July 30: Prevailer With God!
And [God] said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But [Jacob] said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” Genesis 32:26
When Jesus brings to a close His work as humanity’s Advocate in the heavenly courts, He will stand up (see Daniel 12:1). A time of trouble upon the earth, as never before, will commence. The case of every human soul will have been flawlessly investigated and decided: saved or lost. At this point, the Redeemer will lay aside His Priestly robe for a Kingly robe and crown. The moment that humanity’s Intercessor intercedes no more, this announcement will go forth:
“He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” Revelation 22:11
The restraining Spirit of God will be fully withdrawn from the earth. All of the unfallen angels (a.k.a. the armies of heaven – Revelation 19:14, 19) will be with Jesus as He returns for His bride. The saved who are still living at this time will not falter; they will hold tightly to their hope in the Lord. Just as Jacob wrestled and clung to Him, crying out for deliverance from the hand of Esau, God’s righteous people will cry out to Him day and night because of the enemies surrounding them. They will hold on to Him without letting go; not even for a second. They will be righteous still and holy still. But it will be too late for those who accept the beast’s mark. During this intense and awful tribulation, they have no rest day or night. (Revelation 14:11)
Satan accuses us before God, just as he accused Jacob; he intended to claim his right to Jacob because of his sin. As Jacob wrestled all night with God, the accuser forced upon him a sense of guilt that might have caused him to just give up. God allowed him to remember his guilt for the purpose of testing his faith. But Jacob would not let go of God, for he had finally learned that God is merciful; he cast himself upon that mercy. Jacob’s review of his own life might have driven him to despair, but with earnest cries he steadily presented his case to the merciful Lord until he prevailed.
And [God] said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Genesis 32:28
The name Israel means prevailer with God or overcomer with God. At the end of this earth’s history God’s people will understand that they must remain true to Him regardless of the consequences. The time of trouble to come was shown to the prophet Jeremiah: Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it. (Jeremiah 30:7)
Do not allow the wildly popular notion of a pre-tribulation rapture to negate the plain teaching of Scripture. We are instructed to be prepared to stand* in the great tribulation.
Jesus also spoke of this time: “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.” Matthew 24:21-22 *Psalm 1:5, 24:3; Ephesians 6:13; Revelation 6:17, 7:14