Thursday, December 9, 2021

The Lord’s resuscitation, renewal Spirit and rebirth of nation (Ezekiel 37-39) By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Weekly message: The Lord’s resuscitation, renewal Spirit and rebirth of nation (Ezekiel 37-39)               

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical Precepts & Gospel Music              

May 20, 2019 / Dec.9, 2021

Introduction

My friends, what is your hope in Christ? Do you face a devastating scenario, helpless, and hopeless? You have been praying, but you didn’t see any helper comes in your way? You experienced hopeless and helpless scenario?  It seems the Lord was silent, the door was blocked, you couldn’t see the way. And your enemies surround of you, intend to seize your successful, steal your joy, laugh at your miserable and want to tear you down, and covet of your prosperity and property. Moreover, you have grown older with gray hairs, and have lost health and strength; you wonder that God has forsaken you. If these scenarios describe you, don’t give up, turn your eyes upon the Lord, and keep trusting and waiting upon the Lord. Psalmist sang out the hope while there is no help in Psalm121, I lift up my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip, he who watches over you will neither slumber nor sleep…the Lord will keep you from all harm; he will watch over your life. The Lord will watch over you coming and going both now and forevermore” (Psalm121:1-4,7-8). The Lord’s words are trustworthy, who ensured His people, “you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth. Even to you old age and gray hairs, I am he; I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you, I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” (Isaiah46:3-4). Habakkuk was questioning the Lord while he wasn’t understood and got frustrated. Instead of bitter, he put his hope in the Lord and praised God, “Lord, I have heard of your fame, I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy (Habakkuk3:1-2)…Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet, I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.” (Habakkuk3:1-3,17-19).

The Lord is faithful, just, and compassionate to His people

The resuscitation of nation by the vision of Ezekiel, and his prophesy. The dry bones came to life and stood up on their feet and the Lord put His Spirit in them, when the house of Israel, say, “our bones are dried up and our hope is gone, we are cut off.” (Ezekiel37:11). The Lord gives hope to those who trust in Him.

Ezekiel means God strengthens

Ezekiel grew up in a priestly family; Ezekiel means “God strengthens”. He spent his early years in Jerusalem, until he was taken with other hostages by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in 597. He settled in his own house in a village near Nippur, along the river Kebar(Nebuchadnezzar’s royal canal), in Babylonia.[1] He prophesied for at least twenty –two years during 592-570B.C. The Lord assured the house of Israel, “you will know that I am the Lord” few times in the book of Ezekiel chapter 37 to 39  

1)      The first statement of “You will know that I am the Lord” in Ezekiel37:6

 When Ezekiel was brought out by the Spirit of the Lord, he saw the many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. (Ezekiel37:2) The Lord want him prophesy to these dry bones, “hear the word of the Lord! This is what the sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin. I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.” (Ezekiel37:4-6). Ezekiel prophesied as the Spirit of Lord commanded, the bones came together, bone to bone, tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.” (vv.7-8). Then the Lord wants him prophesy to the breath, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.” (v.9). so Ezekiel prophesied as he commanded again, and the breath entered them they came to life and stood up on their feet a vast army.”(v.10).

2)      “My people will know that I am the Lord”, the second assurance in Ezekiel 37:13,

The Lord said to Ezekiel, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel, they say, “our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.” So prophesy and say to them, “this is what the Sovereign Lord says: 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. (vv.11-12) Then you, my people will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up form them. (v.13)

3)      The third affirmation in Ezekiel 37:14, you will know that I the Lord have spoken

I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken and I have done it, declares the Lord” (v14.)

