Jacob’s Wives, 14 Years, The Time of Trouble

Genesis 28-33

The story of Jacob and Laban has similar elements of time. It has 14 years (two seven year periods) and a time of trouble. Jacob symbolizes the 144,000. Women represent the church. In Genesis 29:10, Jacob removes the stone covering the well, and waters three flocks of sheep. God’s remnant remove the obstacles to the living water of the Holy Spirit and they too water flocks of sheep, that is the people with an ear to hear. Laban represents Satan and those who oppose God’s work for His church. Jacob, the body of Christ, the 144,000 could have gone home after seven years, but Laban deceived him and he was given the wrong wife! The remnant too have been longing to go home, but His right, perfected wife hasn’t been made ready. We need to prepare ourselves by being in Christ. Get ready, get ready, get ready! When the bride is ready, we’ll go home!

Notice that Laban defrauded Jacob, changing his wages ten times. We too will come under economic oppression, the buy and sell decree. Also, Laban acted as Jacob’s enemy, an enemy from within. Our worst enemies will also be from within.

Jacob was delayed. He had to work another seven years. After he had been given the right wife he was able to start home. Jacob fled toward the “mountains of Gilead,” (mass of testimony). When Christ’s bride, the remnant are ready, when they reflect His image, His character, when they have His law written in their hearts, they’ll be ready to head home, just as Jacob was. The remnant will flee to the mountains of testimony. Notice in the story that God spoke to Jacob in a dream (Genesis 31:3, 13), confirming that it was time for him to go home. This parallels the story of Gideon. The Lord sent a prophet to Israel with an admonition just before their deliverance. Will we too have a prophet to speak to us just before our deliverance? Before Jacob reached home he had a time of wrestling, “Jacob’s time of trouble.” We too will first have to wrestle, spiritually through Jacob’s time of trouble. Jacob had to face a large enemy army that threatened to destroy him and his loved ones. We too will face a large army that will threaten to destroy us. Jacob was saved out of his time of trouble. We will be saved out of our time of trouble too. Jacob, after his night of wrestling received a new name. We too will receive a new name.

 

Buy or Sell

Revelation 13:16-18And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. KJV

 

But the stern tracing of the prophetic pencil reveals a change in this peaceful scene. The beast with lamblike horns speaks with the voice of a dragon, and "exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him." Prophecy declares that he will say to them that dwell on the earth that they should make an image to the beast, and that "he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads; and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." Thus Protestantism follows in the steps of the Papacy.{ST, November 1, 1899 par. 5}

It is at this time that the third angel is seen flying in the midst of heaven, proclaiming: "If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation." "Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." In marked contrast to the world stands the little company who will not swerve from their allegiance to God. These are they of whom Isaiah speaks as repairing the breach which had been made in the law of God, they who are building the old waste places, raising up the foundation of many generations.{ST, November 1, 1899 par. 6}

 

We as Adventists should know the following events are tied together as to cause and time with “the third angel flying in the midst of heaven”:

1.      God’s remnant are cleansed from every cultivated and inherited defect.

2.      The remnant are sealed.

3.      The Holy Spirit is poured out in “Latter Rain Power.”

4.      The 3^rd Angel’s swells into the “Loud Cry.”

5.      As soon as the remnant are sealed, the shaking comes.

6.      The Mark of the Beast Test.

Please note that it is at the time of the Buy and Sell decree , not the National Sunday Law that the 3^rd angel is seen flying in the midst of heaven!

 

"And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven. saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled, fill to her double."{PH086 7.1}

 

The converting power of God can transform inherited and cultivated tendencies; for the religion of Jesus is uplifting. "Born again" means a transformation, a new birth in Christ Jesus.{AH 206.1}

 

Just as soon as God's people are sealed and prepared for the shaking, it will come. Indeed, it has begun already.--4BC 1161 (1902).{LDE 219.4}

At the transfiguration, Jesus was glorified by His Father. We hear Him say: "Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in Him." Thus before His betrayal and crucifixion He was strengthened for His last dreadful sufferings. As the members of the body of Christ approach the period of their last conflict, "the time of Jacob's trouble," they will grow up into Christ, and will partake largely of His spirit. As the third message swells to a loud cry, and as great power and glory attend the closing work, the faithful people of God will partake of that glory. It is the latter rain which revives and strengthens them to pass through the time of trouble. Their faces will shine with the glory of that light which attends the third angel.{1T 353.3}

 

Jesus’ ministry lasted 3 ½ years. About nine months before the cross, He was transfigured to strengthen Him to endure His great sacrifice. The “body of Christ” will receive the latter rain to strengthen them just before they pass through Jacob’s time of trouble.

 

For three years and a half the disciples were under the instruction of the greatest Teacher the world has ever known. By personal contact and association, Christ trained them for His service {AA 17.2}

 

Christ's ministry lasted only three years, and a great work was done in that short period. In these last days, there is a great work to be done in a short time. While many are getting ready to do something, souls will perish for the light and knowledge. {3T 37.3}

 

Hoarded wealth will soon be worthless. When the decree shall go forth that none shall buy or sell except they have the mark of the beast, very much means will be of no avail. God calls for us now to do all in our power to send forth the warning to the world.--RH March 21, 1878.{LDE 148.2}

 

Wonderful events are soon to open before the world. The end of all things is at hand. The time of trouble is about to come upon the people of God. Then it is that the decree will go forth forbidding those who keep the Sabbath of the Lord to buy or sell, and threatening them with punishment, and even death, if they do not observe the first day of the week as the Sabbath.{RH, November 19, 1908 par. 12}

