Deuteronomy 11:26 indicates that when God chose the nation of Israel; He set before them ( Israel ) a blessing and a curse.

      Deuteronomy 11:26-27 says thus: Behold, I ( God ) set before you ( Israel ) this day a Blessing and a Curse. A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day:

      And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I have commanded you this day, to go after other Gods, which ye have not known.

      Israel being chosen during the Day of the Law, as opposed to the Church being called out during the Day of Grace; will because of her disobedience have to endure this "Time of Trouble."

      This Time of Trouble is specifically connected to Israel as Jeremiah attests to, and also as Daniel in his seventy weeks of Israel's judgement tells us.

      Jeremiah 30:7 says: Alas, for That Day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the Time of Jacob's Trouble; but He ( Israel ) shall be saved out of it.

      Who can abide His Wrath? Nobody could!

      The reason that the question "Who can abide His Wrath" is mentioned so often throughout the Bible; is to emphasize the point to mankind of all history; that it is impossible to go against God and stand to tell it!

      God poses this question, simply to warn every one that there is a time of retribution coming at the end of this particular age; and advises everyone to avoid it; simply by accepting His solution to the dilemna of Sin. (JESUS)

      This description in verse 7 of Jeremiah 30 sounds a great deal like the description used by Jesus in Matthew 24:21, quoted previously on page one of this newsletter, where in speaking of a time unprecedented in terror, and so extreme that even his elect would succumb, if that terrible time of atrocity were permitted to last to its normal and logical conclusion.

      Who are the ELECT?

      Some would suggest that it is the Church. There can be serious problems in understanding the Rapture event if you misinterpret the identity of the Elect.

      If one should replace the function of Israel with the Church, or vice-versa; then an entirely different perspective of Eschatology would begin to take shape.

      Lets review Jesus words about the Elect:

      Matthew 24:22 And except those days be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the "ELECTS" sake those days shall be shortened.

      Mans inhumanity to man coupled with the great increase of demonic activity pervading this time span would lead to total annihilation, if it were left unchecked.

      But, for the Elects sake, God will intervene. As to the actual identity of just who the elect really are, lets permit the Bible to define that group.

      Check Isaiah 44:1 Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen.

      Isaiah 45:4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine Elect, I have chosen thee by thy name:

      Isaiah 65:9 And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of My mountains: and Mine Elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.

      Israel is the Elect, not the Church! The sealed of Revelation chapter 7 from the twelve tribes of Israel will ensure Israel of its destination to inherit all the land that God promised to them.

      Listen to God's promise to Israel, if you think perhaps the church has displaced Israel in its covenant with God.

      Jeremiah 31:35-36 Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The Lord of hosts is his name:

      If these ordinances depart from before me, saith the Lord, then the Seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me forever.

      Do the sun, moon, and stars still exist when you look up into the sky? As long as they consist in the heavenlys, God will not replace, nor forget his long standing covenant with his elect, namely Israel!

      Why has God not forgotten Israel? He certainly has had ample reason or cause to forget all about them. One reason is because God promised Israel the land that Abraham immigrated into.

      The great and terrible Day of the Lord will settle once and for all the controversy of ownership of the promised land.

      Isaiah 34:8 For it is the Day of the Lord's Vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion.

      Nahum 1:2-3 God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth on His adversaries, and He reserveth His Wrath for his enemies.

      Only the enemies of God will be left remaining upon this earth after the Rapture, excepting those that shall be sealed as the remnant of Israel, and who will provide the ever present witness to the world of God’s gospel.

      Lets review some more interesting scripture which describe this time of Jacob's trouble:

      Zephaniah 1:7 Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord: for the Day of the Lord is at hand: for the Lord hath prepared a sacrifice, ( marriage supper of the Lamb ) he hath bid his guests. ( Christians )