In Chapter 37:1-14, Ezekiel predicts the political and spiritual revival of his nation and the reuniting of its two divisions. “The dry bones indicate an army slain in battle, a fitting description of them hopeless condition of Israel.”[2] There was no breath in them which indicates “the political revival of Israel in the end time will be spiritually dead until God breathes life into the people.”[3] And come from the “four winds” insinuate that from “the four quarters of the globe”. “The bones signify the hopeless and helpless Israel. And the graves speak of her political demise. The Spirit is the Holy Spirit, who will affect the regeneration of the people. The vision doesn’t depict the physical resurrection of individuals, but the political (the prior to the second coming of Christ), and spiritual (at the second coming of Christ) revivals of Israel. [4]  

According to Ezekiel’s prophesy in Chapter 37:15-28, the promises for Israel that will be fulfilled at the second coming of Christ. Unification of the two kingdoms (v.22), as Ezekiel’s vision unveiled,I am going to take the stick of Joseph which is in Ephraim’s hand and of the Israelite tribes associated with him and join it to Judah’s stick, making them a single stick of wood, and they will become one in my hand.” (v.19). The Judah which is the principal tribe of the Southern Kingdom, the Israelites associated with them, Benjamin, Simeon, and Levi. The house of Joseph comprised the two powerful tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, the main body of the Northern Kingdom. [5]This is what the Sovereign Lord says,

I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. I will make them one nation in the land on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms. They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding. And I will cleanse them. They will be my people and I will be their God.” (Ezekiel 37:21-22).

  Davidic covenant- Christ Messiah will rule over His people and nations                                                The Lord unveiled His vision through Ezekiel in 37:24-28, the second coming of Christ Messiah will rule over His people and nations. The Davidic covenant will be an everlasting covenant of peace to them; and they will live in the presence of God, the sanctuary in their midst as dwelling place, and there will be only one Shepherd Messiah Christ. The vision unveils as follows,

My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one Shepherd. They  will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees. They will live in the land gave to   my servant Jacob, the land where your fathers lived. They and their children and their  children’s children will live there forever, and David my servant will be their prince forever. I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. My dwelling pace will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my   people. Then I the Lord make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever. ( Ezekiel 38:24-28).

The vision of John unveils the same visitation of New Jerusalem in Revelation 21:1-8. John expressed that he didn’t see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it. For the glory of God gives it light and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.” (Rev.21:22-24). It affirms the vision of Ezekiel and his prophesy is considerable as Apostle John’s vision. The Davidic covenant will be an everlasting covenant of peace to His people and nations. They will live in the presence of God, the sanctuary is in their midst as dwelling place. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.”

4). “The house of Israel will know that I am the Lord their God.” The fourth statement in (Ezekiel39:22)

 When the Lord have brought Israel back from the nations and have gathered them from the countries of their enemies, the house of Israel will know that the Lord is their God. (Ezekiel39:22). Ezekiel’s vision foretold a future attack on Israel and the Lord delivers of His people. The invading armies come from the far north (38:15) to invade Palestine but are destroyed by supernatural intervention. (39:3). Seven months will be required to bury their corpses. (39:11-15) and their weapons will supply fuel for Israel for seven years. (39:9-10). The time of the battle is unclear. Israel will be living in security, whether real or imagined. (38:11-12), which might indicate that the battle takes place before the middle of the Tribulation while Israel feels secure under a treaty with Antichrist. But the consummation of the battle involves birds and beasts eating the flesh of the warriors, a scene similar to the description of Armageddon at the end of the Tribulation[6]. In Ezekiel 39:17-20 says, “Son of man, this is what the Sovereign Lord says, “call out to every kind of birds and all the wild animal…at my table you will eat your fill of horses and riders, mighty men and soldiers of every kind, declares the Sovereign Lord.”  And in Rev.19:17-18 Apostle John’s vision unveils “the great dinner” or “the great supper of God”, it says, “And I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in mid-heaven, come here, gather yourselves to the great dinner of God. That you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of generals and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free and slave and small and great. (Rev.19:17-18). “The great dinner”, which is in contrast to “the marriage dinner of the Lamb”, for the great dinner is for all the birds, but “the marriage dinner of the Lam” is for the overcomers.

