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Afterward, in the future from the time of the giving of the prophecy. Israel shall return. In returning, they will seek the Lord. This is a Messianic prophecy, pertaining to the ministry of the Lord Jesus and the early church. Jesus stated that He had been sent to the lost sheep of Israel. Mt. 15:24 Jesus sent His disciples forth with the command that they likewise go to the lost sheep of Israel. Mt. 10:6 Their opportunity to return to the Lord was through the Lord Jesus and that little band of disciples. They were the voice of the Lord calling unto Israel. John the Baptist was also an instrument used as a forerunner of the Lord Jesus. His ministry was to turn many of the children of Israel unto the Lord. Lk. 1:16 The sudden spurt of spiritual activity in their day was an opportunity for Israel to return again unto the Lord according to the statement of Hosea.
The early church was comprised basically of Israelites. Thousands of the Jews had come to Christ. Acts 21:22 The day of Pentecost saw the conversion of some three thousand. Acts 2:41 After the healing of the lame man at the temple Peter and John saw a great crowd come to the Lord. Their number was given as being about five thousand. Jerusalem was the hub from which the gospel was to be preached to all the nations of the world. Racism was so strong in the city and opposition to the preaching of the truth was fiercely disputed That Paul and Barnabas declared their intentions of turning to the Gentiles. Acts 13:45-46, Acts 18:5-6.
Religious intolerance and bigotry were present in that early assemblage. Hearing that Peter went to the Gentiles they called him to task for having done so. Acts 11:2-3 On hearing his explanation they accepted the fact that the Lord was also working among the Gentiles. Acts 11:17-18 Paul’s experiences with this spirit are recorded in Acts 15. Some wanted them to be circumcised and keep the Law. The deliberation and the message of the Elders in Jerusalem was positive. The Gentiles were accepted into the church. That opposition was overcome and the gospel went forth in power and glory. The Word of the Lord was being consummated. The great light was shining upon the Gentiles and they were coming to Christ. The glory of the Lord had come to Israel, even as the Lord had promised. Luke 2:32 The Messiah had come and had accomplished all that was necessary for mankind to find repentance and salvation. The tribes of Israel and of Judah were associated and made one in Christ. The people were coming together, with weeping to seek the Lord. The perpetual covenant, the New Covenant, the true, the everlasting was now in effect. The Covenant sealed and ratified through the blood of the Lord Jesus is the only Covenant whereby any and all may be saved. See Jer. 50:4-5 There is but one way of salvation and that is through the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 4:12.