God gave Ezekiel a vision of a valley full of disjointed and dry bones. Bones have marrow, which produces the blood cells that are vital for life. If the bones are dry, it is evidence that the being has been dead for a long time.
Some, including myself, believe that many prophecies have both a natural and a spiritual fulfillment. For example, the prophecy regarding the King of Babylon in Isaiah 14 also refers to the fall of Satan (verse 12 onward).
Israel was released from Babylon, which many believe fulfilled the "dry bones" vision. This began in 538 BC. The further prophecy that follows obviously relates to a future event (verse 15 ff). What does this all mean?
The "dry bones" vision relates to the end of the exile. Verses 15 onward refer to the scattering of Israel to "nations" plural, not one kingdom as the three previous exiles (verse 21). There was a mass exodus from Israel after the destruction of the temple. Some were expelled forcibly by Rome and sent to other nations. Some left voluntarily to escape the violence. Some remained in spite of Rome's heavy hand of reprisals.
The second prophecy declares that God would bring the Israelites back from those nations, which began to take place prior to 1948. It is clearly not a reference to the Babylonian captivity. God has reestablished Israel physically. The nations can rage all they like, but God just laughs at them. (Psalm 2).
However, there remains an unfulfilled aspect of the prophecy. Israel is yet to be transformed spiritually. It is fundamentally secular but also Jewish. In that regard it is unique. God has promised
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances. Then you will live in the land that I gave your forefathers; you will be My people, and I will be your God.…" Ezekiel 36: 27 & 28.
Now unless every Christian in the world relocates to Israel, it is obvious that God has not finished with Israel and the Jews yet. Yes, believers are God's people, but the land God gave to gave to Israel's forefathers is literal Israel. The time will come when Israel will turn to Jesus and receive Him as King. Rather than dismissing Israel as just another country, we should be praying for the nation to repent and receive Christ as "My servant David" stated in verse 24. It's interesting to me that Jesus was called the Son of David by some who sought His help. He also called Himself the Son of David.
Some say that David will come back to life and rule under Christ. Others say that it will be Christ Himself who rules and reigns. Personally, I believe it will be Jesus and all people of faith from Abel onwards. All will be made clear in God's time. Mirrors in Paul's time were polished metal, not glass. The reflection was imperfect. (1 Corinthians 13:12). So we only see a part of the picture, what God wants us to see.
Israel is testimony to God's power and might. People can ignore the Bible, refuse to accept God's witness in creation and reject the witness of the church. Israel is another witness that is impossible to ignore. No wonder the world hates Israel. And as the world increasing rejects Lord Jesus, so they increasingly reject Israel. God gets the last word. Israel is still his nation. He has not finished with her yet.
Some, including myself, believe that many prophecies have both a natural and a spiritual fulfillment. For example, the prophecy regarding the King of Babylon in Isaiah 14 also refers to the fall of Satan (verse 12 onward).
Israel was released from Babylon, which many believe fulfilled the "dry bones" vision. This began in 538 BC. The further prophecy that follows obviously relates to a future event (verse 15 ff). What does this all mean?
The "dry bones" vision relates to the end of the exile. Verses 15 onward refer to the scattering of Israel to "nations" plural, not one kingdom as the three previous exiles (verse 21). There was a mass exodus from Israel after the destruction of the temple. Some were expelled forcibly by Rome and sent to other nations. Some left voluntarily to escape the violence. Some remained in spite of Rome's heavy hand of reprisals.
The second prophecy declares that God would bring the Israelites back from those nations, which began to take place prior to 1948. It is clearly not a reference to the Babylonian captivity. God has reestablished Israel physically. The nations can rage all they like, but God just laughs at them. (Psalm 2).
However, there remains an unfulfilled aspect of the prophecy. Israel is yet to be transformed spiritually. It is fundamentally secular but also Jewish. In that regard it is unique. God has promised
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances. Then you will live in the land that I gave your forefathers; you will be My people, and I will be your God.…" Ezekiel 36: 27 & 28.
Now unless every Christian in the world relocates to Israel, it is obvious that God has not finished with Israel and the Jews yet. Yes, believers are God's people, but the land God gave to gave to Israel's forefathers is literal Israel. The time will come when Israel will turn to Jesus and receive Him as King. Rather than dismissing Israel as just another country, we should be praying for the nation to repent and receive Christ as "My servant David" stated in verse 24. It's interesting to me that Jesus was called the Son of David by some who sought His help. He also called Himself the Son of David.
Some say that David will come back to life and rule under Christ. Others say that it will be Christ Himself who rules and reigns. Personally, I believe it will be Jesus and all people of faith from Abel onwards. All will be made clear in God's time. Mirrors in Paul's time were polished metal, not glass. The reflection was imperfect. (1 Corinthians 13:12). So we only see a part of the picture, what God wants us to see.
Israel is testimony to God's power and might. People can ignore the Bible, refuse to accept God's witness in creation and reject the witness of the church. Israel is another witness that is impossible to ignore. No wonder the world hates Israel. And as the world increasing rejects Lord Jesus, so they increasingly reject Israel. God gets the last word. Israel is still his nation. He has not finished with her yet.
