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| 1 The word that came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying, |
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| 2 Thus speaketh Jehovah the God of Israel, saying, Write thee in a book all the words that I have spoken unto thee. |
Write thee – The prophets did not confine themselves to oral teachings. R1145:3
The writings of the prophets collectively were termed "The Law and The Prophets" and esteemed as of divine authority. R1145:3
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| 3 For behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, when I will turn 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. |
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| 4 And these are the words that Jehovah hath spoken concerning Israel and concerning Judah; |
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| 5 for thus saith Jehovah: We have heard a voice of trembling, there is fear, and no peace. |
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| 6 Ask ye now, and see, whether a male 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? |
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| 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. |
Jacob's trouble – Here are a number of events: the return of the Jews to Palestine; the reorganization of the Jewish nation, though not independent; the gathering of great wealth to Jerusalem; many peoples go up to "take a spoil"; the "battle of the great day"; the partial success of the invaders; the power of Messiah effecting deliverance; the recognition of the long-awaited Messiah; then the recognition of him as the one they rejected; God pouring on them the "spirit of grace and supplication"; their mourning for sins and being accepted to fellowship again with God. These events we expect in about the order mentioned. R26:6
Spring has come, the fig tree is "putting forth"; yet we must look for more storms, as in nature the Spring equinoxial storm is one of the most severe. R384:2
The famine for the Word of the Lord shall reach Israel and cause them to come to the great Governor for bread. This will be the time of "Jacob's trouble." R3982:2
We have reached this period. (1882) R341:5*
We are in the "time of Jacob's trouble." (1895) R1898:5
Jacob's trouble is not yet (1898) ended. Greater persecution will shortly overtake them--to drive them to Palestine. R2290:1[R2290:1]
The final conflict of the Battle of the Great Day will be in Palestine, upon regathered Israel. D554, Dxvi; SM239:3; OV276:5
In conjunction with a world-wide trouble--financial, religious, political and social, eventuating in anarchy. OV67:1; R2504:1
The time for the special manifestation of God's favor will be in that dark hour when Israel will recognize their King. SM425:4; R5442:6
The Gospel Church having first been completed. SM425:4
Saved out of it – In the midst of the trouble God will reveal himself as Israel's defender, as in ancient times. D555
All the prophets testify that the power of God will be so marvelously manifested in Israel's deliverance that all the world will know that the Lord's favor is again with Israel. D557; OV75:4
In and through that trouble the Lord will pour upon Israel the spirit of grace and supplication and they shall look upon him whom they have pierced. (Zech. 12:10) SM426:T
The end of Jacob's trouble is the deliverance of Israel from the blindness that has been upon her. R3469:1
The coming deliverance is mentioned particularly in Zech. 14:1-4. R3469:2
The Ancient Worthies, as judges and lawgivers, will be restored to them. R4320:5
Natural Israel will obtain mercy through spiritual Israel. R3982:2
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| 8 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith Jehovah of hosts, I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more reduce him to servitude. |
Burst thy bonds – Natural Israel, whose favor ceased when ours began and whose favor is to return when ours has accomplished its purpose. R2290:1
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| 9 But they shall serve Jehovah their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them. |
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| 10 And thou, my servant Jacob, fear not, saith Jehovah; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for behold, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and at ease, and none shall make him afraid. |
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| 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; yet of thee will I not make a full end, but I will correct thee with judgment, and will not hold thee altogether guiltless. |
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| 12 For thus saith Jehovah: Thy bruise is incurable, thy wound is grievous. |
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| 13 There is none to plead thy cause, to bind up thy wound; thou hast no healing medicines. |
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| 14 All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not. For I have smitten thee with the stroke of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the greatness of thine iniquity: thy sins are manifold. |
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| 15 Why criest thou because of thy bruise? thy sorrow is incurable; for the greatness of thine iniquity, because thy sins are manifold, I have done these things unto thee. |
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| 16 Therefore all that devour thee shall be devoured, and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be for a spoil; and all they that prey upon thee will I give to be a prey. |
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| 17 For I will apply a bandage unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith Jehovah; for they have called thee an outcast: This is Zion that no man seeketh after. |
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| 18 Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I will turn the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have mercy on his habitations; and the city shall be built upon her own heap; and the palace shall be inhabited after the manner thereof. |
I will bring again – "The Lord shall save the tents of Judah first." (Zech. 12:7) A294
Of Jacob's tents – Fleshly Israel. A294
And the city – Jerusalem. C259
And the palace – The Temple. C259
"I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counselors as at the beginning." (Isaiah 1:26) A294
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| 19 And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving, and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be diminished; and I will honour them, and they shall not be small. |
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| 20 And their sons shall be as aforetime; and their assembly shall be established before me; and I will punish all that oppress them. |
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| 21 And their prince shall be of themselves, and their ruler shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to approach, and he shall draw near unto me. For who is this that engageth his heart to draw near unto me? saith Jehovah. |
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| 22 And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. |
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| 23 Behold, a tempest of Jehovah, fury is gone forth, a sweeping storm: it shall whirl down upon the head of the wicked. |
The whirlwind – The time of trouble. D528; R5863:6
Letting loose of the four winds, or air powers; resulting in the overthrow of the social order in anarchy. R5470:1, R5845:6
Also likened to a great tidal wave (Psa. 46); letting loose the "four winds of earth" (Rev. 7) and a "great fire." (2 Pet. 3) R5863:6
See also comments on Jer. 23:19 and Jer. 25:32.
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| 24 The fierce anger of Jehovah shall not return, until he have executed, and until he have performed the purposes of his heart. At the end of the days ye shall consider it. |
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