Jacob's Trouble

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Comment by Stephen R. Rizzo on December 1, 2008 at 1:47pm

The greatness of the troubles which should immediately ensue Matt.24:21 Then shall be great tribulation; then when the measure of iniquity is full; then when the servants of God are sealed and secured, then come the troubles; nothing can be done against Sodom till Lot is entered into Zoar, and then look for fire and brimstone immediately. There shall be great tribulation. Great, indeed, when within the city plague and famine raged, and (worse than either) faction and division, so that every man’s sword was against his fellow; then and there it was that the hands of the pitiful women flayed their own children. Without the city was the Roman army ready to swallow them up, with a particular rage against them, not only as Jews, but as rebellious Jews. War was the only one of the three sore judgments that David excepted against; but that was it by which the Jews were ruined; and there were famine and pestilence in extremity besides. Josephus’s History of the Wars of the Jews, has in it more tragical passages than perhaps any history whatsoever.

Comment by Stephen R. Rizzo on December 1, 2008 at 1:49pm

It was a desolation unparalleled, such as was not since the beginning of the world, nor ever shall be. Many a city and kingdom has been made desolate, but never any with a desolation like this. Let not daring sinners think that God has done his worst, he can heat the furnace seven times and yet seven times hotter, and will, when he sees greater and still greater abominations. The Romans, when they destroyed Jerusalem, were degenerated from the honour and virtue of their ancestors, which had made even their victories easy to the vanquished. And the wilfulness and obstinacy of the Jews themselves contributed much to the increase of the tribulation. No wonder that the ruin of Jerusalem was an unparalleled ruin, when the sin of Jerusalem was an unparalleled sin—even their crucifying Christ. The nearer any people are to God in profession and privileges, the greater and heavier will his judgments be upon them, if they abuse those privileges, and be false to that profession, Amos 3:2.

Comment by Stephen R. Rizzo on December 2, 2008 at 10:28am

-THE ANTICHRIST COMES FORTH AND CONFIRMS A COVENANT THE CONFIRMATION OF THE COVENANT IS DAY ONE OF THE TRIBULATION
9:27. AND HE (the Antichrist)
SHALL CONFIRM (or sign, or agree to)
THE COVENANT (or treaty)
FOR ONE WEEK (or one ‘seven,’ or 7 years):
AND IN THE MIDST (or middle)
OF THE WEEK (of the seven years)
HE (the Antichrist)
SHALL CAUSE THE SACRIFICE AND THE OBLATION (or offering)
TO CEASE (or end), which are taking place at the temple,
AND FOR THE OVERSPREADING OF ABOMINATIONS HE SHALL MAKE IT DESOLATE (or on a wing of the temple, he will set up an abomination that causes desolation-NIV),
EVEN UNTIL THE CONSUMMATION (or complete destruction),
AND THAT DETERMINED (or that is decreed)
SHALL BE POURED UPON THE DESOLATE (or on him, the Antichrist).
DAN 9:27 is the seventieth week of Daniel. It is among the most important Bible prophecy verses for us to understand today. It covers the Antichrist coming forth and the confirmation of a treaty that begins the Tribulation. It shows that the Tribulation consists of two parts. It reveals a temple during the Tribulation, an abomination, and the final prophesied end of the Antichrist.
For today’s student of Bible prophecy, perhaps, no other verse is more important than Dan 9:27.
Dan 9:27 repeated with commentary.
AND HE. This is the Antichrist. Immediately after the Rapture, the Antichrist comes forth. This is the "prince that shall come," in v.26. This is the "little horn," in Dan 7:8. He is also called the "beast," in Rev 13 and others. He is, "the rider on the white horse," in Rev 6:2; as it is written, BEHOLD A WHITE HORSE: AND HE THAT SAT ON HIM HAD A BOW; AND "A CROWN WAS GIVEN UNTO HIM": AND HE WENT FORTH CONQUERING, AND TO CONQUER. It is presumed that he takes over the EEC—the European Economic Community. This man of sin, the son of Satan, cannot do this until God's people are removed.
He SHALL CONFIRM (or sign, or agree to)
THE COVENANT (or treaty, or an agreement of some kind). Some type of covenant, peace treaty, or guarantee for Israel's protection shall emerge. Supposedly, this treaty will come forth from the EEC. As the presumed head of the EEC, the Antichrist shall agree to (or sign, or confirm) this document (or agreement, or covenant)
WITH MANY. Israel is at the heart of this agreement. Some type of covenant shall be confirmed (or agreed to, or signed) with Israel, and with many others (possibly other nations), and with the Antichrist
FOR ONE WEEK, which represents seven years. The length of the covenant or treaty will be seven years. THE CONFIRMATION OR SIGNING OF THIS COVENANT BEGINS THE TRIBULATION. The seventieth week of Daniel is the Tribulation.

