Israel’s Restoration: From Exile to Fulfillment of Biblical Prophecy
The restoration of Israel is one of the most remarkable fulfillments of biblical prophecy, beginning with the Jewish return to their ancient land and culminating in their future restoration to the Lord.
For nearly two thousand years, it looked as though Israel’s story had vanished from history. But the prophets of the Bible had foretold a remarkable future: Israel would one day experience a two-fold restoration. First, the Jewish people would be gathered back to the land promised to Abraham. Second, they would return to the Lord Himself.
For centuries this prophecy seemed impossible. The nation was scattered, the land conquered, and Jerusalem destroyed.
Yet the story of Israel did not end. Like a river that disappears underground only to reemerge downstream, Israel’s history continued to flow beneath the surface of world events. Until suddenly, in the modern era, it rose again.
The Course of Israel’s Story
Israel’s story flows like the Sante Fe River.
Considered one of Florida’s great treasures, the Santa Fe streams westward from its headwaters for 44 miles (71 km). It welcomes boaters, fisherman, and summer-loving inner tubers into its crystal-clear natural waters—and then disappears.
Okay, it doesn’t really disappear, but if you didn’t know better, you might think so. The river drops into a huge sinkhole, flows underground out of sight for three miles—and then suddenly reemerges to finish its course.
In a similar way, despite many treacherous bends in their story, Israel’s story flowed. From one generation to the next, carrying the hope of a Messiah, King David’s promised son, who would establish an everlasting kingdom from His throne in Jerusalem. It will be a kingdom of peace—peace between men and most importantly peace with God. (Is. 2:2-3)
Israel’s hope wasn’t for themselves alone. Rather, the prophets foretold the welcome of people from all nations into the Messiah’s kingdom. Foreigners who love the God of Israel will stream into Jerusalem to worship the Lord. God’s house will be a house of prayer for all peoples. (Zech. 8:22–23; Is. 54:6–7)
What is Israel’s restoration?
Israel’s restoration refers to the biblical promise that the Jewish people would gather back to their ancestral land and ultimately return to the Lord. The prophets foretold both a physical return to the land of Israel and a future spiritual renewal. That is, when the nation would recognize the Messiah.
Standing on the Mount of Olives, moments before Jesus ascended to the Father, His disciples asked, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6)
Over the centuries, some in their sermons have poked at the disciples for being short-sighted, or worse, ridiculous, for asking such a question. Yet, Jesus neither rebuked nor negated their question, rather, He indicated the time for Israel’s restoration wasn’t yet. (Acts 1:7)
Israel’s hope remained treasured in the hearts of the learned, the fisherman, the tax gatherer, the zealot, the Lord’s mother, the handmaiden, every apostle . . . Does it reside within your heart as well?
What His followers soon understood is that before the kingdom of God is established on earth, naturally, the reign of Jesus will be established in our hearts, spiritually (John 3:5; Rom. 14:17). Following the day of Pentecost, empowered and clothed with the Holy Spirit, the Jewish believers carried the good news into the nations.
Then in AD 70 and 135, Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed by the Romans. The Jewish people were banished from Judea and sent into the four corners of the earth.
When Israel’s Story Disappeared from the Land
The Romans renamed Jerusalem, Aelia Capitolina, paying tribute to Caesar. And Judea received the name Palestine, after Israel’s archenemy, the Philistines. There was a nefarious and demonic effort to erase Israel’s name and history from the map.
And like the Sante Fe River, Israel’s story plunged into a massive sinkhole. By the third century many Christian leaders posited that Israel’s disappearance meant the end of her story.
O, but Israel’s story was still flowing underground, out of sight to the natural eye.
On the surface, the land given to Abraham and his descendants for an everlasting possession (Gen. 17:7–8) was trampled. For 19 centuries, numerous powers including the Romans, Muslims, Crusaders, Ottomans, and the British Empire controlled the land.
Was Israel’s hope justified? Would the ancient prophecies of Israel’s dual restoration—to their land and to the Lord—withstand time and tumult?
Would Israel’s story, like the Sante Fe River, reemerge and finish its course?
Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me, and the Lord has forgotten me.”
“Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion for the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me.” (Is. 49:14–16)
Israel’s Restoration to the Land
“Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel.”’” (Ezek. 37:21–22)
“Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring My sons from afar and My daughters from the ends of the earth.” (Is. 43:5–6)
In 1897, motivated by the rapid spread of antisemitism in Europe, Theordor Herzl, formed the Zionist Organization. He presented a vision for a Jewish state on Israel’s original homeland and galvanized the modern Zionist movement. With inspiring passion and confidence, Herzl proclaimed there would be a sovereign Jewish state on their ancient homeland within fifty years. He was correct, but he wouldn’t live to see the day.
Only God knew that before Herzl’s proclamation became a reality two world wars would devastate the nations. On top of it all, the Holocaust would destroy two-thirds of European Jewry.
In the aftermath of destruction, on November 29, 1947, the United Nations adopted Resolution 181. It was to divide the British Mandate of Palestine into two states: one Jewish and one Arab. The Arabs rejected the resolution outright and the Jews accepted it. With the approval of majority nations in hand, David Ben Gurion and 36 other Jewish leaders signed Israel’s Declaration of Independence in Tel Aviv on May 14, 1948.
