Apocalypse Rising: 12b Israel's Future Prophetic History

Israel’s future prophetic history

As we will see below, the future history of Israel, the city of Jerusalem, and the Jewish people – from the time of 70 AD onwards right up to the Second Advent of Christ and beyond – has been foretold and laid out in Scripture. This is true of no other nation or people in the entire history of the world, and it underlines just how significant Israel, the city of Jerusalem, and the Jewish people are in God’s purposes, especially in the end-times.

This future prophetic history of Israel from the time of 70 AD onwards is traced below with supporting Scripture references. For the sake of space, I have limited the number of references, even though there are many others. We can see from the points below that many of the elements of Israel’s prophetic history as recorded in Scripture have already come true, especially since 1948. Furthermore, the observant reader will also see that the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants of God with Israel and the Jewish people, which were briefly discussed above, will be fulfilled during the millennial reign of Christ.

1. The city and temple would be destroyed, and the Jews would be dispersed among all the nations of the world

This was fulfilled in 70 AD after the Roman armies under general Titus had surrounded and besieged Jerusalem, and then destroyed both the city and the temple. Over a million Jews were killed, and the survivors were taken as prisoners or slaves into the nations:

‘When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near.’ (Luke 21:20)

‘There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations.’ (Luke 21:23-24)

‘Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”’ (Matt. 24:1-2)

2. The land would for the most part lie desolate

The prophetic promise below records not only that the land would lie desolate, but also that it would one day be restored:

‘On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt. The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. They will say, “This land that was laid waste has become like Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited.” Then the nations around you will know that I the Lord have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate.’ (Ezek. 36:33-36)

3. The city of Jerusalem would be trampled on by the nations until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled

From 70 AD onwards (but especially after 135 AD), the city was taken over and ruled by the Gentile powers (firstly by the Romans, and then, after 638 AD, by various Islamic empires).[1] This period lasted until 1948/1967 AD, when Israel became a nation state again and then gained control over the whole city of Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War. The so-called ‘times of the Gentiles’ lasted from 606/587 BC until 1948/1967 AD.

‘Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.’ (Luke 21:24)

4. God would re-establish the nation state of Israel

This took place on 29th November 1947 when the UN resolution adopted the plan to partition the mandated land in Palestine, and gave the Jews the right to (a part of) their historic homeland. This was followed on 14th May 1948 by the declaration of Israel as a modern sovereign nation state:

‘You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favour to her; the appointed time has come.’ (Ps. 102:13)

‘Who has ever heard of such things? Who has ever seen things like this? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labour than she gives birth to her children.’ (Isa. 66:8)

5. Their land would be divided

When the Turkish Islamic Ottoman Empire was defeated during World War 1, the land of Palestine was placed under the British Mandate. Although the Balfour Declaration of 1917 resolved to return their historic homeland to the Jews, yet this promise was never honoured. The land was divided up on a map by the powers that be, and only a very small part of it was assigned to the Jews for their homeland. This partitioning of the land continued with the UN resolution of 1947. The present borders of Israel have become an international bone of contention since 1967 when they expanded as a result of the Six-Day War. This division of the land (and that of the city of Jerusalem into western and eastern parts) will continue as a bone of contention right into the end-times.[2]

‘In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among all nations and divided up my land.’ (Joel 3:1-2)

6. God will bring the Jewish people back to Israel from all the lands where they have been scattered

Although there had always been a relatively small number of Jewish people living in or around the land, yet, since 1948 in particular, there has been a growing desire among Jewish people worldwide to return to live in Israel. From about 700,000 in 1947, the Jewish population of Israel has increased dramatically and presently numbers around 8.6 million:

‘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.’ (Isa. 11:11-12)

‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land… You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God.’ (Ezek. 36:24,28)

‘I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel.’ (Ezek. 37:21-22)

7. God would restore the fruitfulness of the land

The prophetic promises of restoration, rebuilding and fruitfulness spoken in ancient times by Ezekiel have been fulfilled in modern-day Israel in an astounding way since 1948, with great all-round economic and technological growth, steady growth in GDP, and a developing worldwide export market:

‘But you, O mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit for my people Israel, for they will soon come home. I am concerned for you and will look on you with favour; you will be ploughed and sown, and I will multiply the number of people upon you, even the whole house of Israel. The towns will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. I will increase the number of men and animals upon you, and they will be fruitful and become numerous. I will settle people on you as in the past and will make you prosper more than before.’ (Ezek. 36:8-11)

