INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PRAYER KANSAS CITY – ELIJAH CHOI Jacob’s Trouble, Ruth, the Blueprint Prophecy for Lovesickness

I. INTRODUCTION: UNDERSTAND THE WHY BEHIND THE WHAT

A. The point of this message is to understand the purpose of God for Israel’s greatest tribulation—known as “Jacob’s Trouble.” As we discover God’s intention for this subject, we will discuss how this applies to the Church. Towards the end, we will also apply this message specifically to IHOPKC, especially in light of what is said in our ‘Blueprint Prophecy.’ We must note that all this is for the sake of lovesickness (cf. Song. 5:8). But first, let me explain why I chose such a peculiar message.

B. When I first became a section leader here at the IHOPKC, one of the first leadership lessons that I learned from Mike was: “Know the Why behind the What.” This is a fundamental principle that applies to every- thing in life (cf. Acts. 13:36; Rev. 2:4). Otherwise, life soon becomes meaningless (Ecc. 1:2). I like to apply the same principle when studying the Bible—especially, understanding the Lord’s plan for the End Times. In this message, we will look at what the prophet Jeremiah referred to as“Jacob’s Trouble”(Jer. 30:7).

“7 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, NKJV)

C. The prophet describes a time of unequaled trouble, specifically for the Jewish people (cf. Dan. 12:1-2). While the focus is on Israel, its magnitude will be global. This is what Jesus referred to as “the Great Tribulation.”

“21 …there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matthew 24:21, NKJV)

D. The point of my message is not to convince the certainty of this reality. There are others messages that deal with that. The point of this message is to explain the purpose. We must remember the simple fact that all of God’s activities in the End Times have a reason and a purpose. Consider Jeremiah 23:

“20 The anger of the Lord will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intents[pur- poses—NASB] of his heart. In the latter days you will understand it clearly[perfectly—NKJV].” (Jeremi- ah 23:20, ESV)

E. Mark these words. He will not only “execute” His judgments but also “accomplish” the purposes of His heart. Meaning, the goal is not just to perform a punishment. The goal is to accomplish something through judgment. To put it differently, God’s judgment activities are a means to fulfilling the greater purpose. This implies that the great tribulation is not a fluke in history or an inexplicable accident. Like we just saw the Lord is “executing” and “accomplishing”, not the Devil. To be clear Satan has his hands involved (cf. Rev. 12:12-16) as well as the wicked man (cf. Ps. 2:1-3; Isa. 10:12; Jl. 3:2; Zech. 1:15). But God is at work ac- cording to His counsel (cf. Isa. 14:27; 42:24; 46:10; Jer. 31:14-15). Therefore, the question “What is the purpose?” is not only valid but also indispensable for the coming days. So I ask again: What is the purpose?

F. The Lord promises and prophesies that we will understand this intention “perfectly.”

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II. A PROPER PERSPECTIVE OF JACOB’S TROUBLE

A. Before we get to the purpose of Jacob’s Trouble, it is appropriate to give a proper perspective and a right interpretation of Israel’s suffering. When you hear the words such as, “there will be an unprecedented time of trouble and suffering,” you are tempted to question God’s leadership: “How can and why would a good and merciful God allow such tragedy?” Here is how the Lord answers such questions. Keep in mind that the passage that I am about to show you is in the context of the Lord prophesying Jacob’s Trouble:

“11 For I am with you to save you, declares the Lord;… I will not make a full end. I will discipline you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you unpunished.” (Jeremiah 30:11, ESV)

B. Notice the words “discipline you in just measure.” ‘Just measure’ means that this is the least severe means to not lead them to destruction. In other words, Jacob’s Trouble is the minimum measure that God allows to cure Israel, not to destroy. It is like a doctor who has to do an extreme surgery to save his patient. No one would accuse the surgical procedure as being ‘unmerciful.’ We all know that the surgery is unto saving a life. Likewise, when all is said and done, Israel will no longer accuse God’s leadership. Instead, she will come out of Jacob’s Trouble with thanksgiving and songs of praise:

“18 The Lord has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death…. 29 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” (Psalm 118:18, 29, ESV)

C. Therefore, Jacob’s Trouble is not God’s destructive hand, rather, it is the Lord’s desperate hand to “not give Israel over to death/hell” (cf. Matt. 5:29–30). We must remember that the Lord is merciful not despite Ja- cob’s Trouble. He is altogether good and merciful in and through Jacob’s Trouble.

III. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF JACOB’S TROUBLE?

A. Before I directly answer the question, let me remind you that God always works in 10-dimensional ways. Meaning there is no one answer to this question. The Lord is doing multiple things all at once. And our fi- nite mind cannot fully comprehend His infinite wisdom (cf. Rom. 11:33–34). That is an obvious fact. How- ever, while we cannot fully grasp all the details, the Lord makes it explicitly clear what the ultimate is. This is where we come to Jeremiah 30 and 31.

