In the Book of Exodus, we read about the well known exodus of the children of Israel out of Egypt. In religious Jewish thought, this event is referred to as “the first redemption.” Interestingly and unbeknownst to most Christians, there is another exodus involving YHVH’s people that will occur at the end of the present age and the beginning of the next age. The ancient Jewish sages refer to this event as “the final redemption.” This is because numerous biblical prophecies speak of this final redemption, which we colloquially refer to here as “the second exodus.” When will this second exodus occur, who does it involve and what do these people leave and where to they go? That will be subject of the discussion below.

The concept of the Messianic Era in Hebraic thought involves an understanding of both the first and final redemptions, which are two separate events separated by thousands of years. The first redemption or first exodus occurred when the Israelites obeyed the Word of Elohim, and placed the blood of the lamb on the door posts of their homes resulting in YHVH delivering them out of Egypt. It is understood by biblically literate saints that Israel’s exodus from Egypt was prototypical of one’s placing their faith in Yeshua (the Lamb of Elohim) who redeems them from sin’s death grip through his shed blood at the cross, and then leads them out of their spiritual Egypt of sin and worldliness toward the promised land of a new spiritual life in Lord and Savior.

By contrast, the final redemption or second exodus is a series of events that will occur at the end of the age prior to the second coming of Messiah Yeshua at the beginning of the Messianic Era (or Millennium).

For those who have placed saving faith in Yeshua the Messiah, at the final redemption, these redeemed believers will receive their spiritual or glorified bodies at the resurrection of the dead, which occurs at the second coming of Yeshua. After that, they will rule and reign with Yeshua for a thousand years during the Messianic Era.

Now let’s explore several of the notable Bible prophecies that pertain to this long-awaited and glorious second exodus. This will yield us more clues as to the timing of the return of YHVH scattered, redeemed Israelites back to the land of Israel in fulfillment of numerous Bible prophecies.

Isaiah 11:10–12:6

Although consisting of only two chapters, this passage of the Scriptures is part of the same prophecy and speaks about the coming of Messiah, and the regathering of the outcasts of Israel from the nations to which they have been scattered. Below is a list of the salient points that pertain to the second exodus along with my commentary.

Isaiah 11:10, The root of Jesse (i.e., Yeshua the Messiah) will be an ensign or banner to the Gentiles of the nations. We know that Yeshua was that root or offspring of Jesse (King David’s father) who commanded his followers to preach the gospel to the Gentile world. The gospel has gone to the entire Gentile world only in the 20th century via the means of modern travel and mass communications.

Isaiah 11:11, The prophet, here, is referring to another group of people—a remnant of his people (the outcasts of Israel, verse 12) including both Jews (verse 12) and Ephraimites (verse 13, referring to the northern ten tribes of Israel) as opposed to the larger group of Gentile believers from among the nations (who have heard the gospel message) referred to in verse 10. YHVH will recover his people—the remnant of Israel—the second time (i.e., the second exodus) from all lands including the islands of the sea (North and South America, England, Australia, Japan, etc.).

Isaiah 11:12, YHVH will set up an ensign or banner for the nations and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel and the dispersed of Judah. Yeshua is that banner. Even though Yeshua is the ensign for the Gentiles of the nations and for the remnant outcast of Israel who are scattered among the nations, only the outcasts of Israel will be regathered along with the dispersed of Judah.

Isaiah 11:13, It is among this remnant group of scattered redeemed Israelites and dispersed redeemed Jews that peace between the two groups will occur. How may we ask are these two previously antagonistic groups brought together? This can only occur through a common adherence to Torah and a belief in Yeshua the Jewish Messiah through whom both Jews and Gentiles are merged spiritually to become “the one new man” (Eph 2:11–19). At the same time, the adversaries of Judah and Ephraim (the Edomite–Philistines or Moslems and their Islamo-fascist terrorist axis of evil comrades) will be cut off.

Isaiah 11:14–15, Together, Judah and Ephraim will defeat Edom, the Philistines of the West Bank and Gaza along with Moab. (Note that all these enemies of Israel are Moslem nations! Compare this with the prophecies of Obad 18 and Zech 9:13.) Perhaps there are two groups of Jews (from the tribe of Judah) and Ephraimites: the remnant and the greater group. It appears that greater or national (secular) Judah and national (secular) Ephraim will defeat Edom, as it seems less likely that a remnant of Yeshua-followers (the end times Torah-observant saints) will be the ones to do this.

Isaiah 11:16, The scene switches back to the remnant again where a highway will be formed for YHVH’s people to return to Israel from Assyria (the ancient, original nation of their captivity). This second exodus will be similar to Israel’s leaving Egypt the first time. As YHVH led ancient Israel through the wilderness en route to the Promised Land, he will do the same in the last days when Israel will return to the land of Israel from the nations worldwide to which these people eventually wandered in exile.

