Ezekiel 37 presents a powerful picture of a valley full of dead, dry bones. These bones have no hope and they are laying around in virtually a mass grave. God, however, commands Ezekiel to prophesy about these bones so that they would come to life. God asks Ezekiel, "Can these bones live?", in verse 3. Ezekiel replies, "O, sovereign Lord, you alone know." Ezekiel clearly trusts in God, but his answer seems to imply that there doesn't seem to be much hope. Regardless, Ezekiel obeys God and prophesies about these bones. Miraculously, these bones come to life and stand on their feet as a powerful army. God interprets the vision for Ezekiel and tells him that the bones represent the whole house of Israel. In verse 12, God powerfully states, "O, my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them." With this in mind, when has this restoration occurred?
Some people believe that the valley of dry bones raising from the dead refers to Israel's return to their land following the Babylonian captivity. While that would seem to fit, there is a deeper meaning to this chapter. These dried up bones imply that Israel was not only scattered, but almost annihilated. While many Jews died during Nebuchadnezzar's sieges of Judah, most of the Jews were physically taken to Babylon. In fact, around 50,000 Jews returned to Jerusalem after King Cyrus of Persia issued the decree to let the Jews return to their land. Additionally, Ezekiel prophesies that Israel would be gathered from the four winds of Heaven, whereas Babylon is only one nation. Therefore, we can conclude that this prophecy was partially fulfilled in 1948, but will have a complete fulfillment when Yeshua steps foot on Mount Zion to establish His throne. It is interesting to note that the Holocaust is likely the fulfillment of the dry bones.
While the Babylonian captivity was a mass enslavement of the Jews, the German Holocaust, dubbed the Final Solution, was a mass extermination of the Jews, similar to Haman's plans during the reign of Queen Esther. While some would suggest that the Holocaust began in 1933 when the Fuhrer, Adolf Hitler, rose to power, the actual start to the Holocaust likely began in 1938. On one night, known as Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass), Germany's SA paramilitary forces and civilians waged a war on Jews in Germany. Hundreds of Jewish-owned shops, buildings, and synagogues were destroyed and 30,000 Jews were taken to Nazi concentration camps. From 1938 to 1945, the end of the Holocaust, over 6,000,000 Jews were killed in Europe. Aside from Germany, Hitler annexed many countries such as Italy, Poland, Austria, Norway, and Denmark. As a result, Europe became a mass hunting ground for the Jews. In fact, over 6 million Jews died during the Holocaust, which was around one third of the world's total Jewish population. In large part, the Holocaust, despite its catastrophic casualties, helped to initiate the final restoration of Israel, which fulfilled Isaiah 66:8. "Who has ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children." That monumental day happened on May 14, 1948, a restoration 2,000 years in the making.
Prior to 1948, were there any signs of a major restoration? After the Hasmonean dynasty and Herodian kingdom in the land of Israel, the Romans took control of Judea in 6 A.D. This led to constant tensions between the Jews and the Roman Empire, although Rome generally left the Jews alone as long as they obeyed Roman laws. With the birth of Jesus Christ, His followers and the Jews who believed that He was the messiah had reason to hope that the kingdom of Israel would be restored. Little did they know that Jesus, during His first coming, atoned for the sins of humanity, not to take back David's throne...yet. Christ's mission ended with His death, resurrection, and ascension to Heaven. With still no restoration, the Jews in Judea led a revolt against the Roman Empire in 66 A.D. The purpose was to restore Israel, but it resulted in an overwhelming Roman victory, which included the destruction of the second temple in 70 A.D., prophesied by Daniel and Jesus. This event solidified Gentile control and influence over Judea. As Jesus said in Luke 21:24, "They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." Even when Roman control of Jerusalem came to an end, Israel and specifically, Jerusalem, continued to be controlled by foreign nations and empires including the Byzantines, the Crusaders, the Mamluks, the Ottomans, and the British. The Jews continued to survive over the centuries, but their hopes for a homeland of their own seemed to be a pipe-dream. The 1800's, however, began to restore hope in Jewish communities around the world.
