their homeland at the end of this current wicked age. The current situation in the State of Israel is a harbinger of things to come.

Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children’s children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever.  Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. Ezekiel 37.25-26

The above verse is one of many in the Tanakh (Old Testament) confirming the covenant which Elohim (GOD) made with Abraham in Genesis 15. Ezekiel was speaking of the time when the two Houses of Judah and Israel (Ephraim) would become reunited during the Millennial Age (Ezekiel 37.15-28). When Judah and Israel reunite at that time they will once again become ISRAEL. (Search this blog for information on the two houses.)

We have seen throughout the Tanakh Elohim warns the Israelites that if they become disobedient and stray from Him they would temporarily be expelled from the land (Lev 26 and Deut 28). When this occurs the “rod of chastisement” is through a nation(s) that attacks them and takes them into captivity.

Nations rise and nations fall. Temporal world empires will always rise and fall. Those who attack the apple of Elohim’s eye, Israel, are later chastised in the same way by another nation more powerful than they were. This is the scriptural pattern.

Elohim does not do this to us. Elohim allows us to do it to each other. This is why there is violence in this world. Elohim created us with free will. He gave us the Torah/law to guide our lives. If the nations would follow Torah/Law there would be no violence. Creating us with free will allows us to choose. Rather than choose life the nations choose death.

The Law is our Code of Conduct. Disobedience brings disaster on the world…please do not blame God for the injustice and violence in this world—it is our choice. When our King returns at the end of “the time of the Gentiles” and righteously judges the nations there will be a thousand years of peace. Choose wisely. Read Psalm 119 to understand Elohim’s righteous judgment and Royal Law.

THE CURRENT STATE OF ISRAEL

Israel is a modern nation state today. The prior post gave a short history of how they got there. They are a secular state at this time. They are in disobedience to their Elohim. They are far from obeying and worshipping Him as the books of the prophets reveal: In that day the Branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious; And the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and appealing For those of Israel who have escaped.

And it shall come to pass that he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy—everyone who is recorded among the living in Jerusalem. When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning, Isaiah 4.2-4

The above is not the current condition of Israel or her people, nor this: And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God. For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness. For the Lord God of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land. Isaiah 10.20-23 also read Isaiah 51, these are future prophecies.

Future re-gathering. Jeremiah 30.4-11 (Chapters 30-33 focus on restoration) speaks of coming terror. Verses 8-11 happen chronologically. There are 10 promises in vv 4-7. Read Jeremiah 31.1-14 in connection with ch 30. We see a remnant in Isaiah 4.2-6, Zechariah 13.8-9.

In Isaiah 49.13-26 we see comfort, people forsaken, re-gathering to blessed land, and restoration in sight of nations, rescue of captives, and punishment of oppressors. Joel 3 speaks of final battle for the land. None of this has occurred in total fulfillment.

This re-gathering will be after Elohim’s final judgment for “The time of the Gentiles” which will end the current age and move us into the thousand year Millennial Age (Read Revelation 19-22).

THAT WHICH IS TO COME

Daniel 11.12-12.13 gives us many more details. Though difficult to understand these verses describe the coming crisis the controversy of the land will create. I will give a few key verses here, you may read the entire section on your own:

Chapter 11 - And a vile person shall succeed in his place, to whom they shall not give the honor of the kingdom: nevertheless he shall come in with peace and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.²² And with the arms they shall be overflown of a flood before him and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.²³ And after the union made with him he shall work deceit and shall rise and shall overcome with few people.

²⁸ Then he shall return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits and return to his own land.³⁰ For the ships of Chittim (today the Western Mediterranean area) shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved and return and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return and have an understanding with those that have forsaken the holy covenant.

³¹ And arms shall be placed on his behalf, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that makes desolate.³³ And the wise among the people shall give wisdom to many, yet they shall fall by the sword, and by fire, by captivity, and by spoil, for some days.

³⁵ And some of the wise shall fall to be purged and cleaned and made white, even to the time of the end because even for this there is time appointed.³⁶ And the king shall do according to his will, and he shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god and shall speak marvels against the God of gods and shall prosper until the indignation is accomplished, for the determination has been made.

