GOD is righteous and will deal with each one on the merits of his conduct. This statement pertains to His judging the works of men but does not apply to salvation, which, as we know, is a matter of His sovereign grace and love. He at the proper time punishes sin and disobedience and rewards one for faithful service. This principle applies to both time and eternity. Punishment for wrongdoing is often sent upon one in order to bring him to his senses and to cause him to turn from sin to God. In fact, every stroke of punishment is designed to bring one back to the Lord.

But since the Almighty is righteous and just, He, of necessity, must punish men for disobedience. Otherwise, He could not maintain His moral government of the universe. These principles apply to both individuals and nations. Especially is this true with regard to Israel, the nation of destiny. God called her to be the channel of blessing to all nations.  He never discards any of His plans. He may be delayed in carrying out His program, but He never turns aside from any of His purposes. Sooner or later He turns the course of history so that He may carry out His plan of the ages.

Since Israel has been rebellious against God, as all of her prophets have stated, He must, of necessity, purge her of all sinners and purify her that she may become the channel of blessing to the world. This cleansing period is known as the time of Jacob's trouble. The prophets constantly spoke of it. Since this is a most important matter, I shall call attention to four clear statements relative to it.

"1 The word that came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying, 2 Thus speaketh Jehovah, the God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book. 3 For, lo, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will turn again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith Jehovah; and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.

"4 And these are the words that Jehovah spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. 5 For thus saith Jehovah: We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. 6 Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child: wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? 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. 8 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith Jehovah of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds; and strangers shall no more make him their bondman; 9 but they shall serve Jehovah their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them. 10 Therefore fear thou not, 0 Jacob my servant, saith Jehovah; neither be dismayed, 0 Israel: for lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be quiet and at ease, and none shall make him afraid. 11 For I am with thee, saith Jehovah, to save thee: for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have scattered thee, but I will not make a full end of thee; but I will correct thee in measure, and  will in no wise leave thee unpunished."

For some time God spoke orally through Jeremiah His word to the people. Then he received a command to write these messages in a book. The Lord wanted to preserve His revelation for future generations. In this particular case He wished to reiterate the promise that He would turn again the captivity of His people Israel and Judah and cause them to inhabit the land of their fathers--Palestine. Following this marvelous disclosure, the prophet received another revelation concerning the time of Jacob's trouble during which the people of Israel will suffer as they never have in all their experiences. In vision he saw them in dire distress and great suffering, putting their hands upon their loins as a woman in travail. Their faces will be turned into paleness. Terror and fright will grip every heart because of the terrible judgments which will fall upon them.

Why is this period called especially the time of Jacob's trouble? Doubtless, because at that time God will send His judgments upon His Chosen People to punish them double for their sins. (See Jeremiah 16:18 and Isaiah 40:1,2.) The reason He will deal so very drastically with them is that He miraculously created them for His glory and committed unto them His oracles. Such blessings He never conferred upon the Gentiles. With superior light and advantages comes increased responsibility. In the light of these facts we can see why the Lord will send judgments in their severest form upon His Chosen People. At the same time He will punish their oppressors with terrific judgments: "I will curse them that curse thee."

By these purging judgments the Lord will cleanse the nation of all wickedness. At the same time He will take care of and protect the meek and humble who are looking to Him alone. This promise of divine favor is seen in Isaiah 33:13-16.

"13 Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; and, ye that are near acknowledge my might. 14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling hath seized the godless ones: Who among us can dwell with the devouring fire? who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings? 15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from taking a bribe, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from looking upon evil: 16 he shall dwell on high; his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks; his bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure."

After Israel has been purged of all sinners, the remnant will return and serve Jehovah their God and David their King whom He will raise up for them. This one is none other than the Hebrew Messiah. Being delivered, they will enjoy the quiet, peaceful, glorious reign of their King.

"27 Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: In this moreover have your fathers blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me. 28 For when I had brought them into the land, which I sware to give unto them, then they saw every high hill, and every thick tree, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering; there also they made their sweet savor, and they poured out there their drink-offerings. 29 Then I said unto them, What meaneth the high place whereunto ye go? So the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day. 30 Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Do ye pollute yourselves after the manner of your fathers? and play ye the harlot after their abominations? 31 and when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, do ye pollute yourselves with all your idols unto this day? and shall I be inquired of by you, 0 house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, I will not be inquired of by you; 32 and that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, in that ye say, We will be as the nations, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.

"33 As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, surely with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, will I be king over you. 34 And I will bring you out from the peoples, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out; 35 and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there will I enter into judgment with you face to face. 36 Like as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I enter into judgment with you, saith the Lord Jehovah. 37 And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; 38 and I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me; I will bring them forth out of the land where they sojourn, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am Jehovah. 39 As for you, 0 house of Israel, thus saith the Lord Jehovah; Go ye, serve every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me; but my holy name shall ye no more profane with your gifts, and with your idols.

"40 For in my holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord Jehovah, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them, serve me in the land: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the first-fruits of your oblations, with all your holy things. 41 As a sweet savor will I accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you in the sight of the nations. 42 And ye shall know that I am Jehovah, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country which I sware to give unto your fathers. 43 And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have polluted yourselves; and ye shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed. 44 And ye shall know that I am Jehovah, when I have dealt with you for my name's sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, 0 ye house of Israel, saith the Lord Jehovah."

In the first twenty-six verses of this chapter we see the prophet's recounting God's deliverance of Israel out of Egyptian bondage and His dealing with them in the wilderness during the forty years of wandering. Repeatedly he called attention to the judgment which came upon them during this period of wilderness testing and punishment. In verses 27 to 32 he recounted her disobedience in going into idolatry after she was established in the land. Beginning with verse 33, he foretold the time when the Lord will gather His people out from among the nations and enter into judgment with them, purging out all the wicked. In this prediction He spoke in terms of their having been delivered from bondage and having been brought out into the wilderness. Confirmation of this fact is seen in the study of the nation's history at that time. God purged out all the disobedient and the unbelieving who at Kadesh-barnea refused to enter into the land and take possession of their possessions. Therefore the Lord decreed that that generation should pass away before He would allow the people to enter the land. Under the stroke of divine judgment all the murmurers and unbelievers who rejected the word of the Lord at Kadesh-barnea fell in the wilderness. The prophet, in speaking of their future establishment in the land, said that God would gather them out of the countries and bring them into the wilderness of the people and there enter into judgment with them. In view of all that is said in this special oracle, it is evident that he was speaking of this future purging of the nation in terms of the history at the beginning of their national career.

After the refining judgments have destroyed all the wicked in Israel and those who are not willing to abide by God's will alone, He will establish her in the land. There they shall prosper and be used of Him according to His original purpose.

"Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, 0 nation that hath no shame; before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of Jehovah come upon you, before the day of Jehovah's anger come upon you. 3 Seek ye Jehovah, all ye meek of the earth, that have kept his ordinances; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be that ye will be hid in the day of Jehovah's anger."

From this passage we can see clearly that Israel is to be gathered, to a certain extent at least, to the land which the Lord gave to Abraham and his descendants. This regathering comes before the great and terrible day of Jehovah, when He pours out His anger upon the world. Verse 3 however is an invitation to those who keep His ordinances and who seek righteousness and meekness. Doubtless this exhortation is addressed to those who are really seeking God and His Word. Attached to this plea is a promise that they will be hidden in the day of the Lord's wrath. When this passage is studied in the light of others, it is seen that it contains a promise to the faithful remnant which will survive the tribulation.