B. In Jeremiah 30, the prophet Jeremiah coins the phrase “Jacob’s Trouble.” But it is also where he reiterates the words of Jeremiah 23:20 verbatim. But here, he takes a step further. He not only states the fact that God has a purpose, but he also specifies what that purpose is:

“22 ‘You shall be My people, And I will be your God.’ ” 23 Behold,… 24 The fierce anger of the Lord will not turn back Until He has performed and until He has accomplished The intent of His heart; In the latter days you will understand this. 1 “At that time,” declares the Lord, “I will be the God of…Israel, and they shall be My people.”” (Jeremiah 30:22–31:1, NASB95)

C. Did you notice that? Jeremiah repeats the phrase “I will be your God and you shall be my people” twice just in four verses. He brackets verses 23–24 within this phrase. But he does not just stop there. He takes it a step further. In Jeremiah 31:33, as he prophesies the New Covenant he seals this promise with the follow- ing words:

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“33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days…: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (Jeremiah 31:33, ESV)

D. In case we overlook this all-important reality, the Lord prophesies this truth again in Zechariah 13. Bear in mind that Zechariah 13 also is a passage about Jacob’s Trouble:

“8 And it shall come to pass in all the land,… That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, But one-third shall be left in it: 9 I will bring the one-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined… They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; And each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’ ”” (Zechariah 13:8–9, NKJV)

E. So this is it. The purpose of God in Jacob’s Trouble is: “I will be your God and you shall be my people” (cf. Gen. 17:8; Ex. 6:7; 29:45; Lev. 11:44-45; 26:11-12; Num. 8:14-17; De. 29:13; Ruth. 1:16; Song. 2:16; 6:3; Jer. 7:23; 11:4; 24:7 30:22; 30:24-31:1; 31:33; 32:38; Ezk.11:20; 14:11; 36:28; 37:26–28; Hos. 1:9; 2:23; Zech. 2:10-12; 8:8; 13:9; 2. Cor. 6:16; Rom. 9:25; Heb. 8:10; 11:16; Rev. 21:3, 7).

F. The aim of Jacob’s Trouble is not just punitive but redemptive (Isa. 4:4). It is not merely to prove their guilt but to possess them as His own (Ex. 19:5; Mal. 3:17). The goal is not merely to acknowledge Him as the all-powerful judge, but to accept Him as their supreme treasure (Gen. 15:1; Song. 5:10; Isa. 26:8; Hos. 2:6- 7; Col. 1:18). In the poetic words of the Song of Songs: “I am my beloved’s, And my beloved is mine.” (Song of Solomon 6:3)

G. And in case we overlook the magnitude of this message, the Lord virtually sealed 4,000 years of Israel’s story with this statement. It is the one thing reality that ties the whole story of Israel together.

IV. I WILL BE YOUR GOD & YOU SHALL BE MY PEOPLE

A. He encapsulates the essence of the Exodus in these words: “7 I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God,…” (Exodus 6:7, ESV)

B. He encapsulates the essence of the Mosaic Covenant (Both the blessing and the curse) in these words (: “11 I will make my dwelling among you,… 12 And I will walk among you [Gen 3:15] and will be your God, and you shall be my people… 45 But I will for their sake remember the covenant with their forefa- thers… that I might be their God…” (Leviticus 26:11–12, 45)

C. He encapsulates the essence of Israel’s worship in these words: “22 For I did not speak to your fathers… in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices. 23 But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people…” (Jeremiah 7:22–23, NKJV)

D. He encapsulates the essence of His divorce to Israel in these words: “9 Then God said: “Call his name Lo- Ammi, For you are not My people, And I will not be your God.” (Hosea 1:9, NKJV)

E. He encapsulates the essence of Israel’s Resurrection in these words: “13 And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people… 23 …I will save them from all the backslidings… and they shall be my people, and I will be their God (Ezekiel 37:13-23, ESV)

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F. He encapsulates the essence of consummation of His marriage to Israel in these words: “16 “And in that day…you will call me ‘My Husband,’ and no longer will you call me ‘My Baal.’…19 And I will betroth you to me forever… 23 …and I will say to Not My People, ‘You are my people’; and he shall say, ‘You are my God.’ ”” (Hosea 2:16-23, ESV)

G. He encapsulates the essence of Israel’s final restoration in these words: “27 … I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 28 Then the nations will know that I am the LORD who sanctifies Israel…”” (Ezekiel 37:27–28, ESV)

H. He encapsulates the end of the Bible in these words: 3 …“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people…. 7 …and I will be his God…” (Revelation 21:1–7, ESV)

I. When Israel fails to catch this vision, what does the Lord do? He raises a gentile. This is where we come to the story of Ruth:

“16 …Ruth said, “…Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” (Ruth 1:16, cf. Zech. 2:11)

V. WHEN ISRAEL FAILS THIS VISION, GOD RAISES THE CHURCH

A. It is crucial to consider both the context and the background of the story of Ruth. The opening verse hints that Israel is under the covenant chastisement. Meaning, this story is a foreshadow of Jacob’s Trouble.

