Our biblical priorities for the end times may be summarized in these three words: Revival, Remnant, and Return.
By “Revival” we mean a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit around the whole world:
Acts 2:17 (Joel 2:28) – And it shall come to pass in the last days that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh…
By “Remnant” we mean the restoration of the community of Messianic Jewish believers in Yeshua (Jesus) within the nation of Israel.
Joel 2:32 – For in Mount Zion there will be a remnant, among the survivors whom the Lord calls.
Romans 11:5 – Even so, at this time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
The revival of the first century took place ONLY among the remnant of Israel. The revival of the final century will take place BOTH in Israel and the whole world. The outpouring of the end times may be seen as the completion of the revival that started on Pentecost, A.D. 33.
By “Return” we mean the Second Coming of Yeshua. As the First Pentecost took place right after the First Coming, so will the Second Pentecost take place right before the Second Coming.
Acts 2:20 – …before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.
The worldwide revival is necessarily connected to the Messianic Jewish remnant in Israel. Why? – Because at the Second Coming, Yeshua returns to Jerusalem.
The “Revival-Remnant-Return” pattern can be found in Acts 1, as well as Acts 2:
Acts 1:6, 8 – Will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? …You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.
If we do what Yeshua told us to in the Great Commission, the Great Revival will be the result. That Revival is connected to the Messianic Remnant in Israel. Not only will the political nation of Israel be restored, but the spiritual kingdom as well. That spiritual kingdom comes from the Messianic Jewish believers within Israel.
The Great Commission (verse 8) and the Restoration of Israel (verse 6) lead up to the Second Coming (verse 11):
Acts 1:11 -This same Yeshua, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner, as you saw Him go into heaven.
Yeshua ascended to Heaven from the Mount of Olives. He will return from Heaven to the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4). The same city in which Yeshua was crucified at His first coming is where He will be crowned at His second coming.
The Revival – Remnant – Return connection is seen also in the book of Revelation. The worldwide outpouring and harvest is described as:
Revelation 7:9 – a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples and tongues…
The Messianic Remnant is described as:
Revelation 7:4 – … one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
The great multitude and the sealed remnant eventually usher in the Second Coming:
Revelation 19:11 – I saw heaven opened and behold a white horse, and He who sat upon it…
The Revival – Remnant – Return pattern is seen in many other sections of scripture – including Romans 11, Ephesians 2, Isaiah 40-66, Esther, Ruth – and is a summary of God’s plan for Israel and the Church in the Messiah’s Kingdom.
This is also what we call the “dual prerequisite” for the Second Coming. The gospel of the kingdom must be shared in all the nations before the end will come (Matthew 24:14). And we will not see Yeshua’s return until the Jewish people in Jerusalem welcome Him back with cries of “Blessed be He who comes (Matthew 23:39).”
This biblical pattern is not only a matter of correct interpretation, but of practical strategy for ministry. It is not just theology; it is our methodology. On the one hand, we seek to share the gospel, make disciples and plant indigenous congregations here in Israel. On the other hand, we pray for the nations, seek to equip the Church, and send out Israeli believers as kingdom emissaries throughout the world (Isaiah 2:2-4; 42:6; 49:6).
Over the years, many of us Messianic Jews have preached just a “remnant” message without a concern for world revival. Many spirit-filled Christians have had a vision for world “revival” but not the importance of the remnant of Israel. However, the two are linked to one another by the return of Yeshua.
I believe God will not let “prophetic-apostolic” Christians any longer “skip over” the Messianic remnant in Israel. Nor do I believe that God will let the Messianic Jewish community avoid our commitment to world revival. He is grafting us into one another for the glory of His Son’s kingdom to be established on the earth (Zechariah 14:9, Ephesians 1:10).
