The Time After Jacob's Trouble, Part 1

The Time After Jacob’s Trouble

Part 1, The Untold Story of the Second Exodus!

End of the Age

Chapter 2 Preview: Many expect a “rapture”; others expect a place of safety for the “Church” (off site). The Exodus is about to be repeated! The Two Witnesses’ message will spearhead a Second Exodus! Can one suffer thru the Great Tribulation yet not be spared from the Day of the Lord? Can you be spared both? Is there a “place of safety” for the remnant of ALL TWELVE TRIBES of Israel during and after the Tribulation? This chapter addresses the “safety” issue by raising questions that you probably never thought to ask; spanning hundreds of scripture verses that have a direct bearing on your future. Will you escape the Tribulation entirely? “For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the remnant whom the LORD calls”.... (Joel 2:31).

INDEX

Here is one of the most critical prophetic verses in the entire Bible. The descendants of all twelve tribes of ancient Israel—most of whom speak English—are soon to be gathered back into the Holy Land.

Jeremiah 16:14-15 Therefore behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, “that it shall no more be said, ‘The LORD lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt,’ 15 but, ’The LORD lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north and from all the lands where He had driven them.’ For I will bring them back into their land which I gave to their fathers. NKJV (unless noted)

A significant minority of Christians understand that the prophecies concerning the repopulation of the Holy Land involves more than the Jewish pioneers there now. Yet many of the very Christians who understand that there will be a great Second Exodus that will dwarf the former Exodus do not understand the enslavement of our peoples which must occur before the Good News.

Wise Saints (off site) shall understand!

Daniel 12:10 Many shall purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but those who are wise shall understand.

Does the Bible mention the United States and the British people? You simply must read about that Exodus and the “her” involved in which:

Zechariah 2:5 the LORD, ‘will be a WALL OF FIRE all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.

The original inspiration for this chapter came after I read an article by a rather influential writer on the theme of “Anglo-Israelism”, as some refer it to. The writer utilized passages from most of these same chapters, in an effort to “prove” that the twelve modern nations, descended from the original twelve tribes of ancient Israel, would in the end of this present evil age continue to enjoy great prosperity. The very idea that those ancient tribes did not vanish from the face of the earth is new to most of you who find this chapter on a search engine. That being the case, one only has to read all of Genesis Chapter 49, to see a thumbnail description of the national identities that depict these twelve nations during the very “end time”.

Genesis 49:1 And Jacob called his sons and said, ‘Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days....

His article concluded that this Israel, (which has lost its very identity due to a lack of desire to know their God), would not only be spared captivity, but that she would be victorious over all aspiring conquerors. While his happily-ever-after conclusion would appear to be far more desirable than the one that I am presenting here, it would be a great disservice to the God of Israel, and to you, to let this cleverly distorted and calculated account stand unchallenged. No additional effort on my part was necessary to locate all of the scriptural evidence necessary to reveal the whole story of what will happen to all twelve of our predominantly English speaking Israelite brother/nations in the coming few decades. All that I had to do was include the context of the scriptures that were so masterfully taken out of their context. (You will soon see why no one has ever accused me of using a scripture out of context.)

The first few pages are a synopsis of the entire seven year period immediately preceding the Day of the Lord, the latter half of which is referred to as the “Tribulation” or “Great Tribulation”. The lack of love toward our God is the very reason for the terrible prophetic consequences described in this chapter.

Proverbs 26:2 Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause shall not alight.

The reason that I refer to Israel as “her” is prophetic in itself. You have probably been taught that the woman in the following passage is a reference to the Church. Please note that this woman gave birth to Christ! As in Joseph’s dream, from which this symbolism comes, these twelve stars represent the twelve tribes/nations of Israel! (Genesis 37:9-11)

Revelation 12:1-3 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on HER head a garland of twelve stars. 2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads.

