“When they therefore were come together, they asked of Him, saying, Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And He said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
The disciples wanted to know the timing of the restoration of Israel. To them, since the Lord Jesus Christ was physically raised from the dead, it was a perfect time to reign as King. Their question reveals that they saw no reason why this could not be accomplished immediately. Jesus told them not be concerned about the restoration of Israel, for it was not for them to know the timing of this event. Jesus’ answer indicates that it was for some time in the future after they were dead. Instead they were to concern themselves with preaching the Gospel throughout the entire earth.
The above text offers us some insight into what events must occur before the Second Coming of Christ and restore Israel in the light of God’s glory:-
a… The Out pouring of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus would not return until the Holy Spirit was poured out. The day of
Pentecost was not only the birth of the Church but also the countdown to the
last days, “16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it
shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit
upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young
men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants
and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall
prophesy: And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth
beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into
darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord
come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the
Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:16-21). The beginning of the Church Age meant
that Israel had been set aside for its duration, “Behold therefore the
goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee,
goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off
… 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” (Romans 11:22,25). The
“times of the Gentiles” is not the same as the “Church Age”, but they do
run side by side until Christ return to set up His Millennial Reign.
b… The Gospel has to be preached throughout the earth
before Jesus returns.
The saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ must reach even the most
isolated of people on earth. “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”
(Matthew 24:14).
c… A regathering of the scattered people.
The disciples had heard Jesus say, but did not fully understand before
Pentecost, that Israel would be destroyed and a remnant of the people would be
dispersed to all nation of the world, “And when ye shall see Jerusalem
compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let
them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the
midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter
thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written
may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give
suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath
upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led
away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the
Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (Luke 21:20-24). The
fact that the Jews were dispersed is confirmed by James 1:1, “James, a servant
of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered
abroad, greeting”. Therefore, before a restoration there must needs be a
breaking-up. The regathering of the Jews in 1948 set Israel’s prophet clock in
motion again.
d… The Church Age must come to an end.
The apostles Paul makes this point very clear in 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?” For the Lord to turn back to the Jews in
this fashion the Church cannot be upon the earth. Therefore the Rapture must
come before the Lord Jesus Christ reigns for a thousand years in Jerusalem.
e… The times of the Gentiles must be brought to a close.
This will happen immediately Jesus’ feet rest again upon Israeli soil. He
will reign as King of Israel and over every nation on earth, “These shall make
war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords,
and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and
faithful … And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of
it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it”
(Revelation 17:14, 21:24). Israel will be the leading nation and Jerusalem the
capital of the world. This will fulfil God’s promises to Abraham, “And in
thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed
my voice … And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and
will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the
nations of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 22:18, 26:4) and to Israel, “And
all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith
the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 3:12).