“I thank God for Blackstone’s faith in the literal fulfillment of prophecy. I passionately oppose his pretribulational view of the rapture, but you should see the wonderful chapter in his book on the restoration of Israel. Just the sheer volume of scripture cited and written out was worth the price of the book.” (more about Blackstone in the article: Regarding The Source of the Problem in the Middle East)
Reggie Kelly
Below is Chapter 15 of Jesus is Coming by W. E. Blackstone, published in 1908:
Israel Is to Be Restored
But, perhaps, you say: “I don’t believe the Israelites are to be restored to Canaan, and Jerusalem rebuilt.”
Dear reader! have you read the declarations of God’s word about it? Surely nothing is more plainly stated in the Scriptures. We would that we had space to quote the passages, but we can only give you a portion of the references. We beg of you to read them thoughtfully. Divest yourself of prejudice and preconceived notions, and let the Holy Spirit show you, from His word, the glorious future of God’s chosen people, “who are beloved” (Rom. 11 :28), and dear unto Him as “the apple of His eye.” Zech. 2:8.
1. God calls Abraham. Gen. 12:1. ((Genesis 12:1-3, 6-7 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. – And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.))
2. God’s promise to Abraham. Gen. 12:2-7; Gen. 13:14-17; ((Genesis 13:14-17. And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.)) Gen. 15:18; Gen. 17:8.
God’s promise to Isaac. Gen. 26:1-5, especially Gen 26:3.
God’s promise to Jacob. Gen. 28:1-15; Gen. 35:10-12.
3. The land described. Ex. 23:31; Nu. 34; Deut. 11:24; Deut 34:1-4; Josh. 1:2-6.
4. The land partially possessed. 1 Kings 4:21.
5. Punishment prophesied for disobedience. Lev. 26:14-39; Deut. 4:22; 28:16; 31:16.
6. Israel’s sins. Judges 2:11-19; 1 Sam. 8:6; 2 Kings 21:11; 2 Kings 24:3; Jer. 16:4; and many others, especially Matthew 27:25.
7. The promises to be remembered and restoration assured:
Lev. 26:40-45, especially Lev 26: 42, 44, 45. ((Leviticus 26:44-45 And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the LORD their God. But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the heathen, that I might be their God: I am the LORD.))
Deut. 4:30-31 ((Deuteronomy 4:30-31 When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.))
Deut 30:1-10, especially Deut 30: 4, 5, 6. ((Deuteronomy 30:1-6 And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee, and shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul; that then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee. If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee: And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers. And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.))
2 Sam. 7: 10-11.
Joel 2: 18-32;
Joel 3: 1-21.
Amos 9: 11-15, especially Amos 9:15. ((Amos 9:11-15 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: that they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.))
Hosea 1: 10-11; Hos 2:14-23; Hos 3:4-5.
Isaiah 2: 2-5; Is 9:6-7;
Is 10:20-23, especially Is 10: 21, 22;
Is 11:10-16, especially Is 11: 11 second time.
Is 19:23-25;
Is 27:12-13; ((Isaiah 27:12-13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem.))
Is 33:20-24;
Is 43:1-7, especially Is 43:5, 6, 7.
Is 49:13-26 especially Is 49:22, 23.
Is 60:1-22, especially Is 60: 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 18, 21.
Is 61: 1-11.
Is 62: 1-12.
Is 65: 8-10.
Is 65: 17-25.
Is 66: 19-24.
Jeremiah 3: 12-19, especially Jer 3:17; 18.
Jer 11: 4-5.
Jer 16: 14-16. ((Jeremiah 16:14-16 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; but, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers. Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.))
Jer 23: 3-8, especially Jer 23: 3, 4, 6.
Jer 29: 10-14.
Jer 30: 1-24, especially Jer 30: 8, 9, 10, 11, 20.
Jer 31: 1-40, especially Jer 31: 8, 9, 10, 12, 28, 33, 38.
Jer 32: 36-44, especially Jer 32: 37, 39, 40, 41, 42.
Jer 34: 7-17, especially Jer 34: 7, 8, 14, 15, 16.
Jer 44: 28.
Jer 46: 27-28.
Jer 50: 4-8.
Jer 50: 17-20.
Ezekiel 6:8-10, especially Eze 6:9.
Eze 20: 36-44, especially Eze 20: 40, 41, 42, 43, 44. ((Ezekiel 20:40-44 For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things. I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen. And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers. And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed. And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have wrought with you for my name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.))
Eze 28: 24-26, especially Eze 28: 25, 26.
Eze 34: 11-31, especially Eze 34: 11, 12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 25, 28.
Eze 36: 1-38, especially Eze 36: 8, 10, 11, 12, 15, 21, 28, 31, 35, 37, 38.
Eze 37: 1-28, especially Eze 11, 12, 14, 16-28.
Eze 39: 23-29, especially Eze 39: 25, 26, 27, 29.
Eze 40-48, the New Temple.
Eze 48, see the order in which the tribes will be settled.
Micah 4: 1-7.
Micah 7: 8-20, especially Mic 7:12, 19, 20. ((Micah 7:18-20 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.))
Zephaniah 3: 8-20, especially Zeph 3: 11, 13, 19, 20. ((Zephaniah 3:19-20 Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.))
Zechariah 2: 4-13.
Zech 3: 1-10, especially Zech 3:9.
Zech 8: 1-23, especially Zech 8: 4, 5, 8, 12, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23.
Zech 10: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. ((Zechariah 10:6-10 And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them. And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the LORD. I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased. And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again. I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them.))
Zech 12: 1-14, especially Zech 12: 10, 11.
Zech 13: 1-9, especially Zech 13: 6, 8, 9.
Zech 14: 1-21, especially Zech 14: 11, 16, 20, 21.
Malachi 3: 10, 11, 12. ((Malachi 3:11-12 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.))
Matthew 23: 37, 38, 39, especially in Mat 23:39, “till.”
Luke 13:34, 35, especially in Luk 13:35, “until.”
Luke 21:24, especially “until.” “Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”
Romans 11: 17-28, especially Ro 11: 17, 20, 24-28. ((Romans 11:11-13 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:)) ((Romans 11: 19-21 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.)) ((Romans 11:25-27 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.))
Acts 15:13-16, – very important, as it is the apostle’s summary of the prophets. ((Acts 15:13-18 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.))
Psalm 51:18; Ps 102:16
And now, reader, if you have faithfully studied these passages, or if you have even read them, do you wonder that the great mass of Jews, at the present time, have an abiding faith that they are to be returned to Canaan?
All the orthodox Jews tenaciously cling to this hope; and shall we, who have accepted so much greater light, refuse this overwhelming testimony of the Word? God forbid.
It may be that you say, “These prophesies were fulfilled in the return from Babylon.”
Not so, that was the first time. But there is to be a Second Restoration.
The Second Restoration
“And It shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the Islands of the sea.” Isa. 11:11.
In the first restoration only those who were “minded” came back from Babylon (Ezra 7:13), while many remained both there, and in Egypt and elsewhere. But in the future, or second restoration, not one will be left.
“If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the Lord thy God gather thee, and from thence will He fetch thee.” Deut. 30:4.
“Fear not; for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the ear and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, give up; and to the south, keep not back; bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; even far, and one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him,” Isa. 43:5-7.
“For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day; and I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel.” Ezek. 34:11-13.
“Then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, which caused them to be led Into captivity, among the heathen; but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there” (Ezek. 39:28-29).
In the first restoration it was only Jews who returned. In the second, or future restoration, it will be both Judah (the two tribes) and Israel (the ten tribes).* ((* Except in this place, we use the word Israel in its broader sense, meaning the whole twelve tribes.))
“In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an Inheritance unto your fathers.” Jer. 3:18.
“And I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, even all of it, and the cities shall be inhabited, and the wastes shall be builded.” Ezek. 36:10.
Ezekiel was directed to take two sticks, representing Judah and Joseph, which should be joined and become one stick in his hand, and when the people inquired what it meant, he was directed to say unto them:
“Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them Into their own land: and I will make them one nation In the land upon the, mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided Into two kingdoms any more at all.” Ezek. 37:15-22.
Permanent Restoration
At the first restoration they returned to be overthrown and driven out again. But in the second, they shall return to remain, no more to go out. They shall be exalted and dwell safely, and the Gentile nations shall flow unto them.
“I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord their God.” Amos 9:15.
“And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beasts of the land devour them: but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid.” Ezek. 34:28.
“And I will settle you after your old estates, and will do better unto you than at your beginnings: – yea, I will cause men to walk upon you, even my, people Israel; – and thou shalt no more henceforth bereave them of men.” Ezek. 36:11-12.
“Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that- no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a Joy of many generations. Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shall suck the breast of kings; and thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.” Isa, 60:15-16.
All Nations Shall Flow Unto Israel.
“As I Live saith the Lord, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, a bride doeth… I will lift up my hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall ‘bring thy sons In their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders, and kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers; they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet.” Isa. 49:18, 22, 23.
“But In the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow into it. And many nations shall come and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk In His paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” Mic. 4:1-2.
“Thus saith the Lord of hosts; it shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the Inhabitants of many cities And the Inhabitants of one city, shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts: I will also go. Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord. Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that Is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.” Zech. 8:20-29.
“And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem, shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.” Zech. 14:16.
In the first Restoration, because of their blindness, and hard, stony hearts, they rejected and killed Jesus. But in the future Restoration they shall repent of all this, and have clean hearts, and accept Christ, who will be their King.
Look Upon Me
“And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the Inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications; and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shalt mourn for Him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born. In that day there shall be a great mourning In Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon -In the valley of Megiddon. And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the ‘family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart; all the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.” Zech. 12:10-14.
“They shall come with weeping and with supplications will I lead them; I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a. straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim Is my first-born. Hear the word of the Lord, O ye nations, and declare It In the isles afar off, and say, He that scattereth Israel will gather him. and keep him, as a shepherd doth his Bock. But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (Jeremiah 31:9, 10, 33)
The Cleansing of Israel
“For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your Idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you. and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people. and I will be your God. I will also save you from all your uncleanness: and I will call for the corn, and will increase It, and lay no famine upon you.” Ezek. 36:p4-29.
“Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their Idols nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will save them out of all their dwellIng places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them; so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: . . . and they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they and their children and their children’s children, forever: and my servant David shall be their prince, forever, . . . my tabernacle shall also be with them: yea, I will be their God and they shall be ray people.” Ezek. 37:23-27
“And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and Increase. And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord. Behold, the days ,come, saith the Lord, that I will raise to David a righteous Branch and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute Judgment and Justice In the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this to his name whereby he shall be called, ‘THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. [Jehovah, Tsidkenu]” Jer. 23:3-6.
“And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David: he shall feed them, and ‘he shall be their shepherd. And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it.- Ezek. 34:23-24.
Nothing has ever yet been built like the temple which Ezekiel describes in chapters 40 to 48, and this includes a definite description of the location of each tribe, as they shall be settled in this great future restoration. (See Ezekiel 48).
Confusing Israel with the Church
It would seem that such overwhelming testimony would convince every fair-minded reader, that there is a glorious future restoration in store for Israel. And yet, many say, that we must interpret all this Scripture “spiritually,” and they fritter away the point and the force of such explicit declarations, in attempting to apply them to the persecuted Church.
This is a very great error, and we believe it has arisen, principally, from a misunderstanding of Paul’s arguments in his epistles. He does not confound Israel with the Church when he says, “They are not all Israel which are of Israel.” Nor does he confound the Church with Israel when he makes us children of Abraham by faith; but he demonstrates that we all stand by faith alone. In I Cor. 10:32 ((1st Corinthians 10:32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:)) he makes a clear distinction between the Jews, the Gentiles, and the Church of God. ((*The Jews who accept Christ in this dispensation become part of the Church)) There are special blessings for the Church, and special blessings for Israel He plainly shows that not all the natural seed are true Israelites. He only is a Jew who has circumcision of heart in the spirit. ((Romans 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.)) And though multitudes of Israel have passed away in unbelief, still Paul distinctly declares that there is a remnant which shall be saved. ((Romans 9:27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved. Romans 11:5Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.)) He so loved them that he could sacrifice himself, and even be separated from Christ for their sakes. ((Romans 9:3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh)) He saw their future glory, as the natural branches yet to be grafted into their own olive tree, which should be nothing less than life from the dead. ((Romans 11:15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?))
Jesus said, in Luke 21:24, “And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” And Paul understood this mystery, that when “the fullness of the Gentiles be come in,” “there should come out of Zion the Deliverer, who should turn away ungodliness from Jacob!’ Rom. 11:25-26.
