Doesn't Scripture Say Israel Will Be Restored?

That all depends upon what you mean by "Israel". If you mean the modern state of Israel, the answer is "No". If you mean the "Israel of God" (Gal. 6:16) or spiritual Israel, then the answer is yes.

The modern state of Israel has nothing to do with biblical Israel and the fulfillment of prophecy. How can we be so sure?

We could spend considerable time in examining the historical evidence which demonstrates that biblical Judaism died in A.D. 70 and that without the genealogical records which were kept in the temple it is impossible for anyone to prove they are even a Jew except by tradition. But there is a much simpler approach.

In Exodus 34, we read of God's promise to Moses as the Old Covenant was given. All the males were instructed to travel to Jerusalem three times a year to keep the feasts. Since that would require some to travel for weeks, it would raise real concerns for them to leave their family and land. God anticipates this and promises, "For I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the LORD thy God thrice in the year." (vs. 24)

Many saw the return of the state of Israel in 1948 as having prophetic significance, but does it? No. It was the creation of the United Nations and not the fulfillment of prophecy. God only promised the nation of Israel a return to the land if they repented and obeyed. They didn't and He divorced them. There was a remnant but it consisted of those who were of the true Israel of God from Adam and Eve forward. Most of those who returned to the land in 1948 and since are atheists. God never promised any such restoration.

Beyond that, remember the Yom Kippur war in 1967? What happened? The "Jews" assembled in Jerusalem to keep the feast. There were no guard details anywhere and they were attacked! In spite of God's promise, their enemies encroached upon their land.

Remembering God's promise to Moses, the conclusions we can draw are very limited. Either God was not faithful to His promise or the those who are often called Israel today are not the covenant people.

Since suggesting that God lied is just not acceptable, the only conclusion is that modern Israel is not the true Israel of God.

God did raise up a remnant in the latter days of Old Covenant Israel. He preserved them through great tribulation and ushered them into the kingdom of God. By faith, believers have continued to flow to it's gates ever since.

Through Christ, God has restored what was lost and reconciled man to Himself. Those who wait for another earthly kingdom wait in vain.

Note: Very little of what you find on this site is original with me. Where I can identify the individual who first introduced me to a concept, I like to credit them for their diligence in study.  In this case, the source is Don Preston.