The Time of Jacob’s Trouble: Great Tribulation Phase 1

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The “time of Jacob’s trouble” is defined as an unparalleled time in all of history. It is also focused on a particular linage of people and a particular location. In the following three portions of scripture, notice the distinction of the unparalleled nature of this time in history in blue. Then also notice the green italics repeating a common theme of salvation from this time. In reading this, notice who the subject is in all three cases.

Jeremiah 30:4-7
And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. 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? Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.

There is no other time like this. Therefore, any other place in scripture claiming this same thing must be talking about the same time.

Daniel 12:1
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

Matthew 24:15-22
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 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.

During this unparalleled time we can now then tie the following scriptural elements together:

1. This time of trouble, great tribulation is unlike any other in history and therefore all the same time.
2. This time is concerning Israel and Judah.
3. At that time Michael the Archangel will stand up (H5975 - Michael stands by and defends Israel, but at this time he stands up, which would seem to say ceases to do what he was doing since this unparalleled time of trouble for Israel takes place.)
4. The abomination of desolation starts this time.
5. When this time comes, those in Judea should flee to the mountains.
6. This time will be shortened to save those of Israel found in the book from it.

According to Yeshua, the time of great tribulation begins with the abomination of desolation and referring back to Daniel, we are given the timeframe for this event to take place.

Daniel 9:27
And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

The 70th week of Daniel is generally assumed to be aligned with this covenant with many. We at the very least know the abomination of desolation is the start of this unparalleled time and that from that point, there is only 3½ years (42 months) of Satan’s rule and persecution.

Revelation 13:5
And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

Revelation 19:19,20
And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

They’re thrown in the lake of fire upon Christ’s return in glory. Therefore, this time could only last 3½ years since it is the dragon that started the great tribulation when he went after Israel through the beast to whom he gave his power. Revelation 12:13-17

The Dragon’s Wrath

Some commentators tend to confuse terminology when talking about the great tribulation. It is common in pre-trib circles for the 7 year period to be called the tribulation with the idea that we aren’t appointed to God’s wrath, conflating the two things. While I agree we are not appointed to God’s wrath, I think it is an important distinction to make separating the dragon’s wrath from God’s wrath. We are not promised salvation from tribulation or from great tribulation, just God’s wrath. The time of great tribulation, starting with the time of Jacob’s trouble, is not God’s wrath, it is the wrath of the dragon against God’s chosen people, both Jew first and Gentile. Also note given Daniel 12:1 mentioned above tying this unparalleled tribulation to Michael standing up. I would also recommend first reading the study on the woman of Revelation 12 before continuing here.

Revelation 12:7-17
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, [ye] heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. 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. 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.

I think it’s important to note that the same Michael who stands for Israel stands up and coincides with this unparalleled time of great tribulation, is the same Michael who casts the dragon from heaven after which the dragon goes after Israel with great wrath. If you read the restrainer study as well you will note that the revealing of the man of sin, the antichrist, is being prevented until that restrainer is taken out of the way. It is this revealing of the man of sin at the abomination of desolation that starts the great tribulation.

In addition to that the woman, Israel, is saved from the dragon at this time. Then after Israel is protected in the wilderness for 3 ½ years, the dragon then makes war with the remnant of Israel and Christians. So we have the great tribulation being the dragon’s wrath in two phases. At first during the time of Jacob’s trouble when the dragon is first cast to the Earth, he goes after those Jews in Judea specifically, but God saves those written in the book from that time. Then the dragon turns his wrath to those not in Judea, both Jew and Gentile Christians.