“1 In the days when the judges ruled [cf. Judges 2:11–15] there was a famine [cf. Lev 26:19–29; Deut. 28:23–24, 38–42; 32:23–24] in the land…” (Ruth 1:1)

B. In addition to this context, we also must consider the background history. The author points out that Ruth is a Moabite woman. This factor is essential to grasp the significance of this story. It connects us to Numbers 22-25.

C. In Numbers, a Moabite king name, “Balak,” in his desperation to curse and defeat Israel, hires a false prophet name, “Balaam.” But whenever Balaam tries to curse Israel, the Lord turns his words into a bless- ing. Balaam goes as far as to declare the Lord’s irrefutable nature to His covenant with Israel:

“19 God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” (Numbers 23:19, ESV)

D. As their plot fails by divine intervention, Balaam comes up with another strategy. If God is for Israel, then no one can be against her (Num. 23:8; Rom. 8:31). But if Israel sins, then God Himself will be against her (cf. Isa. 1:24, 63:10) and thus He will curse Israel (Deut. 28:15). Balaam perhaps heard the words of Moses as he preached “the blessing and the curse of the covenant”(Moses preached Deuteronomy 28-32 while Numbers 22-24 was taking place). As a result, Balaam sends a company of Moabite prostitutes into the camp of Israel (Num. 25). And as the men of Israel entered into sexual immorality, the judgment of God breaks out and kills 24,000 Jews.

E. In light of this narrative (a Moab’s harlotry that leads Israel to destruction), Ruth, the Moabite, comes on the stage in a bridal identity pulls the vision of God—“I will be your God and you shall be My people”— and makes her allegiance to stand with Israel “even unto death” (cf. Es. 4:16; Rev. 12:11): IHOPKC Missions Base ihopkc.org Free Teaching Library mikebickle.org JACOB’S TROUBLE, RUTH, AND THE BLUEPRINT PROPHECY FOR LOVESICKNESS – ELIJAH CHOI PAGE 5

“17 Where you die I will die… May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”” (Ruth 1:17, ESV)

F. For this reason, the Lord prophesies the final restoration of Israel through the story of Ruth. That is the gospel of Isaiah 54:

“1 “Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married,”… 5 For your Maker is your husband,… the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer…” (Isaiah 54:1-5, ESV)

G. Notice the word “Redeemer.” This is the Hebrew word “goel” which refers to a “kinsman-redeemer.” It is used 19 times in the book of Ruth. In others this is what the Lord is saying:

“Israel, do not despair. For I will surely restore you. Remember the story of Ruth. Remember what hap- pened to Naomi. Though she seemed barren, though her present reality seemed hopeless, I raised up a gentile who revealed God of Israel as the Bridegroom and restore the fortune of Jacob. Likewise, I am your greater Boaz. I will raise my glorified Church in the spirit of Revelation 12:11 and 19:7 who will provoke you to jealousy and usher the return of the Bridegroom King.”

H. Just like the Shulamite who provokes the daughters of Jerusalem through her lovesickness, so will the Church provoke Israel to the reality of “I am my beloved, and my beloved is mine” (Song. 6:3).

“8 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, If you find my beloved, That you tell him I am lovesick! 9 What is your beloved More than another beloved, O fairest among women? What is your beloved More than another beloved, That you so charge us? 10 My beloved is…Chief among ten thousand.” (Song of Solomon 5:8–10, NKJV)

I. When all is said and done, God will accomplish this vision even in the story of Isaiah 19. He will raise a whole family of Ishmael in the spirit of Ruth to provoke Israel to the reality of “I will be your God and you shall be my people.”

“25 …“Blessed be Egypt my people…”” (Isaiah 19:25)

VI. IHOPKC BLUEPRINT PROPHECY

A. As we close this message, I want to highlight what the Lord said in the blueprint prophecy of IHOPKC. On 1984 March 26th, the Lord supernatural confirmed the following words to establish the movement of Day- and-Night Worship and Intercession for the salvation of Israel (cf. Deut. 32:43; Isa. 62:1-7; Jer. 31:7). While I can’t fully make sense of much of these words, one thing is crystal clear to me. Whatever the Lord established in Kansas City is unto this reality:

“You shall set in as I will call… I by My Holy Spirit shall confirm and set into My Body–that I would prepare for Me a bride in this area. The people shall flow then into the tabernacles of habitation.… Even this shall be a people that shall be known of Me, and I shall be their God and they shall be My people.” — The Blueprint Prophecy (MARCH 26th, 1984)

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