This is not what those churchmen had in view since the restorations of Israel found in the Bible are all following repentance and a renewal of the covenant in faith.
A secular/political decree in 1948 does not match the criteria that true biblical scholars are interested in.
And why would they return to the land of Israel at all??? Ahhh -- it was and is the Land of the Abrahamic Promise.
Abraham was promised the entire world (Roman 4:13). I’m not saying I accept the interpretation of these churchmen, I was merely pointing out that a restoration view was not limited to dispensationalism, or holding such a view makes one a dispensationalist. Be reminded that the Puritan view does not share the radical features of dispensationalism, e.g., restoration of Israel while yet in unbelief with no end in sight.
Of course the "no end in sight" only applies to some dispensationalists. The date setters like Hal Lindsey and Chuck Smith had the details all worked out, based on the 1948 start date, Israel being the "fig tree", and the "literal" meaning of "this generation". Jesus would return in 1988. We all know that now.
Assuming your 1948 date is biblically significant (questionable), and with the great majority of Jews living in Israel presently being in unbelief regarding Jesus the Messiah, how long can they continue in this state? Does the Bible require that Jesus return within a certain period of time, or can this all go on for generation after generation (assuming Israel is not overrun by Arabs and destroyed)?