The Valley of the Dry Bones

1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; it was full of bones. 2 And he led me round among them; and behold, there were very many upon the valley; and lo, they were very dry. 3 And he said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord GOD, thou knowest." 4 Again he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. 5 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the LORD." 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 And as I looked, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live." 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great host. 11 Then he said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are clean cut off.' 12 Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you home into the land of Israel. 13 And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. 14 And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land; then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done it, says the LORD."

Ezekiel 37: 1-14

Over 2600 years ago, the prophet Ezekiel prophesied a national resurrection for Israel. The spirit of the Lord set Ezekiel in a valley filled with dried human bones that Ezekiel was told consisted of "the whole house of Israel". (vv 1-11) Then the prophet was told to prophesy over them (v.4). When the prophet spoke , a mighty miracle took place. Immediately the bones came together, forming a body of people (v.7). This coalescing represents Israel's resurrection as an entity in its own land in the last days.

On November 29, 1947 the nation of Israel was resurrected by a vote of the United Nations. It was the first time in 20 centuries that a nation whose people had been uprooted and dispersed across the face of the earth, survived, and returned to its country of origin to resume its national existence. Some would suggest that Israel's reemergence is totally unrelated to prophecy. Therefore, modern Israel's reestablishment is a historical event that has no relevance to biblical fulfillment. Others would suggest that that there will be a literal, national restoration as prophesied in the Bible; but, not until the return of the Lord. They would suggest that a return in unbelief does not follow the correct sequence of repentance, then restoration.

It seems to me that the above passage gives one some insight into the plan of God. Note v. 8 that talks about the lack of "breath" in the bones. This might suggest an absence of spiritual life at the time of resurrection. Spiritual life will come when the reconciliation happens--at the Second coming of Jesus the Messiah.

The concept that Israel will return to its own land in unbelief and become a nation before the Messiah returns is also seen in Ezekiel 36:8-12 where the land itself will be restored upon the Jewish people's return. In 1948 about 657,000 resided in the new State of Israel. Many of these had no agricultural or farming background. Yet, through the establishment of the kibbutzim (collective settlements) the land began to produce crops on what had been desolate for centuries. Since the return of the descendants of Abraham to Israel, the land has experienced the new life mentioned in Ezekiel 36. First, it is like a tree that sprouts new branches, leaves, and fruit (v.8). Second, it is producing abundantly as it is being "tilled and sown" (v.9). Third, its cities are being rebuilt and inhabited (v.10). Fourth, the land has been reclaimed , as Israel's ruins are rebuilt (v.10). Fifth, the land is being populated with Jewish people (vv. 1--12). Sixth, the Israelies are taking possession of it (v.12). This event is a forerunner to the ultimate fulfillment of the Ezekiel 36 passage which will take place in the Millennial Kingdom.

Scripture clearly teaches that Israel will face world opposition and unprecedented tribulation in the last days. In fact, Israel will experience what is known as "the time of Jacob's trouble" --an unprecedented holocaust poured out on Israel during he Great Tribulation. (Jer. 30:7) Consequently, Israel must be in existence when the Tribulation begins.

It was prophesied that the land of Magog ("Russia") will join specific nations - Persia (Iran), Ethiopia, Libya, Gomer and Togarmah (Ezek. 38:5-6)--to attack Israel before the Messiah's return. (vv. 1-12) This invasion will occur when Israel is back in its land and dwelling safely (vv.8,11) The purpose of the invasion is to plunder and destroy Israel (v.12).

It also appears that immediately prior to the Messiah's return, another invasion will occur when all the nations of the world attack Israel at the end of the Great Tribulation. This invasion is called Armageddon (Rev. 16:16). Again, there must be a literal nation of Israel for these nations to attack.

Another prophecy is found in Psalms 83:1-8:

1 A Song. A Psalm of Asaph.

O God, do not keep silence; do not hold thy peace or be still, O God! 2 For lo, thy enemies are in tumult; those who hate thee have raised their heads. 3 They lay crafty plans against thy people; they consult together against thy protected ones. 4 They say, "Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more!" 5 Yea, they conspire with one accord; against thee they make a covenant-- 6 the tents of Edom and the Ish'maelites, Moab and the Hagrites, 7 Gebal and Ammon and Am'alek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; 8 Assyria also has joined them; they are the strong arm of the children of Lot.

Asaph speaks of ten nations committed to Israel's destruction. Those nations are Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites, Gebal, Ammon, Amale, Philistia, Tyre and Assyria. The descendants of those people make up modern Jordan; northern Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, the northern Sinai Peninsula; parts of the Mediterranean coast, and what the news media today calls today as the "West Bank". Today, these Islamic people currently seek to annihilate the State of Israel.

Four New Testament passages mention the Temple, i.e. Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14; Second Thessalonians 2:3-4; and Revelation 11:1-2. When the temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. the world thought that would be the end of the Jewish sacrificial system. Interestingly, there is a movement under way in Israel to build a new third Temple and reinstitute sacrificial worship. An Orthodox Jewish group called the Temple Mount Faithful is ready to lay the cornerstone; but, the Israeli government has prevented it. Another group at the Temple Institute is making furniture that will be ready when the new Temple is constructed. Still another group of Orthodox rabbis are training men whose last names are Levi or Cohen to function as priests, in anticipation of a new Temple.

All these facts lead me to believe that Israel must (1) be a legitimate nation; and, (2) be in control of the Temple Mount before the Lord returns. Both of these conditions have now transpired. Scripture teaches us that no one knows the day or hour; but, the Lord said we would know the seasons by the events happening around us. I find such events to be a confirmation of my faith that we are closer to the last days than ever before. As we watch world events unfolding before us we must remember that God gave us prophecy so that we would know that His word is truth. May we develop spiritual ears and eyes to discern as we travel the journey of faith. Maranatha!