Yes, that really happened. And yes, it will really happen.
Interpret with consistency and without bias:
Before 722 BC it was predicted that the Northern Kingdom of Israel would be deported.
Unsurprisingly, the Assyrians literally deported the Israelites. This was not a figurative deportation. It did not have a mystical meaning. It really happened.
Before 586 BC it was predicted that the Babylonians would deport the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
Unsurprisingly, the Babylonians literally deported the people of Judah. This was not a figurative deportation. It did not have a mystical meaning. It really happened.
While in Babylon, the God predicted that He would begin to return Jewish people to their land after 70 years.
Unsurprisingly, Jewish people started to return from Babylon after 70 years. This was not a figurative return. It was not mystical in nature. It really happened.
Jesus the Messiah predicted that Jerusalem would be trodden down by Gentiles and the temple abandoned.
Unsurprisingly, 40 years after He made this prediction, Rome literally destroyed Jerusalem, scattered Jewish people and the temple has been abandoned for 2000 years. This was not a figurative prediction. Jesus did not give a mystical prophecy. It really happened.
While scattered among the nations, the Bible predicts that God will regather the Jewish people from around the world to their own land. Sometime after, He will pour out His Spirit on them.
If the Bible is consistent in its predictions about Israel's exiles and returns thus far, then we should expect a literal fulfillment of unfulfilled prophecies. To posit that all past prophecies are literal and yet future prophecies are only spiritual in nature is to be inconsistent at best, and biased at worst.
If I get to Heaven and God asks me why I didn't take unfulfilled prophecies as mystical/allegorical, I will respond: "Forgive me, Lord, for taking You at your Word."
Of course, I don't think that conversation will ever take place. 
From Levi Hazen on X.com