ARE RESTORATION PROPHECIES ABOUT ISRAEL LITERAL— OR SYMBOLIC?
By far the majority of biblical commentators and preachers take these prophecies about Israel’s restoration literally, so many Christians today think that the modern-day Republic of Israel is fulfilling Bible prophecies. However, a careful analysis of the Bible, especially the New Testament, shows that this is not the case at all.
When the first Christians miraculously spoke in foreign languages (Acts 2:1-12), “Some, however, made fun of them and said, ‘they have had too much wine'” (Acts 2:13 NIV). “Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd . . . ‘No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people”‘” (Acts 2:14-17 NIV). Peter, under God’s direction through the Holy Spirit, applies Joel 2:28-32 as being fulfilled right then and there, “In the last days”. Peter’s quote from Joel 2:28,29 was fulfilled on that Pentecost Day fairly literally. Peter (and Luke, the Bible writer) includes this part of Joel’s prophecy also: