The Restoration of Israel (Part Three/Final)

Perspectives from the Poetic and Prophetical Books of the Old Testament (Part Three/Final)

Khen Lim

Those that still await fulfilment

With the pre-Tribulation dispensationalist view, modern Israel is prophetically central to the grand scheme of things. It plays a significant role in fulfilling biblical prophecy but we still must be vigilant over the use of prophetic verses that recent events may vindicate and those that must await fulfilment at some point in the future. To that end, we must identify that there are actually two occurrences of eschatological regatherings. Both straddle the Tribulation; one before and the other after the wrathful event as shown in the illustration below (Fruchtenbaum 1982).

Illustration 5: The Dispensation Pre- and Post-Tribulational Regatherings

Well-known Polish messianic writer, Dr Arnold Fruchtenbaum explains that the premillennialist prophetic position on modern Israel has been derailed by a struggle to match their understanding to the present state of the Jewish nation (Fruchtenbaum 1982).¹⁹ And as a result, the current modern Israel is viewed as a historical aberration and therefore, should be dismissed.

The motivation behind all this has to do with the nature of the returning Jews who mainly comprise unbelievers who subscribed to neither the person of Jesus as Son of God nor Orthodox Judaism.²⁰ Because the turnout didn’t appear to fit the bill, premillennialists believed that in modern Israel, the biblical prophecies could not apply and therefore the restoration of Israel was not possible. In other words, the biblical interpretation for national restoration cannot take into account the modern state of Israel because of its non-compliance with the spiritual requirements.

Fortunately this is an incorrect view because conventional premillennialists assume there is only one regathering from the diaspora when, actually, there are two. We might do well to remember that Dr Fruchtenbaum had earlier referred to them as the two outstanding regatherings. Once we understand how these regatherings are placed astride the Tribulation, we can then have clarity as to how the biblical prophecies play their part in present modern Israel.

The first regathering

The first worldwide regathering in unbelief would have begun in 1948 when Israel was reborn in its modern state thus setting up an important springboard to flesh out the longstanding biblical prophecies. Since then, unbelieving Jews have poured into Israel in great numbers,²¹ regathering in a single Elect and in readiness for God’s judgement at the Tribulation. And the outpouring of His wrath will be frightfully felt (Ezek 20:33-38, 22:17-22, 36:22-24, 37:1-14, 38-39, Isa 11:11-12, Zeph 2:1-2).

This regathering of the unbelief is also colourfully described as the “Day of Our Lord,” a deceptively optimistic titling of the Tribulation period (Zeph 1:14-18). In Zeph 2:1-2, the prophet Zephaniah declared, “Gather yourself together, yes, gather, O nation without shame, before the decree takes effect – the day passes like the chaff – before the burning anger of the Lord comes upon you, before the Day of the Lord’s anger comes upon you.”

Ezekiel in 20:33-38 also speaks of the same regathering that must take place before the Tribulation. The passage describes God bringing the nation of Israel “out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you are scattered, with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out. (Ezek 20:34)”

The second regathering

The second worldwide regathering is one that is done in belief (or faith). Here also, there are numerous biblical references that describe Israel’s reception of a slightly different homecoming; one that lines up with Christ’s second coming in preparation for the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom. Unlike the first regathering, this one remains unfulfilled (Dt 4:29-31, 30:1-10, Isa 27:12-13, 43:5-7, Jer 16:14-15, 31:7-10, Ezek 11:14-18, Am 9:14-15, Zech 10:8-12, Mt 24:31).

Among the many relevant Scripture verses is Matthew 24:31, which quite clearly documents a future (second) regathering of Israel:

“And He will send forth His angels with a Great Trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.”