‘I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famine.’ (Ezek. 36:30)

8. God would build them up and their army will become powerful

In its growth as a nation since 1948, Israel has developed one of the most powerful military forces in the Middle East:

‘So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet – a vast army.’ (Ezek. 37:10)

9. They would be a united people with a common language once again

Not only would the Jewish people as an ethnic race survive their long worldwide dispersion, and then return to their ancient homeland, their Hebrew language would also survive:

‘Ephraim’s jealousy will vanish, and Judah’s hostility will be cut off; Ephraim will not be jealous of Judah, nor Judah hostile toward Ephraim.’ (Isa. 11:13)

‘For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.’ (Zeph. 3:9 AV)

10. They would be attacked by neighbouring states in order to destroy them and take their land

‘Because you harboured an ancient hostility and delivered the Israelites over to the sword at the time of their calamity… Because you have said, “These two nations and countries will be ours and we will take possession of them,” even though I the Lord was there… Because you rejoiced when the inheritance of Israel became desolate, that is how I will treat you.’ (Ezek. 35:5,10,15)

‘“Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more… Let us take possession of the pasture-lands of God.”’ (Ps. 83:4,12)

The ancient hostility (summed up above by the prophet Ezekiel) which the Israelites experienced repeatedly from surrounding nations throughout the Old Testament, to deprive them of their land and to destroy them as a people, continued after 1948 and does so still. When Israel was declared a nation state again in 1948, they were immediately attacked by five of the surrounding nations. The Israelis won this war and established their fledgling homeland. After the Suez Crisis of 1956, Israel was attacked again in 1967 and 1973. Each time, Israel won against massive odds. As a result of the Six-Day War conflict in 1967, the Israelis gained control of the Golan Heights, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. There have been further conflicts in Lebanon in 1982 and 2006, and in Gaza with Hamas in 2008-2009, 2014 and 2023-2024.

The ancient hostility of these surrounding nations is summed up in the conspiracy outlined in Psalm 83. These nations and their modern-day equivalents are listed in Table 12.1 on the next page. Anyone who keeps abreast of current affairs in the Middle East can see how this ancient hostility is still being played out today over the existence of the state Israel and the presence of Jewish people there. These surrounding modern-day nations are all Islamic.

The Conspiracy of Psalm 83

Nation / people

Modern-day equivalent

Edom, Ammon, Moab, the Hagrites

Jordan

Assyria, Gebal

Syria / Iraq

Ishmaelites, Amalekites (descendants of Esau)

Sinai / Egypt

Philistia

Gaza (Hamas)

The people of Tyre

Lebanon (Hezbollah)

Table 12.1 The conspiracy of Psalm 83

11. The city of Jerusalem will be an international bone of contention

As I said above, the present borders of Israel have become an international bone of contention since 1967 when they expanded as a result of the Six-Day War. This division of the land, and that of the city of Jerusalem, will continue as a bone of contention right into the end-times:[3]

‘I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling… On that day, when all nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves.’ (Zech. 12:2-3)

12. The number of Jews who receive Jesus as their Messiah will slowly but steadily increase

There will be a relatively small but steady increase in the number of Jews who will receive Jesus as their Messiah. At the time of writing, the number of messianic Jews in Israel is reckoned to be around 15,000 or so.

‘I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.’ (Ezek. 36:26-27)

‘…they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you [Gentiles].’ (Rom. 11:31)

13. Israel’s territory will expand, and there will be a peace treaty covenant between Israel and the surrounding nations

Israel will eventually overcome the hostility of the surrounding nations, and she will enter into an agreement with them which brings peace. By then, Israel will have invaded and taken over parts of the territory of some of those nations, expanding into the territory they themselves possessed in ancient times. God will visit judgement upon these nations because of their hostility and hatred of the Jewish people, and he will use Israel to do this. What they intended to do to the Jews will itself be visited upon them. Israel will then enjoy a period of peace and prosperity, and this will lead into the time of the Gog–Magog invasion. This territorial expansion of Israel can already be seen in part in the changes to the borders since 1967. Many commentators believe that the present Abraham Accords are the basis of the peace agreement which will be made. When Antichrist arises, he will affirm this covenant before then breaking it after 3½ years (see below and also chapter 20).

