WAS THE NORTHERN KINGDOM PROMISED A REMNANT AND RESTORATION? The All-Sufficiency of Christ and His Church

Introduction the modern day nation of Israel is at the center of much speculation concerning biblical prophecy  many claim it is the fulfillment of “end-time” prophecies about God returning the promised land to the Jews  among the passages used to defend this view are those that refer to a remnant even among the Northern tribes but the Northern Kingdom was destroyed, right?  unlike Judah, never recovered from captivity (Is. 7:8)  what of verses that seem to indicate otherwise?

The Remnant of the Northern Kingdom? Isaiah 11:16 16 There will be a highway for the remnant of His people who will be left from Assyria, As it was for Israel in the day that he came up from the land of Egypt.

The Remnant of the Northern Kingdom? Ezekiel 37:16-17, "As for you, son of man, take a stick for yourself and write on it: 'For Judah and for the children of Israel, his companions.' Then take another stick and write on it, 'For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel, his companions.' 17 "Then join them one to another for yourself into one stick, and they will become one in your hand. … 21 "Then say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; 22 "and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again.

Looking at the Context Isaiah 11:1-16  the context is the promise of the Savior given to David  in that day, the nations would be cast down and those of Israel would be redeemed  however, not them and Judah alone, but all the Gentiles! Ezekiel 37:15-28  this passage does speak clearly of unification of Israel and Judah, however, it is in the context of spiritual cleansing  it also speaks of the rule of a single King and Shepherd, an everlasting covenant, and an everlasting tabernacle

Spiritual Israel – The Church these passages foretell Christ and His church  the cleansing of sins (Heb. 10:16-22)(Rom. 6:3-7)  the Seed of David as King and Shepherd (Mt. 28:18-20) (1 Pet. 2:21-25)  an everlasting covenant given (1 Pet. 1:22-25)(Rom. 1:16)  all nations into one body (Eph. 3:6)(Gal. 3:26-29)  Christ’s kingdom is spiritual (Jn. 18:36)(Col. 1:13-14) the Jews no longer have special consideration  if they are not obedient to the same Law of Christ, then they will be lost (Rom. 2:5-11)(Rom. 11:1-5, 19-23)

Conclusion while many see the exclusivity of the gospel as unfair, we must see it as evidence of God’s love  that we could all be unified in one body, with one faith, obedient to one gospel, and living in peace because of it the promises in the gospel are so much clearer than those in the Old Testament  will we take advantage of the one opportunity afforded us for repentance and obedience to the gospel?  if not, then like all who reject Christ, whether Jew or Gentile, we will be justly condemned (Heb. 10:26-27)