| God's Prophetic Word Fulfilled
37:10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army. Here, Ezekiel is given a vision by God of the promised restoration of Israel to their homeland, followed by the most fearsome invasion Israel would ever face. This vision uses the imagery of a valley of dry bones. These bones that upon hearing God's prophetic word are gathered from all over the world to their lost homeland has literally been fulfilled in our own time. Though Israel had been scattered throughout the world for nearly 2,000 years, they have once again been brought together to Palestine. Never before in human history has a nation been so displaced and then restored to their land and to their nationhood. The political climates of the nations that represent the regions referred to in chapter 38 that will attack Israel in our own time are ripening their passion to destroy Israel in our own time. Living in a time when prophetic events seem to be playing out before our very eyes is amazing. What we also see in this vision is a figurative picture of what God is doing throughout the world as He is sending out His Word, calling people to become a part of the Body of Christ. A people are being built together that God is breathing His Spirit into, making them an "exceedingly great army" (37:10), a spiritual army to in whom God has breathed the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit that Jesus promised would enable us to boldly proclaim God's word to the uttermost places on Earth (Acts 1:7). And just as Israel will rise victoriously when faced with the most horrendous attack ever unleashed upon them, so too will God's people rise in everlasting victory over every force that resists them. Victory is promised for God's bride, the church. Nothing will be able to silence its voice or hold back its light. We live in a time like never before in human history, a time when prophetic history is converging and bringing us to the climax of Christ's return. A thorough knowledge of the progressive fulfillment of prophecy in human history should be a vital part of every believer's understanding of where they are in God's timetable. Not only will our confidence in God's word be strengthened, but our sense of what our own lives should look like will be strengthened. It's hard to explain the lack of investment among many Christians in bringing the word of God to a world that is like a valley full of "dry bones" (spiritually dead) that He is gathering from all over the world as His word is proclaimed. It's also strange that so many who claim to believe that Christ will return to bring victory to this fallen world also seem to be thoroughly rooted in this world whose god is the devil. God is working and His prophetic word is unfolding all around us. Let us rise up now and join in proclaiming God's word to a world that is soon to be judged. May our own roots go deep into His Kingdom, not into this world that soon will be no more. | |||
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Ezekiel 37:1-38:23 The Dry Bones Live 1 The hand of the LORD came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. 2 Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. 3 And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" So I answered, "O Lord GOD, You know." 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: "Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. 6 I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then 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 suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them. 9 Also 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 on these slain, that they may live."'" 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army. 11 Then He said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, 'Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!' 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. 14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it," says the LORD.'" One Kingdom, One King15 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 16 "As for you, son of man, take a stick for yourself and write on it: 'For Judah and for the children of Israel, his companions.' Then take another stick and write on it, 'For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel, his companions.' 17 Then join them one to another for yourself into one stick, and they will become one in your hand. 18 "And when the children of your people speak to you, saying, 'Will you not show us what you mean by these?'— 19 say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Surely I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will join them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand."' 20 And the sticks on which you write will be in your hand before their eyes. 21 "Then say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; 22 and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again. 23 They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. Then they shall be My people, and I will be their God. 24 "David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them. 25 Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children's children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever. 26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. 27 My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 28 The nations also will know that I, the LORD, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore."'" Ezekiel 38 Gog and Allies Attack Israel1 Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3 and say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. 4 I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. 5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; 6 Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you. 7 "Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them. 8 After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely. 9 You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you." 10 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan: 11 You will say, 'I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates'— 12 to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land. 13 Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to you, 'Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?'"' 14 "Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "On that day when My people Israel dwell safely, will you not know it? 15 Then you will come from your place out of the far north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army. 16 You will come up against My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land. It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes." 17 Thus says the Lord GOD: "Are you he of whom I have spoken in former days by My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied for years in those days that I would bring you against them? Judgment on Gog18 "And it will come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel," says the Lord GOD, "that My fury will show in My face. 19 For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: 'Surely in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel, 20 so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.' 21 I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains," says the Lord GOD. "Every man's sword will be against his brother. 22 And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. 23 Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the LORD."' | |||
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| Ezekiel 37:1-38:23 v. 1 The hand of the LORD – Figurative language representing the guiding hand of God. This expression is synonymous with "the Spirit of the Lord" (Eze. 11:5). Spirit of the LORD – This phrase is a representation of the guiding personage of God defined more clearly in the New Testament as God's Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity (Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:1-4, 16-18; 5:1-9; Gal. 4:6; Heb. 10:15; 1 Peter 1:12; 2 Peter 1:21; 1John 5:7, 8). brought me out…set me down – It is evident that the hand of the Lord is in total control of Ezekiel's person and position during this prophetic vision. Though it is most probably that what Ezekiel is experiencing is not a literal incident but more of a dream-like vision. the valley – Probably the valley of Dura that was by the Chebar River (Eze. 3:22). This valley represents, the scene of Israel's sojourn in her state of national and spiritual deadness. full of bones – These bones represent the utter hopeless condition of the people of Israel (v. 11). Rather than a vision of motionless bodies that may appear yet revivable, God shows Ezekiel a scene of dry and scattered bones clearly beyond any hope of recovery. v. 2 very many…very dry – representing of all the house of Israel being far beyond the point of resuscitation (v. 11) v. 4 Prophesy to these bones – Ezekiel had been instructed to prophesy to inanimate objects before (6:2; 20:47; 36:1). But prophesying to dead bones and commanding them to live would require much more faith. v. 5 breath – ruwach (Heb.) wind or spirit v. 6 sinews…flesh – The Lord promises through Ezekiel to do much more than just bring bones to life in the form of skeletons but to fully restore these dry bones by placing muscle, tendons and skin upon these dead, dry bones. Then you shall know that I am the Lord – This precise wording reveals God's desire to be properly known as Yahweh (Heb.) the One true God. v. 7 prophesied…prophesied – From the same Hebrew word naba, meaning to speak by inspiration and influence of Divine Spirit. v. 8 sinews…flesh…skin…but there was no breath – A "two-step" resuscitation. Possibly suggesting that Israel will be restored in two distinct phases, first physically then spiritually. v. 9 the four winds – Signifying that Israel would be gathered from all the directions of the earth (Is. 43:5, 6; Jer. 31:8; Rev. 7:1, 4). slain – harag (Heb.), meaning to kill, slay, murder, destroy. These bones representing all of Israel (v. 11) have been put to death, but not necessarily all on a battlefield. They may also be considered slain by God's judgment of their sin. v. 11 cut off – from the Promised Land of Israel and the promises of God v. 12 bring you into the land of Israel – A promise of national restoration of the Hebrew people back to their "Promised Land." This is a crucial element of God's covenant promise to His chosen people (Gen. 26:3, 4; 28:4,13,14). v. 13 opened your graves – As the imagery changes from scattered bones in a valley to dead bodies buried in graves the concept of a literal resurrection of the dead emerges (John 5:25, 28, 29). v. 14 I will put My Spirit in you – This promise of receiving God's Spirit can be found repeatedly in the Old Testament (Eze. 36:27, 39:29; Joel 2:28, 29; Zech. 12:10). v. 16 Judah – The tribe descended from Judah the son of Jacob and later the name of the Southern kingdom after the nation split upon the death of Solomon. his companions – Referring to the tribe of Benjamin, which bound together with Judah at the time of national split after the death of Solomon. This may also be inferring to the many others who joined Judah who refused to give in to the idolatry of Jeroboam. write on it – Writing words on sticks or rods seems to be a way of commemorating an event (Num. 17:2). Joseph – Yowceph (Heb.), meaning "Jehovah has added." The eldest son of Jacob by Rachel. Ephraim – Ephrayim (Heb.) The preeminent of the ten northern tribes of Israel after the split. The word Ephraim often stands for all the ten tribes and for the kingdom of Israel, as distinct from that of Judah. his companions – the other nine northern tribes of Israel v. 17 join them…into one stick – representative of a complete unification of all of Israel with no more division (v. 19). v. 19 I will…one in My hand – Israel will experience genuine unity in submission to God's hand and under His control. v. 21 wherever they have gone – The Lord's promise of re-gathering His people to His land of promise is thorough and comprehensive. v. 22 I will make them one nation…one king – A Messianic promise of a future day when Israel will be one united kingdom never to be divided again under the headship of the Messiah. v. 23 They shall not defile themselves anymore – Israel's patterns of idolatry and all her frequent and numerous backslidings will be forever broken. detestable things – shiqquwts (Heb.) disgusting things; filthy, especially idolatrous or (concretely) an idol; abominable filth transgressions – pesha (Heb.) a revolt (national, moral or religious); a breach of trust, rebellion, sin cleanse – taher (Heb.) to be pure, unadulterated, uncontaminated; morally, innocent or holy; be purged, purified My people…their God – This was the Lord's primary intention in His covenant with the house of Israel (Lev. 26:12; Jer. 7:23, 11:4, 30:22; Joel 2:27). v. 24 David My servant shall be king over them – Because David had been dead for over 400 years, it is clear that this is a confirmation of God's solemn promise to David that the future Messiah would come from his lineage and would rule over God's eternal kingdom (1 Chron. 