And this is fully confirmed by the following: In Amos 8 and 9, we read of the awful calamities which should come upon Israel. And not until- they had been sifted among all nations ‘would the Lord gather -and plant them, and raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen. When the apostles and elders were gathered in the first council at Jerusalem, considering this same question about Israelites and the Church, the Holy Spirit directed the mind of James to this very prophecy in Amos, to show that during this sifting of Israel, God was to take out of the Gentiles a people to His name, and after this to build again the tabernacle of David. Acts 15:13-17. So we see that these restoration prophecies can not be applied to the Church, which is first to be taken out before Israel and Jerusalem are to be restored.
Again, one of the most specific prophecies of their restoration is addressed, not to the people, but to the mountains of Israel, which leaves no possible doubt as to the literal meaning intended. ((Ezekiel 36:1, 8-11 Also, thou son of man, prophesy unto the mountains of Israel, and say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD. 8-11 But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel; for they are at hand to come. For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn unto you, and ye shall be tilled and sown: and I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, even all of it: and the cities shall be inhabited, and the wastes shall be builded: and I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bring fruit: and I will settle you after your old estates, and will do better unto you than at your beginnings: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.))
The Day of Jacob’s Trouble
Surely Israel shall be restored; but there is an awful time of trouble awaiting her. Their sins are mountain high. Upon them is the guilt of innocent blood, even the precious blood of Jesus Christ (Mat. 27:25).
The faithful prophet saw it when he wrote:
“And these are the words that the Lord spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. For thus saith the Lord: We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Ask ye now, and see whether 9. 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. 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” (Jer. 30:4-7).
“Then shall ye remember your own evil ways and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations” (Ezek. 36:31).
Yes, they shall repent and loathe themselves. They “shall pass through the sea with affliction.” ((Zechariah 10:11 And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away. Ezekiel 7:1-4 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, also, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD unto the land of Israel; An end, the end is come upon the four corners of the land. Now is the end come upon thee, and I will send mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense upon thee all thine abominations. And mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity: but I will recompense thy ways upon thee, and thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee: and ye shall know that I am the LORD. Ezekiel 7:8-9 Now will I shortly pour out my fury upon thee, and accomplish mine anger upon thee: and I will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense thee for all thine abominations. And mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: I will recompense thee according to thy ways and thine abominations that are in the midst of thee; and ye shall know that I am the LORD that smiteth.)) Many shall die, but the third part shall be saved.
“And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold Is tried; they shall call on my name and I will hear them; I will say, it is my people; and they shall Say,, the Lord Is my God” (Zech. 13:9).
All this is intimately connected with the coming of Christ, not at the Rapture, but at the Revelation. For we read, “When the Lord shall build up Zion, He shall appear in His glory” (Psa. 102:16). It is when He appears with His saints (the Church) in flaming fire to execute judgment (2 Thes. 1:7-10; Jude 14) upon the nations and upon Israel, who are the third party in Mat. 25:36, etc. ((Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.)) and who are not to be reckoned among the nations (Numbers 23:9). It is when He sits as a refiner and purifier.
“Behold I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me; and the Lord whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of His coming? and who, shall stand when He appeareth? for He is like a refiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap. And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering In righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years. And I will come near you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling In his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts” (Mal. 3:1-5).
“He shall indeed refine Israel in the furnace of affliction. ((Isaiah 48:10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. Psalm 66:10 For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.)) And they shall arise and shine, for their light will come. ((Isaiah 60:1-4 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.))
Arise and shine In youth immortal,
Thy light is come, thy King appears!
Beyond the centuries’ swinging portal,
Breaks a new dawn-THE THOUSAND YEARS!
We might fill a book with comments upon how Israel shall be restored, but all we have desired to do was to show that it is an incontrovertible fact of prophecy, and that it is intimately connected with our Lord’s appearing, and this we trust we have satisfactorily ‘accomplished.
The detail of the manner of their restoration, and of their repentance and acceptance of Christ, is not so important to us. For those who are of the Church are to be taken away first, in the Rapture, and escape all these things through which Israel must pass. ((Luke 21:36
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.))
True, many have found the study of this detail a rich blessing, and we give the result which one has reached on pages 187 to 195, and yet we believe that we cannot now discern the order of these things so clearly as Israel will in the great rush of events, after the Church is taken away, and when the Book is more completely unsealed and opened. Dan. 12:4.
It is enough for us to know that it will be in the latter days (Isa. 2:2) that Antichrist is to be revealed and destroyed by Jesus the King of the Jews, who is coming (2 Thes. 2:8), and that Israel, His people, “are at hand to come.” Ezek. 36:8.
