The Prophet Ezekiel: An Analytical ExpositionGaebelein, Arno Clemens
Religion
The Prophet Ezekiel: An Analytical Exposition
Gaebelein, Arno Clemens
Bible. Ezekiel -- Commentaries
The national resuscitation of the whole house of Israel, the restoration
to their own land and the accompanying spiritual revival (though the
latter does not fully come into view here) is the meaning of the vision.
It may be used in application[30] in different ways, to illustrate
certain truths, but the true and only interpretation is the one which is
given by the Lord in verses 11-14. But there is an erroneous
interpretation of a serious nature which is widely taught and believed
among many Christians. Because "graves" are mentioned, besides the dry
bones and their resurrection, it is being taught that the vision means
physical resurrection. Systems, like Millennial Dawnism _alias_
International Bible Student Association and others, which teach the
so-called larger hope, a second chance for the impenitent dead, the
restitution of the lost, teach that all the Israelites who have died in
their sins will be brought out of their graves and then be saved. They
use this vision to confirm this invention. An advocate of this theory
declared that all the Christ-hating Pharisees and Sadducees who lived
when our Lord was on earth would be raised up when He comes and then
believe on Him. Matthew xxiii:39 was used by him as an argument. These
restitution teachers also teach that inasmuch as Israel will have a
second chance when they are raised from the dead, the Gentile dead will
share also in the same. It needs no argument to refute this. The Word of
God teaches a twofold resurrection: a first resurrection and a second
resurrection, a resurrection of the just and a resurrection of the
unjust (John v:28-29). According to the above theory there would have to
be a third resurrection, a resurrection for a second chance and ultimate
salvation of those who died in their sins. Of such a resurrection the
Bible knows nothing.
[30] We heard once a Baptist preacher speak on this vision, and he used
the dry bones as a picture of the dead members of his own denomination,
and spoke of them as "the dry bones." A Methodist, Presbyterian, etc.,
might do the same.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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