For His holy name sake

The Lord will bring Jacob back from captivity and has compassion on all the people of Israel for His holy name sake and pour out His Spirit on the house of Israel. Israel will forget their shame and all the unfaithfulness. The Lord will show himself holy through them in the sight of many nations. At the conclusion of the conflict the nations will understand the judging hand of God, and Israel will know that the Lord is their God. As Ezekiel39:21-29 states,  

“I will display my glory among the nations, and all the nations will see the punishment I inflict and the hand I lay upon them. From that day forward the house of Israel will know that I am the Lord their God. (v.22) And nations will know that the people of Israel went into exile for their sins because they were unfaithful to me. So I hid my face from them and handed them over to their enemies, and they all fell by the sword. I dealt with them according to their uncleanness, and their offenses, and I hid my face from them. (Ezek:39:21-24) …

When I have brought them back from the nations and have gathered them from the countries of their enemies, I will show myself holy through them in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God, for through I sent them into exile among the nations, I will gather them to their own land, not leaving any behind. I will no longer hide my face for them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.” (Ezekiel39:27-29)

The victory over the Gog and Magog 

 In Ezekiel’s vision, he mentioned about Gog, Magog, Meshech, Tubal, Persia, Cush Put, and Gomer, Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish in chapter 38:2-6, 13. It states,   

            “Son of man set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of  Meshech and Tubal. The Sovereign Lord says, “I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army-your horses, your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields, all of them brandishing their swords. Persia, Cush and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets, also Gomer with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops –the many nations with you.(38:2-6)

Geographically, Gog, it probably refers to the ruler of the people who live in Magog. Magog was identified by Josephus as the land of the Scythian, the region N. and NE. of the Black Sea and E. of the Aral Sea, now occupied by Russia. And the chief prince of Tubal now is the area of modern Iran. Meshech and Tubal is the area of modern Turkey. Other allies will include Persia (modern Iran), Cush (northern Sudan, Put (Libya), Gomer (probably the eastern part of Turkey and the Ukraine), and Beth Togarmah (the part of Turkey near the Syrian border. Sheba, and Dedan Arab people. Tarshish located in the S. of Spain near Gibraltar.[7](Jonah1:3)   

John envisioned a battle of Gog and Magog at the conclusion of the millennial kingdom (Rev.20:7-9). “Perhaps the first thrust will begin just before the middle of the Tribulation, with successive waves of the invasion continuing throughout the last part of that period and building up to Armageddon. Perhaps, also, this passage in Ezekiel is describing two battles of Gog and Magog, one during the Tribulation and the other at the conclusion of the Millennium. It is not unusual for biblical prophecies to have more than one fulfillment. [8]

 Some scholars interpreted that Ezek.38 and 39 will occur before the millennium, whereas what is recorded concerning them in Rev. 20:8 will take place after the millennium. “The Satan’s deceiving of the nations that are in the four corners of the earth is his deceiving of Gog and Magog. This may indicate that in mankind’s last rebellion against God, which will be instigated by Satan, Gog and Magog will take the lead and the nation s will follow. This will be the last war on earth. It will be caused by mankind’s last rebellion, which will be instigated by Satan, God’s enemy, after the millennium. Although mankind will be in a restored state for one thousand years, man’s rebellious nature will still remain. It will be exposed by Satan’s last instigation and will be purged away by the Lord’s final judgment on mankind.” [9]

The camp of the saints is the lodging place of the overcoming believers, who compose the heavenly armies (Rev.19:14) camping on earth. The beloved city is the city of Jerusalem, the dwelling place of the remnant of Israel, the overcoming believers and the remnant of Israel are God’s faithful people on earth in the millennium, who stand with God and for God. At the end of the millennium, Satan will instigate rebellious mankind from the uttermost parts of the north to attack God’s people.[10] Ultimately, “the devil, who deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where also the beast and the false prophet were; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” (Rev.20:10). The lake of fire has been prepared for the devil and his angels. However, the beast and the false prophet, as well as the goats in Matt.25:32-33, 41, are cast into it a thousand years earlier than the devil (Rev.19:20). After the thousand years, the devil also is thrown into it.

Conclusion: the Lord is only hope and help to His people.