If you think that modern day “Israel” is the fulfillment of the end time prophecies then you should check out List 3? to see that Judah has always been distinct from Israel:

This chapter should be the sequel to the story of the Great Tribulation which immediately precedes this time line. Suffice it to say that the Great Tribulation is to befall the Twelve Tribes (now nations) of Israel by the hands of a celebrated madman known as the Beast with the help of ten Beastly kings in Europe who will, over a period of perhaps twelve years, become so powerful and arrogant that they will even seek to challenge the God of the Universe to the ultimate battle with their Star Wars technology. This will take place just as God is returning to seize His “elect” and His planet away from them, (that they are so masterfully destroying) but before the fiery red Dragon, who is using the Beast, totally destroys them.

Matthew 24:22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.

[More about Matthew 24 can be found at: The Actual Message of Matthew 24.]

Again, you have probably heard that the “elect” is the church. Sure there is a small spiritual remnant of Israel, but do not assume that they are the primary focus of end time prophecy. Bible prophecy almost exclusively pertain to other nations only as they interact with Israel!

Isaiah 45:4 For Jacob My servant’s sake, and Israel My ELECT, I have even called you by your name; I have named you, though you have not known Me.

Isaiah 65:9 & 22 I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, and from Judah an heir of My ‘mountains’ [symbolic of nations]; My ELECT shall inherit it, and My servants shall dwell there.... V.22 “They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, and My ELECT shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

More often than not, the "elect" of the Greek scriptures is still Israel! Notice that the following "elect" have not yet even obtained salvation!

2 Timothy 2:10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the ‘elect’ [Greek:1588 eklektov ek-lek-tos’ elect or chosen] that they also may obtain the salvation which is in [our Messiah Jesus (Yeshua, off site)] with eternal glory.

Here is a passage that actually contrasts the physical elect with the elect[ion] of grace.

Romans 11:2-7 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, 3 “LORD, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”? 4 But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the ‘election’ [Same root word as elect: eklogh ek-log-ay’] of grace. 6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work. 7 What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the [spiritually] elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

One observation would be good to mention at this point, now that you are aware of whom the elect really are. The following quotation from Matthew has been used to support the theory that the “elect”, ostensibly the Church, will be raptured “from the four winds” to “heaven” before the tribulation.

Matthew 24:31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Notice where the expressions “from the four winds ”and “four winds of heaven” came from, and to which “elect” they actually refer.

Ezekiel 37:9 Also He said to me: Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.

At the end of the age, Israel as a nation will be facing annihilation. The forces that threaten to run the Jewish nation into the sea will come close to doing just that and all of the other tribes of Israel, numbering in the hundreds of millions, will be enslaved as well! The dry bones terminology of Ezekiel alludes to Israel’s seeming death sentence.

Zechariah 2:6-10 Up, up! Flee from the land of the north, says the LORD; for I have spread you abroad like the four winds of heaven,’ says the LORD. 7 Up, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon. 8 For thus says the LORD of hosts: He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye. 9 For surely I will shake My hand against them, and they shall become spoil for their servants. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me. 10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst, says the LORD. 11 Many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. 12 ’And the LORD will take possession of Judah as His inheritance in the Holy Land, and will again choose Jerusalem.

When you compare these verses from Zechariah to Matthew 24:31, you can see that the gathering of the elect is from the land of the north, the modern “Babylon”, described in Revelation chapters 17 and 18, and elsewhere. “The four winds of heaven” from which God gathers these elect, in this instance, is everywhere where the Beast of Babylon has scattered Israel.

The other scripture which is used to support the rapture theory is this one:

1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Notice some things about this passage. This is the time of the “first” (actually “best”) “resurrection”. The gathering does take place in the EARTH’S atmosphere among the clouds; after all, we will be composed of “spirit material”. We will always be with “the Lord” but we need not float on cloud nine with harps for eternity!

Revelation 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying: Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.

