Who is the time of Jacob's trouble directed against?
The time of Jacob's trouble is directed predominantly against the nation of Israel, though it will be worldwide. It involves God dealing with Israel while they are delivered up to affliction, killed, and hated of all nations for His name's sake, as Jesus foretold in Matthew 24.
Les explains that the first three and a half years are bad enough, but they are not the outpouring of God's wrath; the last three and a half years are beyond human comprehension. The beginning of sorrows includes the Antichrist's appearance, the great invasion, the loss of one-fourth of the world, and attending pestilence and famine. Then Matthew 24:9 says they shall deliver you up to be afflicted, and it is the time of Jacob's trouble. Les teaches this is predominantly God dealing with the nation of Israel, although it will be worldwide. They shall kill you, and you shall be hated of all nations for His name's sake. Hatred of the Jew is already bubbling to the surface and will keep increasing. Many shall be offended, betray one another, and hate one another. False prophets shall rise and deceive many. Because iniquity shall abound, and the Church is gone. Today the Church is really the only break on wickedness across the world.
Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.