Can These Bones Live? by Josprel (standard:non fiction, 2476 words)
Author: Josprel	Added: Aug 09 2006	Views/Reads: 3353/3177	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
A study of prophecy relating to Israel, the Gentile nations, and the Biblical relationship these nations have to near-future events.

Can These Bones Live? by Josprel 

[A study of prophecy relating to Israel, the Gentile nations, and the
Biblical relationship these nations have to near-future events.] 

“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 unto me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?' So I answered, 
‘O Lord God, You know.' 

“Again He said unto me, ‘Prophesy to these bones, and say unto them, ‘O
dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord to these 
bones: ‘Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall 
live . . .' 

“‘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 . . . Also He said to me . . . ‘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 . . . and breath came into 
them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great 
army. Then He said unto 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!' Therefore, prophesy and say to them, ‘O 
my people, I will open your graves and cause you to come forth from 
your graves, and bring you to the land of Israel . . . I will put My 
Spirit in you and you shall live . . .'” (Ezekiel 37:1-14; New King 
James Bible). 

We are living in an era of the fast fulfillment of biblical prophecy. I
recall being told as a young child by my father - a steadfast Christian 
who knew the scriptures – that Israel one day would become a nation 
again. He said this during a time when such an event appeared 
impossible of fulfillment; yet in our era Israel already has been 
resurrected for decades. 

Since the scattering of Israel during the time of Jeremiah (who
predicted both the captivity and the re-gathering of the nation) in 
approximately B.C 629, there were no lack of skeptics who doubted the 
nation would be resurrected. Even Israel itself voiced doubts about it. 
Israel's estimate of its return from oblivion may be found in Ezekiel 
37:11: “Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: We are cut off for 
our parts.” In our vernacular this may be rendered: “It's all over for 
us. We have been totally dismembered.” 

The condition of Israel's bones as seen by Ezekiel: 1. They were
completely open to the elements (verse 2). 2. They were long dead, very 
dry and beyond human hope of life (verse 2). 3. They were disassembled 
and in disarray. The Living Bible records that the bones were very old 
and dry. They were scattered everywhere across the ground (Read the 
entire account). 4. There were an enormous number of bones (verse 2). 

What God said the dry bones symbolized: ”Son of man these bones are the
whole house of Israel” (verse 11). 

Those whom God blames for the dry bones of Israel: “‘Woe to the
shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!' says the 
Lord, “Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel against the shepherds 
who feed My people: ‘You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and 
not attended to them. Behold I will attend to you for the evils of your 
doing,' says the Lord . . .” 

By whose authority the dry bones live again: “I will gather the remnant
of my flock out of all countries where I have driven them and bring 
them back to their folds” [This already has been occurring in our era 
for several generations [Jeremiah 23: 1-4; NKJ]. 

God's remedy for the dry bone of Israel: “‘[Israel] shall be fruitful
and increase. I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them: and 
they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed nor shall they be lacking,' 
says the Lord” [The Lord Himself has been gathering Israel, and He 
continues to do so in our era (Jeremiah 23: 1-4; NKJ)]. 



Click here to read the rest of this story (186 more lines)