Even before Israel became a state in 1948, mass waves of Jews began to return to their homeland in Palestine. Beginning in 1882, a series of Aliyah's (mass waves of Jewish immigration) occurred. The first Aliyah went from 1882 to 1903, followed by several more mass migrations. In fact, Jews became the majority in Jerusalem by 1890. All of these migrations coincided with the restoration of the Hebrew language, as well as the founding of the World Zionist Organization by Theodor Herzl. The goal of this organization was to counter European antisemitism by establishing a Jewish state in Palestine. 20 years later, in 1917, the Balfour Declaration was signed, giving the right to a Jewish state, although Britain occupied Palestine until 1948. Finally, on May 14, 1948, Israel became a nation again, much with the help of American president, Harry Truman. Truman even referred to himself as Cyrus, in reference to Cyrus the Great, the Persian king who allowed the Jews to return home after the Babylonian captivity. Despite the fact that Israel is firmly back to their land, there are still many detractors who seek to undermine Israel's legitimacy, even in Christian communities. The spread of replacement theology is prevalent, which states that Israel has forfeited all of its Biblical covenants and the Church has replaced Israel in God's plan of salvation. Additionally, Satan has used the Palestinian issue (see my Lie of Palestine post) and biased media outlets to demonize the Jewish state. In a world fascinated by conspiracy theories, no theory gotten quite as much traction as the Zionist theory. This theory, held by many people including Adolf Hitler, is nonfactual at best and dangerous at worst. I understand that there are many powerful Jews in the media, Hollywood, academia, politics, etc., but these people don't represent the whole house of Israel. During the days of Jesus Christ, the Pharisees and Sadducee's were powerful Jewish leaders who were sort of like the modern day Zionists. God's calling place on Israel has neither been replaced or has changed. The Jews still have to accept Jesus as their messiah, but their calling is irrevocable and will culminate in Israel's complete restoration, which hasn't happened yet. As it says in Romans, "All Israel will be saved."
Israel's survival as a nation has been a constant struggle. Satan has not forgotten about the Abrahamic covenant. Just like ancient Israel, modern Israel has surrounding enemies on all sides who are plotting their destruction. Just recently, Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated that Israel wouldn't survive another 25 years. In addition, Israel has been attacked numerous times since 1948 including the Six-Day War in 1967, the Yom Kippur War in 1973, the First Intifada, and the Gaza War, among others. As I states in Exodus 17:16, "Because hands were lifted up against the throne of the Lord, the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation." The Biblical Amalekites are an extinct people group, but they are also a picture of Israel's surrounding enemies. Also, notice how it says that the Lord will fight against the Amalekites from generation to generation rather than Israel fighting them. Each time Israel has been outnumbered, they have pulled out miraculous victories over surrounding nations, not by their own strength, but by God's power. However, there will come a time in the future when Israel's very existence will hang by a thread. This time will be referred to as "The time of Jacob's trouble".
The time of Jacob's trouble, known as the tribulation or Daniel's 70th week, gets its name from one of the patriarchs of Judaism, Jacob, also known as Israel. Jacob had to work seven years for his father in-law, Laban, in order to marry his beautiful daughter, Rachel. Instead, after the seven years, Laban gave Jacob his older daughter, Leah, who wasn't as attractive as Rachel. Jacob, upset that Laban deceived him, worked another seven years and in turn, received Rachel as his wife. Are there any deeper truths to be found in this event? While we know the tribulation is seven years in length, why did Jacob have to work for fourteen years? It is interesting to note that the holocaust officially was around seven years in length. Is it possible that that Jacob's fourteen years of service is referring to the Jewish holocaust and the tribulation? It is quite possible and we are seeing the birth pangs to this final seven year period on the horizon.
As I mentioned, Israel's restoration as a nation was the defining prophetic restoration of this past century, but it wouldn't be complete without Jerusalem's restoration as Israel's eternal capital in 1967. During that year, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq launched an attack on Israel, but God once again intervened on behalf of His people. Israel regained complete control over Jerusalem, as well as taking the Golan Heights from Syria. We know from scripture that Jerusalem has to be in Jewish control at the time of the end. In Zechariah 14:2, we read, "I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city." If you aren't convinced by this passage, the next verse clearly references a day that has not happened yet. "Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle. On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south." On this day, the complete restoration of Israel and Jerusalem will be completed. In light of this, what still needs to be accomplished?
"This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain that they may live." While Israel boasts over 6 million Jews, a majority of the world's Jewish population still lives abroad, mostly in America. However, an interesting verse in Jeremiah 16 gives us reason to believe that mass migrations to Israel will continue to increase. It states, "But now I will send for many fishermen, declares the Lord, and they will catch them. After that I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them down on every mountain and hill and from the crevices of the rocks" (16). God will do whatever it takes to gather the Jewish people to their homeland. He has used people such as Theodor Herzl, Harry Truman, and David Ben-Gurion to fish his people back to their land. He has also used hunters such as Adolf Hitler, Vladimir Lenin, and Islamic fundamentalists to drive them back. I believe the time is soon coming when our present world instability will flat out collapse. Around a half of the world's Jewish population still lives in the United States. Currently, the U.S. economy is crumbling and the Obama administration is the most anti-Israel administration in United States history. It stands to reason that a U.S. and global catastrophe will drive mass waves of Jews back to Israel. Recently, after the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attacks in France, Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netenyahu, urged Jews to flock home to Israel. Aside from people, are there still any physical restorations that need to occur before and after Christ returns?
