The Reunification of Israel in the Last Days

 In the days following the death of king Solomon the kingdom of Israel was divided. This was foretold to a man named Jeroboam, who became king of the ten northern tribes of Israel, while Rehoboam ruled in Judah. (1 Kings 11:29-12:24). Israel has been divided ever since. The Old Testament records the destruction of the "House of Israel" by the Assyrians, who carried them away as captives, dispersing them among the nations. 

The southern Kingdom of Judah (Benjamin also joined Judah) remained loyal to the lineage of David and existed alongside the northern kingdom as enemies until the Assyrian invasion in 722 BC. Judah eventually was carried away as well, by Babylon roughly a century later, although they were allowed to return to the land seventy years later.

Now several thousand years later, and many more dispersions as well, Israel has become a nation once again. People who had been scattered among the nations returned and are still returning. Yet Israel is more of a secular nation, and we have yet to see them live united under the Davidic throne.

The scriptures are filled with prophecies regarding the uniting of the two houses of Israel under one Davidic ruler. These are yet to be fulfilled and will be realized in their fulness at the return of the Messiah, Jesus. Let's look at a few of them.

Then it will happen on that day that the Lord will again recover the second time with His hand the remnant of His people who remain, from Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And He will lift up a standard for the nations and assemble the banished ones of Israel, and will gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. Then the jealousy of Ephraim will depart, and those who harass Judah will be cut off; Ephraim will not be jealous of Judah, and Judah will not harass Ephraim (Isaiah 11:11-13 NASB).

Here we see that Jesus will once again recover the scattered remnant of His people. The areas mentioned make up countries existing in the middle east and north Africa. Modern day countries such as Egypt, Sudan, Syria, Iraq, and Iran exist in the lands mentioned in these verses. These are some of the nations that surround Israel today, and ultimately will be gathered against her prior to the return of Christ (Ezekiel 38:1-9, Zech 12:2-3, Luke 21:20).

We also see the mention of Israel, and Judah. the Lord will gather the dispersed and banished of both Kingdoms and heal the rift between them. Jealousy and harassment will end when Jesus returns.

"For behold, days are coming, " declares the LORD, "when I will restore the fortunes of My people Israel and Judah." The LORD says, "I will also bring them back to the land that I gave to their forefathers and they shall possess it." (Jeremiah 30:3)

"At that time", declares the LORD, "I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people." (Jeremiah 31:1)

"Behold, days are coming," declares the LORD, "When I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and with the seed of beast. As I have watched over them to pluck up, to break down, to overthrow, to destroy and to bring disaster, so I will watch over them to build and to plant," declares the LORD (Jeremiah 31:27-28 NASB).

Jeremiah 30 is a chapter foretelling the restoration of Israel, both houses. However, it also foretells the hardship that both houses will go through to bring this deliverance to fruition. This time of "Jacob's distress" (Jeremiah 30:7) is what is also known as the great tribulation, the final 3 1/2 years of this age. The bitterness of the Antichrist's invasion will bring the Hebrew people to recognize their Messiah, and to repentance (Zech 12:10). Jeremiah also foretells of deliverance, salvation from their enemies, and the raising up of their messianic ruler (Jeremiah 30:8-11).

Jeremiah 31:31-34 records for us the coming "New Covenant". It is interesting to note that this covenant is made with "the house of Israel" and "the house of Judah". I think we often look at the new covenant as Gentile believers and forget who this covenant was originally made with. As Gentiles, we too are grafted in and many of us enjoy the blessings of a relationship with God made possible through this covenant sealed with the blood of Jesus. But God's chosen people Israel have not realized the blessings offered them through this covenant. To be sure, there are those who have turned to Jesus as Messiah, but we have yet to see the day when "all Israel will be saved " (Romans 11:26). This will be fulfilled at the return of Christ. God pledges that the offspring of Israel will never cease from being a nation before Him, and He will never cast them off (Jeremiah 31:35-37).

In Ezekiel 37, the vision of the "dry bones" we read about two sticks. One stick represents the house of Judah and one the house of Israel. Ezekiel is told to join the two sticks together making one stick. This prophetically represents the last days reunification of Israel,

     "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; and one king will be king for all of them; and they will no longer be two nations and no longer be divided into two kingdoms."'" (Ezekiel 37:21-22). 

The chapter goes on to speak of their cleansing of sin. God declares that they will be His People and He will be their God. Under "David" their king, they will walk in obedience, living in the land promised to their forefathers. God will make an everlasting covenant with them, dwelling in their midst forever (Ezekiel 37:23-28). So much for replacement theology which states that God has ultimately rejected Israel and replaced them with the Church. Under this system of biblical interpretation all of the promises made to Israel are spiritualized and given to the Church instead. This destroys a literal reading of the Old Testament, especially the prophetic books, and leads to a rather confusing understanding of what these books mean. Taken at face value however, it is not very hard to see that although Israel has sinned in their rejection of God, He still loves them, and will ultimately work out their salvation, and be faithful to His promise made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Hosea is a book devoted primarily to the northern kingdom, the house of Israel. It is a book of judgement, severe judgement at that. It is here we see God casting off His people (the northern kingdom), but yet also yearning for them to return to Him. In a powerful statement we see God reject His people, and then foretell of the day when they would once again be His people (Hosea 1:9-10). Chapter 1 concludes with this promise,

     And the sons of Judah and the sons of Israel will be gathered together, and they will appoint for themselves one leader, and they will go up from the land, for great will be the day of Jezreel (Hosea 1:11 NASB).

So, we see a consistent testimony in the prophetic books of the Old Testament. By the mouth of two or three witnesses let a matter be established ( 2 Cor 13:1). Once again, we read of the divided kingdoms of Israel uniting. This theme is repeated over and over by the prophets. Hosea tells us that the sons of Israel will live for many days without king or prince, without sacrifice, sacred pillar, ephod or idol. But they will come trembling to the Lord in the last days (Hosea 3:4-5).  In Hosea 5:15 we read that in their affliction they will earnestly seek God. In a famous passage often used at Christmas time we read of the coming of Christ to Bethlehem. However, this entails much more than the birth of Jesus! In this passage we read of the regathering of Israel in the last days, the deliverance from the Assyrian (Antichrist), and the Rule of the Messiah (Micah 5:1-15).

The prophetic ministry of Amos concerned the northern kingdom of Israel. At the end of the book, we read that the day will come when the fallen booth of David is restored. Someday the two nations will once again live under the Davidic rule, with Jesus as their king. In this age the captivity of Israel will be restored. They will never again be uprooted from their land. But first will come a shaking in the land. God will bring judgement to the house of Israel before all of this can come to pass (Amos 9:9-15).

The Apostle Paul leaves us with a good word of advice. He does not want us to be ignorant of what will someday take place, lest we become wise in our own eyes,

     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 fulness of the Gentiles has come in; and 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." (Romans 11:25-27 NASB)

Yes, there is a partial hardening of the Jews at this point. The natural branches have been cut off, and wild branches (Gentile believers) have been grafted in. but God has not cast off His people forever but will someday graft them in once again (Romans 11:17-24).