The rapture theory is a decoy that only serves to cover up the real story! The elect will actually be taken to New Jerusalem in the earth’s atmosphere-not heaven! Why go to heaven when you can be here with God? He is coming to “dwell in your midst”. I know that this must seem incredible but please check out the dozens of scriptural references to this wonderful future in New Jerusalem.

The Message of the Two Witnesses

The scriptures reveal that two powerful “prophets” will arise just before the “Tribulation”Great on Israel, which is perhaps better described as “the time of Jacob’s trouble”. This chapter is not specifically about the Two Witnesses, but their influence marks the turning point in world history. I can almost hear them quoting the following verse:

Jeremiah 30:7-9 Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the TIME OF JACOB’S TROUBLE, but he shall be saved out of it. 8 ‘For it shall come to pass in that day,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘that I will break his yoke from your neck, and will burst your bonds; foreigners shall no more enslave them. 9 But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.

Daniel chapter twelve is another of several accounts mentioning “the time of trouble”.

Daniel 12:1 At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book.

The “Two Witnesses” of Revelation 11 will reveal to our people that because of our continuous abandonment of the Ten Commandments, we will have to learn the hard way to trust in our God. Israel is still destined to exemplify the way of life that was previously revealed to them and will be the very first nation truly “under God, with liberty and justice for all”. You might ask why God chose backsliding Israel to work with? In the distant past God found a faithful man named Abraham after searching the entire world. It was to the forefather of the righteous that God hoped that He could mold a righteous nation (Deuteronomy 4:4-7).

Genesis 15:5-6 [Yehovah’] brought him outside, and said, “Look now toward the sky, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” He said to Abram, “So shall your seed be.” 6 He believed in [Yehovah’]; and He reckoned it to him for righteousness.

Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.

Then, after the Witnesses have dramatically captured the attention of our nations with the same exact message of the Hebrew prophets of old, for precisely 1260 days, they will be slain by the Beast in Jerusalem.

Revelation 11:7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.

Killing God’s prophets has always been a popular pastime in Jerusalem. (Matthew 23:34,37) But martyrdom normally emboldens people and will furthers the cause of God!

I have often wondered why “Adonay Yehovah” [actual names of God but rendered "Lord God"—both in the plural] would allow the Two Witnesses to be killed so late in the prophetic timeline. Why, if God would keep these faithful and nearly invincible men alive for just another “three and a half days”, they could be transformed into the spirit realm without even seeing death at all (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)! Further, what would the Two Witnesses be doing in Jerusalem over three years since the Temple that they were commissioned to “measure” (Revelation 11:1) was subjected to the abomination of desolation and his cronies had been treading “the holy city underfoot for forty-two months”? Could it be that their shed blood is somehow required to atone for the desecration of the temple?

Ezekiel 8 describes the abominations that take place in the temple. I suspect that the slaying of the Two Witnesses may be the beast’s final desecration.

Ezekiel 9 tells of the time when God begins to directly intervene on behalf of the faithful remnant who are for some reason still in, or more likely had returned to Jerusalem with the Two Witnesses. At this point God will defile the temple with the bodies of the defilers! . Ezekiel 9:1-7 Then he cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause those who are in charge of the city to draw near, every man with his destroying weapon in his hand. 2 Behold, six men came from the way of the upper gate, which lies toward the north, every man with his slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man in the midst of them clothed in linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side. They went in, and stood beside the bronze altar. 3 The glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon it was, to the threshold of the house: and he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writer’s inkhorn by his side. 4 [Yehovah’] said to him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark on the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry over all the abominations that are done in its midst. 5 To the others he said in my hearing, Go through the city after him, and strike: dont let your eye spare, neither have pity; 6 kill utterly the old man, the young man and the virgin, and little children and women; but dont come near any man on whom is the mark: and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the old men that were before the house. 7 He said to them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain. Go forth! They went forth, and struck in the city.

In chapter 10 God visits the temple area but it is still not time to occupy it.

Ezekiel 10:4 Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and paused over the threshold of the temple; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD’S glory.