2-THE COVENANT
3-(The Seventieth Week)
God warns Israel regarding this treaty and trusting the Antichrist. BECAUSE YE HAVE SAID (Israel has said), WE HAVE MADE (or entered into) A COVENANT (or treaty) WITH DEATH (with the Antichrist), AND WITH HELL (or with the grave) ARE WE AT (or have made an) AGREEMENT. In making a covenant with the Antichrist, Israel, in effect, was in agreement with hell. WHEN THE OVERFLOWING (or overwhelming) SCOURGE SHALL PASS THROUGH (or sweeps by), IT SHALL NOT COME UNTO US (or it cannot touch us): FOR WE (Israel) HAVE MADE LIES (or a lie) OUR REFUGE, AND UNDER FALSEHOOD HAVE WE HID OURSELVES-Isa 28:15. Israel should have trusted God for their protection. Instead, they chose to make falsehood their hiding place, protection, and hope. They have trusted in lies—in the Antichrist—for their security, their refuge, and their hope for peace. Israel believes that, because of the covenant with the Antichrist, when the overwhelming scourge shall pass through, they will be protected. They are blind to the truth of what they have done. As it is written, FOR WHEN TH

Comment by Stephen R. Rizzo on December 2, 2008 at 10:33am

FOR WHEN THEY SHALL SAY, PEACE AND SAFETY; THEN SUDDEN DESTRUCTION COMETH UPON THEM, AS TRAVAIL UPON A WOMAN WITH CHILD (or as labor pains on a pregnant woman-NIV); AND THEY SHALL NOT ESCAPE-1 Thes 5:3. The Russian-Arab invasion of Israel shall take place. Jesus foretold that this would happen; as it is written, I AM COME IN MY FATHER’S NAME, AND YE RECEIVE ME NOT: IF ANOTHER SHALL COME IN HIS OWN NAME (which is the Antichrist), HIM YE WILL RECEIVE-Jn 5:43. Israel turns to the Antichrist for protection. Later in the Tribulation, many in Israel shall receive the Antichrist as their Messiah.
God tells Israel, regarding the covenant with the Antichrist, AND YOUR COVENANT WITH DEATH SHALL BE DISANNULLED, AND YOUR AGREEMENT WITH HELL SHALL NOT STAND; WHEN THE OVERFLOWING (or overwhelming) SCOURGE SHALL PASS THROUGH (or sweeps by), THEN YE SHALL BE TRODDEN (or beaten) DOWN BY IT. The very agreement that Israel thought would be their protection is now going to be their downfall. FROM THE TIME THAT IT GOETH FORTH IT SHALL TAKE YOU (or carry you away): FOR MORNING BY MORNING SHALL IT PASS OVER (or sweep through), BY DAY AND BY NIGHT: AND IT SHALL BE A VEXATION (or sheer terror) ONLY TO UNDERSTAND THE REPORT (or message)-Isa 28:18,19. It will bring sheer terror to those that can understand what has happened and the report or message.
FOR THE BED IS SHORTER THAN THAT A MAN CAN STRETCH HIMSELF ON IT: AND THE COVERING NARROWER THAN THAT HE CAN WRAP HIMSELF IN IT-Isa 28:20. The bed and covenant represent the Antichrist. The bed is too short. One cannot wrap himself in it for warmth and protection. Likewise, the covering that the Antichrist offers is not sufficient. It will not accomplish the purpose that Israel thought it would. It will not save them. It cannot protect them. The only true protection that a person can really have is Jesus. All other beds are too short, and all other coverings are too narrow. All other coverings will pass away.
AND IN THE MIDST (or middle) OF THE WEEK (or in the midst of the 7 year Tribulation). This gives a time frame of 3 ½ years, or 42 months from the end of the Tribulation. The last 42 months of the Tribulation is also called the "Great Tribulation." (Note: There are certain verses that indicate the first 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation are cut short in some way.)
HE (the Antichrist) SHALL CAUSE THE SACRIFICE AND THE OBLATION (or offering) TO CEASE (or end). Sometime during the first part of the Tribulation, a temple will be built in Jerusalem. Sacrifices and oblations will begin as in olden times. However, in the midst of the week, the Antichrist shall be killed, but then return to life. He moves into the temple in Jerusalem. Then HE AS GOD SITTETH IN THE TEMPLE OF GOD, SHOWING HIMSELF THAT HE IS GOD-2 Thes 2:4. The Antichrist shall stop the sacrifices and oblations.
AND FOR THE OVERSPREADING OF ABOMINATIONS. Because of the abominations being spread or placed in the temple
HE (the Antichrist) SHALL MAKE IT (the temple) DESOLATE (or on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation-NIV). This is referred to as the "abomination of desolation," in Mt 24:15. The temple is defiled. The Antichrist, the son of Satan, moves into the temple. Some kind of abomination is set up on a wing of the temple. Perhaps, the image that was made to the beast will be placed there. People will be required to worship it or be put to death-ref Rev 13:14,15. As it is written, THE DAILY SACRIFICE SHALL BE TAKEN AWAY, AND THE ABOMINATION THAT MAKETH DESOLATE SET UP-Dan 12:11.
EVEN UNTIL THE CONSUMMATION (or end)." The Antichrist shall reign for 3 ½ years (or 42 months, or 1260 days) until the end, the time that has been determined for him to reign. Immediately after the Tribulati

