Some Things to Watch.

There is something potentially happening in the not too distant future that will be a notable signpost of the days that we live in.

The Temple Institute in Israel has recently announced that they have several red heifers pure enough for sacrifice. (See Numbers 19:1-22)

This might not be something most Christians are looking for, or even aware of, but it is an important link in the events leading up to the final days, and the return of Christ.

Something the Jews have not had since 70 AD. is a temple or the sacrifices associated with temple worship. This is something many of them deeply desire, as they desire to adhere to the Mosaic system of worship, but have been unable to do so for nearly 2,000 years now.

They are training men to be priests, and have plans for a temple already to go. However there are a couple of things that need to happen first, before a temple can be built and sacrifices resume.

The purpose of the red heifer sacrifice was to make the water of cleansing. This was sprinkled on anyone who became defiled by contact with a dead body. According to the Temple Institute website there have been 9 red heifers sacrificed from the time of Moses up until the second temple period. This sacrifice would be the first one since then. The purpose of the water of cleansing would be to purify the site where the temple would be built. So it is a necessary thing that would have to be done before a temple would be built and the sacrificial system reinstated.

They are tentatively planning to sacrifice one of these heifers sometime between Passover and the Feast of weeks (Pentecost). That's coming up quickly here in the next couple months.

People have asked me why God would want a temple in the last days. After all, Jesus is our sacrifice. The point is however, the Bible predicts it. Remember, the Jews want their temple and sacrifices to resume. They don't follow Jesus as Messiah at this  point.

The Bible predicts a seven year period prior to the return of Christ where a treaty is made with many nations. This treaty is confirmed by a man who will ultimately be revealed as the Antichrist. There are not a lot of details about this covenant in the Bible, but one can assume that is made with the surrounding Muslim nations and perhaps contains some kind of "two state solution" that would allow the building of a temple on the temple mount, perhaps next to the dome of the rock. This would fit with what it states in Revelation 11:1-2. If the temple was next to the  mosque there would be room for it without a courtyard, the area the mosque sits on would be "given to the gentiles who will trample the city for forty two months."

This would be the next necessary step in building the temple and reinstating the sacrifices. At the mid point of this seven year period the Antichrist will stop the sacrifices, place the abomination of desolation, and sit in the temple declaring that he is god. 

All of this is prophecied beforehand.

This is the point that the time of Jacobs trouble begins, finally ending three and one half years later at Christ's return.

This will be interesting to keep an eye on. These heifers must be spotless. If there is one discolored hair, that animal is rejected. As I stated, I believe they have three at this point that they can use. Time will tell, keep an eye on this, and be ready for what is yet to come.

(See Daniel 8:9-12, 9:24-27, Matt 24:15-22, 2Thess 2:3-4)

Filthy Garments

I have sat through numerous Bible studies, Sunday school classes, and listened to sermons on the subject of our righteous deeds being like filthy rags. It goes something like this, "on our best day, all of our obedience, and our very best for God, is nothing but filthy rags in His sight." I have even read some theologians who go on to say all of our deeds, even what is done for God must be covered in the blood of Jesus because of their filthiness. Isaiah 64:6 is quoted as the proof text to back up this doctrine. 

However, no one ever takes the context into consideration, taking this one verse by itself to make a doctrine. Let's look at this in its context to see what Isaiah is saying here.

First of all, the audience, and subjects of this prophecy, in fact, the majority of the prophetic book of Isaiah, are the Israelites. To narrow it down further, the southern kingdom of Judah was whom Isaiah primarily ministered to. A common mistake people make when interpreting Old Testament passages is to assume that the passage is speaking to the Church. While we can apply principles and precepts found in these passages to us today, if we fail to understand that these prophecies and promises apply to Israel first and foremost, we muddy the waters, and have problems understanding the passage.

It is vital to us to understand the theme of Isaiah, and then what are the surrounding chapters, and surrounding verses telling us. This is what I intend to do in this post.