Gods departure from the temple is the final mention of the temple by Ezekiel until thirty chapters later:

Ezekiel 10:18 Then the glory of the LORD departed from the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim.

After a thirty chapter absence there is, if I counted right, 37 more verses that mention the temple in the remaining nine chapters—it is the central focus of these chapters.

It would appear that there is a fascinating story that we dont yet know about concerning the time between the deaths of the Two Witnesses and the cleansing of the temple.

Three Departure Dates to a Place of Safety!

Is there a “place of safety” for the remnant of the twelve Israelite nations following the “Great Tribulation” on Israel? (Revelation 7) Might much of Israel escape the plagues of the Day of the Lord, which immediately follows the Tribulation? You may have been taught that the Day of the Lord was included in the 1260 day Tribulation, or that it is even a synonym. This chapter is a chronicle of the evidence demonstrating that our Israelite brethren, if they survive the three and one half year long Great Tribulation, will be spared the much worse Day of the Lord, that will be poured out on the other Nations of the world. It should greatly relieve you to know that our loved ones may have the opportunity miss out on the “year” long “wrath of God”, which I believe I will prove, follows the 1260 days!

Bible prophecy is like a jig saw puzzle. You have to gather pieces “here a little and there a little”, and fit them together. The bulk of this chapter is dedicated to, as the title expresses, the time after Jacob’s Trouble. Safety will be made available before “the great and awesome Day of the Lord”. Yet there is to be a place of safety from Satan’s Great Tribulation, as well as the Day of the Lord for the few people who will have understood and believed the witnesses’ message as it was being delivered. In all probability, many of these people will even understand the prophecies before the messengers are given “power” by God. (As an aside, one of the Two Witnesses will likely be a “Governor of Judea ”as paralleled by Haggai 1&2.)

The “holy people” of Israel will need to be “shattered”, during the time of trouble, but it is for their purification! They are “holy”, yet they are neither “pure” nor “refined”!

Daniel 12:7-10 Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished .... 10 Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.

There is a thirty day countdown to the beginning of the Great Tribulation, but dont be caught in Jerusalem during that time. This countdown marks 1290 days until the Day of the Lord. (1290 -1260 = 30) This date can be discerned another 1260 days in advance because the Beast will have signed a “covenant” or agreement at the beginning of the final seven years of his time in power. This is the last opportunity to escape the Beast before he is fully “set up” and given incredible power.

Daniel 12:11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days.

Notice carefully that the danger is far from over once the Great Tribulation is finished. It is after the Tribulation that the wrath of God begins!

Matthew 24:29 Immediately AFTER THE TRIBULATION of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30…and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn…

Satan will oppose some individuals who comprise this “woman” all the way to her place of safety.

Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, WHO KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS of God AND have the TESTIMONY OF Yeshua [the] MESSIAH.

Some people will have been anticipating the miraculous signs of God’s power that are to be displayed by the two “prophets”, (Revelation 11:10) as well as their message, and be aware of the significance of the timing. They will avoid the Great Tribulation entirely, not just the Day of the Lord. The witness’s message will include the entire testimony of the Yeshua, which includes the prophecies that He inspired previous prophets to write:

What is the “testimony of Yeshua”? Here is the exact Biblical definition!

Revelation 19:10 ... For the TESTIMONY of Yeshua is the spirit of prophecy.

The Bible says that Israel will return to the Promised Land. The vast majority of the survivors of the next holocaust will be offered life and liberty, and the attainment of happiness before the Day of the Lord! Another much larger remnant of Israel will remember the Two Witnesses’ warning message, but unlike some of their more discerning brethren, it is only after 3½ years of Tribulation that they decide to heed the warning! I challenge you to examine this evidence. Once we realize that the Day of the Lord is not a part of the 1260 days, we can realize that there is a much happier ending to the saga.