On a map, you will be hard pressed to find Israel. It is one of the smallest countries on earth, yet one of the most contested and sought over piece of land. However, Israel contains only a small fraction of the land God promised to them in the Old Testament. Originally, God promised Israel "a land flowing with milk and honey", which represents the land's natural resources, beauty, and fertility. This promised land encompassed all of modern day Israel, including the Palestinian territories such as the West Bank and Gaza Strip, all of Jordan, all of Lebanon, and parts of Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. However, while ancient Israel engulfed more territory than modern day Israel, they have never possessed their entire promised land that God entrusted to them. Why is that? For starters, the promised land was a conditional promise by God. This isn't the same as the Abrahamic covenant, which is everlasting and unconditional. If Israel turned to other gods and rebelled against the true God, they would be punished, often with exile or their land being ravaged. Also, an interesting prophecy in Numbers 33:55 states, "But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land." Israel's failure to drive out all of their enemies resulted in constant attacks, as well as the prevalence of idolatry. Israel's enemies worshiped and sacrificed to pagan gods, which often enticed the Israelites to do the same, hastening God's repeated judgement on Israel. It is interesting to note that this prophecy in Numbers is having ramifications today. If Israel had driven out all of their enemies, especially the Philistines, there very well may not be a Palestinian-Israeli conflict today. There will come a time in the future where Israel will control of the promised land, which will be fulfilled when Jesus reigns from Jerusalem. However, Israel has had incremental land gains since independence. As I mentioned, Jerusalem was restored to Israel in 1967, as well as the Golan Heights (Bashan in the Bible). It stands to reason that Israel's survival at the Battle of Armageddon will allow her to possess the territories of her attacking enemies. There is another physical restoration in which I want to cover, which is, of course, the issue of the temple mount.
There has not been a Jewish temple in Jerusalem since 70 A.D. when Roman legions destroyed the second temple, which was initiated by Ezra after returning from Babylonian captivity. The first temple, built by King Solomon, was filled with splendor and majesty, but was destroyed in 586 B.C. by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. There are clues in scripture, though, that suggest that a third temple must be rebuilt in Jerusalem. In Daniel 9:27, it states, "He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven'. In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple, he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him." This is referring to the Antichrist's abomination of desolation that will be set up half way through the tribulation period, which Jesus warns in Matthew 24. Don't confuse this event with Antiochus Epiphanes because he is simply a foreshadow of things to come. Daniel 9 definitely refers to the end of this age. Additionally, Revelation 11:1-2 says, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there. But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months." People have often wondered how there can be a Jewish temple in Jerusalem since the Muslim Dome of the Rock, the third holiest site in Islam, sits right on the temple mount. Revelation 11 seems to imply that the rebuilt temple could sit next to the Dome of the Rock, or an interfaith temple might suffice, giving the Jews access to the inner court and the altar, while the Gentiles are given the outer court. Regardless who will build the temple or how it will come together, we need to realize that the Temple Institute is passionately pursuing this project of rebuilding the temple. Many replicas of items used in the second temple are being crafted and on the temple institute official website, there is a donation to raise the perfect red Heifer. With our current level of technology, the temple could likely be rebuilt in a year or less. It is interesting to note that on the past two Jubilee cycles, major restorations occurred. In 1917, the Balfour Declaration was issued, giving the right to establish a Jewish state in Palestine. Then, 50 years later, in 1967, Jerusalem was recaptured as Israel's eternal capital. As we are approaching the completion of the next Jubilee cycle, will there be another restoration? Could we see the rebuilding of the temple? We will have to patiently watch these signs, but prophecy tends to move in cyclical patterns. If we understand Biblical and secular history, we can conclude that Israel's final restoration is on the near horizon. As it states in Psalms 102:16, "For the Lord will rebuild Zion and appear in His glory."
Sources
1. http://www.templeinstitute.org/
2. http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Promised+Land+Borders+Map&view=detailv2&&id=2E80F1B16EBDD2828A973E06599495855736B64C&selectedIndex=4&ccid=jwzrEk1P&simid=607994420089982661&thid=JN.SHu8UZzeMpYwWp1IwNmY7A&ajaxhist=0
3.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristallnacht
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_population_by_country#Countries_and_Territories
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six-Day_War
6.
http://www.theholocaustexplained.org/ks3/life-in-nazi-occupied-europe/jews-in-occupied-countries/which-countries-did-the-nazi-occupy/#.VfczBPT3j3V
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