‘I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will execrate.’ (Gen. 12:3)

‘As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head.’ (Obad. v.15)

‘Because you rejoiced when the inheritance of Israel became desolate, that is how I will treat you.’ (Ezek. 35:15)

‘People from the Negev will occupy the mountains of Esau, and people from the foothills will possess the land of the Philistines. They will occupy the fields of Ephraim and Samaria, and Benjamin will possess Gilead.’ (Obad. v.19)

‘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.’ (Isa. 11:14)

‘“Then Israel will drive out those who drove her out,” says the Lord.’ (Jer. 49:2)

‘See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins.’ (Isa. 17:1)

14. The Gog–Magog war

This is dealt with in the next chapter.

15. After the rapture, at the beginning of the day of God’s wrath, 144,000 Jewish males will be sealed by God to serve him in the tribulation period

Because the focus of God’s redemptive purpose comes onto the Jewish people after the rapture, God will seal this number of Jewish men for their ministry during that period (see chapters 16 and 20).

‘“Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.’ (Rev. 7:3-8)

16. Antichrist will confirm for seven years a covenant of many nations with Israel

He will do this at the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week, the seven-year period commonly called ‘the tribulation’ (see chapter 20).

‘He will confirm a covenant with many for one “seven.”’ (Dan. 9:27)

17. The temple will be rebuilt (therefore becoming the third temple)

This will take place during the time of the sixth trumpet, at the beginning of the first half of the seven-year period (see chapter 20). The imagery of measurement used in Revelation 11:1-2 is taken from Zechariah chs.1-2 and signifies a work of rebuilding:

‘I was given a reed like measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshippers. But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles.’ (Rev. 11:1-2, cf. Zech. 1:16-17, 2:1-4)

18. God will raise up two powerful prophetic witnesses in Israel who will minister for 1,260 days

These two men will prophesy in Israel (and especially in Jerusalem) during the first half of the seven-year period, in the latter part of the days of the sixth trumpet (see chapter 20). Their message will evidently be heard worldwide during these 1,260 days. Presumably, many people, in particular among the Jews, will turn to God in repentance through their message.

‘And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. These men have power to shut up the sky so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.’ (Rev. 11:3-6)

19. Many Jews will receive Jesus as their Messiah and will be witnesses to the nations

Although many Jews will have become believers before the seven-year period, yet this is the time when many more will accept Jesus as their Messiah.

‘And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they shall look unto me whom they have pierced…’ (Zech. 12:10 ASV)

‘On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.’ (Zech. 13:1)

‘And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.’ (Matt. 24:14)

20. Antichrist will break the covenant with Israel half-way through the seven years

He will betray and break the covenant which he had previously confirmed (see chapter 20).

‘In the middle of the “seven” he will put an end to sacrifice and offering.’ (Dan. 9:27)

21. He will invade Israel, and Jerusalem will be captured

In his rage, Satan will cause Antichrist to invade the land and capture the city, and to then attempt to destroy the Jewish people, in order to deprive the Lord Jesus of his inheritance when he returns (see chapter 21).

‘He will invade many countries… He will also invade the Beautiful Land.’ (Dan. 11:40-41)

‘I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured…’ (Zech. 14:2)

‘[The beast] was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them.’ (Rev. 13:7)

‘Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring – those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.’ (Rev. 12:17)

22. Antichrist will kill the two prophetic witnesses, but they will be resurrected after three-and-a-half days and will then be taken up into heaven

‘Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower them and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. The inhabitants of the earth will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth. But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud while their enemies looked on.’ (Rev. 11:7-12)

23. Antichrist will set up his seat of power in Jerusalem for forty-two months

Having taken the city of Jerusalem, Antichrist will reign there for the forty-two months of the Great Tribulation:

‘[The Gentiles] will trample the holy city for 42 months.’ (Rev. 11:2)

‘The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months… It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them.’ (Rev. 13:5,7)

‘He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain.’ (Dan. 11:45)

24. He will set up the abomination of desolation: he will sit in the temple and declare himself to be God

He will do this after he invades and conquers Israel and Jerusalem, at the mid-point of the seven-year period (see chapter 20). This will be the sign that the Great Tribulation is about to begin:

‘He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.’ (2 Thess. 2:4)

‘And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.’ (Dan. 9:27)

25. In the Great Tribulation, Antichrist will attempt to slaughter all the Jews in the land, but God will reserve a believing remnant unto himself. This is known as the time of Jacob’s trouble.