³⁹ And with the people of the strange god that he shall know, he shall make strong fortresses, increase their glory; and cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain. Chapter 12 - And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who is for the sons of thy people, and it shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there were people until now, but in that time thy people shall escape, all those that are found written in the book. And many of those that sleep in the dust of the earth shall be awakened, some for eternal life, and some for shame and everlasting confusion.³ And those that understand shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and those that teach righteousness to the multitude as the stars in perpetual eternity.⁴ But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end: many shall pass by, and knowledge shall be multiplied.

⁷ And I heard the Man clothed in linens, who was upon the waters of the river, who raised his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and swore by the living one in the ages that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when the scattering of the power of the holy people shall be finished, all these things shall be fulfilled. ⁸ And I heard, but I did not understand; then I said, O my Lord, what is the fulfillment of these things?⁹ And he said, Go thy way, Daniel, for these words are closed up and sealed until the time of the fulfillment. ¹⁰ Many shall be purified and made white and purged, but the wicked shall get worse; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.

We are getting a preview of the above verses as I write. The wicked are rising and the State of Israel is being blamed for ALL the tension in the Middle East. World opinion is quickly turning against the Jewish people. Those who support Israel will be targeted. Those who think they will be “raptured out” are in for a rude awakening. The church will be tested. Hearts will be tried. 

We are grafted into Israel (Romans 11; Ephesians 2.11-19) and will suffer along with the Jewish people. There will be many betrayals and disappointments among us but the true Bride will be purified like gold!

Also read Mark 13, Matthew 24, and Luke 21.

The key issue that teachers of the Great Tribulation miss is that these things are happening because of the Controversy of Zion (the LAND) which brings on Jacob’s Trouble. It is Elohim allowing the nations to become Lawless and violent towards one another in their hatred for the People of God and their presence in the land He has allotted them.

This includes Jews and Christians who will be the main targets. The “Church” for lack of a better word will not be raptured out! They/we are going to be required to assist our Jewish brothers and stand beside them. Our witness towards them of the Messiah will save many. (We have been grafted into Israel)

When Yeshua came into Jerusalem prior to His death he said:  For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me from now on until ye shall say, Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord. Matt 23.39

Read Zachariah 12 describing that day:

And I will pour upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and of prayer, and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn over him as one mourns for his only son, afflicting themselves over him as one afflicts himself over his firstborn. In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. And the land shall mourn…Zechariah 12.10-12

A GLORIOUS FUTURE

We will all experience the Great Tribulation. Daniel says the wise will understand and do great things. This is why Joel says:

The LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for many are his camps and strong, that execute his word; for the day of the LORD is great, and very terrible; and who can abide it? Joel 2.11…read the entire chapter and you will see what will be happening in Israel at this time…For, behold, in those days and in that time when I shall cause the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem to end,² I will gather together all the Gentiles, and will cause them to descend into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and there I will enter into judgment with them because of my people and of my heritage Israel, whom they scattered among the nations, and parted my land. Joel 3.1-2

The LORD also shall roar out of Zion and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake; but the LORD will be the hope of his people and the strength of the sons of Israel.¹⁷ So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God, that I inhabit Zion, the mountain of my holiness: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and no strangers shall pass through her any more. Joel 3.16-17

All of these things are yet to come. The Controversy of the Land will lead to Jacob’s trouble. This will bring an end to the time of the Gentiles. Jerusalem will be a praise in all the earth. Israel will be restored (Ezekiel 37.15-28) and we who have been grafted into Israel (Romans 11.15-24) will dwell in peace as citizens of Israel on our own plot of land! (Ezekiel 47.22-23)

In summation I also want to bring your attention to a little known unrecognized book on this subject: The Controversy of Zion, by Dalton Lifsey. Unfortunately this book is out of print. It can be found at online book sellers for $97.00 or less. It is very detailed and makes the case above by allowing the Bible to interpret itself.

There are so many additional verses and information on this topic I will be posting on this important information moving forward the next couple of months. In closing here is a great video by Jonathan Cahn: https://wltreport.com/2023/11/09/rollingstone-attacks-jonathan-cahn/

I pray this short study will help God’s people to have a solid understanding of the things which are to come and help us pass this knowledge forward to those who need to understand. Amen.

The next post will review Esau/Edom genealogy and their position in the end time prophecies.