Now consider some implications of this scenario. It allows many of us to comprehend that we have totally misunderstood the outcome of the Two Witnesses’ message. We can establish that millions of people-many of whom believe that they are truly “Christians”, prepared for a “rapture”—will actually be a remnant of Israel—survivors of the Tribulation. They will finally acknowledge that the witnesses’ message was authentic, largely because it was combined with astonishing miracles that got their attention, and because they will have had up to 1260 days of “Trouble” to consider the prophecies that will have been continuously expressed to them. Almost no amount of reasoning today is sufficient because people are so caught up with the cares of the world that nothing impresses them. That is why whole pages of prophecies that explain our future go totally unnoticed. Yet today’s distractions will all be taken away!

The message that the witnesses deliver will not be given so that God can say “I told you so”, rather it is for the sake of encouraging Israel to literally “come out of her My people”, in time to be protected during the entire year of the Lord’s wrath, if not sooner. This other “her”, (Revelation 18:3) will be a counterfeit Kingdom of God politically supervised by a bogus Theocracy.

There are actually two major departure periods to the Place of Safety! The better time is the one that protects people from both Satan’s wrath against Israel and then God’s wrath upon her enemies? Yet before going on I will note a few passages concerning the place for you to ponder.

The departure described in Isaiah 52 is a very interesting scripture that differs greatly in circumstances from this familiar passage:

Matthew 24:17-21 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes .... 20 And pray that your flight may not be in ‘winter’ [Literally: “inclement weather”—it wont be winter] or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Contrast the above to this:

Isaiah 52:7-12 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion: Your God reigns! 8 Your watchmen shall lift up their voices, with their voices they shall sing together; for they shall see eye to eye when the LORD brings back Zion. 9 Break forth into joy, sing together, you waste places of Jerusalem! For the LORD has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem. 10 The LORD has made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. 11 Depart! Depart! Go out from there, touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her, be clean, you who bear the vessels of the LORD. 12 For you shall NOT go out with haste, nor go by flight; for the LORD will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

This appears to be an earlier departure than for the opportunity to avoid the Great Tribulation than the Matthew account, as well as the Revelation account described below. Perhaps this is the 1335 day countdown of Daniel 12:12.

Revelation 12:6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days. [3½ years, after which time Jerusalem will become home.]

God intends to hide his people “in the SECRET PLACE OF [HIS] PRESENCE”! Despite it being spoken of in scripture it is still a veritable secret!

Psalms 31:19-21 Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men! 20 You shall HIDE THEM in the SECRET PLACE OF YOUR PRESENCE from the plots of man; You shall keep them SECRETLY in a ‘pavilion’ [Literally, “a TABERNACLE”] from the strife of tongues. 21 Blessed be the Lord, for He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a STRONG CITY!

LOST PART BEGINS HERE CODES INDICATE THEY WERE NOT ON ANY NEW SECTION

Psalms 27:1-6 A Psalm of David. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war should rise against me, in this I will be confident. 4 One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the HOUSE of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in HIS temple. [Yet to be built!] 5 For in the time of trouble [the time of Jacob’s trouble] He shall hide me in His ‘pavilion’ [masculine word form: “TABERNACLE”] in the SECRET PLACE of His TABERNACLE He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a ‘rock’ 6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His Tabernacle [at the resurrection]; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

Compare this to to Psalms:

Psalms 31:2-3 Bow down Your ear to me, deliver me speedily; be my rock of refuge, a fortress of defense to save me. 3 For You are my rock and my fortress....”

Israel’s Expanded Place of Safety:

This “second chance” place of safety is for those who have suffered by the hands of “the Northern Army” “before” “the Day of the Lord”.

