Israel, Prophecies Concerning

Concept

The prophetic literature of the OT contains extensive oracles concerning Israel's future — both judgment for covenant unfaithfulness and ultimate restoration to the promised land and to God. The exile to Babylon was foretold (Deut. 28:64–68; 1 Kgs. 14:15; Isa. 39:6–7; Jer. 25:11–12) and its 70-year duration predicted by Jeremiah (Jer. 25:12; 29:10), fulfilled in 586–516 B.C. The prophets also foresaw a future restoration surpassing the Exodus: regathering from all nations (Isa. 11:11–12; Jer. 23:3; Ezek. 37:21), national renewal through a new covenant (Jer. 31:31–34), and blessing flowing to all nations through Israel (Isa. 60; 66:18–23; Zech. 8:23). The NT interprets these prophecies as fulfilled progressively: in Christ (Matt. 2:15; Luke 24:44), in the church composed of Jew and Gentile (Eph. 2:14–16; Gal. 3:28–29), and in a future redemption of ethnic Israel (Rom. 11:25–27). The interpretation of these prophecies is one of the most debated areas of NT hermeneutics, dividing premillennial, amillennial, and postmillennial schools.