Israel’s captivity and dispersion

The majority of prophecies in the Old Testament refer to what will happen to Israel when Israel does not follow the commands of God. Only a few are listed here.

God’s warnings and reasons (Deuteronomy 28:15-16,36-68).

The Lord will scatter Israel because of Israel’s sins (1 Kings 14:15).

Israel to be carried off to Babylon (Isaiah 39:6-7).

Judah’s captivity (Jeremiah 13:19).

Israel to wander among the nations (the prophecy of the “wandering Jew”) (Hosea 9:17).

Israel to go into exile (Amos 7:11,17).

Notice that because of God’s promises to Abraham, Israel would never be totally destroyed but would always have a remnant.

The return of Israel – God’s part

This is one group of prophecies that cannot be argued against because it has happened in this century. Some of these prophecies won’t be fulfilled until the time of the Messiah.

God’s promise of restoral (Deuteronomy 30:1-7, Jeremiah 23:3, Ezekiel 20:34-44, 36:1-12, Micah 2:12, Zephaniah 3:20, Zechariah 10:6, Isaiah 11:11-12). “the second time” refers to the recent regathering of Israel.

God to restore Israel for His own name’s sake, not for something Israel has done (Ezekiel 36:22-24).

Israel will be called God’s Redeemed (Psalms 107:1-43).

God will fight for Israel (Zechariah 14:1-21). The plague that the enemies of Yahweh suffer seems similar to being exposed to a nuclear attack. Yahweh will destroy his enemies with fire (Isaiah 66:15).

The future words of an oath (Jeremiah 16:14-15).

“Dem bones, dem bones…” – The vision of the dry bones ( Ezekiel 37:1-14, Hosea 13:14). Right now, the state of Israel is at verse 8. The nation has been and is being regathered from their “graves” (the nations where they were scattered), but it is not spiritually alive.

Israel’s offerings will be accepted by God as before (Malachi 3:4).

God is the mover of these events (Lamentations 3:37-39).

The return of Israel – General references

Israel will be too small for the Jews. This is a very relevant passage considering the situation there today (Isaiah 49:19-21, Zechariah 10:9-10).

Israel’s boundaries to be extended (Micah 7:8-13)

Israel’s economy to be restored (Jeremiah 32:42-44, Zechariah 1:17).

The Jews to return to live in Jerusalem (Zechariah 8:6-8, Isaiah 27:12-13).

The “age” of the Gentiles will come to an end (Luke 21:24).

Israel will return from the land of the north. This is another relevant passage for today. The ark of the covenant will also not be remembered, implying that it will not be found (despite today’s rumors to the contrary) (Jeremiah 3:16-18).

It is interesting to note that in Ezekiel’s description of the future temple in Jerusalem (chapters 40 and following), there is no mention of the ark of the covenant (Ezekiel 41:1-26).

Israel returns from the west. This can be Europe and America, which are considered western geographically and culturally (Hosea 11:10-11).

Israel’s judges to be restored (Isaiah 1:26).

Jerusalem and all of Israel to be at peace. This hasn’t happened yet, and won’t until the Messiah (Jesus) comes (Isaiah 33:17-20, Isaiah 40:1-2).

The Gentiles to help the Jews return and rebuild Israel. The United States has had some part in this. This refers to gentiles specifically; not non-Israeli Jews (Isaiah 49:8-22, Isaiah 60:10-22).

After a time of captivity, Israel will be restored (Jeremiah 29:1-30:24). The passage refers to the return from the Babylonian captivity, which occurred 70 years after it started. The next chapter refers to the return from the world-wide dispersion of Israel in the last days.

Judah and Israel to be reunited (Hosea 1:10-11).

Israel to seek God in the end (Hosea 3:4-5).

Israel to be completely restored (Amos 9:11-15). The new temple will be built on the old temple mount where the Dome of the Rock is now.

Jerusalem will be a city without walls, which is true today ( Zechariah 2:1-13).