The Events Surrounding the Time of Jacob’s Trouble

The day of the Lord begins after the sixth seal. Joel 2:31 This passage doesn’t give us a time of how long after the sixth seal the day of the Lord comes, but because we know the day of the Lord is God’s wrath, and it comes suddenly and unexpectedly, and the people at the sixth seal recognize God’s coming wrath, and the seventh seal is only ½ hour long, I believe the day of the Lord (God’s wrath) comes with the seven trumpets which aren’t handed out until all seven seals have been broken on the scroll. Revelation 8:1-2

So I think the sixth seal/seventh seal/day of the Lord sequence most likely occurs within the same day and, based on the exact days prophecy framework, is somewhere within 30 days after the abomination of desolation. Before God’s wrath comes we see both the 144,000 are sealed and we see the multitudes from all nations, tongues, etc standing before the throne and before the Lamb. Revelation 7

That time at the abomination of desolation for around 30 days is the time of Jacob’s trouble. This is the time they are saved out of and the flesh that is saved is focused on the flesh who is being attacked at that moment, Israel. Revelation 12:13-16

So to sum up the time of great tribulation is the wrath of the dragon, carried out through the antichrist when the dragon gives him his power, and lasts for the 3 ½ years of the antichrist’s reign on the earth. The time of Jacob’s trouble is the start of the time of great tribulation, but likely only lasts for 30 days or less because the woman is protected from the dragon for 1260 days. Revelation 12:14 Daniel says from the abomination of desolation to what I believe is the end of the 70th week of Daniel is 1290 days. Daniel 12:11 We know from the abomination of desolation, the 1260 days of the reign of the antichrist begins and the dragon’s wrath is cut short. Therefore I posit some unknown time within 30 days for the time of Jacob’s trouble before the antichrist expands his hunt for Jews and Christians written in the book worldwide.

Here is the order of events as I’ve read in scripture. Please hold yourself to Acts 17:11 and don’t take my word for it.

• Michael stands up and stops restraining the revealing of the man of sin. Daniel 12:1 | 2 Thessalonians 2
• Abomination of desolation (Unparalleled trouble and the start of Daniel 12:11’s 1290 days)
  • Some Jews revolt - man of sin assassinated. Revelation 13:3
  • Michael and his angels cast Lucifer and his angels out of heaven Revelation 12:7-13
  • Lucifer raises the beast and gives him his power for 42 months. Revelation 13:1-5 | 2 Thessalonians 2:11
• Time of Jacob’s trouble (<=30 days)
  • The antichrist goes after all the Jews in Judea. (2/3 are killed) Zechariah 13:8-9
  • 1/3 of Israel is taken to the wilderness and protected from the dragon (Revelation 12:14 - 1260 days)
  • It is believed they will escape to Edom to the South. Obadiah 1:12-15
• The signs of the sixth seal take place after Israel is in the wilderness and the bride is caught away from the earth. This is “immediately after the tribulation” of Matthew 24:15-28, the time of Jacob’s trouble. (The great tribulation continues on for the full 3 ½ years that the beast has his power. Daniel 7:25 However, the time of Jacob’s trouble is specifically what Matthew 24:15-28 is focused on as found mirrored in the unparalleled time of Daniel 12:1 and Jeremiah 30:4-7. Therefore, Matthew 24:29, which gives us the timing of the sixth seal, is immediately after the time of Jacob’s trouble, which is cut short to save the remnant of Israel.)
• Revelation 7
  • 144,000 of the 12 tribes of Israel, protected now from the dragon, are sealed and protected also from the coming wrath of God. Revelation 7:2-8
  • The bride of Christ is caught away. We don’t know the day or hour of this, except that it is before God’s wrath comes. Revelation 7:9-17 (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 places it after the abomination of desolation and Joel 2:31 places the day of the Lord after the 6th seal.)
• After the signs of the sixth seal, the seventh seal is broken and following ½ hour of silence in heaven, the seven trumpets are handed out. Revelation 8:1-2
• The first trumpet is sounded, marking the beginning of God’s wrath and the day of the Lord. For the next almost 3 ½ years, the seven trumpets and seven thunders, and seven bowls will be poured out on the children of disobedience. Ephesians 5:3-7
• Also during this time, the antichrist moves his wrath against God’s people world-wide and goes after Israel’s remnant who wasn’t in Judea as well as the Christians that hold the testimony of Christ. Revelation 12:17
• IIn heaven, the bride of Christ will be married (two become one) with Christ at the marriage of the Lamb. Revelation 19:7,8 We then follow Christ from heaven upon white horses when He returns in glory to take the kingdoms. Revelation 19:11-14

Continue to the time of great tribulation