17:7-14). one shepherd – speaking of Jesus Christ's future rule over all of God's kingdom (Eze. 34:23, 24, John 10:11, 14) walk in My judgments – to obey God's laws observe My statutes – to obey God's decrees and ordinances v. 25 Jacob – Son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 12 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel. Thus, in context to promise something to Jacob is to promise it to the people of Israel descended from his loins. prince – nasiy (Heb.) an exalted one; a king or sheik v. 26 covenant of peace – God promises Israel a future treaty of eternal safety, happiness, and rest. This promise has been made four times in the NKJV bible (Num. 25:12; Is. 54:10; Eze. 34:25, 37:26). My sanctuary – miqdash (Heb.), meaning sacred place, holy place. God's holy temple that had been destroyed but will be restored (Eze. 40-48). v. 27 My tabernacle – mishkan (Heb.), meaning residence, dwelling place. God's personal promise to dwell with them and be in them (John 14:17; Rom. 8:9-11; 1 Cor. 3:16). v. 28 The nations also will know – God's plan is to be known among all the nations (Eze. 39:7; Ps. 102:15; Mark 16:15). sanctify – qadash (Heb.) to be set apart or consecrated; to purify and dedicate Ezekiel 38v. 1 now the word of the Lord – The first of two chapters, 38 and 39, that form two oracles that present a yet unfulfilled prophecy about a huge army attacking Israel. v. 2 Gog, of the land of Magog – This phrase appears only one other place in scripture (Rev. 20:7-10), where there will be a similar attack upon Israel at the close of the Millennium. the land of Magog – the land of the Scythians, which is in present-day southern Russia Rosh – Rosh (Heb.) could refer to a people group, but it is not used this way in the rest of the OT. The word is used more than 600 times in the OT as the adjective "chief," often with reference to the "chief priest." Thus it could be translated "Gog, of the land of Magog , chief prince of Meshech, and Tubal." Meshech, and Tubal – Both are in the area of modern-day Turkey. v. 4 hooks into your jaws, and lead you out – This represents an unmanageable beast which is compelled to follow its leader. God is in control of the nations. He raises and He brings down. a great company – This army is very large. Note verse 9, "You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud," and verse 15, "a great company and a mighty army." v. 5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya – Persia is present-day Iran; Ethiopia is the land just south of Egypt, and Libya is just to the west of Ethiopia. v. 6 Gomer – present-day Armenia, known in NT times as Cappadocia the house of Togarmah – present-day eastern Turkey v. 8 After many days...in the latter years – This sets the time of the assault. It will be at a time when Israel has been re-gathered from the nations of the world and is dwelling in the land during a time of peace. Some see this as following the glorious age when the Messiah will reign (Eze. 36-37, Rev. 20). However, it is best to understand it as following the time of peace which the Anti-Christ will grant to Israel (Dan. 9:27; 11:22, 24), but broken by his act of "abomination of desolation" (Matt. 24:15, 2 Thess. 2:3-4), thus making it synonymous with Revelation 19. now all of them dwell safely – Peace covers the land, but the storm is about to break. v. 10 thoughts will arise in your mind...an evil plan – Gog resolves to invade a peaceful and quiet people, the motive for which is stated in the next two verses, v. 11-12. v. 11 a land of unwalled villages – Israel is living in peace and security, dwelling in open unfortified exposed places. v. 12 to take plunder and to take booty – The motive of the attack is rob and pillage an unsuspecting and quiet people. against a people gathered from the nations – Speaks again about a re-gathered Israel. v. 13 Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish – These were great trading cities located somewhere in the Mediterranean, the exact locations of which are unknown. Tarshish is mentioned in Jonah 1:3. all their young lions – Refers either to the rulers of these cities or the towns that lay around them. The point is that even these rich, prosperous cities took note of Gog's greed. v. 14 will you not know it? – An ironic question put rhetorically to Gog. Of course at that time everyone will know of Israel's peace and security. v. 15 riding on horses – Horses represent power and speed. Perhaps the Tribulation has so devastated industry that armies must rely on horses. Or, perhaps God gives the vision to Ezekiel using a metaphor he can understand. v. 16 so that the nations may know Me – Yada (Heb.) means to know, to ascertain by seeing, that is, not just to understand, but to realize, to see the significance of something. This word in its various phrases appears throughout Ezekiel and is one of the primary themes of the book. It appears no less than eight times in chapters 38 and 39 alone (38:16, 23; 39:6, 7, 22, 23, 28). I am hallowed in you, O Gog – The word in Hebrew for hallowed is qadash meaning "to be set apart or consecrated, sanctified, holy." God will use Gog for His purposes, that all will see and understand that God is holy. v. 17 he of whom I have spoken in former days by My servants the prophets – This refers to God's speaking through the prophets about these days and times (Joel 3:9-17; Amos 5:11-12; Zeph. 3:8; Dan. 2:41-44). (Zechariah would not write until after the time of Ezekiel.) v. 19 a great earthquake – God will employ a great earthquake to make His presence known. v. 21 Every man's sword will be against his brother – Such fear will strike the attackers that they will turn on each other. This is similar to an attack on Jerusalem recorded in 2 Chronicles 20. v. 22 I will rain down on him...flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone – God will complete the work of earthquake and fear with great and mighty acts, acts that only He can provide. These descriptions are very similar to those of Revelation (6:12-17; 11:19; 16:17-21; 19:11-21). v. 23 Then they shall know that I am the LORD – The result will be not only that God rescues His people, but that He will be seen as the great and might creator God that He is. Romans 14:11 says, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God." | |||
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| So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. –Ezekiel 37:7 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army. –Ezekiel 37:10 Yours is a living Word, Lord, as we see in the passages of Ezekiel today. You gathered Israel together, Lord, although 2,000 years had passed since this prophecy was first declared. May we know that Your word is firm, God. Open our eyes, Lord, so that we may see Your glorious hand all around us. | |||
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37:7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. 
Door-to-Door Evangelism
