First, ancient Israel (the northern tribes) were defeated and enslaved by Assyria. Some 130 years later Judah (the southern tribes) were defeated and enslaved by Babylon. Over time both were scattered throughout the world as God had warned would happen if they did not obey Him.

As Judah (the Jews) were going into captivity the Almighty warned  them through the Prophet Jeremiah who wrote His warning on a “tablet” which he delivered to them while they were in captivity. But to Israel He had the prophet write His warning in a “book.” That book would remain an enigma until the “latter days.” He promised that in the last days of this present age He would enable His prophets and apostles to understand His warnings in order to explain them to Israel–the Jews of the Middle East, the United States, Britain, and other self-professed “Christian nations” such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Sweden, Norway, etc. Jeremiah’s revealing message began being broadcast throughout the world in the 1930’s through the ministry of Herbert W. Armstrong. With rare exception, the supposedly “saved” citizens in the world’s self-professed “Christian nations” have rejected Jeremiah’s message just as did their biological and spiritual ancestors–the nation of Israel. As a result, what God did to ancient Israel He will soon do to their modern brethren. Though this message is being “shouted from the housetops” throughout the world via the internet, t.v., radio, etc. (Lk. 12:3), only a minutely few are taking it to heart.

For the extremely few true saints in professing Christendom it is imperative that they understand why the Lord plunged their ancient brethren into the original version of the Great Tribulation. That time of terror, death, destruction, defeat and enslavement involved the children of the patriarch Jacob, whose name God changed to Israel (“power with God”) upon his conversion. We learn from Jeremiah 30:4-7 that the final days of this era are Biblically referred to as “the time of Jacob’s (Israel’s) trouble.” This tells us that Israel’s SECOND defeat and enslavement will take place in the LATTER DAYS. These days are also referred to as “the times of the Gentiles.” During the coming horrific 3 1/2 year tribulation period soon to begin, the nations of Israel will be militarily defeated by the heathen Gentiles and taken back to their homelands where they (Israel) will serve them as slaves. God warns that “the time of Jacob’s trouble” will be by far the worst Israel and the world will have ever experienced. But there is hope. In Jeremiah 30:8,9 the Almighty promises that Israel will eventually break free from the Gentiles, return to their ancestral homeland where they will “serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.”

As I showed in two previous teachings titled The Lost Tribes of Israel–the Apostles’ Mission Field and Israel and the Church: the Covenant Connection, Israel is today the United States, Britain and the Jews of the Middle Eastern nation misnamed Israel, which is in reality the nation of Judah. These once blessed nations are prophesied to suffer as no nations have ever suffered due to their rebellion against their Creator God. The warning found in this series is also for those nations that call themselves by God’s name, specifically those in the Catholic/Protestant Church system in operation during this Laodicean (final) era of professing Christendom. Though those within the false church system are not part of God’s church, they will suffer the same as false believers, known Biblically as goats, tares, etc., found within His church. To read what the Lord says about the false believers within His church, read Revelation 3:14-20. His attitude toward these false saints being what it is, where does this leave those in Catholicism and Protestantism who openly reject His Word and therefore Himself and His Son (Lk. 10:16)? If we can take Him at His Word, He views them more negatively than He does Muslims, Buddhists, etc. in that they (Catholics/Protestants) claim to believe, worship and serve Him while refusing to obey Him. Those in the world’s religions God calls “darkness.” He calls the Counterfeit Church “great darkness” because she professes to be His light (Mat. 6:23). Billions of Biblically ignorant God seekers have been deceived into joining her ranks. See Bait and Switch.  L.J.