Editorial

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 7
 
Jacob's Trouble
To begin with, the first and most important thing for each and every person is salvation. God offers eternal life to all through faith in His Son Jesus Christ. It is for Jew and Gentile; God is no respecter of persons.
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe; for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Rom. 3:21-2421But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (Romans 3:21‑24).
With this before us, we take up some reasons for a Christian not to help Jews to return to Israel. It makes absolutely no difference where a Jew is living if he knows the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior, because all believers will be caught up at the rapture before the tribulation period.
When we know that the time of Jacob's trouble (Jer. 30:77Alas! 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. (Jeremiah 30:7)), or great tribulation, will be centered in Judea (Matt. 24), and that it is fast approaching, how could we help any to go there?
We believe that the sentence was changed for the guilty nation that rejected and crucified Jesus their Messiah by the Lord's words from the cross. He said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Luke 23:3434Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. (Luke 23:34). The charge against them now, during these 2000 years, is manslaughter instead of murder.
For these many years since the cross, cities of refuge (see Josh. 20) are provided for Jews. The man-slayer was not to return to the site of the crime until the death of the high priest.
Our Lord Jesus Christ came as a Prophet. He has ascended to heaven and now has the office of High Priest. When He returns, it will be as King of kings and Lord of lords. Until Jesus comes as King, and His main office of High Priest changes to being revealed as King, Jews ought not to return to the Jerusalem area, which will be the center of the tribulation. It is there that the avenger of blood will catch them. All the Jewish people said to Pilate, "His blood be on us, and on our children." Matt. 27:2525Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. (Matthew 27:25). Some of the children are there; others want to go there. Do you want to help them?
Truly, the Jew and every person in the whole world needs Christ and salvation in order to escape the "wrath to come." 1 Thess. 1:1010And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:10). It was to the Hebrews that God wrote: "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him." Heb. 2:33How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:3). Ed.