Please tell me more about WHY the Great Tribulation is called the "time of JACOB'S trouble"?

Carrie, I told you I studied under the Zola Levitt ministries for a while and I really found it helpful to understand God's relationship to His people the Jews. Their ministry and the ministry of a lot of... keep reading →

What is Jacobs Trouble? It is a reference to the Jews of today coming into the Kingdom at the end and accepting Jesus Christ as their Messiah. I will present a different point of view, in the light of present... keep reading →

When Jacob wrestled with the angel (some say he wrestled with God, while others say it was an angel) he overcame his opponent, and was blessed. "Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel"

And much earlier this was prophesied

23 The LORD said to her,

"Two nations are in your womb,

and two peoples from within you will be separated;

one people will be stronger than the other,

and the older will serve the younger."

Jacob and Esau would become the fathers (so to speak) of two nations. Jacob the nation of Israel. Israel would eventually have 12 tribes.

And now, Revelation 12 speaks of a woman clothed with sun and moon with a diadem of 12 stars.

1A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth.

A similar instance occurs in the book of Genesis, this time with Joseph. Genesis 37:9

9 Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. "Listen," he said, "I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me."

Why 11? Because Jacob would become the 'father' of the 12th tribe of Israel. The woman in Revelation 12 is the nation of Israel, to which Jesus Christ was born. Satan intended to destroy Christ, but failed. He now sets to destroy Israel and her other offspring.

This offspring being the churches/people who keep the commandments of God.

So to answer your question. The great Tribulation is called the time of Jacob's (Israel's) trouble, because this is when Satan's persecution will be the strongest.

ETA: The 12 stars around the woman are the 12 tribes of Israel.

More information for those who are reading my question: My youth pastor of years ago sent me the following information and I need more information as to WHY the tribulation is referred to as "the time of Jacob's Trouble":

In Revelation the letters to the seven churches are viewed as letters to actual churches and as being representative of various churches during the church age. In the churches that Jesus has issues with he says He will judge them, rather than the church (Philadelphia) which are going to escape the judgment that is to come.

The “Great Tribulation” is acknowledged to be the 70th week of Daniel. Another word for the 70th week of Daniel is the Time of Jacob's Trouble; Jacob means Israel. The church is never referred to as Jacob or Israel. So the church saved through Jesus Christ won't be there for the “Great Tribulation”.