Ephraim and Judah in the 21st century.
Ezekiel 37:1-3 Valley of dry bones.
“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. 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. And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” So I answered, “O Lord GOD, You know.”
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(Valley of dry bones.)
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So far in this series, we have seen the prophetic nature of the book of Genesis both of Jesus and of the last days. We have also discussed how the story of Joseph and his two sons speak of the Church. We’ve learned some exciting things that are happening in Natural Israel as the coming of our Lord Jesus draws near. Now we’re going to turn our sights on God’s prophetic time clock. What, or more to the point, who is that? The tiniest nation of all: Israel.
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Prophetic Time Clock.
The opening verses are some of the most perplexing in all of of scripture, aren’t they? But if you just stop and think for a minute, when you read about this “Valley of dry bones,” what picture comes to mind? Think recent history, now. Let me give you a hint: A whole bunch of skeletons……one thrown on top of another…….in large pits or mass graves……..Yep, you guessed it: It is s a picture of The Holocaust. That horrific event brings to mind terrible pictures of the mass graves of Nazi Germany where 6 million Jews were senselessly murdered.
Clearly, this passage is not talking about the Church in the last days but about the evil that would happen to natural Israel at the hands of Hitler.
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(For a more complete meaning of the word, “Holocaust,” you may follow the link below. You may need a box of tissues, however:
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God prophesied that the holocaust would happen. It wasn’t His will, you understand. He didn’t do it. So how could this horrific event have happened? Sadly, though the Jewish people have the blessing of Abraham, they only have part of it. What they lack is the all-important PROTECTION over them: His Name is “Jesus.”
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Remember, they rejected Jesus as a nation. In order for Him to be able to protect them, they have to ask Him to do so. But…..if you slap His hand away, He will honor your free will, even if you come to harm.
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Happily, you and I have have His protection, Church. We won’t be going through any kind of holocaust because He went through it for us. Is it because we are better than they are? Of course not. It’s simply because of Jesus!
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(Jesus weeps over Jerusalem.)
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Jesus Wept.
Now do you understand why He wept so bitterly over Jerusalem? His heart was literally breaking for them. He was audibly sobbing because He saw what was going to happen to them in the future. He saw their temple being destroyed in 70 A.D. He saw all the trials and troubles they would face for the next 2,000 years. His people being destroyed in the holocaust.
He wanted so much to protect them. But they rejected His covering over them and, in so doing, were rendered defenseless. As I said, God is a great Respector of your free will. He won’t force His protection on anyone, even His own people.
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YOUR House.
Remember when He tossed the money changers out of the Temple? He had previously called it, “My house.” But notice He said to them, “YOUR house is left to you desolate?”
He didn’t leave them: They left Him. You see, in keeping with the terms of man’s “lease” over the earth, He cannot just intervene in the affairs if men unless He is invited by covenant, as much as He would love to.
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(For more on that topic, you may refer to the link below:
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But He also prophesied they would come back to their land around the same time as the holocaust. In fact, it was that event which precipitated their return.
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They’ll Be Back!
Ezekiel 37:4-10
Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones. and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. 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.” ’ ”
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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. 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.”
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.’” So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army. Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel.”
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Unprecedented Decision.
As though from dry bones with no life in them into a great army of living, breathing people, God literally resurrected the people of Israel. From the ashes of the holocaust, He brought them back to their own land to be a nation once again.
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In an unprecedented decision by the the United Nations, the Jews were given a place to call, “Home.” On May 15th,1948, they began coming back to their ancient land!
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This epic event sent shock waves throughout the whole world. Many rejoiced at the news, but there were those who were terrified!
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(For more on that topic, you may follow the link below and read all about the 19th Book: Psalms, another prophetic book:
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Hope Is Not Lost!
After the horrors of the Second World War, the Jewish people had nearly lost all hope. But God had not forgotten them!
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Ezekiel 37: 10-14
“They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ 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.
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. 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.’ ”
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Please proceed to part 8 to continue this series. We’ll be talking about God’s two groups of covenant people in the world, the family stick, get to the exciting conclusion!
Emmaus Road Ministries 