This will be Satan’s final attempt to wipe out the Jews. The same spirit that worked through men such as Haman and others in history to try to annihilate the Jews will also work through Antichrist.

‘For then there will be great distress, unequalled from the beginning of the world until now – and never to be equalled again.’ (Matt. 24:21)

‘These are the words the Lord spoke concerning Israel and Judah: “This is what the Lord says: ‘Cries of fear are heard – terror not peace. Ask and see: Can a man bear children? Then why do I see every strong man with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labour, every face turned deathly pale? How awful that day will be! None will be like it. It will be a time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved out of it.’”’ (Jer. 30:4-7)

‘“In the whole land,” declares the LORD, “two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one-third will be left in it. This third I will bring into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, “They are my people,” and they will say, “The LORD is our God.”’ (Zech. 13:8-9)

‘There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people – everyone whose name is found written in the book – will be delivered.’ (Dan. 12:1)

26. The divided city of Jerusalem will be united under Antichrist as Jews are forcibly removed from their half of the city

‘I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city.’ (Zech. 14:2)

27. A remnant of believing Jews will escape and find safety and refuge

‘So when you see standing in the holy place “the abomination that causes desolation,” spoken of through the prophet Daniel – let the reader understand – then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath.’ (Matt. 24:15-20)

‘The woman fled into the desert to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.’ (Rev. 12:6)

‘The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the desert, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach.’ (Rev. 12:14)

‘At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise.’ (Dan. 12:1)

28. The Lord Jesus will return to Israel as the Jewish Messiah in power and glory

‘At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.’ (Matt. 24:30)

‘Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle. On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem…’ (Zech. 14:3-4)

29. He will defeat the forces of Antichrist and bring deliverance to the remnant and to the land

‘…the lawless one… whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendour of his coming.’ (2 Thess. 2:8)

‘But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet… The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulphur. The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse…’ (Rev. 19:20-21)

30. He will reign from Jerusalem in his millennial kingdom

‘The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.’ (Zech. 14:9)

‘For to us a child is born, to us a son is given… Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.’ (Isa. 9:7)

‘My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd.’ (Ezek. 37:24)

‘Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron sceptre.”’ (Rev. 19:15)

31. Believing Jews will dwell securely in their ancient homeland in the millennial kingdom

See Ezekiel 47:13 – 48:29 for details of the boundaries of the land and how it will be divided between the tribes of Israel in the millennium.

‘They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where your fathers lived. They and their children and their children’s children will live there forever, and David my servant will be their prince forever.’ (Ezek. 37:25)

32. The temple complex will be rebuilt in Jerusalem (so, a fourth temple) and it will be used for worship during the millennium

See Ezekiel 40:1 – 47:12 for details of this temple and related matters.

33. The Feast of Tabernacles will be celebrated annually in Jerusalem during the millennium, and all nations will go up to it

‘Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.’ (Zech. 14:16)

Copyright Notice

Scripture quotations from The Authorized (King James) Version. Rights in the Authorized Version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown. Reproduced by permission of the Crown’s patentee, Cambridge University Press.

[1] During this period the land was also briefly under the control of firstly the Persian Sassanids and, later, of the Crusaders.

[2] The ‘two-state solution’ seeks to separate the land into two parts, Israel and Palestine, forcing Israel to adopt its pre-1967 borders.

[3] It should be noted that the modern state of Israel in its present form is only temporary. In the present, God will not allow his prophetic purpose of bringing the Jews back to their ancient homeland from all the nations to be thwarted by Israel’s Arab Muslim neighbours, neither those of Psalm 83 nor those of the northern Gog-Magog alliance of Ezekiel chs.38-39. They will neither possess the land nor annihilate the Jewish people. But going further forward in time, when he arises, Antichrist will overrun Israel and will rule over it from Jerusalem. His evil rule will be very short, of course. And after the Second Advent, Jesus will set up his millennial kingdom from Jerusalem which again will be different in form.

Apocalypse Rising

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12b Israel's Future Prophetic History

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