Hosea 2:14-15, The Future Salvation of Israel (1)

The conversation with a brother I mentioned in the previous post continued with a question about Israel’s salvation.  He said that it sounded like the salvation of all the nation was all at once, unlike what we see today when people come one at a time.  I understand the question.  Rom. 11:26-7 says “all Israel shall be saved.”  That might sound like “all at once.” 

To be sure, that is not the case, by which I mean that OT and NT alike, salvation is by faith in the Messiah (the One to come in OT, the One who has come in NT).  Abraham was justified the day he put his faith in God’s promised Seed (Gen. 15:6).  Ezek. 18 clarifies this: a son is not saved nor lost based on the faith of the father. 

But having said that, it does appear that at some point the entire nation will be saved.  It might be helpful to remind ourselves of various events in Israel’s future speak to the issue of people coming to faith in Christ.  Following is a list, not necessarily in chronological order, of passages that reveal this end time salvation.

·       Zech. 9:14-15: In the context of the coming King (Messiah) whirlwinds from the south will be used of the Lord to defend Israel.

·       Zech. 12:10-14: At the outpouring of the Spirit the nation will see Christ to be the One they pierced, bringing a deep repentance on the nation.

·       Zech. 14:3-5: A valley will be created in the Mt. of Olives for the saved nation to escape to the wilderness.

·       Hos. 2:14-15: God will allure the nation to the wilderness and give them the “Valley of Achor” as a door of hope.

·       Ezek. 20:33-44: A time of fury used by God for the regathering of the people of Israel (v33-34) will eventually bring them to the wilderness of the peoples (v35; i.e. not the desert of Israel but more like the desert of Edom, a Gentile area) where God will plead His case (v36).  After chastening God will bring them into the bond of the covenant (v37).  Rebels will be separated out and will not enter the land (v38).  There will be no more idolatry but all Israel will serve the LORD (v39-40).  The LORD will be hallowed in Israel, before the nations (v41).  The nation will know the LORD (v38,42,44).  This “hallowing” is fleshed out in v45-48.

·       Jer. 31:2: Those who survived the sword of the nations will find grace in the wilderness.

·       Isa. 26:20: There will be an invitation to a place “until the indignation is past,” referring to the coming world judgment of Isa. 24:1-26:19.

·       Isa. 63:1-6: The Messiah, with blood on His robe, Who is “mighty to save,” is seen coming from Edom where He has finished Israel’s salvation.

There is more to share in the next post.