Ephesians1:10 That in the dispensation of the
fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ,
both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
There are many dozens of chapters of prophecy
that say the same as these below. These were chosen because they use the
word gathering. Due to the prevalence of erroneous pop culture end time
teachings and the way modern Israel is tied into them. Something needs
to be said of many of these verses below that talk of gathering Israel
or Judah a second time. The first gathering of ancient Israel was after
Babylon conquered Judea and deported the few survivors. A surviving
remnant were later allowed to return during the Medo \Persian Empire.
The second gathering like the second covenant is the gathering of Jewish
and Israeli believers to the messiah that began to occur during Jesus's
earthly ministry. So, even though many of these prophecies say they will
be gathered a second time to the physical land of Israel, the city and
the physical temple. They are doing so illustratively as there are just
as many other prophecies that say they will be gathered a second time to
the New Jerusalem, the mountain of the Lord which illustrates the
Kingdom of God. Or, gathered to the true house or temple of the Lord
which is Gods people. The apostle also verifies this in
Hebrews 11:18 For you are not come unto the
mount that might be touched (Sinai which represents the 1st
Covenant.)..... 22 But ye are come unto mount
Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and
to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and
church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the
Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect....The
apostle also verifies this in the midst of many chapters on this subject
in Romans by calling believing Jews of the first century a remnant, as
do some of the prophecies about this second gathering.
Romans 11:5 Even so then at this present time
also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
How does modern Israel tie into all this? Well
there is a prophecy about modern Israel right at the end of Romans 11
25. For I would not, brethren, that you
should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own
conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the
fullness of the Gentiles be come in........ 30 For as you in times past
have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their
unbelief: 31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your
mercy they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God hath concluded them all in
unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
Let me paraphrase this according to Bible
prophecy and how it played out. When the fullness of the gentiles are
come in; meaning: When enough gentiles become believers. When the
word of God gets into the hands of the general public which just began
to happen 500 years ago. When that Word and the Gospel become so
influential that nations begin to be founded upon Biblical principle.
Then those nations under the influence of the invisible government of
God will begin to show mercy to the Israeli people, give them grace just
like God has shown grace to the gentiles. What better way to do this but
by giving them their own land where they can defend themselves against
the animosity of Satan? He is a grudge holder who always seeks to
destroy them because the world found the grace of God through Israel.
Further what better way to show mercy than becoming their friends in a
hostile world? Finally, what better way to show them mercy than by
bringing them the Gospel in power and grace, just as it has been brought
to those already gathered by Christ? For further study:
Symbolisms Of The First And Second Covenants In The Book Of Genesis.
The root of Jesse is the Messiah. This is
a prophecy of Him gathering together in one, all things, both Jew,
Israeli and Gentile in Christ.
Isaiah 11:10 And in that day there shall be a
root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it
shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. 11 And it shall
come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the
second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left,
from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from
Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the
outcasts of Israel, and gather together the
dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
A prophecy about the messiah followed by Jesus
claiming he is the fulfillment of that and his word about gather the
believers in Judea, the dispersed and the gentiles into his
sheepfold.
Isaiah 40:11 He shall feed his flock like a
shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his
arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those
that are with young. John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good
shepherd gives his life for the sheep...... 14 I am the good shepherd,
and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knows me, even
so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other
sheep I have, which are not of this fold:
them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there
shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
This is a prophecy about the New Jerusalem as
declared by the Apostle Paul in Galatians. This is further verified by
verses 11-14 as they are indirectly quoted in the Book of Revelation's
New Jerusalem.
Isaiah 54:1 and Galatians 4:27 Sing, O barren,
you that did not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, you that
did not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate
than the children of the married wife, said the LORD.
The children of the desolate, (illustrated by
Sarah in Galatians) are the believers in ancient Israel who are few, persecuted
and reaping what the wicked of Israel are sowing. In Galatians, ancient
Israel the married wife, far more numerous is illustrated by Hagar. The
next verses are speaking to the desolate woman.
