When Will He Return? Just Watch Israel

Dear friend,

Shalom! May I ask a quick question for you to consider as we enter 2026? Do you believe the church or an individual believer can accelerate the Second Coming of Christ?

Of course, the answer is in the Bible, and I am sure your immediate answer is “No, the Lord will return when He wishes!” The Savior Himself said, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah” (Matthew 24:36–37).

On the other hand, we can understand the signs of the times and the steps leading to His return that will eventually unfold! Jesus Himself said earlier, “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door”(Matthew 24:32–33).

The great Baptist pastor W.A. Criswell gave a sermon in 1967, the year Israel retook the city of Jerusalem, and made this simple and very clear statement about the second coming of Jesus: If you want to know the time, look at Israel.[1]

In other words, if you want to know when Jesus is coming back, keep your eye on the nation of Israel!

The Role of Israel and the Jewish People in God’s Plan

I believe this is true with all my heart! May I take a quick moment and remind you of Israel’s central role in the plan of God? The Lord chose the Jewish people to bring blessings to the entire world, and it was through the Messiah Jesus that these blessings were poured out upon all humanity!

God promised Abraham in Genesis 12:3, “And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

God chose the Jewish people to bless the nations! This certainly took place with the first coming of Jesus, and these blessings will only increase with His second coming! As the apostle Paul wrote concerning the Jewish people’s end-times recognition of the gospel, “what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?” (Romans 11:15). This glorious day will be life-giving for all who have put their faith in Jesus throughout the ages.

Let me put it another way—we should keep an eye on the nation of Israel and the Jewish people because if we do we will be reminded of the urgency in bringing the gospel to a lost world. We will never know the day or the hour until He comes, but we can and should be aware of the times and season. The next great event in human history will be His return!

The prophet Zechariah gives us a clear picture of the end times. According to Zechariah 12:9–12, the Jewish people—especially those in Israel—will be surrounded by enemies who will want to destroy God’s chosen people. This will take place at a time when Israel and the city of Jerusalem are once again in Jewish hands. The nations of the world, according to the prophet, will surround the holy city of Jerusalem and prepare to attack His chosen people.

But God will intervene! He will pour out His Spirit at that moment, and the Jewish people will turn to the Messiah they once rejected. As Zechariah prophesied: “I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn” (Zechariah 12:10).

It is at this moment of national repentance that Jesus will return to usher in His glorious kingdom. The Second Coming—and the peace that will follow—is linked to the end-times repentance of the Jewish people (Matthew 23:39). Their repentance is the ultimate gateway to world peace.

So, we should reach out to Jewish people in the United States, Israel, and around the globe with the message of Jesus, thereby preparing the hearts of Jewish people to turn to Christ at the end of days!

As Paul writes, “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14).

If you want Jesus to return and establish His kingdom of justice and peace on the earth, then share the gospel with Jewish people in Israel and around the globe—or have a part in helping others fulfill this great gospel task (Romans 1:16, 11:11, 25–29). God has called the church to proclaim the good news to both Jewish people and Gentiles to prepare Jewish hearts especially for that great day of national repentance. When will it happen? I wish I knew! But we know it will, and today we cannot only reach Jewish people for Jesus but also prepare the hearts of the future remnant whose faith will be the key to His return.

Proclaiming Good News in Israel through Hard Times

Recently, I had the joy of sharing the gospel with dozens of Israelis at our Messianic Center in Tel Aviv. If you remember, we were renting one center before we decided to buy the new one. Thank God we held onto the rental, because our new facility nearby was damaged on June 19 by an Iranian missile. Praise God no one was seriously hurt or killed in the attack! But it will take at least a year to repair the thirty-story condominium building and our 4,000-square-foot commercial space at the base of it. We will move back into the space in the Lord’s time. Meanwhile, the damage to our center is far less than what happened to the larger condominium building.

Why did God allow our newly dedicated Messianic center to be hit by an Iranian missile? I believe it is part of our testimony in the Land. We are suffering with Israelis, and this gives us greater opportunities to witness within Israel (2 Timothy 1:8).

I also believe that the way in which we handle this disappointment will serve as a powerful testimony to Israelis about our messianic hope amid destruction. We have learned that even amid war, destruction, and extraordinary challenges, our faith and fruitfulness can grow!

Here is just one of the many testimonies from our missionaries in the land:

As a reserve soldier, on the very day of October 7, I was called to defend our land. I serve alongside religious soldiers, each with their own background and understanding of faith. During this time, we’ve had countless talks about God, about the meaning of suffering, about hope, and about the future of Israel. I’ve seen how the tragedy of October 7 stirred something deep within many of them and raised questions that neither politics nor military strength can answer. When the familiar foundations are shaken, people begin to look for something solid—and it is in those moments that hearts open to truth.

Together we’ve prayed, studied the Scriptures, and spoken about the prophets and the promises God gave to our people. And I can see how, through pain and trials, something new is being born—a faith built not on tradition, but on a personal encounter with God.

Yes, October 7 left a wound, but from that wound hope is growing. We are living proof that even out of destruction, God is building something eternal.

Urgent Opportunity to Expand Our Reach

Soon, we plan to take on at least three new Israeli staff to help us reach the many young Israelis searching for spiritual answers to life’s greatest problems.

Each new staff member costs approximately $60,000 per year, including salary and benefits. Because of Israel’s heavy taxation, their take-home pay is only about half of that amount. An investment of $180,000 would fully support these three new workers, and potentially more as God allows. In Israel, the workers are plentiful, but the resources are few. And the gospel opportunities are great.

Your gift will help us reach Israelis today!

Thank you so much for your generous giving for the Lord’s work among the Jewish people—especially in the Holy Land.

Yours in the hope of His coming,

Mitch Glaser
President, Chosen People Ministries

P.S. For your gift of any amount, we will send you a copy of our booklet, “God’s Plan and Purposes for the Jewish People.” I am sure you will find it to be a wonderful Bible study tool!

[1] W.A. Criswell, “Israel in the Consummation of History,” W.A. Criswell Sermon Library, https://wacriswell.com/sermons/1967/israel-in-the-consummation-of-history/.