Isaiah confronts a nation who has turned from God. His message is one of indictment, judgement, and future redemption. (See Isaiah 1:1-31). Many of the prophecies deal with the near future Babylonian captivity, yet in the long term, the time of the great tribulation and the coming of the Messiah as Israel's deliverer are in view. Often these themes overlap each other.

As we look at the immediate chapters around chapter 64 we again read of indictment (Isaiah 59:1-8). In a passage very much like Isaiah 64:4-7, a confession of the nations utter wickedness is made (Isaiah 59:9-14). Salvation is far from them due to their sinfulness. This is a people who as a whole have abandoned the Lord and live totally in sinful rebellion. As we read these passages we see a nation under judgement. Their land lies desolate, the sanctuary destroyed. Again, the captivity in Babylon, and ultimately the desolation of the last days are in view.

This period of desolation is the backdrop for chapter 64 which is a plea for the Lord to come and deliver His people. But as one reads through this chapter it becomes painfully obvious that it is sin that has caused this nation to be in the situation it is in. Isaiah 64:5-7 is a confession of their continuance in sin, and an acknowledgement of the just anger of the Lord. The question is asked "How can we be saved?" They go on to acknowledge that their righteousness is like a filthy garment, their iniquities, like the wind, have carried them away.

Although they kept up the ritual aspects of the law, they had departed from the Lord, and He had withdrawn from them. They had no righteousness, even their fasts and sacrifices were an abomination to God, as they flowed out of hypocrisy.

This passage is not teaching us that as Christians our obedience, our good works that flow out of a heart that loves God and desires to please Him, are tainted. Righteous acts that flow from right motives are not filthy rags in God's sight, in fact the opposite is true. Revelation 19:8 states that fine linen robes, bright and clean represent the righteous deeds of the saints.

I would agree that deeds done out of selfish motives, or hypocrisy are not righteous at all. But one who is made right through Jesus Christ will live right. That is what righteousness is, and that individual is pleasing to God.

Again, this passage is speaking of God's people who have grievously departed from Him in their hearts and in their conduct. They are under His chastening hand, and in their cry for deliverance they confess their sinful state. That is what this passage means in its proper context.

The day will come when Israel is once again desolate, they cry out in repentance and find restoration, as they finally recognize their Messiah.

The Branch of the LORD.

In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel. Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem. The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgement and fire. Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory will be a canopy. It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain (Isaiah 4:2-6 NIV).

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest upon him- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of council and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD -and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decides by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. In that day the root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious. In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from lower Egypt, from upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the sea. He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth. Ephraim's jealousy will vanish, and Judah's enemies will be cut off; Ephraim will not be jealous of Judah, nor Judah hostile toward Ephraim. They will swoop down on the slopes of Philistia to the west; together they will plunder the people to the east. They will lay hands on Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites will be subject to them.The LORD will dry up the gulf of the Egyptian sea; with a scorching wind he will swep his hand over the Euphrates River. He will break it into seven streams so that men can cross over in sandals. There will be a highway for the remnant of his people that is left from Assyria, as there was for Israel when they came up from Egypt (Isaiah 11:1-16 NIV)

Ever since the fall in the garden recorded in Genesis 3, people have been seeking one to come and make everything right again. We see this in the statement Eve makes at the birth of Seth, "God hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew" (Gen 4:25, see Gen 3:15).

Lamech, the Father of Noah hoped that his son was the one to come who would reverse the curse on the ground (Gen 4:29).

Ultimately God raised up Abram with whom He made a covenant, promising to make a nation out of him, and giving him the land where He had called him to dwell. This covenant was made through Abraham's son Isaac, and Isaac's son Jacob who became the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. It is through this nation that the Messiah is to come.

The biblical history of Israel is filled with tragedy. Called and chosen by God as his special people to represent Him before the world, they turned from Him over and over again, ultimately being removed from the land that was sworn to Abraham as an eternal possession.

