Sunday Sermon: ‘God’s Love for the Jews’

Is Jesus coming soon? That’s the question everyone is asking. The Bible says that no man can know the exact day or the hour. (Matthew 24:36) No man can say that Christ’s return is either very close or very far away. Only the Father knows when will be the appropriate time for His Son to return. The Bible says that Christ’s first coming was according to God’s appointed time (see Gal 4:4). Therefore we may assume that His second coming will be the same as well.  Christ will return to this earth according to God’s appointed time.

However, even though we may not know the exact day or hour Christ will return, we can know the season. Jesus said that when we begin to see the branch putting forth its leaves, know that summer is near. (see Mt 24:32-34) There are many signs which indicate that we are living in the season of our Lord’s return. Last week I share with you three that stand out to me: (1) The development of weapons of mass destruction; (2) the push for globalization; (3) and the rebirth of the nation of Israel. Although there may be some debate about the first two signs, I don’t see how anyone can argue with the significance of Israel returning to their land. There are numerous passages throughout the Bible that teach us that Israel’s return to their homeland is a clear sign that we are nearing the end of time. Some might ask – “But why is the return of Israel such an important sign?” It is an important because much of the Tribulation Period has to do with the nation of Israel. To help us gain a better understanding of God’s dealings with the Jews, we need to go way back into the Old Testament.

Devotional: ‘The Time of Jacob’s Trouble’ pt. 5 of 5

Quite often I have someone say to me that they believe the end of time is very near. Yet we must keep in mind that Jesus said: “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” (Mt 24:26) No one but God the Father knows when the end of time will come.

Although we may know the exact day or hour, there are certain signs that will indicate when the time is drawing near. Among these many signs is the re-gathering of the Jews back to the land called Israel. We read from the book of Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 30:7 Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid.

Like many of the prophecies found in scripture, Jeremiah’s prophecy has a two-fold meaning and interpretation:

Devotional: ‘The Time of Jacob’s Trouble’ pt. 4 of 5

Jeremiah 30:7 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.

God told Jeremiah 2,500 years ago that a time of great trouble is coming for the nation of Israel. It is the Time of Jacob’s Trouble, or as otherwise known – the Tribulation Period.

At the beginning of the Tribulation Period, the Antichrist will establish a seven-year peace treaty with the nation of Israel. This will cause many to believe that possibly he might be their long-awaited messiah. Yet, half-way through this agreement, the peace will be broken and the Antichrist will turn against God’s chosen people. The turning against them will be the result of their refusal to worship an image of him that will be set up in their newly reconstructed Temple.

Devotional: ‘The Time of Jacob’s Trouble’ pt. 3 of 5

Jeremiah 30:7 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 week we have been taking a brief look at a time period known as the Time of Jacob’s Trouble. Another name for this event would be the Tribulation Period. (See Matthew 24) In order to better understand God’s plan for His people during the Tribulation, we need to turn now to the book of Daniel.

Daniel 9:24 “Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy. NKJV

Devotional: ‘The Time of Jacob’s Trouble’ pt. 2 of 5

 Jeremiah 30: 7 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.

God told the nation of Israel that there is a day of great difficulty ahead for them. It is called the Time of Jacob’s Trouble. According to Matthew 24, this terrible time period is also known as the Tribulation. (FYI – The word ‘tribulation’ actually means affliction or trouble)

Although the Tribulation Period will affect all those living during that day, its primary focus will be upon the nation of Israel. It will be a time of great suffering for the Jews. But it will also be a time of their salvation, for it will be during this terrible time period that they will finally come to receive Jesus as their Messiah. How do we know this?

Devotional: ‘The Time of Jacob’s Trouble’ pt. 1 of 5

Jeremiah 30:7 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.

No nation upon the face of the earth has suffered more than Israel. From their time of bondage in Egypt to Hitler’s terrible Holocaust, the Jews have faced many days of adversity. Today’s verse of scripture speaks of another time of suffering that is still ahead for them. It is a day known as the Time of Jacob’s Trouble.

Devotional: ‘Only the Truth Can Make Us Free’

People love to hear what makes them feel good. Paul writes:

2 Timothy 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove , rebuke , exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Devotional: ‘Living in the Last Days’

2 Timothy 3:1 Remember this! In the last days there will be many troubles, 2 because people will love themselves, love money, brag, and be proud. They will say evil things against others and will not obey their parents or be thankful or be the kind of people God wants. 3 They will not love others, will refuse to forgive, will gossip, and will not control themselves. They will be cruel, will hate what is good, 4 will turn against their friends, and will do foolish things without thinking. They will be conceited, will love pleasure instead of God, 5 and will act as if they serve God but will not have his power. NCV

“Where is this world headed?” we sometimes hear people say. The Bible tells us where this world is headed. The Bible tells us that the world is headed for a time full of trouble. Sin will abound more and more and it will seem that it has almost completely taken over.

“What then must we do?” is the question we Christians must ask. Are we to just sit back and let it happen? In the next chapter of 2 Timothy, Paul gives us our answer.

Devotional: ‘Be Prepared’

Matthew 25:1 “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 The five who were foolish took no oil for their lamps, 4 but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. 5 When the bridegroom was delayed, they all lay down and slept.

END TIME EVENTS: ‘The Tribulation Period’