 

Satan says . . . "For fear of wanting food and clothing they will join with the world in transgressing God's law. The earth will be wholly under my dominion."--PK 183, 184 (c. 1914).{LDE 149.1}

 

For a time the oppressors will be permitted to triumph over those who know God's holy commandments. . . . To the last, God permits Satan to reveal his character as a liar, an accuser, and a murderer. Thus the final triumph of His people is made more marked, more glorious, more full and complete.--3SM 414 (1904).{LDE 153.2}

 

These unions are one of the signs of the last days. Men are binding up in bundles ready to be burned. They may be church members, but while they belong to these unions they cannot possibly keep the commandments of God, for to belong to these unions means to disregard the entire Decalogue.{2MR 179.1}

 

Soon there is to be trouble all over the world. It becomes everyone to seek to know God. We have no time to delay. . . .{LDE 153.3}

God's love for His church is infinite. His care over His heritage is unceasing. He suffers no affliction to come upon the church but such as is essential for her purification, her present and eternal good. He will purify His church even as He purified the temple at the beginning and close of His ministry on earth. All that He brings upon the church in test and trial comes that His people may gain deeper piety and more strength to carry the triumphs of the cross to all parts of the world.--9T 228 (1909).{LDE 153.4}

 

I saw that God has honest children among the nominal Adventists and the fallen churches, and before the plagues shall be poured out, ministers and people will be called out from these churches and will gladly receive the truth. Satan knows this; and before the loud cry of the third angel is given, he raises an excitement in these religious bodies, that those who have rejected the truth may think that God is with them.--EW 261 (1858).{LDE 158.1}

Before the final visitation of God's judgments upon the earth there will be among the people of the Lord such a revival of primitive godliness as has not been witnessed since apostolic times. . . . The enemy of souls desires to hinder this work, and before the time for such a movement shall come, he will endeavor to prevent it by introducing a counterfeit. In those churches which he can bring under his deceptive power, he will make it appear that God's special blessing is poured out; there will be manifest what is thought to be great religious interest. . . .{LDE 158.2}

 

The "time of trouble, such as never was," is soon to open upon us; and we shall need an experience which we do not now possess and which many are too indolent to obtain. It is often the case that trouble is greater in anticipation than in reality; but this is not true of the crisis before us. The most vivid presentation cannot reach the magnitude of the ordeal. In that time of trial, every soul must stand for himself before God. "Though Noah, Daniel, and Job" were in the land, "as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness." Ezekiel 14:20.{GC 622.4}

 

Unless we understand the importance of the moments that are swiftly passing into eternity, and make ready to stand in the great day of God, we shall be unfaithful stewards. The watchman is to know the time of night. Every thing is now clothed with a solemnity that all who believe the truth for this time should realize. They should act in reference to the day of God. The judgments of God are about to fall upon the world, and we need to be preparing for that great day. {6T 407.1}

 

The people of God need to study what characters they must form in order to pass through the test and proving of the last days. Many are living in spiritual weakness and backsliding. They know not what they believe. Let us read and study the twelfth chapter of Daniel. It is a warning that we shall all need to understand before the time of the end. There are ministers claiming to believe the truth who are not sanctified through the truth. Unless a change comes in their lives, they will say, "My Lord delayeth His coming." {15MR 228.2}

 

Out of the Cities

So long as God gives me power to speak to our people, I shall continue to call upon parents to leave the cities and get homes in the country, where they can cultivate the soil and learn from the book of nature the lessons of purity and simplicity. The things of nature are the Lord's silent ministers, given to us to teach us spiritual truths. They speak to us of the love of God and declare the wisdom of the great Master Artist.{AH 146.3}

Again and again the Lord has instructed that our people are to take their families away from the cities, into the country, where they can raise their own provisions; for in the future the problem of buying and selling will be a very serious one. We should now begin to heed the instruction given us over and over again: Get out of the cities into rural districts, where the houses are not crowded closely together, and where you will be free from the interference of enemies. {AH 141.4}

 

"Out of the cities! out of the cities!"--this has been my message for years. {CH 231.2}

Do not consider it a privation when you are called to leave the cities and move out into the country places. Here there await rich blessings for those who will grasp them.{AH 141.3}

Erelong there will be such strife and confusion in the cities, that those who wish to leave them will not be able.{Mar 180.4}

 As God's commandment-keeping people, we must leave the cities. As did Enoch, we must work in the cities but not dwell in them.-- Evangelism, pp. 78, 79. (1899){CL 30.4}

Light has been given me that the cities will be filled with confusion, violence, and crime, and that these things will increase till the end of this earth's history.--7T 84 (1902).{LDE 110.3}

When God's restraining hand is removed, the destroyer begins his work. Then in our cities the greatest calamities will come.--3MR 314 (1897).{LDE 111.1}

The time is near when large cities will be swept away, and all should be warned of these coming judgments.--Ev 29 (1910).{LDE 111.5}

The Lord has enlightened us in regard to what is coming upon the earth that we may enlighten others, and we shall not be held guiltless if we are content to sit at ease, with folded hands, and quibble over matters of minor importance. . . .{3SM 388.6}

The people must not be left to stumble their way along in darkness, not knowing what is before them, and unprepared for the great issues that are coming. There is a work to be done for this time in fitting a people to stand in the day of trouble, and all must act their part in this work. They must be clothed with the righteousness of Christ, and be so fortified by the truth that the delusions of Satan shall not be accepted by them as genuine manifestations of the power of God. . . .{3SM 389.1}