Isaiah 54:2 Enlarge the place of your tent, and
let them stretch forth the curtains of your habitations: spare not,
lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes; 3 For you shall break
forth on the right hand and on the left; and your seed shall inherit the
Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. 4 Fear not; for
you shall not be ashamed: neither be you confounded; for you shall not
be put to shame: for you shall forget the shame of your youth, and shall
not remember the reproach of your widowhood any more. 5 For your Maker
is your husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and your Redeemer the
Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.
This is what the Apostle Paul was beginning to
experience with the salvation of the gentiles. Following history
into our day we now see with our eyes the children of the desolate
woman, believers, far outnumber ancient Israel the married woman. We
also see the end game. That the God of ancient Israel will be
called the God of the whole earth by all nations and peoples. We don't
see that yet but are on the way.
6 For the LORD has called you as a woman
forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when you were
refused, said your God. 7 For a small moment have I forsaken you;
but with great mercies will I gather you.
8 In a little wrath I hid my face from you for a moment; but with
everlasting kindness will I have mercy on you, said the LORD your
Redeemer. 9 For this is as the waters of Noah to me: for as I have sworn
that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I
sworn that I would not be wroth with you, nor rebuke you. 10 For the
mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall
not depart from you, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed,
said the LORD that has mercy on you. 11 O you afflicted, tossed with
tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay your stones with fair
colors, and lay your foundations with sapphires. 12 And I will make your
windows of agates, and your gates of carbuncles, and all your borders of
pleasant stones. 13 And all your children shall be taught of the LORD;
and great shall be the peace of your children. 14 In righteousness shall
you be established: you shall be far from oppression; for you shall not
fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near you....
Verses 6-8 once more shows the plight of
believers in ancient Israel. Already scattered, homeless and persecuted
or soon to be because of the wrath of the Lord against ancient Israel's
wickedness. Yet in those verses a gathering of believers
is promised. As the Apostles began to experience, believers from all
nations. Then from there to the age of promise that
was to begin after the end of the age of the four gentile empires. Those
are the references to the New Jerusalem.
The same theme as
Isaiah 54 above. A prophecy of the Messiah, The New Covenant age and the
eventual coming of The Age of Promise.
1 Listen, O isles, to me; and listen, you
people, from far; The LORD has called me from the womb; from the bowels
of my mother has he made mention of my name. 2 And he has made my mouth
like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand has he hid me, and made me
a polished shaft; in his quiver has he hid me; 3 And said to me, You are
my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified. 4 Then I said, I have
labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing, and in vain: yet
surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God. 5 And now,
said the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring
Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not
gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my
God shall be my strength. 6 And he said, It is a light thing that you
should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the
preserved of Israel: I will also give you for a light to the Gentiles,
that you may be my salvation to the end of the earth. 7 Thus said the
LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man
despises, to him whom the nation abhors, to a servant of rulers, Kings
shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD
that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose you. 8
Thus said the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard you, and in a day
of salvation have I helped you: and I will preserve you, and give you
for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to
inherit the desolate heritages; 9 That you may say to the prisoners, Go
forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in
the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places. 10 They shall
not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he
that has mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water
shall he guide them. 11 And I will make all my mountains a way, and my
highways shall be exalted. 12 Behold, these shall come from far: and,
see, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of
Sinim. 13 Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into
singing, O mountains: for the LORD has comforted his people, and will
have mercy on his afflicted. 14 But Zion said, The LORD has forsaken me,
and my Lord has forgotten me. 15 Can a woman forget her sucking child,
that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yes, they
may forget, yet will I not forget you. 16 Behold, I have graven you on
the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me. 17 Your
children shall make haste; your destroyers and they that made you waste
shall go forth of you. 18 Lift up your eyes round about,
and behold: all these gather themselves
together, and come to you. As I live, said the LORD, you shall
surely clothe you with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on
you, as a bride does. 19 For your waste and your desolate places, and
the land of your destruction, shall even now be too narrow by reason of
the inhabitants, and they that swallowed you up shall be far away. 20
The children which you shall have, after you have lost the other, shall
say again in your ears, The place is too strait for me: give place to me
that I may dwell. 21 Then shall you say in your heart, Who has begotten
me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive,
and removing to and fro? and who has brought up these? Behold, I was
left alone; these, where had they been? 22 Thus said the Lord GOD,
Behold, I will lift up my hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard
to the people: and they shall bring your sons in their arms, and your
daughters shall be carried on their shoulders. 23 And kings shall be
your nursing fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers: they shall
bow down to you with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust
of your feet; and you shall know that I am the LORD: for they shall not
be ashamed that wait for me. 24 Shall the prey be taken from the mighty,
or the lawful captive delivered? 25 But thus said the LORD, Even the
captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible
shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contends with you,
and I will save your children. 26 And I will feed them that oppress you
with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as
with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the LORD am your Savior
and your Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.
