Heinz’ Law of Eschatology says: For any given topic in end time bible prophecy there are 57 Varieties of opinion.
This essay will take a look at some of the ins and outs of various end time theories as they bear on revival in Israel and the Return of the Lord. If you hear some saying ouch, it’s that we may well step on some toes in our treatment of this issue. It will not be an exhaustive treatment, but more in the way of exploration and speculation. [An exhaustive treatment would be exhausting and probably never get written.]
Israel Closed To The Gospel
Years ago I was blessed by a set of teaching tapes done by Ralph Mahoney on the subject of Spiritual Influences on the Mind. Mahoney is one of those known as missionary statesmen. This would be like an apostle to the missionaries. A missionary himself in his early years, he went on to become a trainer and executive leader of missionaries.
A great part of the teaching had to do with spiritual influences of demonic princes determining whether a given country or region was open to the gospel. Missionary administrators have to determine which areas are open and which are not open for efficient deployment of their missionaries and their monies. Then he took time to lament the fact that a disproportionate number if the church’s resources were spent on missions in Israel, which was and is still closed to the gospel. And he noted that in terms of results, much of these resources should be sent somewhere else. In other words, a lot of the missionaries sent and money spent in Israel was a waste of effort.
That is not meant to say we shouldn’t be working in Israel. But if you are in Israel, please be sure that’s where you are called to be. Keep in mind the saying, Some were called, some were sent, others just packed up and went.
Romans 11:28 tells us that they are enemies of the Gospel.
Romans 11:28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
While Romans 11:16 indicates that all Israel will be saved.
Romans 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
So for now, Israel is closed to the Gospel, but at some point all Israel will be saved. This has to mean there will come a point when the situation is turned around and Israel becomes open to the Good News Of The Kingdom Of God. The question is when? Sooner or later it will happen, when and how it will happen is the main focus of our discussion.
Theories, Theories, Theories Everywhere
Several theories I have come across recently suggest that the revival in Israel comes at the beginning of the tribulation. Just when this ‘tribulation’ begins or how long it lasts are points of disagreement. Some say 7 years, some say 3 and a half, some say it depends. But most agree there is going to be a time of tribulation of some kind. Remember Heinz’ Law.
All Israel Saved At The Beginning of the Tribulation
This theory is very widespread. It goes like this. A somewhat literal reading of Revelation 14:1-5 is seen as the Lord appearing with the 144,000 servants of God mentioned in Revelation 7:3-8, 12,000 from each tribe, in the city of Jerusalem on the hill called Mount Zion. So this is taken to mean a revival in Israel. Then this revival in Israel produces a great wave of evangelism so that the Gospel is preached through all the world. This world wide preaching of the Gospel is one of the conditions that must be met before the end will come, as explained in Matthew 24.
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
While one view is that this 144,000 is a remnant of the Jews there is another view that is held by some, especially Messianic Jewish believers. This view is that the revival seen in Revelation 14 is the point when ‘All Israel’ gets saved.
Here are the key verses from Romans 11.
Romans 11:15 For if the casting away of them {Israel] be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
The reference, as it is written, points to Isaiah 59.
Isaiah 59:20 And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.
There are some who balk at this idea of All Israel saved. We hear talk of only a remnant saved, or mention that individual Jews can be saved but they must repent first, just like anyone else. Verse 23 mentions that they cannot remain in unbelief and still be restored.
Romans 11:23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
Yet verse 26 says the deliverer shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob [Israel] To show exactly how it is that ‘all Israel’ gets saved this scripture from Zechariah is usually cited.
Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Here we see a mention of the spirit of grace and of supplications. This is the Holy Spirit, the Deliverer of Zion, which gives the people the grace to repent and to intercede. Since this grace is given to the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, we understand that to mean Israel. This is what makes it possible for ‘all Israel’ to repent and be saved at once.
Keep in mind that this can refer to literal sight, that is, physical seeing and to spiritual sight which is understanding. At this time they cannot see him physically because he has risen to heaven and sits at the Father’s right hand. Secondly, they cannot see him with their understanding because of the blindness mentioned in Romans 11. So when blindness is removed, spiritual sight is granted. And by this grace, Israel can make supplication, or in simpler language, make prayers of repentance.
Why is this needed? Let’s jump over here to Matthew 23 we see where Jesus says he will not return till his people pray and ask him to.
Matthew 23:39 For I say unto you, [speaking to Jerusalem] Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
How did this blindness get there? One view is that the blindness came because Israel missed their time of visitation. A close reading of Romans 11 however shows that it was there all along.
Romans 11:7-8
7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
Here you see in verse 8, where is says as it is written, a reference to a verse in Deuteronomy 29 that supports the idea that it was there all along.
