Captivity:

Concept of ancient Middle Eastern religions (of which Judaism is the only surviving representation) of being deprived of the cult statue or other mark of representation of a people’s native god. When conquerors made off with the cult image, the people believed themselves to be, and also declared themselves to be, in “captivity.” Since there was no cult image for Jews, the mark representing the favor and dwelling of God amongst his people was the temple. Therefore any allusions or outright statements within the Prophets of the return of the captivity or end of the captivity, etc., referred both to a spiritual awakening and the physical rebuilding of the temple on Moriah.

Scripturally, we have been told of only  2 captivities. The first was at the hand of the Babylonians in the 6th century BC. When we returned, we never again took up physical idolatry again. Such was also the prophecy.

However, we were also told of a second captivity. Again, this happened in 70 AD to present. We were also told that the second captivity would end. Signs of its ending were only given to Nazarene Jews: “the times of the Gentiles would be fulfilled” before Moriah would be built again physically. Spiritually, Jews would be reborn and would be believers in the Messiah at last. At the same time the Gentiles are implied to plunge into apostasy, though one can assume initially when the events of the reformation of Israel occur millions of Gentiles will see the signs and repent.

Such prophecy clearly pointed to a time when the era of God being the dominant thought and force amongst the nations would end. The nations came to God because of the actions of his anointed who would come to Israel and who would also be given to be the “light unto the Gentiles” (Isaiah 49, for instance.) The prophecies concerning the Messiah clearly foretold that the nations would seek him, though Israel, as in Isaiah 49, would not be gathered as a body.

More than any apostle, Paul spoke of the Gentile’s times being fulfilled and Moriah being tread down until that time by the nations. This, of course, can have both literal and symbolic meaning, as much prophecy can. The one element nobody knew was the time duration for this. It now seems that this duration’s limit is being met, as evidenced by the return of our people to our land. Though this does not in any way end the Captivity, the pathway is now being laid.

God in his mercy makes the end of an age a slow process, in order to allow the most possible to repent. Like a domino effect, however, the Spirit of God continues to move men, and his pure spirit will bring out his word on schedule. The times of the Gentiles are clearly being fulfilled. It is more than coincidence that at this same time that Israel is being reestablished as a nation, and that thousands of Jews begin to see the problems in Judaism and the problems in corporate Christianity. The scriptures show where both strayed, and this Reformation that is about to dawn upon us must reestablish the power of God’s word.