Joel 2:16-32 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children and nursing babes; let the bridegroom go out from his chamber and the bride from her dressing room. 17 Let the priests, who minister to the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar [of the 3rd temple]; let them say, ‘Spare Your people, O Lord, and do not give Your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’ 18 Then the Lord will be zealous for His land, and PITY His people. 19 The Lord will answer and say to His people, ‘Behold, I will send you grain and new wine and oil, and you will be satisfied by them; I will no longer make you a reproach among the nations. 20 ‘But I will remove far from you the northern army, and will drive him away into a barren and desolate land, with his face toward the eastern sea and his back toward the western sea; his stench will come up, and his fowl odor will rise, because he has done monstrous things.... 28 ‘And it shall come to pass AFTERWARD [after the Beast’s “Northern Army” is defeated] that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. 29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. 30 ‘And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood and fire and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, BEFORE THE COMING of the great and awesome DAY OF THE LORD. [To miss the timing here is to miss the entire point!] 32 And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be [physically] saved. For IN Mount Zion and IN Jerusalem [I believe this to be New Jerusalem] there shall be deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the remnant whom the Lord calls.

Notice two things in particular about the following passage. The Middle East is presently a desert wilderness. It became that way due to horrific overgrazing begun in Roman times. It was forested when this prophecy was made. This ties in with the “woman” of Revelation 12:14-17, being taken into the “wilderness”. Secondly notice who will be the married to God in this place of safety! Many will tell you that the Church is to be the bride of Christ. This is the topic of Chapter 21: Who is the Bride of Christ. Several plain scriptures show who the bride really is. Hosea 1 is in the same context as chapter 2:

Hosea 1:10-11 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered. And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ There it shall be said to them, ‘You are sons of the living God.’ 11 Then the children of Judah and the children of Israel shall be gathered together, and appoint for themselves one head; [perhaps one of the Two Witnesses] and they shall come up out of the land, for great will be the day of ‘Jezreel’! [essentially the valley of Armageddon]

Hosea continued this thought in the next chapter:

Hosea 2:14-20 Therefore, behold, I will allure her, will bring her into the WILDERNESS, and speak comfort to her. 15 I will give her her vineyards from there, and the Valley of Achor as a door of hope; she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, as in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt. 16 And it shall be, in that day, says the LORD, that you will call Me ‘My Husband,’ and no longer call Me ‘My Master,’ 17 For I will take from her mouth the names of the Baals, and they shall be remembered by their name no more. 18 In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, with the birds of the air, and with the creeping things of the ground. Bow and sword of battle I will shatter from the earth, to make them lie down safely. 19 I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in loving kindness and mercy; 20 I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, and you shall know the LORD.

Incidentally, the “great multitude”, of Revelation 7, will be comprised of the Israelite survivors of the Time of Jacob’s Trouble, returning from captivity, as well as anyone else who is desirous of obeying God and escaping the Day of the Lord!

Revelation 7:9-17 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.... 13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me: Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from? 14 And I said to him, ‘Sir, you know.’ So he said to me: These are the ones who come out of [survived] the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. 16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne WILL shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

These will not be Biblically knowledgeable people; after all, how much will they be able to learn about becoming Saints under the worst living conditions in human history? They will be, however, people willing to allow “the Lamb” to “shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters”. They will have a perfect opportunity to live out a righteous life. They will actually appear before God’s throne in the New Jerusalem that will come to earth (Revelation 21:1-3). They will live thru the Great Tribulation and on into the Everlasting Kingdom. The references to not hungering and not thirsting, or being harmed by the sun, or even crying tears, are references to the fact that they are indeed still quite human—but that they are now being protected!

Some would have you believe that this multitude is assembled after the millennium. If you believe that, then I would encourage you to carefully read the entire chapter and see how inappropriate that conclusion really is.

The Final Battle?

Actually, there is not one final battle to come! In fact, several major end time battles will take place. First, the United States, as well as the rest of the descendants of Israel will be defeated. Later, the King of the North (the federation of the Beast) will also fight the King of the South (a future Arab federation), and win. Then there is “Armageddon” (which is actually fought in the “Valley of Jehoshaphat”) Then there is Gog and Magog (of Asia), which is the incredible story about another attack on Israel, after their captivity but before the peaceful Kingdom. This is the sole topic of Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39. Some teach that this occurs during the Everlasting Kingdom. Yet the context is saturated with statements dating it to the events leading up to that time—the Second Exodus or The Time After Jacob’s Trouble.