Israel’s Independence in 1948 as Fulfillment of Prophecy
And just like that, Israel’s story reemerged for its subterranean riverbed. Ready to finish its God-ordained course, it burst out in the exact land God gave Abraham and his descendants 3,800 years ago. God upheld His word.
And, yes, Satan has stirred war, terrorism, and political opposition against Israel every single day since then. Their restoration to the land has not been without great cost.
In 1948, Israel’s population was 806,000 and today nearly 10 million people call Israel their home. How did it happen?
“I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them back, because I have had compassion on them; and they will be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the Lord their God and I will answer them. I will whistle for them to gather them together, for I have redeemed them; and they will be as numerous as they were before.” (Zech. 10:6, 8)
Can you picture God whistling for His people to return home from the four corners of the earth? The imagery is phenomenal.
God Raises a Banner Over Israel
Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations and set up My standard to the peoples; and they will bring your sons in their bosom, and their daughters will be carried on their shoulders.” (Isa. 49:22)
The Lord lifted His hand to the nations. He raised a banner. He exalted (same word) a sign for the peoples to rally around.
Nineteen years later, in their miraculous victory of the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel reclaimed all of Jerusalem for the first time in many centuries, another profound fulfillment of biblical prophecy.
If you have questioned God’s ability to provide your needs, to fulfill His good purposes in your life, or to perform miracles on your behalf, look at Israel’s story and be confidently assured—He is well able! What He says, He will do!
Israel’s Restoration to the Lord
The restoration of the Jewish people to their homeland in 1948 and Jerusalem under Jewish sovereignty serve as a sign to the nations. The Lord’s lifted banner was a rally point, certainly. But the Hebrew word for standard, nes, can also mean a message is being signaled.
The world would do well to take notice that the same God who restored Israel to her land will bring about Israel’s spiritual restoration. And her salvation will come with the greatest revival and spiritual awakening the world will ever see.
“It’s too small a thing that You (Messiah) should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations so that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” (Isa. 49:6)
Jesus said, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” (Matt. 24:14)
“I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” (Rev. 7:9)
The Fullness of Israel and the Gentiles
In Romans 11 Paul wrote of the “fullness” of Israel (v.12) and the “fullness of the Gentiles” (v.25). The word “fullness” in the Greek is pleroma and means “complete, filled up, and overflowing.”
The term was used to speak of a ship filled with everything needed for a voyage. It was used of God being full of goodness and of Him filling all the earth and heaven. There is no shortfall, but everything is in its place, filled to overflowing and complete. A day is coming when Israel and the Gentiles will be in a state of God’s intended fullness.
It’s a certain day, it will come!
Until then, Paul instructed us concerning Israel:
For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written,
The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob. This is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.” (Rom. 11:25–26)
When the fullness of the Gentiles comes, Israel’s partial hardening to the gospel will be removed, and those living at that time will see the Lord and receive Him. Israel’s national acceptance of the Messiah, their fullness, will come. (Zech. 12-13)
What is the fullness of the Gentiles?
- Some scholars believe it’s a number—as in, we’re waiting for all the Gentiles who will be saved to come to salvation.
- Some believe the fullness speaks of unity and coming to the fullness of the knowledge of God, this side of heaven (John 17; Eph. 4:13; Col. 1:28).
Either way, we’re not there yet.
God’s Promised Restoration
On the day of Pentecost, Peter preached that Jesus’s return will usher in “the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.” (Acts 3:21)
King Jesus will arise from His throne and the clouds will be rolled back like a scroll. He will be revealed from heaven, deal righteously with an unbelieving, rebellious world, and be glorified in all who call Him Lord—Jewish and Gentile believers alike. (2 Thess. 1:7–10)
Israel’s spiritual restoration to the Lord, like their restoration to the land, will not come without great opposition and upheaval from Satan.
Frequently Asked Questions About Israel’s Restoration
What does the Bible say about Israel’s restoration?
The prophets repeatedly foretold that Israel would be restored both to their land and to the Lord (Ezekiel 37; Isaiah 43; Romans 11).
When was Israel restored to the land?
Many Christians see the modern state of Israel established in 1948 as a remarkable fulfillment of biblical prophecy.
Will Israel experience spiritual restoration?
According to Romans 11:25–26, Ezekiel 36:22-28 and Zechariah 12–13, a future turning of Israel to the Messiah is what we can expect and look forward to.
Future Hope for Israel
The prophet Daniel wrote of “a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued” (Dan. 12:1).
We long for salvation’s fullness and for Jesus’s reign as King, are we also prepared to stand in the strength and power of the Holy Spirit during the days leading up to His return?
“Therefore, behold, I (the Lord) will allure her (Israel), bring her into the wilderness and speak kindly to her. Then I will give her her vineyards from there, and the valley of Achor (trouble) as a door of hope.
It will come about in that day,” declares the Lord, “That you will call Me Ishi (my husband) and will no longer call Me Baali (my master).
I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, in lovingkindness and in compassion, and I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the Lord. (Hosea 2:14–16, 19–20)
O Israel, your hope is alive! We speak comfort to you, Israel. Your warfare will end, your hard service will be over. We bless you and stand with you until you finish your course.