But God is faithful to His covenant promises, and the story does not end there. While we as Christians today recognize Jesus as the Messiah, the one who died for our sins, arose from the dead and is coming again, Israel is still waiting for their Messiah. They did not recognize Him at His first appearance some two thousand years ago, and are waiting for one to come, who in fulfillment of prophecy, will deliver the from their enemies and restore them as a nation once again.

In several places in the Bible, and particularly the Old Testament we read of one called the Branch. Two of these passage are quoted above. Someday this Branch, the long awaited Messiah, will come and deliver His people Israel from the nations surrounding them. At this point they will recognize Him as Jesus, the one they pierced and be restored as God's chosen people (Zechariah 12:10-13:2). 

Old Testament prophecy ultimately points to this day when Israel returns to the Lord their God, is cleansed from their sin, and once again lives in the land promised so many years ago to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They will live in peace; in fact the world will experience a peace it has never known since the fall of man, under the rule of the promised Messiah. This land is the place that the Lord God has chosen as His resting place forever. It is here that He will dwell (Psalm 132:13-15). 

The scriptures speak of a time of deliverance for Israel, a time when they will be brought back out of the lands where they have been driven because of their sin,

"Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as King and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: 'The LORD is our righteousness.' Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when they shall no longer say, 'As the LORD lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,' but 'As the LORD lives who brought up and led the offspring of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.' Then they shall dwell in their own land." (Jeremiah 23:5-7 ESV)

The Messiah is to come from the lineage of David. God established a covenant with him that he would never lack a man to sit on his throne (2 Sam 7:22-16, 1Chronicles 17:9-14). We read in Jeremiah 33,

'Behold the days are coming,' says the LORD, 'That I will perform that good thing which I have promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah: in those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David a Branch of righteousness; He shall execute judgement and righteousness in the earth. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell safely. And this is the name by which she will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.' (Jeremiah 33:14-16 NKJV)

In those days the Messiah will deliver Israel, and sit upon the throne of David forever. "For this says the LORD: 'David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel.'" (Jeremiah 33:27)

At this time Israel's sin is put away as well. Numerous passages of scripture foretell the day when they are cleansed and restored. For this post I would like to look at Joshua the high priest in Zechariah 3:1-10. Joshua is standing before the Angel of the LORD, facing the accusations of Satan. He is clothed with filthy garments, which are removed from him representing the removal of his sin. He is then clothed with rich robes, and a clean turban.

Joshua symbolically represents Israel in this vision as we read on,

'Hear, O Joshua, the high priest,you and your companions who sit before you, for they are a wondrous sign; for behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the BRANCH. For behold, the stone that I have laid before Joshua: Upon the stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave its inscription,' says the LORD of hosts, 'And I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.' (Zech 3:8-9)

The final passage I will look at is found in Zechariah 6 and speaks again of the millennial reign of Christ. Zechariah's ministry was to the exiles who had returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian captivity to rebuild the temple. It is in this context that he foresaw the building of a future temple in the days of the Messiah.

"Then speak to him, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts saying: Behold the man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He shall Branch out, and He shall build the temple of the LORD; Yes, He shall build the temple of the LORD. He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule on His throne; so shall He be a priest on His throne; and the council of peace shall be between them both."' (Zech 6:12-13 NKJV)

The day is coming when Jerusalem will be the center of worship. All the nations will come to worship Jesus the Messiah. His glory will cover the earth (Isaiah 60:1-22). In a touching vision of God's great love for His wayward people, we see imagery of a marriage in the first passage quoted from Isaiah above. When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and purged the bloodshed of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgement and the spirit of burning, then the LORD will create over the whole area if Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, even smoke, and the brightness of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory will be a canopy (Isaiah 4:4-5 NASB).

Every Jewish wedding takes place under a canopy. In a stunning passage we see an allusion to the presence of God with the children of Israel who fled Egypt so long ago. The Angel of the LORD (the pre-incarnate Christ) accompanied them in a cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night. At His second coming He is coming to redeem His chosen people Israel, and to consummate the betrothal He made with them at Sinai. His wayward bride will return to Him and find grace, as He washes their sin away. 

