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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."

Some Christians refer to this time as the "great tribulation" in this world...either of 7 years, or or 3 1/2 years. This depends upon the timetable of the Book of Daniel (7) or the Book of Revelation (3 1/2). And those times are through "carnal" thinking.

It is a "kingdom" thing. All of God's work through Jesus Christ, our Lord, is for HIS KINGDOM. And, His Kingdom is NOT OF THIS WORLD....it is "WITHIN YOU".

John 18:36..."Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is NOT OF THIS WORLD: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is My kingdom NOT from hence" (here, in this world).

Matthew 6:33..."But seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God, and his righteousness....".

Luke 17:21..."...for, behold, the kingdom of God is WITHIN YOU."


So, we are told BY GOD, that His kingdom is INSIDE OF US and NOT in the exterior world. It is a SPIRITUAL kingdom that has to be fought for "spiritually". It's the "carnal mind" that is in our way and must be fought.

THIS IS THE FIGHT (within us all) CALLED "JACOB'S TROUBLE"...and it is the most INTENSE fight we will have in this lifetime.....and every person who is a "Christian" must go through it.

And, an example (type and shadow) is what Jacob went through BEFORE he became "Israel".


An excellent comprehensive article concerning "Jacob's trouble":


http://sigler.org/notibutchrist/Jacob.htm


Piece of the link article:


When Jacob finds that Esau is coming with four hundred men, Jacob reminds God that he is standing in the word of life that God gave him to return (Genesis 32:9). But fear of his brother based upon the lower order of the past, enters. Jacob may be in the 100 fold realm but he has not matured in that realm yet.

Jacob crossed the Euphrates leaving Laban (Genesis 31:21) and now he crosses the River Jabbok (Genesis 32:22). This is the final test. All that he has, he sends forward to Esau, including his family. Jacob remains.

Left alone with God Jacob wrestles with God (Genesis 32:24). It states that God cripples his thigh. His walk is changed. The double anointing is to take you to the cross again so that you can have the walk of Christ. Oh, the blessing of the birthright is the call! Not only is Jacob’s mind changed, but now he would walk as a suffering servant, having sent all that he had before him, there would be nothing left but God.

It was this struggle that changed the name of Jacob to Israel. Israel means "God prevails." No longer was the conniving, deceitful, lying, supplanter nature alive. The carnality of the flesh was removed when God met him in the Holy of Holies experience. The birthright, to inherit all of the father, is what Jacob wanted. Here he found it. It cost him his whole life. In fact, in the losing of the Jacob nature, he says "I have seen God face to face; yet my life has been preserved." (Genesis 32:31) He lived because God prevailed in the struggle. The vision (my people perish for lack of a vision) of the desire for the birthright, sustained Jacob during his transformation into the nature of God.

Jacob asked the man (Genesis 32:24) with whom he wrestled what his name was(Genesis 32:29). Jacob wanted to know his name, that is, his nature, character, attributes etc. because Jacob wanted to be like him.

As Jacob approached his brother Esau, he bowed down to the earth seven times (Genesis 33:3) his nations were humbled in him (Genesis 27:29). He came to realize that he was a servant even to those on the natural plane like Esau. He came as a servant to his brother, because he had seen God face to face. The power of seeing God face to face removed all fear of his brother, removed all fear of death because his life was hid in God through Christ. Jacob came forth in the nature of God, which is the revelation of the cross, the blessing of the birthright.

There was such an effectual work done in Jacob that not only was his name changed but even a larger vision was given. Seeing God face to face Jacob now knew who God was. The order of Melchizedek is to produce life. Jacob came to give presents (life) to Esau (Genesis 33:10). Initially, he sent his family ahead in fear of his own life, but now having wrestled with God, Jacob (Israel) having seen God he can only give because he has entered into the realm of life.

How much life did Israel receive from God? More than any church system would teach. For Genesis 33:10 states: "For I see your face as one sees the face of God (NAS)." The truly crucified life, fully identified with God, sees everyone in God, even as God. I ask you. Did God see you as a sinner before you were saved or did God see you in Him? Truly it is the latter. God never saw Adam naked (Genesis 3:11).

"The earth (Adam) is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof." Jesus, the pre-existent Christ, who was only manifested about 2,000 years ago (Romans 16:25), had the blessing of the birthright worked out in Him spiritually. He was slain from before the foundation of the world. Then in due time He manifested it in the flesh. God has called a people to spiritually have the birthright worked out in them. The manifestation of the blessing (the crucified life) is to see Esau (everyone) as God - fully redeemed.


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For everything told to us in the Bible, an example is given. The Bible interprets the Bible. "Jacob's Trouble" is exactly that....the "trouble" that Jacob had while he was becoming who God wanted him to be, spiritually. Changing (inside of us..our minds) from the "carnal" to the "spiritual", is the greatest "trouble" we will all go through.

"...for many be called, but few chosen." Matthew 20:16

This could possibly be because few actually recognize that the struggles they go through in this world are for their benefit.....each one's "tribulations" are designed by God to prepare each of us for our entrance into His Kingdom to rule and reign with Him.

As long as we look at this struggle as being OUTSIDE of ourselves, we are looking the wrong way. Our problems, and our TRIBULATIONS are preparations for entering the "Kingdom of God"....and that Kingdom is "within you"....

Arlene