Biblical prophecies often have dual fulfillments: a near-term, historical fulfillment and a far-reaching, ultimate fulfillment in the future. Many passages that speak of Israel’s scattering and regathering relate both to events such as the Babylonian exile and return, and to a final, end-times restoration. This final gathering is closely linked with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the establishment of His kingdom, and the full realization of God’s promises to His people.
Isaiah speaks of a day when the Lord will set His hand again “the second time to recover the remnant of His people who are left” (Isaiah 11:11), gathering them from distant lands such as Assyria, Egypt, and the islands of the sea. The phrase “the second time” indicates a future regathering distinct from the initial return from Babylon and is widely understood as the end-time regathering—a final restoration of Israel before the Messiah’s kingdom is fully established. God “will set up a banner for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth” (Isaiah 11:12). This demonstrates that no matter how far Israel is scattered, God’s hand will bring them back.
Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones symbolizes not only the physical but the spiritual resurrection of Israel (Ezekiel 37:1-14). God promises, “I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land” (Ezekiel 37:21). He continues, “I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all” (Ezekiel 37:22). This points to the Messianic kingdom—a future time when the scattered tribes are reunited under Jesus Christ’s reign. It portrays a profound eschatological restoration, not just a political or physical return, but a spiritual renewal and unification.
Jeremiah speaks of days to come when God will “raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth” (Jeremiah 23:5). He promises that “in His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely” (Jeremiah 23:6). This Branch is understood as Jesus Christ, and the prophecy speaks of a time when Israel experiences salvation and safety, conditions expected in the end-time kingdom rather than in historical exiles. It indicates not just restoration but divine rule and blessing linked to Jesus’ second coming.
Further, Jeremiah declares, “For behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, that I will bring back the captivity of My people Israel and Judah... and will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers” (Jeremiah 30:3). The phrase “the days are coming” is a classic prophetic marker of future, ultimate fulfillment beyond immediate historical events. This promise of full restoration and possession of the land signals the final restoration of Israel.
Zechariah adds to this vision by declaring, “I will bring them back from the land of Egypt, and gather them from Assyria... They shall fear the Lord and His goodness in the latter days” (Zechariah 10:9-10). The term “latter days” is an explicit eschatological phrase referring to the end times, indicating that this gathering will occur in the final phase of history. The gathering is portrayed as a divine act involving multiple lands, emphasizing God’s sovereign power to gather His people globally. This results in spiritual renewal, with Israel turning in reverence to God.
In the New Testament, Jesus Himself describes an end-time gathering connected to His second coming. He says, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days... they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:29-30). He will “send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:31). This teaching ties the Old Testament promises to a definitive future event where God’s elect, including Israel and the faithful, are gathered from all over the earth. The great trumpet sound echoes the Old Testament imagery of God’s call to assembly and judgment.
Together, these prophecies reveal a clear and powerful end-times focus. They describe God’s plan to regather the scattered tribes of Israel from all corners of the earth, unite them as one people under the Messiah’s reign, restore them both physically to their land and spiritually under God’s rule, and fulfill His covenant promises completely in the context of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. This is showing how God’s faithfulness to Israel is intertwined with the ultimate hope of Messiah’s kingdom, offering believers assurance of God’s sovereign plan for history’s conclusion.
And this is about to happen, we are now in or very close to the time of Jacob's troubles as it was revealed to me a few years ago also there will be a second exodus where the remnants of Israel will be recalled to the promised land, as described by these verses.