Isaiah 12:1–12, This chapter describe a millennial setting which occurs after the second coming of Yeshua the Messiah. For example, verse three is understood in Hebraic thought to be a reference to Hoshana Rabbah, the last great day of the fall biblical Feast of Tabernacles (or Chag haSukkot), which is a prophetic picture of the Millennium when the Spirit of YHVH will be poured out upon the earth.

Now let’s note Isaiah 11:10–12:6 in the broader context of the chapters following this passage. There is additional understanding to be found as to the timing of Ephraim’s return to the land (which the ancient Jewish sages call “the Final Redemption” and we refer to as “the Second Exodus” by examining the event foretold therein.

Isaiah 13:6, 9, 13 speak of the day of YHVH’s wrath, which occurs at the end of the age when YHVH will judge the nations as described in the seven bowl judgments of Revelation 15 and 16. The wrath in Isaiah 13 is directed at Babylon, and in Revelation 15 and 16 YHVH’s wrath is toward the nations of the world that come under the economic-political-spiritual biblical label of “Babylon the Great,” which is a greater, world-ruling version of the original Babylon. Because of the proximity of Isaiah chapter 11 describing the second exodus to Isaiah chapter 13 prophesying the fall of Babylon, it would appear that these two events are related.

Isaiah 14, After this, chapter 14 goes on to talk about the fall of the king of Babylon in verses 13 through 20, and then curiously links this to Lucifer’s (Satan’s) rebellion against YHVH and his fall from glory and his eventually being cast into a pit (verse 15). The Book of Revelation speaks of similar events—Satan’s fall from heaven (Rev 12:7–9), Babylon the Great’s destruction (Rev 18), and Satan’s being cast into the bottomless pit (Rev 20:1–3). Are Isaiah and John’s prophecies speaking about the same events that are to occur at the end of the age, and to YHVH’s end times judgment of Babylon the Great with Satan the devil as its head (see Rev 13, 18, 19 and 20)? This could be the case. In time, as end time prophecies come to pass, we will know for sure.

Isaiah chapters 14 through 20 then goes on to prophecy another judgment against the king of Babylon, then a judgment against the Assyrians, Philistines (Isa 14), Moab (Isa 16) and Syria (Isa 17) and America—a land beyond and due west of Ethiopia that is accessible only by ocean ships (Isa 18), and, finally, judgment upon Egypt (Isa 19–20).

Isaiah 21 then revisits the fall of Babylon where in verse nine the phrase “Babylon is fallen, is fallen” is repeated as if to say that Babylon fell once, but that it will fall again in the end times. Most people are familiar with this phrase from John’s Book of Revelation (Rev 18:2), but are unaware that John is actually quoting Isaiah. It is as if John is calling our attention to Isaiah’s prophecy as a corollary antecedent statement that relates to his own prophecy.

Isaiah chapters 21, 23, 24 then go on to pronounce judgment against Edom and Arabia, against Phoenicia (Isa 23) and then against the whole earth (Isa 24). Could these prophecies of Isaiah be what John is seeing in Revelation when he describes YHVH’s bowl judgments against the whole earth just prior to the return of Yeshua (Rev 15 and 16), which John refers to as the wrath of Elohim (Rev 14:19; 15:1,7; 16:2,19)? In the chronology of the Book of Revelation, the fall of Babylon the Great occurs after the bowl judgments of the wrath of Elohim are poured out upon the whole earth. After this, Yeshua returns to this earth with his heavenly army to bring final judgment upon the armies that have gathered at Armageddon (Rev 19 and Jude 14–15). At this time, Satan and his Antichrist confederacy, who dared to exalt themselves against YHVH and his Anointed One, will be dashed to pieces and destroyed for good (Ps 2:1–12; Rev 19:11–21; 20:1–3)!

So we see from this series of passages additional clues as to the timing of the second exodus and the return of Ephraim to the land of Israel. As the first exodus of Israel from Egypt occurred in conjunction with Egypt’s judgment and demise, so it appears that similar events will surround the second exodus. YHVH will judge all the nations which are part of end times Babylon the Great as well as the devil, who is the instigator of man’s rebellion against YHVH-Yeshua, and then the dispersed captives of Israel (both Jews and Ephraimite Christians will be set free to return to her promised inheritance.

Perhaps this whirlwind tour of all these prophecies is bit overwhelming, and this analysis may seem to be too broad and speculative. But before jumping to any conclusions one way or the other, let’s continue to examine other biblical prophecies on this subject to determine if a pattern of events will begin to take shape that will shed light on the timing of the return of the saints to the land of Israel as the Bible predicts. After you begin to see how the pieces of the puzzle fit together to form the whole picture, you will be in a better position to determine if there is enough evidence from the whole counsel of the Scriptures to support what I am proposing. As the Scriptures say, “Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things, hold fast that which is good” (1 Thess 5:20–21).

Jeremiah 16:14–15