There are those within the Church who believe that God has permanently cast off Israel, that He is done with them and has replaced them with the Church. According to this error, all the promises made on behalf of Israel have been transferred to the Church to be fulfilled in a spiritual way. This erroneous teaching could not be further from the truth. The scriptures consistently show that the day is coming when the Lord God will fulfill the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 

God's latter days Promise to Israel

 The book of Deuteronomy finds the Israelite people preparing to enter the promised land. Forty years have passed in the wilderness. The older generation who refused to enter years ago have all died in the wilderness. This is the younger generation, those who God would allow to enter, 

We find Moses, throughout this book, reminding these people of God and His law. He instructs them in the ways of the Lord and warns them of the consequences of turning away from God. In fact, he knows that the time will come when they forsake the Lord their God. 

"So watch yourselves, that you do not forget the covenant of the LORD your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a graven image in the form of anything against which the LORD your God has commanded you. For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. When you become the father of children and children's children and have remained long in the land, and acted corruptly, and make an idol in the form of anything, and do that which is evil in the sight of the LORD your God so as to provoke Him to anger, I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that you will surely perish quickly from the land where you are going over the Jordan to possess it. You shall not live long on it, but will be utterly destroyed. The LORD will scatter you among the peoples and you will be left few in number among the nations where the LORD drives you. There you will serve gods, the work of man's hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell (Deut 4:23-28).

Moses warns them that if they forsake their God, if they turn to idols, they will be severely punished. They will be driven off the land they possess, scattered among the nations, and left few in number. And indeed, Moses was right. Years later the Assyrian empire carried off the northern kingdom of Israel for her unfaithfulness, followed by the Babylonian invasion of Judah a little over a century later. Again, we see them banished from Israel by the Romans in 70AD, and only recently, since 1948, have they settled in their land again.

Yet they have not returned to the Lord their God, and will still face one more time of tribulation, one more time when they will be scattered among the nations as captives. However they have a promise. Daniel claimed this promise and acted upon it as the days of the Babylonian captivity were drawing to a close (see Daniel 9:1-19). What was this promise?

"But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul. When you are in distress and all these things have come upon you, in the latter days you will return to the LORD your God and listen to His voice. For the LORD your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them". (Deut 4:29-31 NASB)

If they would repent in the time of their distress, and seek the Lord with all of their heart, God would be faithful to hear them, and deliver them. He has made a solemn covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to establish their descendants in the land that he would give them forever (Genesis 15:18, 17:19, 22:17-18, 26:3-5, 35:9-12).

It is interesting to note that Moses tells the people that they will return to the Lord in the last days. In His lament over Jerusalem, Jesus says, "For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, 'BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD.' " (Matt 23:39) In other words, they would not see Him until they recognize Him as their Messiah. The day is coming when they will be surrounded by their enemies. At their lowest point they will look upon the one whom they pierced and mourn for Him. A fountain of cleansing will be opened for their sin, and it will be removed for the nation in one day (Zech 12:10-13:1, 3:9).

The Apostle Paul quoting Isaiah 59:20-21 says this, "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."

Grace in the Wilderness

 For the LORD'S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him (Deut 32:9-12 KJV).

Deuteronomy 32 contains what is known as the song of Moses. It was to be a witness against them on the day that they would break their covenant with God and face the evils that would come upon them as a result (Deut 31:19-21). 

In the above passage quoted we read of the very beginning of Israel's relationship with God as a nation. This recounts the desert experience out of Egypt, and God's care and provision for His people, as He led them through the wilderness. It was here that God cared for them for forty years. And they lacked nothing (Deut 2:7). 

Now in the time of their backsliding, God calls them to remember their beginning,

Moreover the word of the LORD came to me saying, Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown, Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD (Jeremiah 2:1-3 KJV).

The covenant made at Sinai was in effect a marriage between the Lord God, and His people Israel. Now they were unfaithful. They had turned from Him to serve other gods. They had broken the covenant and committed adultery. God asks what iniquity they had found in Him that would cause them to walk after vanity? Why did they not seek Him who had brought them through the wilderness, and into the land of plenty (Jeremiah 2:4-7)?

