END TIME DILEMMA – JACOB’S TROUBLE
INTRODUCTION – THE COMING CRISIS
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, but he shall be saved out of it. (Jeremiah 30:5-7) Other Scriptures: Matthew
24:21-22; Daniel 12:1; Jeremiah 9:12-16; Deuteronomy 28:49-50; Revelation 11:6; Deuteronomy 33:36,43
I. DISCERNING THE TIMES
A. OBJECTIVE: To begin a process of discovery that will enable us to have greater understanding of God’s end-time
plans concerning Israel, which will ultimately lead us to study and pray with increased revelation and biblical accuracy.
B. Jesus gave an extremely strong rebuke to the Jewish leaders because they were unable to discern the times in
which they were living. You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times
(Matthew 16:1-3)
"Son of man, look with your eyes and hear with your ears, and fix your mind on everything I show you; for you were
brought here so that I might show them to you. Declare to the house of Israel everything you see." (Ezekiel 40:4-5)
C. This statement is as sobering as it is instructive. God is passionate that we possess a spirit of revelation
concerning end-time events and connect with it at the heart level. Earnest and diligent study of end-time subjects is not
simply reserved for the scholars and the intellectually elite but for the average Believer (Acts 17:11).
II. THE APPEARANCE OF THE ANTICHRIST
43I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.
(John 5:43) (Also see Luke 16:15)
A. Jesus was giving the Jewish people a veiled prophetic rebuke. Sadly, His words will find their ultimate expression in
the Israel’s enthusiastic embracing of the most wicked man to ever live on planet earth.
B. The necessity of studying the person that the Bible identifies and calls the Antichrist is more clearly understood
when we begin to take note of the great attention that prophetic scripture devotes to this subject. We would do ourselves
and others a great disservice if we chose to ignore this man simply because there is so much negative information that we
must wade through in order to gain a clear understanding of his diabolical plans and well camouflaged schemes.
C. The Bible calls him the “Man of Sin” (2 Thessalonians 2:3) for good reason. He is the very personification of evil
and will be able to connect at the deepest level with the total depravity of mankind. He will give opportunity for those living
during his reign of terror - to enter into regions of darkness that are beyond imagination.
D. To not take this man seriously would be gross error and that is precisely what today’s western Church has done.
The unfortunate result is that the corporate Church in the west is completely unprepared to face the most disruptive time
in human history. We must begin to dialogue about this subject.
III. SCRIPTURE’S OWN COMMENTARY ON THE ANTICHRIST’S PLANS AND CHARACTER
TWOFOLD GOAL: (1) To give a sampling of scriptures that add strategic pieces of God’s End Time puzzle which helps
bring clarity (2) give you incentive to begin your own study of the End Times.
The dragon (Satan) gave him (the Antichrist) his power, his throne, and great authority. (Revelation 13:2b)
A. Satan is investing heavily in the Antichrist as he views him as his most likely option to keep him from eternal
internment in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:10). When the Bible says that Satan will give the Antichrist his power this
is referring to his governmental jurisdiction or sphere of influence. This is a serious delegation of satanic mischief. The
only place Satan’s throne is mentioned in scripture is Rev. 2:13. 12“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, …
13I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is.” Satan’s throne is a geographic reality. Note that the
Holy Spirit puts special emphasis on Satan’s authority … He calls it “Great authority.” Important to understand that even
when our adversary’s authority is released to its fullest intensity level, it is still completely subjected to the sovereignty of
God. God has promised Satan’s demise and it will occur exactly when and precisely how the Word of God has prophesied.
(The antichrist’s demonic hordes) … were devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was
different from all the beasts … (Daniel 7:7) Also See: Daniel 7:27
B. One of the descriptions of this man in scripture is that he is the one responsible at the end of the age for making
the earth “Desolate.” This word means (1)“to make bare, uninhabited, and deserted; (2) solitary, joyless, and without
hope; (3) dismal and gloomy.” It doesn’t take much imagination to envision what this implies for the future of our planet.
We are talking about catastrophic changes that will impact every person and every place on earth.
And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man (the Antichrist), and a mouth speaking pompous words.
(Daniel 7:8)
3 Let no one deceive you … (when) the man of sin (Antichrist) is revealed, the son of perdition, 4who opposes and exalts
himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped … (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)
Other references: Daniel 7:25; Revelation 13:5
C. There is a reason why the Bible puts special emphasis on this man’s mouth and eyes (Dan. 7:8). Eyes speak of
unusual insight. In the case of the Antichrist it means unusual or even supernatural ability to deceive enormous numbers
of people with ideas that will gain him international attention. This is stated in biblical language, which identifies his ability
to understand (and thus implement) sinister schemes (Daniel 8:23).
D. He will no doubt be an intellectual genius and have the ability to persuade, motivate, and mobilize key leaders in
numerous areas including economic, political, religious, social, and military spheres of life. He will be fully human and fully
demonized. Revelation 11:7 says that he will “ascend out of the bottomless pit.”… shall intend to change times and law.
