(Continued from chapter I)

This land is said to have remained in a state of continual waste. That is just what was to be expected. God foretold through Moses that, if Israel should be disobedient to Him, He would scatter her among the nations (Lev. 26; Deut. 28). Moreover He declared that in this period of her sojourn among the Gentiles the land would be permitted to enjoy its Sabbaths, which thing was not true while she dwelt therein. Furthermore, the passage in Leviticus 26:33-39 tells us that the land is to be desolate during this period of time. A visit to Palestine makes plain the significance of this prophecy. In both 1937 and 1939 I had the privilege of visiting Palestine, spending three months there both times. During my first stay in the land I had the privilege of going throughout its length and breadth. Also a missionary group which I joined traversed Transjordan from the Gulf of Akabah to the Syrian border. The traveler sees waste and desolation on every hand. Through mismanagement and a lack of scientific methods of farming, the country is now in the state described by Moses.

The one who has spiritual discernment can see the hand of Providence in allowing this condition to develop and continue, for, had there been a dense population in the country throughout the centuries, much of the historical data found in the ruins of the land would have been destroyed. Out of the tells or the mounds of Palestine have been dug up many material evidences which corroborate and confirm the Biblical narratives. For all of this assuring testimony, we give thanks and praise to God.

Both Moses and the prophets promised Israel that God would gather her from among the nations and would establish her in her own land. This, they affirmed, would come to pass in the latter days. For this testimony see Leviticus 26, Deuteronomy 4:25-33, and chapter 28. The passages just referred to speak of the final and complete regathering of Israel as it will be accomplished at the beginning of the Millennial Age of our Lord's reign. But the gradual and methodical restoration of the Jews to the land of their fathers is set forth in that marvelous vision of the valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37:1-14). In this revelation, the prophet saw a valley overspread with dry bones--human bones. At the command of the Lord, he, in the vision, spoke to them, and there occurred a great earthquake and a terrific noise. Then the bones automatically started to come together--bone to its bone. Next, sinews began to appear, connecting each bone with its neighbor. Then flesh and skin commenced to appear; but there was no breath in them until the prophet called to the Spirit of God to breathe into them the breath of life. When He did that, these lifeless corpses sprang into life and became an exceedingly great army. This pictorial representation, presented to the prophet in vision, sets forth in a most graphic and dramatic manner the gradual and methodical restoration of Israel to the land of the fathers. Without a doubt the earthquake and the great noise, which caused the bones to move and take their proper position to form the skeleton, symbolized some great horrifying event in the history of Israel which makes the discordant elements come together. The vision, as we shall see, pertains to Israel at the time that she says, "Behold, they say, Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are clean cut off" (Ezek. 37:11). This attitude in heart is a modern one in Israel. Only in the last half century have any considerable number of them assumed this outlook. What great calamity has affected the Jewish nation during this period that could be properly symbolized by an earthquake and a terrific noise, and that has thus brought unity to it? The answer is at hand: The World War with all of its atrocities and persecutions. A study of the Jews during that great catastrophe and its effect upon them is positive evidence of this proposition.

From a close study of this marvelous prediction, one can see there is to be a gradual return of the people of Israel to the land of their fathers. The last thing to take place with them nationally is the coming of the Spirit of God into the entire race and the bringing of life from God to them--the conversion of the nation to her Messiah and Saviour. Since new life is imparted to her only by the Spirit of God, this oracle can refer to nothing but her conversion.

The time of the vision of Ezekiel 38 and 39 is spoken of as "in the latter years." This is a phrase with great latitude. Its exact meaning in a given context must be gathered from the facts found in its connection. In the vision the prophet sees Israel gathered back and dwelling in the land of the fathers. Since the regathering of God's Chosen People is to be a gradual process as has just been seen from the vision of the valley of dry bones, and since, as we shall see later, this revelation presents a picture of this people before the final and complete regathering has occurred, we know that only a portion of the race will be in the land at the time that this vision has materializes--when the hordes of Gog invade the land. This point will be made very clear in chapter III. For the time being, however, we shall assume that which is there proved.

(Continued on next page)