The immediate context of the book of Jeremiah is that of the Babylonian captivity. Much of the prophecy contained within it pertains to this. However, as with many prophecies found in scripture there is a future application as well. While the Babylonian captivity is often the focus here, the future is in view as well.

Hosea is a book of God's love, and Israels' unfaithfulness. Once again, the concept of marriage is in focus here. We get a glimpse of God's anger, his jealousy for His unfaithful bride. Yet we also see His love and desire to bring her back to Himself. Although God would bring judgement against the nation, His judgement was also intended to bring His wayward bride back in repentance (Hosea 2:1-23). In what is to be a future fulfillment of prophecy we read this,

     Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. And I will give her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt. And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shall call me no more Baali. For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name. And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely. And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgement, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD (Hosea 2:14-20 KJV).

At this point in time Israel is still an unfaithful wife. We have not yet seen the day when they return to the Lord in godly sorrow as a nation. This is yet to come (Zech 12:10-14). First must come the valley of Achor.

Joshua 7 records the sad story of Achan and the trouble he brought upon Israel on account of his sin. As a result of his taking some of the spoil out of Jericho, things that had been devoted to God, and were not to be taken by the people themselves, God's favor was withdrawn from the camp of Israel. When his sin was discovered, he was stoned along with his family and possessions. Only then did God's favor return again to Israel. Before he was stoned Joshua asked him why he had troubled Israel, and then told him that the LORD would trouble him that day. The place where he was put to death was called the valley of Achor, which means trouble (Joshua 7:24-26).

In Hosea we read that the valley of Achor, or trouble, will become a door of Hope. It will be through extreme distress that Israel will reach the point where she returns to her husband (Isaiah 54:5). 

Jesus speaks of a day to come when Israel must flee to the mountains. And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all the things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! For there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. 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 (Luke 21:20-24 KJV).  

In a parallel passage Jesus mentions the abomination of desolation as the signal to flee (Matt 24:15-22). It will be a time of Great tribulation such as the world has never seen. This coincides with the revealing of the man of sin (Antichrist) mentioned in 2 Thess 2:3-9).The city will be trodden underfoot by the Gentiles for 42 months (Rev 11:2).

In Revelation 12:1-17 we read of a sign in heaven. A woman clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars upon her head represents Israel. This woman gives birth to a child who represents the Messiah, Jesus. A dragon with seven heads and ten horns represents Satan who tries to destroy this child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron (Psalm 2:1-12). We have seen in biblical history how Satan has used various empires to wipe out Israel in an attempt to stop the coming of the Messiah. Think about the slavery in Egypt, and the edict to throw the male babies in the Nile, or Herod's command to destroy the male children under two years of age, an attempt to destroy the child who was to be the king of Israel. 

This child is caught up to the throne of God and Satan turns his attention toward the woman who flees into the wilderness to a place prepared by God, where she is fed for 1,260 days (Rev 12:6). One thousand two hundred sixty days comes out to 3 1/2 years. 

Coinciding with the revealing of the Antichrist, I believe, is the war in heaven where Satan is cast to the earth. It will be a time of unequaled woe in the earth. Satan will pour out his great wrath, as he knows his time is short (Rev 12:7-13). He persecutes the woman (Israel) who is given two wings of a great eagle that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place where she is nourished for a time, times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent (Rev 12:14).

This also refers to 3 1/2 years (see Daniel 7:23-25, 12:7, Rev 13:5). The final seven-year period on this earth as we know it will be split in half, with the final three- and one-half years known as the great tribulation. This will be the time of Jacob's trouble, yet he will be saved out of it (Jeremiah 30:7). We see here the loving care of God. He knows what it will take to bring His erring people back to Himself. He also knows how to preserve them through this greatest of all trials. Indeed, the valley of Achor will be a door of hope. God will bring His erring people back to their beginning so to speak. He will bring them literally into the wilderness where He will once again speak tenderly to them.

     

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).