Verse 29 makes it clear that this would occur only “after the Tribulation,” and according to Dr Fruchtenbaum (Fruchtenbaum 1982)²² this is the second regathering, which is in line with the second coming of Christ.²³

For the past fifty years, the first regathering has been and continues to take place even as we speak. The stage is continually being created for the unveiling of the Antichrist in the near future and once this is all finished, Tribulation will begin. This would be God’s bellwether for the increasingly important prophecies that surround the subsequent development of events around the world (Walvoord 1964).²⁴

The late theologian Dr John Walvoord wrote:

“Of the many peculiar phenomena which characterise the present generation, few events can claim equal significance as far as Biblical prophecy is concerned with that of the return of Israel to their land. It constitutes a preparation for the end of the age, the setting for the Coming of the Lord for His Church and the fulfilment of Israel’s prophetic destiny” (Walvoord 1964).²⁵

As of 2015, Diaspora Jews are continuing to move back to the homeland. In the previous year alone, 26,500 Jews came home of which 5,840 of them were Ukrainian Jews fleeing instability concerns.²⁶ All these long treks home are not only fulfilling ancient prophecies but they are also paving the way for the Tribulation to come and as we approach that time, some premillennialists are also saying that the “time of the Gentiles” might have also come to an end but for that to be true, we will have to confront a number of contentions that threaten to buckle this line of thought (Hendriksen 1974).²⁷

So here are some unsettling food for thought:

Firstly only one in five of the entire Jewish world population is back in Israel. In the space of time since its independence, Israel’s population has grown very impressively but this must also be seen in light of the Diaspora shrinking from 10.5 to 8.1 million over the same period (Pergola 2014).²⁸ In other words, there is still much more to go before we are ready. To put this in another way, Israel’s 6.12 million people (2014) makes up only 75 percent of the world Jewish population, translates into only 43 percent in residence (Demographics of Israel n.d.).

Of the 8.1 million remain outside, the United States alone has between 5.7 and 6.8 million. The rest of the Diaspora is found in 104 different countries, not counting the European Union. According to Wikipedia, Jews are to be found in as disparate and unlikely a place as China, Japan, Bahamas, South Korea and even Taiwan (Jewish Population by Country n.d.).

Secondly Israel’s peace and stability is at best fragile and this has always been the way since its independence in 1948. Even after retaining Jerusalem after 2,000 years of separation, existential instability and territorial security remains the country’s foremost external concerns. Intimidations come almost daily from regular rocket attacks by Hamas and Hezbollah. 

The recent Arab Spring was also a great cause of worry. The Gaza Strip continues to be a political minefield for Israel. And there is Iran whose nuclear weapon development program appears to have been given a new lease of life by Israel’s supposedly strongest ally, America. Away in the Diaspora, God’s people are facing renewed threats of rising anti-Semitism particularly in Europe. None of these must be comforting to any Jew and they continue to challenge the view that God is protecting His own people.

Thirdly most Jews do not profess to believe in Jesus as the Son of God, let alone accept Him as their Saviour. Despite allegations of “impressive growth,” at around 15,000 Messianic Jews amassed in around 150 congregations, they are still a significant minority in Israel with a 2011 study indicating that half of all the Jews in America have doubts about God’s existence compared to 10-15 percent of other religions (Rubin 2014). In other words, there is still a very long way to go, if these numbers are to be taken seriously.

Fourthly Israel’s military prowess isn’t as perfect as we had come to expect. Despite its early impressive showing in four war campaigns from 1948 to 1973, the country was humbled by Arab Hezbollah terrorists in the 34-day Second Lebanon War of 2006. In a war where there was no decisive victor, Israel’s “shaky military performance” had compromised its international credibility (Bush 2011). The United States Congressional Research Service said, “Observers note that Hezbollah’s leaders have been able to claim a level of ‘victory’ simply by virtue of not having decisively ‘lost’” (Sharp 2006). By most accounts, Israel was not convincing. Could this put a chink on the prophetic assurance of success that God has made against Israel’s enemies?

Illustration 6: Israel Then (far right) is Not the Israel Today (Image source: Stratfor 2011)

Fifthly the current borders of Israel do not match up with what God had promised and were fulfilled during the days of Joshua and later, Solomon. In fact it is a fair size smaller. Even when we take into account the annexure of the Golan Heights, the present Israel still has land to gain (Stratfor 2011). If Israel is to be ready, then it must adhere to the biblical boundaries, which would have included the Gaza Strip and the West Bank as well as large parts of present-day Syria up to Hamath (Ezek 47:20) including (likely) the whole of Lebanon not to forget also that the eastern boundary must encompass Jordan (Ezek 47:18).

