The above image represents the condition of Israel in Ezekiel's vision (ch. 37). Following Israel's devastating defeat by Roman armies in 70 AD, the remnant of the remaining Jews were scattered among the nations. Though the Jewish People were preserved throughout the centuries since, by divine Providence, yet the Jewish Nation was as seen by Ezekiel in his vision: a valley filled not merely with lifeless corpses but with dry, disjointed bones ~ as of many, very long deceased.
Thus begins one of the most amazing and important series of prophecies in Scripture. I say series because Ezekiel's vision spans a period of nearly two-thousand years and, yet, that series entails a singular vision pertaining to the reconstituting and re-establishment of the Nation of Israel ~ in the End times. Ezekiel's vision is revealed in Ezekiel chapters 37 thru 39 inclusive. Important aspects of that vision have yet to be fulfilled; although, in view of the larger context of prophetic fulfillment in this present generation, there is every reason to believe that every part of Ezekiel's vision shall come to pass literally in the weeks and months (not years) ahead.
But I do not intend, as some may expect, to discuss Ezekiel's War ~ though that comprises the bulk of Ezekiel's vision in chapters 38 and 39. To say that Ezekiel's War is prophetically important, were a gross understatement. Yet, that now-imminent war is really a stepping stone, so to speak, leading onward toward the fulfilling of the real meaning of Ezekiel's vision, which is, the 'resurrection' (as it were) and rising to power and prominence of the Nation of Israel to become the head of the nations!
Israel is not ever, henceforth, going down. Though it is true that Israel is yet going to suffer greatly until such time that a Remnant of the Jews will look unto their true Messiah, Jesus Christ:
They are not all Israel, which are of Israel [Jacob, spiritually]: neither, because they are the [spiritual] seed of Abraham, are they all [Abraham's natural] children: but, 'In Isaac shall thy seed be called' (Romans 9:6b-7).
It is impossible to rightly understand Bible prophecy, without understanding the important distinction between the natural descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (that is to say, the "natural" Jews), and the spiritual descendants of those same Patriarchs (Abraham being the so-called father of faith; and Isaac being, typologically, the fulfillment of the promise of faith: the antitype of Christ).
That process (Israel's rising) is already well underway. Nor since that process has lately begun (Israel's nationhood status in 1948 being a signal point in time), is it EVER going to be reversed ~ much less stopped. Which, truth, brings us near to my purpose in this essay, as follows:
I say then, Have [Israel] stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through [Israel's] fall [following Christ's rejection] salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke [Israel] to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness? ...For if the casting away of [Israel] be the reconciling of the world [to God], what shall the receiving of [Israel] be, but life from the dead? (Romans 11:11-15)
There is an organic (for lack of a better word) correlation in Scripture, between natural Israel (the Jewish People) and spiritual Israel (all ~ Jews and Gentiles ~ who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord). God is ever building His kingdom. During the very soon-coming Millennial Kingdom Age, Jesus Christ ~ together with his then-glorified saints ~ shall reign over the whole world. Important, the world at that time shall be inhabited by natural (mortal) people ~ including natural descendants of the Jews.
Thus, I hope you may have a clear understanding that God's purpose and dealing is both with natural Israel (as a nation on earth) as well as with spiritual Israel (otherwise known as the true Body of Christ). In the context of natural Israel's 'rising,' then, there are also profound implications for the Body of Christ.
"What shall the receiving of them [natural Jews] be, but life from the dead?" That passage, in context, focuses upon the intimate relationship between God's dealings with the Jews and the Church, respectively. The phrase "life from the dead," has reference not exclusively to the natural Jews, the nation of Israel. That phrase likewise reflects upon the consequent blessing which natural Israel's "receiving" (by God) is to have upon the followers of Jesus Christ.
One important question (among many), therefore, is: At what time will natural Israel be "received" by God? I would argue that that time has already appeared ~ circa 1948 when, in fulfillment of Isaiah 66:8, Israel became a nation "in a day." Careful reading of the text clearly suggests that the dispersal (70 AD) and re-gathering (1948 AD) of natural Israel is the subject. But the associated purpose of that prophecy (Israel's dispersal and re-gathering) ~ in addition to confirming that God has NOT utterly rejected the natural descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, is to reveal, firstly, the effects of Israel's dispersal ("the riches of the world...of the Gentiles") and, secondly, the effects of Israel's recent re-gathering ("life from the dead"). In a word: Resurrection!
Yes, I mean The Resurrection.
The Resurrection must precede The Rapture ~ even if only by mere milliseconds (though I believe it is something far more expansive in scope and, perhaps, even in some relatively small measure of time). - - - - - - - - - - I don't want to get off track, here. But this is exceedingly important to understand: As I briefly touched upon in my book, The Seven Seals in Prophecy and in History, the Resurrection is unlike anything I (at least) have ever come across in any writings or teachings I have ever been exposed to (outside of Scripture, of course). The Resurrection is not something that is going to happen ON EARTH, but it is purely a HEAVENLY event. The Resurrection, in fact, COULD BE GOING ON AT THIS VERY MOMENT!! Only, we ~ the Body of Christ on earth ~ have yet to perceive the effects of that. Oh! but we most assuredly shall feel the effects of the Resurrection, very soon! - - - - - - - - - - -
Deep, deep, deep water . . . .
Altogether what I'm trying to say is that, in order as natural Israel is presently rising ~ as if on a rocket! ~ there must also soon begin to appear the resultant ("life from the dead") blessing to the Body of Christ, associated with Israel's rising. The now generations-long suffering of the true Church ~ not merely by reason of outright persecution but, more importantly, by reason of the dearth of genuine Revival ~ must be coming to an end! One way or another, it is coming to an end: either in the blessed consummation of the Church Age in a glory-filled End-time harvest of souls; or, in the sudden, wholly unexpected (by the world) Rapture of the Church.
As much as I do sincerely desire to meet Jesus in the Rapture, yet my earnest prayer is that God will urgently send a worldwide Revival. Nevertheless, for faithful disciples of Jesus, the future is shining brighter and brighter each day ~ as if watching the Sun rising quickly upon the horizon . . . .
Observing God's dealings with Israel ought to be ~ for those who understand and love Bible prophecy ~ a source of very great encouragement.
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