THE POPULAR ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIBLE PROPHECY

CONVERSION OF ISRAEL

THE NATIONAL REGENERATION OF ISRAEL

This then, is the twofold basis of the second coming: Israel must confess her national sin (Leviticus 26:40-42; Jeremiah 3:11-18; Hosea 5:15) and then plead for messiah to return, to “mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son”(Zechariah 12:10;see also Matthew 23:37-39).

with the armies of the Antichrist at the city of Bozrah, the campaign of Armageddon will begin its last three days according to Hosea 6:1-3. This passage is actually a continuation of Hosea 5. The chapter division is unfortunate because it breaks the train of thought. Hosea 5:15 calls for repentance, and in Hosea 6:1-2, the Jewish leaders exhort the nation to repent and confess their national sin. Only then will God restore to Israel the physical blessings she once enjoyed (Verse 3).

In those days, the leaders of Israel will finally recognize the reason why the Tribulation has fallen on them. This may happen through the study of the Scriptures, the preaching of the 144,000 the testimony of the two witnesses

( the third sign of Jonah to which the Jews of Jerusalem had already had already responded), or the ministry of Elijah. Most likely, it will be a combination of these things. But the leaders will come to a realization of their national sin in some way. Where as the Jewish leaders once led the nation to reject Jesus the Messiah, They will now lead the nation to accept Him by issuing the call of Hosea 6:1-3, which will begin the last three days before the second coming. Israel will confess their national sins during the first two days. Isaiah 53:1-9 provides the actual words. In this confession, the people will admit that the nation had looked upon Jesus as nothing more than another man, a criminal who had died for his own sins. However, on this occasion they will recognize that He was no ordinary man— He was the perfect Lamb of God, the Messiah Himself. Furthermore, they will realize He did not die for his own sins but for theirs so they would not be stricken for sin.

Thus the national regeneration will come by means of the national confession described in Isaiah 53:1-9. On the third of the last three days, the entire nation will be saved, fulfilling the prophecy of Romans 11:25-27. “All Israel ” means just that- every Jews living at that point of time, meaning the third that are left from the original number of Jews living at the start of the tribulation( Zechariah 13:8-9). Israel’s national confession and regeneration will be accomplished within two days after the issuance of the call. The Second facet leading to the Second Coming is Israel pleading for the Messiah to return return and saved them from the world’s armies, who are intent on their destruction and are gathered outside of Bozrah. The pleading of the Jewish for the Messiah to come and save them is the subject of much revelation. Zechariah 12:10-13:1 describe it. The pleading for the messiah to return wii not be confined to the Jews of Bozrah, but will include the Jews still in Jerusalem. They will confess their national sins, and then they will plead for Jesus return to save them from the troubles described in the preceding context. They will plead for the one whom they have pierced. This will be the results of the outpouring of the holy spirit ( 12:10), Israel’s mourning for the messiah ( 12:11-14), and the cleansing of Israel’s sins (13:1).

Another prophecy of this event appears in Joel 2:28-32 . Regeneration is the work of the Holy Spirit, and the nation of Israel will be regenerated because of the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the people, creating some dramatic manifestation in their mist ( verses 28-29 ). The result of all this is that the Jews of Jerusalem as well as the remnant of Bozrah, will be delivered and escape. Zechariah 13:7-9 shows that the remnant comes to a saving knowledge of Jesus the Messiah by way of the fires of the Tribulation. Two Third of the Jewish people will die, but the remaining third will experience cleansing. By means of the national confession of their sins, They will be purified. God will then answer their pleading for Him to come and save them. They will once again be his people, and he will be their God. Thus, Israel as a nation will be regenerated and saved after two days of national confession of sin. On the third day, Israel will plead for the second coming, and Christ will return to save Israel. ———ARNOLD FRUCHTENBAUM

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Fruchtenbaum Arnold. Footsteps of the Messiah. Tuskin, CA: Ariel Ministries. 1983.

—— Israelology: The missing link in Systematic Theology: Tustin, CA: Ariel Ministries, 1992.

Larsen, David. Jews, Gentiles and the Church, Grand Rapids: Discovery House, 1995.

Price, Randall, Jerusalem in Prophecy. Eugene, Oregon Harvest House Publishers, 1998.

Walvoord, John F.Israel in Prophecy. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1962.