Many Christians believe Jeremiah 30 is talking about a future event; Jacob’s trouble. I think it has to do with the Babylonian captivity. What do you think?
Dear Larry:
I have to put the whole text down to make my points. This is not an in depth analysis, but simply a reliance upon the plain meaning of the text. You are right that these passages refer to the Babylonian captivity, but if you read my notations you may believe as I do that it also refers to the latter days.
Jer 30:1 The word that came to Jeremiah from YHVH, saying,
Jer 30:2 Thus speaketh the YHVH Elohim of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book.
Jer 30:3 For, lo, the days come, saith YHVH, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith YHVH: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.
Jer 30:4 And these are the words that YHVH spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah.
Jer 30:5 For thus saith YHVH; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.
Jer 30:6 Ask ye now, and see whether a man 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?
Yahshua spoke of a woman in labor as typical of the characteristics of the last days and what it means for Jews. . That men’s hearts would fail for fear, etc. This conveys the same metaphor.Jer 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.
Another reference that a remnant of Judah shall be saved during the Tribulation, the last great Holocaust the Jewish people shall face. .
Jer 30:8 For it shall come to pass in that day, saith YHVH of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:
Jer 30:9 But they shall serve YHVH their Elohim, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.
This reference is to Yahshua, the son of David. David had already died. Yahshua has the “Key of David.” The “Key of David” has long been recognized as it is applied in Isaiah 22:20-22 when Elyakim was given the “key of the House of David” to act in full authority on behalf of King Hezekiah. Likewise, Yahshua has been given the “key of David” to act in full authority on behalf of YHVH Elohim.The Kings of Israel when Jeremiah served were King Josiah (627/6 CE). He was active under the Kings Jehoahaz-Shallum (609 CE) (22:11), Jehoiakim (609-587 CE.), Jehoiachin/Jeconiah/Coniah [all the same](597 CE.) and Zedekiah (597-586 CE). Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians in 587 B.C., Jeremiah is writing primarily to Judah here as well. Israel has already been led into captivity. This is an intimation that this prophecy is also for the future.
Jer 30:10 Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith YHVH; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, 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 be quiet, and none shall make him afraid.
A reference to the Jews and Israelites who have gone into the diaspora. Also the future. As of yet not all the Jews nor the Lost Tribes of Israel have returned to the Land. It is still in the future in the Millennium reign of Yahshua is my opinion.Jer 30:11 For I am with thee, saith YHVH, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.
This is a reference to the :Last Days.” The battle of Gog-Magog and Armageddon still in the future. The days of the anti-messiah.Jer 30:12 For thus saith YHVH, Thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound is grievous.
Jer 30:13 There is none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up: thou hast no healing medicines.
Jer 30:14 All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity; because thy sins were increased.
Jer 30:15 Why criest thou for thine affliction? thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: because thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee.
Jer 30:16 Therefore all they 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 a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey.
The Jews even where they were accepted came finally under persecution, except in the US and I doubt this will continue. All nations that mistreated the Jews shall be made accountable according to this passage and that too is still in the future.Jer 30:17 For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith YHVH; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.
Jer 30:18 Thus saith YHVH; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof.
The above translation of the word captivity could just as well mean bring prosperity. It is sheb-ooth’ in Hebrew and in concurrence with the book of Joel 3:1, I believe it should mean prosperity and refers to the reestablishment of Israel in 1948.Jer 30:19 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 few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.
Jer 30:20 Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them.
Jer 30:21 And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith YHVH.
Jer 30:22 And ye shall be my people, and I will be your Elohim.
Jer 30:23 Behold, the whirlwind of YHVH goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked.This reference to “whirlwind” is an apocalyptic word.
Some examples are:
Prov 10:25 As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.
Isa 17:13 The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but G-d shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.Isa 40:24 Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.
Isa 41:16 Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in YHVH, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.
Isa 66:15 For, behold, YHVH will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.
There are many more.
Jer 30:24 The fierce anger of YHVH shall not return, until he have done it, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it.
Of course we see here a clear reference to the “Latter Days,” which indicates that part of this prophecy is for this time as well. May times a prophecy is only partly fulfilled and its complete fulfillment comes at a later date. That is why I said initially it refers to “both” the Babylonian captivity and to the coming Tribulation when Jews will suffer as never before.I hope this helps. Perhaps you still do not agree with me but I have written what I think as you requested.