Genesis 26-50 relates the life story of Jacob. He was the grandson of Abraham and Sarah, the son of Isaac and Rebekah, the twin brother to Easu, Heir to Covenants, Promises God made to Abraham and Isaac. He was the father of 12 sons and some daughters.
Jacob means “to supplant, circumvent, assail, overreach”, a “trickster, deceiver”. And this was his life, until his encounter with God, Genesis 32:24-27 and God changed his name. Genesis 32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And then again God had to remind Jacob of his new name. Genesis 35:10 And God said unto him, “Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel”.
Israel means “one that struggled with the divine angel”, “a prince hast thou power with God”. From Exodus thru Malachi there are many references to Jacob and Israel, but a lot of them DO NOT refer to the man (except where it says “the God of Jacob”).
Jacob was the natural man; he became Israel, the spiritual man. References to JACOB now refers the Jew in their natural, unbelief state. Genesis 32:28, 35:10 ISRAEL refers the Jew in their spiritual, though disobedient state. Understanding this truth aides in understanding the scripture.
An example of this is “Jacob’s trouble” found in Jeremiah 30:7 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 in this case is all Jews left on earth after the Rapture. When they see that the “Abomination of desolation” in Daniel 9:27 and spoken of by the Lord Jesus in Matthew 24:15, is NOT their Messiah, the Great Tribulation (last 3.5 years of Jacob’s trouble) begins, and Israel turns to the true God. Paul gives an explanation of this Jacob (natural) and Israel (spiritual): Romans 9:6Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Romans 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
The Temple has been built twice. The First Temple was built in the 10th century B.C.E. by King Solomon, according to the Hebrew Bible (1 Kings 5-9).
The second Temple occurred when Cyrus the Great (Ezra 5:13-17,6:3,14) allowed the Jews to return to the Land of Israel, beginning in 538 B.C.E. A rebuilt Temple was dedicated in 515 B.C.E. – a little-known precursor to the grand structure called Herod’s Temple. It was an expanded and significantly upgraded structure whose construction was led by the half-Jewish, Herod, the Roman-appointed king of Judea who died in 4 B.C.E. Finished in about 20 B.C.E. It was leveled by Titus in 70 B.C.E.
The Jewish nation has been without a Temple and Temple worship (including Animal Sacrifice) since then. Their desire is to (re)built the Temple so their complete Temple worship, according to the Law can resume. According to Daniel 9:27,12:11 the Temple will have to be rebuilt (Matthew 24:15), probably at the beginning of the Tribulation, as the “prince that will come” will cause Temple worship to cease in the middle of JACOB’S TROUBLE. (Jeremiah 30:7Alas! 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).
This Kingdom will be here, on Earth, with Jesus as King!
Exodus 19:6And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. 1 Samuel 10:25Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.
Yes, the Jews were promised an earthly nation, beginning with the Covenant with Abraham.
Abrahamic Covenant
Genesis 12:1-3Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: … Genesis 15:18In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: Genesis 17:2-21And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. … (read the text in your Bible) Exodus 2:24And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. Exodus 6:4-5 And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers. And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant. Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
A Covenant with the descendants of Abraham, Issac and Jacob with no end. This has never been completely fulfilled. It will be, after the time of Jacob’s trouble!
Jeremiah 30:7Alas! 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.
A review of the verses below (put them back into context for further reading) show that not only did the 12 disciples of Jesus believe he was the Messiah, the coming King, so did his detractors, the Pharisees and Sadducees, and most Jews at large; which is why they sought to crucify him. It would upset their religious power. Pilate wondered at the idea as did other Roman leaders. During His three-year ministry He performed miracles to prove His deity and that He was the CHRIST, MESSIAH and their King promised to them in the Old Testament (see below) . And one day soon (after a seven year tribulation), He will return in power and take up His seat upon the Throne of David in Jerusalem to Rule. (Read the words of Peter Acts 2:22-37)
Matthew 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. John 1:49Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. John 6:15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone. Matthew 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the … John 12:13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. John 12:15Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting … Mark 15:2 And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto them, Thou sayest it John 18:33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? John 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. John 18:39 But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? Mark 15:9 But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? Mark 15:12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? Luke 23:2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King. Luke 23:3 And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it. Matthew 27:11 And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. Mark 15:18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! John 19:3 And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands. Luke 23:37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. Matthew 27:29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! John 19:14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! Matthew 27:37 And set up over his head his accusation written, This Is Jesus The King Of The Jews. Mark 15:26 And the superscription of his accusation was written over, The King Of The Jews. Luke 23:38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, This Is The King Of The Jews. John 19:19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was Jesus Of Nazareth The King Of The Jews. John 19:21 Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. Matthew 27:42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. Mark 15:32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him. Luke 19:38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. Acts 2:22-36Ye men of Israel, hear these words; … (Be sure to read all of this) … Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Old Testament Promises: (just a few) Psalm 2:6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. Psalm 24:7,9Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Psalm 44:4Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob. Psalm 47:2,7 For the Lord most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth. Psalm 89:18 For the Lord is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king. Psalm 95:3For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. Isaiah 33:22 For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us. Isaiah 43:15 I am the Lord, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King. Isaiah 44:6 Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. Jeremiah 10:10 But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. Jeremiah 23:5 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
