"And saying these things, while they are looking, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him up from their eyes." (Acts 1:9)
"This Jesus Who is being taken up from you into heaven shall come thus, in the manner in which you gaze at Him going into heaven." (Acts 1:11)
Ten days later, on the Jewish festival day of Pentecost, the disciples received power from God to boldly go tell all Israel that the resurrected and crucified Jesus is their Lord and Messiah (Christ). The Apostle Peter told them...
"This Jesus God raises, of Whom we all are witnesses. Being, then, to the right hand of God exalted...Let all the house of Israel know certainly, then, that God makes Him Lord as well as Christ - this Jesus Whom you crucify!" (Acts 2:32-33)
Peter then told them to repent and be baptized. If the people of Israel did so, God would send Jesus back to complete the restoration of the kingdom of Israel on earth...
"Repent and be baptized, each of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the pardon of your sins"..."the Inaugurator of Life you kill, Whom God rouses from among the dead, of which we are witnesses...And now, brethren, I am aware that in ignorance you commit it, even as your chiefs also. Yet what God announces before through the mouth of all the prophets - the suffering of Christ - He thus fulfills. Repent, then, and turn about for the erasure of your sins, so that the seasons of refreshing should be coming from the face of the Lord, and He should dispatch the One fixed upon before you, Christ Jesus, Whom heaven must indeed receive until the times of restoration of all which God speaks through the mouth of His holy prophets who are from the age." (Acts 2:38; 3:15-21)
The book of Acts records that Israel again rejected Peter's message and the result is that the nation of Israel is now in a state of unbelief until Jesus returns. Paul would later explain...
"For I am not willing for you to be ignorant of this secret, brethren, lest you may be passing for prudent among yourselves, that callousness, in part, on Israel has come, until the complement of the nations may be entering. And thus all Israel shall be saved, according as it is written, arriving out of Zion shall be the Rescuer. He will be turning away irreverence from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them whenever I should be eliminating their sins." (Romans 11:25-27)
Paul further explained that until Israel repented and embraced Jesus as the Messiah, the gospel of salvation would be taken to the other nations of the world.This has been going on for almost two thousand years.
"Let it be known to you, then, that to the nations was dispatched this salvation of God, and they will hear." (Acts 28:28)
Even though Israel as a nation has rejected Jesus for now, God has always reserved for Himself a remnant of faithful believers among the Jews.
"Yet I will let remain in Israel 7,000, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal." (1 Kings 19:18)
"Thus, then, in the current era also, there has come to be a remnant according to the choice of grace." (Romans 11:5)
When Jesus returns He will restore the kingdom of Israel on this Earth. The nation of Israel will again be established and Jesus will reign over this Earth for 1,000 years. The believers of Israel will be the priests of God during this time with Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords.
"Let it be known to you, then, that to the nations was dispatched this salvation of God, and they will hear." (Acts 28:28)
Even though Israel as a nation has rejected Jesus for now, God has always reserved for Himself a remnant of faithful believers among the Jews.
"Yet I will let remain in Israel 7,000, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal." (1 Kings 19:18)
"Thus, then, in the current era also, there has come to be a remnant according to the choice of grace." (Romans 11:5)
When Jesus returns He will restore the kingdom of Israel on this Earth. The nation of Israel will again be established and Jesus will reign over this Earth for 1,000 years. The believers of Israel will be the priests of God during this time with Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords.
"And I perceived heaven open, and lo! a white horse. And He Who is sitting on it is called "Faithful and True," and in righteousness is He judging and battling. Now His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems, having names written of which no one except Himself is aware, and He is clothed in a cloak dipped in blood, and His name is called "The Word of God." And the armies in heaven, dressed in cambric, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. And out of His mouth a sharp blade is issuing, that with it He should be smiting the nations. And He will be shepherding them with an iron club. And He is treading the wine trough of the "fury of the indignation of God, the Almighty. And on His cloak and on His thigh He has a name written: "King of kings and Lord of lords." (Revelation 19:11-16)
"Happy and holy is he who is having part in the former resurrection! Over these the second death has no jurisdiction, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will be reigning with Him the thousand years." (Revelation 20:6)