The “time of Jacob’s trouble” is a period of great tribulation and suffering for the people of Israel that is prophesied in the Bible to occur before the second coming of Jesus Christ. It is referred to specifically in Jeremiah 30:7 which says “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.”
This period is also commonly known as the “Great Tribulation” based on Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:21: “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.” It will be a time of intense persecution and divine judgment on the earth.
Characteristics of the Time of Jacob’s Trouble
According to Bible prophecy, the time of Jacob’s trouble will have several key characteristics:
- It will last for 31⁄2 years (Daniel 9:27, Revelation 11:2)
- It will be a time of great distress and tribulation (Matthew 24:21, Daniel 12:1)
- God will pour out His wrath on the earth (Revelation 6:12-17, Revelation 14:9-11, Revelation 16:1-21)
- The Antichrist will persecute Israel and try to destroy them (Jeremiah 30:7, Revelation 12:13)
- The temple in Jerusalem will be desecrated (Matthew 24:15, 2 Thessalonians 2:4)
- There will be celestial signs and cosmic disturbances (Joel 2:30-31, Matthew 24:29)
- Natural disasters and plagues will occur (Revelation 6:5-8, Revelation 8:7-12, Revelation 16:3-4)
- Israel will turn back to God and accept Jesus as the Messiah (Zechariah 12:10, Romans 11:25-27)
So in summary, it will be the worst time of tribulation in human history, but will lead to the restoration and salvation of Israel.
Purpose of the Time of Jacob’s Trouble
The purpose of this prophesied time of trouble for Israel is twofold:
- To bring Israel to repentance – God will use this tribulation to turn the hearts of the Jewish people to trust in Jesus as their Messiah and be saved (Zechariah 12:10, Romans 11:25-27). The persecution by the Antichrist will cause them to cry out to God.
- To pour out divine wrath – The judgments of the tribulation period are God’s wrath being poured out on the unbelieving world for their sin and rebellion, as well as to bring judgment on the Antichrist’s evil empire (Revelation 6:16-17, Revelation 14:9-10).
So God will use this distressing period of history to purify and redeem His people Israel, as well as to judge the wickedness of the world in preparation for the establishment of Christ’s kingdom on earth.
Parallels to Past Times of Trouble for Israel
Jeremiah 30:7 describes the time of Jacob’s trouble as a time of trouble “such as never was since there was a nation.” But there are some past periods of tribulation for the Jewish people that are types and foreshadows of this future time:
- The oppression in Egypt – Israel was enslaved by Pharaoh and crying out under intense persecution, just as they will by the Antichrist. But God miraculously delivered them out of Egypt (Exodus 2:23-25).
- The Babylonian exile – The Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and the temple and took the people captive. Yet God promised to deliver them after 70 years (Jeremiah 25:11-12).
- The persecution under Antiochus Epiphanes – A Syrian king who desecrated the temple in Jerusalem and severely persecuted the Jews around 165 BC. He is often seen as foreshadowing the Antichrist (Daniel 8:9-14).
- The destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 – The Romans destroyed the city and temple, slaughtering and dispersing many Jews. Jesus prophesied this event as having similarities to the Great Tribulation (Luke 21:20-24).
So while past times of suffering for Israel were incredibly difficult, the coming time of Jacob’s trouble will be far more intense and devastating than anything before.
Timing of the Time of Jacob’s Trouble
When will this prophesied period occur? Though we cannot be certain of exact dates, the general timeframe can be determined from Scripture:
- It will occur after Israel is back in the land – Since Israel was dispersed from AD 70-1948, the tribulation could not have occurred prior to 1948 when Israel was re-established as a nation.
- It will occur after the “times of the Gentiles” – Jesus said Jerusalem will be “trampled underfoot” by the Gentiles until their time is fulfilled (Luke 21:24). This likely was fulfilled in 1967 when Israel regained control of Jerusalem.
- It will precede the second coming of Christ – The tribulation ends with Christ’s return (Matthew 24:29-30), so it must occur before that event.
- It will begin shortly after the rebuilding of a Jewish temple – The Antichrist will desecrate the temple at the midpoint of the tribulation (Matthew 24:15), which implies a temple in Jerusalem rebuilt beforehand.
Considering these Scriptural clues, it appears the tribulation could occur in the not-too-distant future. But the exact time remains unknown.