A prophecy about the New Covenant.
Isaiah 56:3 Neither let the son of the stranger,
that has joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD has utterly
separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a
dry tree. 4 For thus said the LORD to the eunuchs that keep my Sabbaths,
and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; 5
Even to them will I give in my house and within my walls a place and a
name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an
everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. 6 Also the sons of the
stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love
the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keeps the
Sabbath from polluting it, and takes hold of my covenant; 7 Even them
will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of
prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted on
my altar; for my house shall be called an house of prayer for all
people. 8 The Lord GOD, which gathers the
outcasts of Israel said, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those
that are gathered to him.
Another prophecy about the New Covenant Age with
believers being illustrated as the New Jerusalem. This is verified by
multiple verses in chapter 60 being directly quoted in Revelation's New
Jerusalem.
Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine; for your light is
come, and the glory of the LORD is risen on you. 2 For, behold, the
darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the
LORD shall arise on you, and his glory shall be seen on you. 3 And the
Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your
rising. 4 Lift up your eyes round about, and see: all
they gather themselves together, they come to
you: your sons shall come from far, and your daughters shall be
nursed at your side. 5 Then you shall see, and flow together, and your
heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea
(illustrating the gentile nations,)
shall be converted to you, the wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you.
Prophecies about the New Covenant Age.
Jeremiah 23:3 And I
will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries where I have
driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they
shall be fruitful and increase. 4 And I will set up shepherds over them
which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed,
neither shall they be lacking, said the LORD. 5 Behold, the days come,
said the LORD, that I will raise to David a righteous Branch, and a King
shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the
earth. 6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell
safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR
RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Jeremiah 31: 7 For thus said the LORD; Sing with
gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish
you, praise you, and say, O LORD, save your people, the remnant of
Israel. 8 Behold, I will bring them from the
north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and
with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that
travails with child together: a great company shall return thither. 9
They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I
will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way,
wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim
is my firstborn. 10 Hear the word of the LORD, O you nations, and
declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He
that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd does
his flock. 11 For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him
from the hand of him that was stronger than he.
Ezekiel 11:16 Therefore say, Thus said the Lord
GOD; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I
have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a
little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come. 17 Therefore
say, Thus said the Lord GOD; I will even
gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where
you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.
18 And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the
detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from there.
19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within
you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give
them an heart of flesh: 20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep
my ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be
their God.
Micah 4 is primarily a prophecy about The Age of Promise
that is contained within time frame of The New Covenant Age. The
Mountain of the Lords House is an illustration of believers of all
nations who have inherited the ingdom of God. All nations flowing to it
represents the great harvest of souls resulting in the transformation of
cultures and nations. Beating their swords into farming instruments
illustrates how the influence and ideals of the kingdom of God are
spread through the preaching and teaching of the word as Jesus taught in
his parable of the sower. The daughter of Zion is an
illustration of OT believers and their gathering together with believers
of all nations and the eventual coming of that age of promise.
Micah 4:1 But in the last days it shall come to
pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in
the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and
people shall flow to it. 2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come,
and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the
God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his
paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from
Jerusalem. 3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong
nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and
their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword
against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. 4 But they shall
sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make
them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken it. 5 For all
people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in
the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.