Deuteronomy 29:4 Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.
Let’s keep moving along with this theory that all Israel is saved at the beginning of the tribulation. Life from the dead [Romans 11:15] is seen to be the revival of “Israel” to fulfill her national calling. This calling is to be a light to the nations. The nations are the gentiles and thereby the 144,000 are those who will evangelize the world. And so the gospel of the kingdom is preached to all the world. And the harvest of the gentiles is completed. Then the end comes as Jesus returns and sets up a kingdom to rule from Jerusalem for 1000 years.
See: Revival Redemption and Return of the Lord http://www.etpv.org/2008/rrnrotl.html by Bill Somers
One problem with this is how the Lord is Revealing Himself to the Jews. According to Romans 11:25 this requires the removal of the blindness. This is in turn requires the fullness of the gentiles. If the fullness of the Gentiles speaks of the harvest of the gentiles, then the above scenario is a case of circular reasoning. That is they are saying in effect that the fullness of the gentiles yields a removal of the blindness. This produces the revival in Israel which brings about the fullness of the gentiles. Naturally there is a way around this if you claim that the fullness of the gentiles means something other than the harvest of the gentiles as is commonly thought. Remember Heinz’ Law.
Now we are going to focus on the idea of “All Israel Shall Be Saved” and the setting whereby this happens at the end of the tribulation.
All Israel Saved At The End of the Tribulation
A Spiritual reading of Revelation 14:1-5 would see it as depicting revival coming to the Church at the beginning of the tribulation, not to ‘all Israel’ or even part of Israel. In this case, Mt. Zion is the church, as in Hebrews 12:22-23. And the 144,000 are followers of the Lamb, Jesus. They are Jews and Gentiles from every group and denomination including the outcasts of Israel.
This does not rule out any sort of revival in Israel to come at any time. We certainly welcome any move of God in Israel. All we are saying is that Revelation 14:1-5 is not interpreted as applying to natural Israel.
This view sees it as linked to other passages which show the same event from differing vantages or express it in differing language. Some of these links are Revelation 12:10, Revelation 11: 15-17, Psalm 2:6, Isaiah 28:16, Zechariah 4:7 and others. All of these relate to the Kingdom of God. In this view, the church does not usher in the Kingdom, the church does not expand the kingdom, and the church does not establish the kingdom. Rather the church becomes the kingdom by way of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and the Revelation of Jesus Christ. We are still living in the days when there was no king is ‘Israel’ and every man did what was right in his own eyes. When the King comes, we can say, Our God Reigns. This is the Gospel of the Kingdom mentioned in Matthew 24.
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
The Gospel: Good News and Glad Tidings for all peoples.
The Gospel of the Kingdom has two expressions. One is the Promise of Salvation to all peoples in terms of saying there is a kingdom Coming.
It speaks of ‘salvation ready to be revealed in the last days.’
1 Peter 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
After it is revealed in the last days, i.e. the Revelation of Jesus Christ, the Gospel will have a new expression. It will say “Our God Reigns” as those end time saints go forth proclaiming this good news. They have the lovely feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace. And this is what truly enables world wide evangelization.
In the first expression, we say, like Jesus did, repent for the kingdom is at hand. In the second, we say the kingdom is now here.
Opposition To The Spiritual Approach
This whole approach is shunned by dispensationalists, i.e. pre-tribulationists, because it puts the church in the tribulation period. Any hint of such an approach triggers a ‘don’t go there’ reaction.
It is also loathed by messianic believers for several reasons. First is spiritualizes ‘Israel’ which can lead to a doctrine of demons called ‘replacement theology;’ a theory that leaves natural Israel out in the cold. Second, it puts off the salvation of ‘all Israel’ to the end of the tribulation, meaning that Israel would never fulfill her national calling to be a light to the nations and that she will remain an enemy of the gospel till the very day Jesus returns. And third, it undercuts the view that Jesus will set up a literal physical Kingdom, with it’s capitol in Jerusalem when it’s all over. And finally it sidesteps the issue of Israel’s right to inherit the land promised to it in the bible.
Israel Saved At The End: A Quick Summary
Revival in The church.
Church evangelizes the world.
Fullness of the Gentiles. Romans 11:25
Israel’s Blindness removed Romans 11:25
Israel receives the Spirit of grace and supplication Zechariah 12:10.
Israel calls on the name of the Lord and Jesus returns Matthew 23:39
Resurrection of the dead Romans 11:15
Jesus and the armies of heaven fight the battle at Armageddon. Revelation 19:19
Zechariah 12:10 Linked to the Second Coming
In the earlier discussion we looked at how it is that ‘all Israel’ gets saved, quoting from Zechariah.
Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
This indeed shows the means for All Israel being saved. But we also need to look at other cross references here that speak of the Second Coming. These following verses provide a picture of the Second Coming.
This shows him coming in the clouds.
Matthew 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
This one tells us that when he comes in the clouds, everyone shall see him, especially those which pierced him, at the crucifixion, his own Jewish people.
Revelation 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
And then the mention of they also which pierced him takes us right to Zechariah 12:10 which mentions me whom they have pierced. So the work of the spirit of Grace and Supplications that is needed to bring about the salvation of ‘all Israel’ is directly tied to nothing less than the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. And this places the salvation of ‘all Israel’ right at the end of the tribulation.
Tie in to Romans 11 to Matthew 23:39
Matthew 23:39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Romans 11:11-12
11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
Romans 11:15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
Here the argument is that if the receiving of them i.e. the salvation of Israel, comes at the Second Coming, then the phrase life from the dead is the resurrection.
Romans 11:25-26
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Romans 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
Battle of Armageddon
The Battle of Armageddon is laid out in these three quotes.
This shows all the world coming against Israel.
Zechariah 12:2-3
2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.
3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.
This shows where they are gathered to battle.
Revelation 16:16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
This shows that all those gathered to battle against Jerusalem, are there to fight against ‘Him that sat on the horse,’ Jesus.
Revelation 19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
There are many who will not like this scenario and present alternate views. Remember Heinz’ Law. There are many who don’t like the idea that ‘all Israel’ will be saved. And others who don’t want to believe that the hope of Israel is deferred to the very end of this tribulation, also known as Jacob’s trouble.
This is why you can find endless quibbling about who is Israel, who is a Jew, or what does ‘all Israel’ mean. What about the lost tribes? And some are saying the fullness of the gentiles refers to the times of the gentiles.
Further consequences for the church
Questions we need to ask.
Does the blindness get removed because the Holy Spirit comes? Or Does the Holy Spirit come because the blindness is removed?
What is the fullness of the gentiles? And what is the fullness of Israel? Besides the notion of ‘full number’, the context of Romans 11 seem to indicate that fullness means their salvation. In Genesis 48, Jacob prophesies over Ephraim. The Hebrew word there for multitude is also translated fullness, elsewhere in the Hebrew old testament.
Genesis 48:19 And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.
This idea of salvation here is linked to the idea of a multitude; we are speaking of the salvation of a multitude or large quantity of nations or gentiles.
Romans 11:11-12
11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
In these verses, their fall is contrasted with their fullness, so fullness speaks of restoration or salvation. What if they had not fallen? Then salvation would not have been available to the gentiles. If they knew Him to be their Messiah, they would not have had him crucified, and then there would be no redemption for mankind.
While there is a promise that ‘all Israel’ shall be saved, there is no similar promise that ‘all gentiles’ will be saved. Still we see that the Gospel must be preached to all the world, and this fullness of the gentiles must have ‘come in to remove the blindness’. So if it is not all the gentiles, then it has to be some number gentiles. It has to be a vast multitude from every tribe and nation, still it is some number that has to be reached.
In the book of Revelation, when sixth seal is mentioned, there is a clue. Here it is saying the return of the Lord, to avenge his martyrs, must await the fulfillment of the rest of the martyrs that should be killed. There is a certain number to be fulfilled. That is a certain quantity.
Revelation 6:9-11
9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
Let’s spell this out very carefully. The request to Judge and Avenge in Revelation 6:10 is talking about the second coming of Jesus. Here it is seen in 2 Thessalonians where the bible tells of vengeance happening at the return of the Lord.
2 Thessalonians 1:6-8
6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
So all this is to say there is a ‘certain number’ of martyrs that must be fulfilled before Jesus returns. While Romans 11:25 is saying there is a ‘certain number’ of Gentiles that must be fulfilled before Jesus returns. When you phrase it that way, the connection becomes very clear.
Is fullness of the martyrs then the fullness of the gentiles? And when that number is reached, will the Lord say Vengeance Is Mine, I will repay.
Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
If the fullness of the martyrs means the fullness of the gentiles, many will be quite unhappy with the idea that the church goes through the tribulation only to be martyred at the end. On the other hand, this means the martyrdom of the church which is fullness of the gentiles brings about the revival in Israel, and in turn this leads to the Return of Christ. This is something we should look forward to and be glad in.
All this reasoning involves long chains of logic. If any one of them proves to be a weak link, then the whole idea falls apart. Remember Heinz’ Law. Still this is what the Lord has shown me, as far as I understand it, and there are confirmations of it given in other articles I have written. Consider that the whole discussion beginning in Romans 10 has a conclusion in the use of the word therefore in Romans 12:1.
Romans 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And this leads to the conclusion of Romans 12, a promise and a prophecy.
Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
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