The Lord is divine and just, for the sake of His holy name, He redeemed and restored the life and put His new Spirit on the house of Israel, when there was hopeless, helpless, and devastating scenarios. The Lord sustains them and unifies of the two kingdoms and makes them one as rebirth nation. There will be one King over all of them. They will all have one Shepherd, Messiah rules over them. The Lord makes an everlasting covenant of peace, and put sanctuary among them as dwelling place. The nations will know that the Lord make Israel holy, when His sanctuary is among them forever. (Ezekiel37:22, 24, 26-28). The promise of Israel will be fulfilled at the second coming of Christ.      

Implication / Application of Ezekiel 37-39

1)      The Lord’s resuscitation, renewal, and rebirth of nation by His mighty deeds and supernatural divine power. It request Prophets, Apostles, Disciples believe the visitation, and prophesy it as the Lord commands. Even dry bones will come to life with breath, tendon, flesh, and skin. And the hopeless and helpless Israel revival in political during the prior to the second coming of Christ and spiritual at the second coming of Christ.    

2)      The Lord will show His mercy, forgiveness, compassionate to His people, no longer hide his face from them, and pour out His Spirit on the house of Israel, not because of what they have done, but because of the Lord is zealous for His holy name, and for His Holy name sake. He wipes away all their sins, shame and unfaithfulness.

3)      The battle is belong to the Lord, and the Lord will fight for His people. The war at Armageddon, the Lord will defeat Gog and Magog who against His people, all the bird will gather to the great dinner of God, eat the flesh of kings, generals, might men, houses, and all men. (Rev.19:18; Ezekiel 39:17).

4)      The Lord has established the Davidic covenant through Jesus Christ as an everlasting covenant of peace with His people. He put his sanctuary, the dwelling place among them forever. All nations will know that the Lord make Israel holy. In the New Jerusalem, the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb is its temple, the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light. But only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (Rev.21:24,27)

5)      The Lord is the inheritance of His people, the great Father, and we are His sons. He in us dwelling, and we with Him one.

 My friends, no matter how old you are, how worse circumstances you face? How frustration in your heart? How helpless, and hopeless in your environment? May God’s vision capture your heart through Ezekiel 37-39 and Apostle John Rev.19-21.  Drench your mind and heart with the heavenly vision and believe High King of heaven won the victory; He is your dwelling place from now and always. As a tradition hymn “Be Thou my vision” says,

 1). Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart, naught be all else to me, save that Thou art. Thou my best thought, by day or by night, waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

2). Be thou my wisdom, and Thou my true Word, I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord. Though my great Father, I Thy true son, Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.  

3). Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise, Thou mine inheritance, now and always, Thou and thou only, first in my heart, High King of heaven, my treasure thou art.

4). High King of heaven, my victory won, May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Sun! Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, still be my vision O Ruler of all.

       Bibliography,

           Bruce, Katherine L. Weekly message: The Lord's resuscitation, renewal spirit and rebirth of nation (Ezekiel 37-39). Orlando FL: Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce Christian Arts Ministries:Biblical precepts & Gospel music, 2019. 

Bauer, Walter. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3rd Chicago: The University of Chicago press, 2000.


Brown, Robert, Philip W. Comfort and J.D. Douglas, ed. The New Greek English Interlinear New Testament. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.1990.

Friberg, Timothy, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller et al., eds. Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.1st ed. Victoria BC: Trafford Publishing, 2005.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

            King James, The Holy Bible, Cleveland, OH: The world publishing company  

 



[1] Charles C. Ryrie, the Ryrie study Bible (NIV). (Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986),1104

[2] Charles C. Ryrie, the Ryrie study Bible (NIV). (Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986),1156

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Charles C. Ryrie, the Ryrie study Bible (NIV). (Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986),1157

[7] Charles C. Ryrie, the Ryrie study Bible (NIV). (Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986),1158

[8] Charles C. Ryrie, the Ryrie study Bible (NIV). (Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986),1158

[9] Witness Lee, the New Testament. (Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985),1320

[10] Ibid.

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