6 In that day, said the
LORD, will I assemble her that halts, and I
will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted;
7 And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far
off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion
from now on, even for ever. 8 And you, O tower of the flock, the strong
hold of the daughter of Zion, to you shall it come, even the first
dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem. 9 Now why
do you cry out aloud? is there no king in you? is your counselor
perished? for pangs have taken you as a woman in travail. 10 Be in pain,
and labor to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail:
for now shall you go forth out of the city, and you shall dwell in the
field, and you shall go even to Babylon; there shall you be delivered;
there the LORD shall redeem you from the hand of your enemies. 11 Now
also many nations are gathered against you, that say, Let her be
defiled, and let our eye look on Zion. 12 But they know not the thoughts
of the LORD, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather
them as the sheaves into the floor. 13 Arise and thresh, O daughter of
Zion: for I will make your horn iron, and I will make your hoofs brass:
and you shall beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their
gain to the LORD, and their substance to the Lord of the whole earth.
Another New Covenant Age prophecy that focuses
in on The age of Promise that was to begin once the age of the four
gentile empires ended.
Zephaniah 3:9 For then will I turn to the people
a pure language, that they may all call on the name of the LORD, to
serve him with one consent. 10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my
suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring my offering.
11 In that day shall you not be ashamed for all your doings, wherein you
have transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the
middle of you them that rejoice in your pride, and you shall no more be
haughty because of my holy mountain. 12 I will also leave in the middle
of you an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of
the LORD. 13 The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak
lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they
shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid. 14 Sing, O
daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the
heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. 15 The LORD has taken away your
judgments, he has cast out your enemy: the king of Israel, even the
LORD, is in the middle of you: you shall not see evil any more. 16 In
that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear you not: and to Zion, Let
not your hands be slack. 17 The LORD your God in the middle of you is
mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over you with joy; he will rest in
his love, he will joy over you with singing.
18 I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly,
who are of you, to whom the reproach of it was a burden. 19 Behold, at
that time I will undo all that afflict you: and I will save her that
halts, and gather her that was driven out;
and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been
put to shame. 20 At that time will I bring
you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make
you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back
your captivity before your eyes, said the LORD.
This is a prophecy in parable form specifically
about the remainder of the Old Covenant Age. That the believers in Judea
would be gathered unto the Messiah and his kingdom but the wicked in
Judea would be gathered for destruction. This occurred from the time of
of Jesus Ministry until the the end of the war in 70 AD.
Here is an
article on this parable.
Matthew 13:24 Another parable put he forth to
them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened to a man which sowed good
seed in his field: 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed
tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26 But when the blade was
sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27 So
the servants of the householder came and said to him, Sir, did not you
sow good seed in your field? from where then has it tares? 28 He said to
them, An enemy has done this. The servants said to him, Will you then
that we go and gather them up? 29 But he said, No; lest while you gather
up the tares, you root up also the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow
together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the
reapers, Gather you together first the tares,
and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my
barn. .......36 Then Jesus sent the multitude
away, and went into the house: and his disciples came to him, saying,
Declare to us the parable of the tares of the field. 37 He answered and
said to them, He that sows the good seed is the Son of man; 38 The field
is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the
tares are the children of the wicked one; 39 The enemy that sowed them
is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are the
angels. 40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire;
so shall it be in the end of this age. 41 The Son of man shall send
forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things
that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42 And shall cast them into a
furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then
shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their
Father. Who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Jesus's prophecy that repeated many of the OT
prophecies already pointed out about the great harvest of souls that would
occur in the world when the first covenant ends. Obviously, it is
ongoing today.
Matthew 24: 31 And he shall send his angels with
a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall
gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of
heaven to the other. Mark 13:7. And then shall he send his angels, and
shall gather together his elect from
the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost
part of heaven.
This is a prophecy of the great harvest of souls
after the end of The 1st Covenant Age and the great judgments against
the city of Rome for it's persecution of the saints. The 7 judgments
that
follow this prophecy are directed at the city of Rome.
Revelation 14:14 And I looked, and saw a white
cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like the Son of man, having on his
head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another
angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat
on the cloud, Thrust in your sickle, and
reap: for the time is come for you to reap; for the harvest of the earth
is ripe. 16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on
the earth; and the earth was reaped. 17 And another angel came out of
the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18 And
another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and
cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying,
Thrust in your sharp sickle, and gather the
clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
19 And the angel thrust his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine
of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of
the winepress, even up to the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand
and six hundred furlongs.
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