Ezekiel 38:16 You will come up against My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land. It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes....

Ezekiel 39:25-29 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Now I will bring back the captives of Jacob, and have mercy on the WHOLE house of Israel [not the Jews! List 3]; and I will be jealous for My holy name—26 ‘after they have borne their shame, and all their unfaithfulness in which they were unfaithful to Me, when they dwelt safely in their own land and no one made them afraid. 27 ‘When I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and I am hallowed in them in the sight of many nations, 28 ‘then they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who sent them into captivity among the nations, but also brought them back to their land, and left none of them captive any longer. 29 ‘And I will not hide My face from them anymore; for I shall have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel,’ says the Lord GOD.

Before you stop reading, first consider these next two passages, for they are important proof texts illustrating that the remnant of the Children of Israel are gathered to their “place of safety” at the VERY SAME TIME that God is gathering the armies of the world for their destruction in “the Valley of Jehoshaphat”!

Joel 3:1-2 For behold, in those days and at that time, WHEN I bring back the captives of JUDAH and Jerusalem, 2 I will ALSO GATHER all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment WITH THEM there ON ACCOUNT OF MY PEOPLE, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land.

“Armageddon” is merely the gathering point for the annihilation that God will perform on His enemies in the Valley of Jehoshaphat!

Joel 3:12-16 Let the nations be wakened, and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; for THERE I will sit to judge all the SURROUNDING NATIONS. 13 Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, go down; for the winepress is full, the vats overflow—for their wickedness is great. 14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the DAY OF THE LORD IS NEAR in the valley of decision. 15 The sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will diminish their brightness. 16 The Lord also will roar from Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; the heavens and earth will shake; BUT THE LORD WILL BE A SHELTER FOR HIS PEOPLE, AND THE STRENGTH OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL.

I include a great many scriptures rather than simply reference them, so that you will hopefully read them. They tell the real story. I can only comment on them to get you to consider explanations other than you may have heard concerning them.

I will elaborate on Jeremiah 51 later, but here is the condensed essence of what he had to say about the remnant.

Jeremiah 51:6-50 FLEE FROM THE MIDST OF BABYLON, AND EVERYONE SAVE HIS LIFE! Do not be cut off in her iniquity, FOR THIS IS THE TIME OF THE LORD’S VENGEANCE; [By this time the first wave of those who believed the message of the Two Witnesses are either in a place of safety or have already been martyred.] He shall recompense her. 7 Babylon was a golden cup in the Lord’s hand, that made all the earth drunk. [This is an exact parallel to Revelation chapters 17-19] ... Babylon has suddenly FALLEN and been destroyed... FORSAKE HER, “”[literally] and let us go everyone to his own country.... 19 The Portion of JACOB is not like them, for He is the Maker of all things; and Israel is the tribe of His inheritance. The Lord of hosts is His name. 20 You [Israel] are MY BATTLE-AX and weapons of war: For with you I will break the nations in pieces; with you I will destroy kingdoms ... blow the TRUMPET among the nations! ... Therefore thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will plead your case and take vengeance for you. I will dry up her sea and make her springs dry. 37 Babylon shall become a heap.... Yes, the wall of Babylon shall fall.... 45 MY PEOPLE GO OUT FROM THE MIDST OF HER! And let everyone DELIVER HIMSELF from the fierce anger of the Lord. [Not the “Great Tribulation” inflicted by Satan, but the Day of the Lord] ... 50 You who have escaped the sword, [the remnant] GET AWAY! DO NOT STAND STILL! Remember the Lord afar off, and LET JERUSALEM COME TO YOUR MIND.”

Notice the admonition to “let Jerusalem come to your mind”. If these passages dont cause you to want to reconsider the prophecies, then you might as well quit reading now.