Sixth but not least, all the excitement about rebuilding the Third Temple might have to be tempered in light of the unlikelihood that the Muslims will ever allow the Dome of the Rock to be removed. That Dome now sits atop the spot of land upon which the building is supposed to be at and that’s not about to be resolved anytime soon given the enmity between the Muslims and the Jews.

Conclusion

Image source: breakthruinternational.co.uk (Spurgeon quote added by author)

To all of these counterpoints, there is much that we do not know but God’s Word does not fail for He is never wrong. Much of the Book of Ezekiel remain as terrifying as it is real and powerfully prophetic. The Rapture and the Tribulation are real events. And the dispensationalist premillennialist frame of reference for biblical prophecy remains, by comparison with the others, the most matching and the one that makes the most compelling sense.

And in all of this, modern Israel is still Israel and its people are the same Jews that God considers His Chosen People. Whatever that is said and done to challenge the legitimacy of the prophetic inclusiveness of the modern Jewish state, God is the final arbiter and much of His prophecies have already unfolded and will continue to do so.

Without a doubt, therefore, the very state of modern Israel today is the incarnation of the beginning of prophetic fulfilment. It is most certainly the result of God’s direct involvement in its history including its rebirth in its present guise.

There is no doubt that those who articulate au contraire will find themselves in conflict with a God who is always in control no matter how it may appear to unbelievers anywhere.

Endnotes

19 Page 65.

20 A Gallup survey reported in the Haaretz (April 14 2015) revealed that 65 percent of Israelis are either “irreligious” or “convinced atheists” while 30 percent are considered “religious.”

21 According to The Guardian (Jan 16 2015), figures in France for Jews emigrating to Israel put the record on 6,600 in 2014 alone, which is more than double the previous year’s total out of a total national population of half a million Jews. Some experts say that this surge has been at least partly driven by anti-Semitism. (http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/16/french-jews-israel-exodus-reasons)

22 Page 65

23 It is also thought that perhaps, this regathering in faith could fulfil the Feast of the Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) for Israel.

24 Page 26

25 Page 26

26 Statistic given by Israel’s Ministry of Immigrant Absorption and reported by The Daily Caller (http://dailycaller.com/2015/01/02/2014-sees-spike-in-jewish-migration-to-israel/)

27 Pages 16-31

28 Pages 301-393

Bibliography

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“Demographics of Israel.” Wikipedia. n.d. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Israel (accessed September 16, 2015).

Fruchtenbaum, Dr Arnold. Footsteps of the Messiah: A Study of the Sequence of Prophetic Events. Tustin, California: Ariel Press, 1982.

Hendriksen, William. Israel in Prophecy (Fourth Edition). Grand Rapids, MN: Baker Book House, 1974.

“Jewish Population by Country.” Wikipedia. n.d. http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_population_by_country (accessed September 16, 2015).

Pergola, Sergio Della. The American Jewish Year Book – Current Jewish Population Reports. Edited by Arnold Dashfsky and Ira Sheskin. Dordrecht: Springer, 2014.

Rubin, Barry. “Messianic Judaism Gaining Momentum in Israel.” Charisma News. Messianic Jewish Publishers. 2014. http://www.charismanews.com/world/46304-messianic-judaism-gaining-momentum-in-israel (accessed September 16, 2015).

Sharp, Jeremy M. Lebanon: The Israel-Hamas-Hezbollah Conflict. CRS Report for Congress, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Division, The Library of Congress, Washington: Congressional Research Service, 2006.

Stratfor. “The Geopolitics of Israel: Biblical and Modern.” Stratfor Global Intelligence. Stratfor, Austin, Texas, USA. May 14, 2011. https://www.stratfor.com/analysis/geopolitics-israel-biblical-and-modern# (accessed September 17, 2015).

Walvoord, Dr John F. Israel in Prophecy. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1964.