Satan’s Role in the Time of Jacob’s Trouble
Behind the human Antichrist who persecutes Israel is the driving force of Satan himself. Revelation 12:12-13 indicates that it is Satan who empowers the Antichrist and motivates the persecution of the Jews in the end times. Satan is filled with fury because he knows his time is short before Jesus returns to reign (Revelation 12:12). Several key points about Satan’s role:
- He will indwell the Antichrist and empower him to deceive people and persecute Israel (2 Thessalonians 2:9).
- He will attempt to destroy Israel to thwart God’s promises to them (Zechariah 3:1, Revelation 12:4-5).
- He will be cast down to earth in fury and vent his wrath during the tribulation (Revelation 12:12-13).
- He will gather the nations to battle against Jesus when He returns (Revelation 16:14, Revelation 19:19).
- He will ultimately be bound for 1,000 years at Christ’s second coming (Revelation 20:1-3).
So the persecution directed against Israel that drives the events of the tribulation represents Satan’s desperate attempts to subvert God’s plans. But instead, it will lead to his defeat and the establishment of Christ’s righteous kingdom on earth.
Israel’s Repentance during the Time of Jacob’s Trouble
A key purpose of the coming “time of Jacob’s trouble” is to bring the nation of Israel to repentance and acceptance of Jesus as their Messiah. Though they will suffer greatly under the Antichrist’s persecution, ultimately Israel will turn to God:
- They will weep and mourn when they see Christ return, showing their repentance (Zechariah 12:10-14).
- They will turn to Jesus and pray for His return, showing their acceptance of Him (Hosea 5:15, Matthew 23:39).
- God will pour out His Spirit on them to bring about their national salvation (Zechariah 12:10, Romans 11:25-27).
- A remnant will flee to the wilderness where God will protect them (Revelation 12:13-17).
Though most of the Jewish people today reject Jesus, the tribulation events will eventually open their eyes to see Him as their long-promised Messiah. God’s covenant promises to Israel will ultimately be fulfilled.
Protection and Preservation of Israel
Though this will be an incredibly difficult time, God promises to preserve and protect His people Israel. Though over 2/3 will perish, 1/3 will make it through this trial (Zechariah 13:8-9). God promises:
- To protect the remnant that flees to the wilderness (Revelation 12:14-16).
- To stand with them and strengthen them (Daniel 11:32-33).
- That ultimately Israel will be saved out of it (Jeremiah 30:7).
- That His covenant with Israel will not be broken (Jeremiah 31:35-37, Romans 11:28-29).
So while this will be an incredibly difficult period, God will not fully forsake His people but will preserve them through the fire.
Contrast with the Rapture
Some confuse the tribulation period with the rapture of the church. But they are different events:
- The rapture relates to the church while the tribulation relates to Israel.
- The church is promised deliverance from wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9) while Israel will experience it.
- The rapture could happen at any time while the tribulation has unique preconditions before it can occur.
- Rapture passages focus on meeting Christ in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) while tribulation passages focus on events on earth.
In addition, Revelation 3:10 indicates the church will be kept from the “hour of trial” about to come upon the earth. So the Bible makes a distinction between these two events.
After the Time of Jacob’s Trouble
This horrible time of tribulation will come to an end when Jesus Christ returns in power and glory:
- The Antichrist will be defeated at Christ’s return (Revelation 19:20, 2 Thessalonians 2:8).
- Satan will be bound in the abyss (Revelation 20:1-3).
- Israel will enter into the blessings of the New Covenant (Zechariah 13:8-9).
- There will be a resurrection and judgment (Daniel 12:2, Matthew 25:31-33).
- Those who endured to the end will inherit the kingdom (Matthew 24:13, Revelation 20:4-6).
So while the tribulation will be horrific, those who persevere will enter into the glories of Jesus’ kingdom and the fulfillment of God’s promises.
Conclusions
In summary, the “time of Jacob’s trouble” refers to a future 31⁄2 year period of intense persecution for the nation of Israel just prior to Christ’s return. Though it will be an unprecedented time of tribulation, Israel will turn to Jesus and be saved out of it. God will preserve them through this trial and fulfill His covenant promises. This period is also known as the Great Tribulation and is described in passages like Jeremiah 30:7, Daniel 12:1 and Matthew 24:21. It will be initiated by the Antichrist’s rise to power, his desecration of the Jewish temple, and his attempts to destroy Israel. But Christ will defeat the Antichrist at His second coming, delivering Israel and establishing His kingdom on earth.