As an aside, it is worth noting the contrasting warning to flee Jerusalem mentioned by Matthew. This will have been a time for the Commandment keeping Saints, who will by then have journeyed to Judea (apparently to help restore God’s latter temple) to flea away from the vicinity of Jerusalem, rather than toward it as an exercise of faith and possibly logic!

Matthew 24:15-16 Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea FLEE to the ‘mountains’.

[So far as I can determine from my lexicon it is mountain singular!]

If a person only went by Daniel’s account, he might conclude that he should “wait” right where he was, rather than wait in the mountains!

Daniel 12:11-12 And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12 Blessed is he who WAITS, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.

I’ve mentioned the Time of Jacob’s Trouble; here is the rest of the story. There is only one chapter in the Bible that uses the term “Jacob’s Trouble”, to describe the “time of Trouble”, we all know that this will be the most terrible period of time in history for the millions of descendants of Israel, however ironically, this “only place in the Bible” is more focused on the time AFTER the trouble than on the trouble itself! Here is the good news of Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 30 All: The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 2 Thus speaks the Lord God of Israel, saying: ‘Write in a book for yourself all the words that I have spoken to you. 3 For behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, ‘that I will bring back from captivity My people Israel and Judah,’ says the Lord. ‘And I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.’ [The good news is first.] 4 Now these are the words that the Lord spoke concerning Israel and Judah. 5 For thus says the Lord: ‘We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. 6 Ask now, and see, whether a man is ever in labor with child? So why do I see every man with his hands on his loins like a woman in labor, and all faces turned pale? 7 Alas! For that DAY IS GREAT, so that NONE IS LIKE IT; and it is the time of JACOB’S TROUBLE, [That was the bad news.] BUT HE SHALL BE SAVED OUT OF IT. 8 ‘For it shall come to pass in THAT day,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘that I will break his yoke from your neck, and will burst your bonds; foreigners shall no more enslave them. 9 But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up for them. 10 ’Therefore DO NOT FEAR, O My servant Jacob,’ says the Lord, ‘Nor be dismayed, O Israel; for behold, I WILL SAVE YOU from afar, and your seed from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return, have rest and be quiet, and no one shall make him afraid. 11 For I am with you,’ says the Lord, ‘to save you; THOUGH I MAKE A FULL END OF ALL NATIONS where I have scattered you, [by gathering them into the Valley of Jehoshaphat] yet I will not make a complete end of you. But I will correct you in justice, and will not let you go altogether unpunished.’ 12 For thus says the Lord: ‘Your affliction is incurable, your wound is severe. 13 There is no one to plead your cause, that you may be bound up; you have no healing medicines. 14 All your lovers have forgotten you; they do not seek you; for I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of your iniquities, because your sins have increased. 15 Why do you cry about your affliction? Your sorrow is incurable. Because of the multitude of your iniquities, because your sins have increased, I have done these things to you. 16 ‘Therefore all those who devour you shall be devoured; and all your adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; those who plunder you shall become plunder, and all who prey upon you I will make a prey. 17 For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,’ says the Lord, ‘because they called you an outcast saying: This is Zion; no one seeks her.’ 18 Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will bring back the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have mercy on his dwelling places; the city shall be built upon its own mound, and the palace shall remain according to its own plan. 19 Then out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of those who make merry; I will multiply them, and they shall not diminish; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small. 20 Their children also shall be as before [as explained in The Time After Jacob’s Trouble, Part 2.], and their congregation shall be established before Me; and I will punish ALL who oppress them. 21 Their nobles shall be from among them, and their governor shall come from their midst; then I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach Me; for who is this who pledged his heart to approach Me?’ says the Lord. 22 ‘You shall be My people, and I will be your God.’ 23 Behold, the whirlwind of the Lord Goes forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind; it will fall violently on the head of the wicked. 24 The fierce anger of the Lord will not return until He has done it, and until He has performed the intents of His heart. In the latter days you will CONSIDER it.

Start Considering!

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