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The Beginning of the End
The Future “Time of Jacob’s Trouble”
Jacob’s experience during that night of wrestling and anguish
represents the trial through which the people of God must pass just
before Christ’s second coming. “We have heard a voice of trembling,
of fear, and not of peace. ... 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
).
When Christ ends His work as mediator in our behalf, this time
of trouble will begin. Then the case of every person will have been
decided, and there will be no atoning blood to cleanse from sin. The
solemn announcement is made, “He who is unjust, let him be unjust
still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous,
let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still”
(
Revelation 22:11
). As Jacob was threatened with death by his angry
brother, so the people of God will be in danger from the wicked.
The righteous will cry to God day and night for deliverance.
Satan had accused Jacob before the angels of God, claiming
the right to destroy him because of his sin. He tried to force on
him a sense of his guilt in order to discourage him and break his
hold on God. When Jacob prayed fervently with tears, the heavenly
Messenger, in order to test his faith, also reminded him of his sin,
and tried to escape from him. But Jacob had learned that God is
merciful. As he reviewed his life, he was driven almost to despair,
but he held tightly to the Angel, and with earnest, agonizing cries
urged his request until he prevailed.
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The Final Struggle
The experience of God’s people will be like this in their final
struggle with the powers of evil. God will test their faith, their perse-
verance, their confidence in His power. Satan will try to terrify them
with the thought that their sins have been too great to receive pardon.
As they review their lives, their hopes will sink. But remembering
God’s mercy and their own sincere repentance, they will cling to
His promises. Their faith will not fail because their prayers are not
immediately answered. The language of their souls will be, “I will
not let You go unless You bless me.”