(Daniel 7:25)
E. Daniel slips in a very telling verse. Why would someone want to do away with our monthly calendars and totally
restructure the current dating and legal system? Seems like a lot of work. Remember that our calendars are established
on the life of Jesus Christ (AD/BC). That will be totally unacceptable to this global tyrant who wants the name of Jesus as
well as everything Christian (i.e. Christmas – Easter etc.) to be completely eradicated and forgotten—forever. The
Antichrist wants to be the center of attention and his new dating system will no doubt be centered on him and his global
accomplishments. One of the verses that expose his diabolical agenda says, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good
evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness” (Isaiah 5:20).
F. Why would someone want to change the laws? Although many of today’s laws stand in opposition to God’s Word,
nevertheless, our entire judicial system was founded on biblical values (i.e. Laws given to Moses in the Torah). Whoever
controls the ability to enact legislation controls the behavior, conduct, and morality of the people they are ruling over. Bad
laws produce people with flawed character - if those laws go unchallenged. This also sets up an environment for the
judgments of God to be released. The severity of His judgments is determined by the moral depravity of the men He is
trying to reach. As someone has rightly stated, “desperate times call for desperate measures”. The severity of God’s
end-time judgments tells us volumes about the degree of darkness men will be involved in just before the Second Coming.
IV. A FEW THOUGHTS ON GOD’S JUDGMENT
A. In order to properly understand God’s end time judgments we must understand what is motivating His judgments.
The judgments of God in today’s western theological circles seem to be either (1) over-looked entirely (historically
fulfilled), (2) minimized (reduced to symbolic interpretation), or (3) misunderstood (taken out of context) and poorly
interpreted.
B. The principle of judgment: God uses the least severe means to reach the greatest number of people at the
deepest level of love without violating anyone’s free will.
C. The Book of Revelation is not about a powerful God who has been asleep in a cave for 6,000 years and finally
wakes up in a really bad mood - gets shocked at what has taken place while He was asleep and then suddenly springs
into action determined to remedy the situation by destroying most forms of life on the planet. This may sound extreme but
I’ve met many Believers who subscribe to that sort of thinking. They view God’s judgments as erratic, irrational, and overly
severe.
D. Others take more of a theological cessationist viewpoint. They believe that God is totally removed and has no part
in negative circumstances in today’s modern world. Rather, they believe that current events are driven by natural
occurrences and can be fully understood scientifically and explained when enough data has been gathered and
analyzed.
E. If the church of Jesus Christ is ever going to make a significant impact on the societies in which they live,
especially because of the times and season in which we are living, we must begin to interpret events through a biblical
lens and constantly be asking ourselves, “What is God saying?”
F. What is driving God’s judgments is the same motivation that always drives Him to act which is a burning passion to
bring the greatest number of people to His Son as possible. His judgments are about His fiery zeal for His wayward
creation. His judgments are specifically designed and intended to remove everything that hinders love. His judgments are
never erratic, irrational, or overly severe. They are bathed in compassion and watched over by a God who delights in
yielding to His own mercy and loving-kindness. Even in His judgments He always remembers mercy (Habakkuk 3:2).
G. At the end of this age sin and darkness will reach a degree of depravity that has no historical equivalent. Look at
how the Holy Spirit categories that troubled period.
… when the transgressors have reached their fullness (Daniel 8:23) (Also see: Genesis 6:5-6)
12 Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn (the Antichrist) to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he
cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered. (Daniel 8:12)
V. ISRAEL’S DARKEST HOUR
17And the dragon (Satan) was enraged with the woman (National Israel), and he went to make war with the rest of her
offspring (Gentile Believers), who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation
12:17) Other scriptures: Matthew 24:21-22; Joel 3:1-3; Luke 21:20-24; Zechariah 13:8-9; Revelation 11:8;
15“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 …21For 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. 22And unless
those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.
A. There will be 3 major things going on that will cause great disruption for the Antichrist and his evil regime. First will
be the releasing of the judgments of God (Revelation 6-19). Second will be the 2 prophetic messengers (witnesses) that
will be preaching righteousness and actively resisting, exposing, and causing serious disruption to the Antichrist’s agenda
(Revelation 11). Thirdly, will be a zealous church comprised of Jewish and Gentile Believers who are walking in a spirit of
holiness and doing unusual signs and wonders while aggressively praying for the Lord to establish His Kingdom and who
refuse to be silenced or intimidated by the threats of the Antichrist (Revelation 12:11).
B. Satan’s two main goals in his war against God’s people is to raise up a worship movement in which he and the
Antichrist are worshipped by all nations (Revelation 13:4, 8, 12, 15) and to completely exterminate or relocate the Jewish
people so there is no remnant to invite Jesus back to Jerusalem to rule over them as their Messiah King (Matthew 23:37-39;
Revelation 12:13-17).
VI. THE CHURCH IS PURIFIED AND BROUGHT TO MATURITY
4“But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and
knowledge shall increase. 9And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the
end. 10Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, … the wise shall understand.
Other Scriptures: Acts 2:17; Revelation 19:7; John 14:12; Haggai 2:9; Matthew 9:37-38; John 17:26; Romans 11:11-14