Comment by Stephen R. Rizzo on December 2, 2008 at 10:37am

, Jesus shall return at the time of Armageddon. When Jesus returns, AND THAT DETERMINED (or that is decreed)
SHALL BE POURED UPON THE DESOLATE (or on him, the Antichrist). What God has decreed in His Word shall be poured upon (or done to) the one that made the temple desolate, the Antichrist. The Antichrist and false prophet shall be cast alive into the lake of fire-ref Rev 19:20. The Antichrist SHALL BE BROKEN-Dan 8:25. For THAT WICKED...THE LORD SHALL CONSUME WITH THE SPIRIT OF HIS MOUTH-2 Thes 2:8.

4-WOE TO THEM THAT REJECT THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH NOW,
BECAUSE THEY CHOOSE PLEASURE IN SIN
The Rapture takes place. Some people are taken, but most are left behind. The unsaved people that are left behind can be divided into two groups.
Group one are those that did not get saved, because they refused to receive the Gospel. They believed not the truth, but had pleasure in wickedness.
Group two are those that did not get saved, however, not for the same reasons as group one. This second group, if they are not killed near the beginning, should have at least one more chance to be saved during the Tribulation. Nevertheless, most who do get saved will be martyred for the name of Jesus.
It is written, AND WITH ALL DECEIVABLENESS OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS IN THEM THAT PERISH (or in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing-NIV, he will enable him to deceive, in all kinds of wicked ways, those who are headed for destruction-JNT35); BECAUSE THEY RECEIVED NOT (or refused) THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH, THAT THEY MIGHT BE SAVED (or that could have saved them-JNT36). AND FOR THIS CAUSE (or reason) GOD SHALL SEND THEM (a) STRONG (or powerful) DELUSION (causing them to go astray-JNT37), THAT THEY SHOULD BELIEVE A (or the) LIE. (The result will be) THAT THEY ALL MIGHT BE DAMNED (or condemned) WHO BELIEVED NOT THE TRUTH, BUT HAD PLEASURE (or delighted) IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS (or wickedness)-2 Thes 2:10-12.
Verses 10 to 12 all go together. They appear to be speaking to the people of the last church age (the Laodicean age) that will conclude or end with the Rapture. This is the church age that we are now in. These verses give a very stern warning to these people.
This message demonstrates that the unrighteousness and evil, which is in these people, or embraced by them, shall deceive them (deceivableness or deception of unrighteousness in them that perish). Sin deceives. This is because these people would not receive God’s Word, Jesus (the love of the truth or to love the truth), so that they could be saved.
This grave warning goes forth to those that would not receive God’s Word (the love of the truth) and would not believe the truth of God’s Word that they might be saved, but had pleasure (or delight, or fun, or enjoyment) in doing or practicing sin (or wickedness, or unrighteousness).
It might be paraphrased in this way. This extreme warning from God is to those that choose to reject Jesus, because they have fun in doing wickedness.
For this reason, when the Antichrist comes forth, God Himself will send them a strong delusion, or strong thoughts, so that the lie of the Antichrist becomes truth to them, and the truth of God’s Word is perceived as a lie. God does this, so there is no possible way for them to be saved—that they all might be damned and perish for eternity.

Comment by Stephen R. Rizzo on January 5, 2009 at 4:54pm

THE CHURCH AND THE TRIBULATION

A prominently held view among Christian believers states that the
church, the Body of Christ, will be included in the tribulation - the
time of Jacob's trouble. Our apostle says otherwise. Writing to members
of the body, he declares, "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that
day [the day of the Lord] shall not come except there come a falling
away [literally], a departure first, and that man of sIn be revealed,
the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that
is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the
temple of God, showing himself that he is God" (2 Thessalonians 2:3,4.)

Verse seven states, "He who now letteth [hindereth] will let [hinder]
until he be taken out of the way." That which hinders is the church, the
Body of Christ. The rapture will take us out of the way. "And then shall
that Wicked [one] be revealed." This is the great deceiver whose being
revealed begins the tribulation period. Hence the rapture precedes the
tribulation, which means that the church will not go through the
tribulation. Verses nine through twelve graphically describe the
activities of the man of sin during the first half of the tribulation.
By this time we, members of Christ's body, will be in heaven with our
Lord and Savior "Wherefore comfort one another with these words" (I
Thess. 4: 18).

Some of those who put the church in the tribulation say that we are
present In the first 3.5 years. Others say that we will not be raptured
until after the full seven years. Either way, there is no substantiation
to be found In Scripture. One verification of the fact of the rapture
preceding the tribulation: our apostle nowhere instructs or advises us
re how we would cope with the conditions or how to survive accordingly.

Our apostle repeatedly assures us in this regard. "God commendeth His
love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from
wrath through Him" (Romans 5:8,9). "For God hath not appointed us to
wrath but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Thessalonians
5:9).