During the tribulation, the Jews will experience unprecedented affliction, betrayal, and hatred from all nations — the time of Jacob's trouble.
Jesus predicted in Matthew 24 that Jews would be delivered up to affliction, killed, and hated by all nations. Les Feldick identifies this seven-year period as the time of Jacob's trouble, when God deals primarily with Israel. The second half, after the Antichrist turns on the Jewish people, will be the most awful time in human history.
Matthew 24:9 — Jesus directly foretells Jewish affliction, death, and global hatred during this time.
Matthew 24:21 — Describes the unprecedented tribulation that falls on Jerusalem and Israel.
Jeremiah 30:7 — Old Testament name for this period — the time of Jacob's trouble.
Revelation 7:4 — Shows 144,000 Jews from the tribes of Israel sealed early in the tribulation.
Matthew 24:9 records Jesus saying, "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." The next verse adds that many will be offended, betray one another, and hate one another. Verse 11 warns, "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many." Then Jesus describes the climax in verse 21: "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." The Old Testament also points to this period in 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." In Revelation 7:4, John hears the number of those sealed: "and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel."
Les Feldick teaches that the seven-year tribulation is predominantly God dealing with the nation of Israel — the 'time of Jacob's trouble' — though it will be worldwide. He notes that Matthew 24's description of Jews being delivered up, killed, and hated by all nations is already beginning to bubble to the surface today and will keep increasing. This all takes place after the Church is gone, so the Church's restraining influence on wickedness is removed. Early in the tribulation, Les says, God sends two witnesses to preach to the nation of Israel, and the 144,000 Jews — all from the tribes of the children of Israel — are sealed. During the first three and a half years, the Jews enjoy a semblance of religious freedom amid war, famine, pestilence, and turmoil. At the midpoint, the Antichrist defiles the temple, sets himself up as God, and forces the Jew to worship him rather than the God of the Old Testament. From that point, the final three and a half years are, beyond human description, the most awful time in all of human history. At the end of the seven years, Les explains, God's righteousness will be fulfilled: the unbelieving element will suffer His wrath and judgment, while the believing Jewish remnant will come into the glory of His rule and reign when He sets up His Kingdom.
Jesus told His disciples that during this time the Jews would be delivered up to affliction and killed, hated by all nations for His name's sake. Many would be offended and would betray one another and hate one another, and many false prophets would rise and deceive many.
Les identifies the tribulation with the time of Jacob's trouble, explaining that this period is predominantly God dealing with the nation of Israel, although it will be worldwide. The Old Testament describes this as a great day of distress from which Israel will be saved.
According to Les, the first three and a half years include war, famine, pestilence, and turmoil, yet the Jews for the most part have a semblance of religious freedom. At the midpoint, the Antichrist comes into the temple and defiles it, then suddenly turns on the Jew and sets himself up as God, forcing the Jew to worship him. This triggers the final three and a half years, which are beyond human description.
Les teaches that God's righteousness will bring the seven years to an end. The unbelieving element will have suffered His wrath and His judgment, but the believing remnant will come into the glory of His rule and reign when He sets up His Kingdom. As Les puts it, 'a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.'
What Are the Signs of the End Times? Matthew 24 Explained
the real holder of it. He's got the mortgage on the planet. And John wept, because evidently there was no one in Heaven, certainly not on earth, that could pay off this awful mortgage. Verse 4 is where he said it. I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open or to read the book, or to look thereon. And then verse 5.
Jewish Persecution and Jacob's Trouble
Les explains that the Jews will be delivered up, killed, and hated by all nations — the time of Jacob's trouble — and that this occurs after the Church, the only break on wickedness, is gone.
The Worst Time in History
Les points out that from the midpoint of the tribulation, the last three and a half years will be the most awful time in human history, with tribulation unprecedented since the beginning of the world.
Two Witnesses and the 144,000
Les teaches that early in the tribulation two witnesses preach to Israel, and 144,000 Jews — from all the tribes of the children of Israel — are sealed.
Great Tribulation After the Antichrist Turns
Les emphasizes that no time in history, not even under the Caesars, Hitlers, or Stalins, compares to the great tribulation that comes after the Antichrist turns on Israel.
Antichrist Defiles the Temple
Les shows that at the midpoint, after the temple is operating, the Antichrist will enter, set himself up as God, and force the Jew to worship him instead of the God of the Old Testament.
First Half and the Midpoint Crisis
Les describes the first half of the tribulation as allowing Jews a semblance of religious freedom amid war, famine, and pestilence, but at the midpoint the Antichrist defiles the temple and triggers the final half of wrath.
The Righteous End for the Remnant
Les explains that God's dealing with Israel during the seven years is according to His righteousness, so the unbelieving element suffers wrath while the believing remnant comes into His Kingdom.
Matthew 24:9: 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.
Jesus directly predicts the affliction and global hatred the Jews will face.
Matthew 24:10: And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Shows that betrayal and hatred will occur even among the people themselves.
Matthew 24:11: And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Warns of the deception that will intensify pressure on the Jews.
Matthew 24:21: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Describes the unprecedented severity of the final half of the tribulation.
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.
The Old Testament name for this period of distress for Israel.
Revelation 7:4: And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
Records the sealing of 144,000 Jews early in the tribulation.
Yes. Matthew 24:9 says they will be killed and hated by all nations for Christ's name's sake. Les Feldick says this hatred is already bubbling to the surface today and will keep increasing.
At the midpoint, the Antichrist will enter the rebuilt temple, defile it, and set himself up as God. He will suddenly turn on the Jew and force them to worship him rather than the God of the Old Testament.
Yes. According to Les, when the seven years end, the believing Jewish remnant will come into the glory of Christ's rule and reign in His Kingdom, while the unbelieving element will suffer God's wrath and judgment. Also, 144,000 Jews are sealed early in the tribulation.
Watch the Teaching: What Are the Signs of the End Times? Matthew 24 Explained