Israel and the Future

How should we understand Biblical prophecy regarding the nation of Israel?  It is clear some prophecy is symbolic.  But if we engage in unrestrained allegorizing we can make Scripture mean whatever we want it to.  Therefore, we need to use care in deciding if something is a symbol.  There are detailed prophecies about Israel that are hard to see as symbolic or as picturing past events (Zechariah 12-14; Ezekiel 38, 39; Revelation 11:1-13).  There were many historical details prophesied regarding the First Coming; should we not expect the same of the Second Coming?  In the First Coming, these details are not generally dismissed or taken as symbolic, but have specific fulfillment.

An objection to this is the verses that state Israel has been rejected by God (Matthew 21:43; Luke 13:6-9).  But these address that generation of Israel and particularly the Jewish leadership.  It is reading too much into them to conclude Israel will be rejected for all time.  Also, the Jewish ceremonial law is said to be fulfilled in Christ (Colossians 2:16,17; Hebrews 10:1-10; Galatians 4:8-11).  What about the passages that seem contrary to this? Zechariah 8:19 speaks of Israel's fasts becoming a rejoicing.  It is arguable whether this requires the celebration of particular days, but if it does, it need not be a requirement and may fall under Romans 14:5.  Malachi 3:3,4 could be fulfilled in the sacrifices of ourselves and of praise  (Romans 12:1; Hebrews 13:15).  Zechariah 14:16-19 speaks of a celebration of the Feast of Booths (which clearly is mandatory).  The Feast of Booths is one of the Levitical feasts not specifically mentioned as fulfilled in the First Coming.  Perhaps in the Second Coming there will be a fulfillment of the feast itself or something that supersedes it .

But a big problem is the temple description in Ezekiel 40-48.  It is too detailed to be easily dismissed as just a symbol.  But it describes a revival of the temple ritual, including what seem to be atoning sacrifices (Ezekiel 45:17).  How do we understand this?  Perhaps there is a way, despite Christ's fulfilling the Law, that the old ceremonies can be re-instituted in honor of Him without denying His work.  Maybe this is a description  of a Jewish temple built in disobedience before Christ's Second Coming which is superseded when He arrives (Ezekiel 43:1-5).  Or this could be some sort of complicated allegory, though it is not clear what it would be an allegory of.

Could it be we do not know all the answers?  There are certain things we can say dogmatically about the Second Coming. It will be physical, personal, and literal (Acts 1:9-11).  It will be obvious (Matthew 24:23-27).  It will be a surprise (Matthew 24:36-51).  But in terms of all the details, could it be we will all be wrong, including me?  At the First Coming, almost no one seems to have had it figured out until after the fact. Could it be the Second Coming will be the same way?