Do you understand Ezekiel 37?

Here is a little of what Minister Michael C. Garrett teaches concerning this:

Ezekiel 37 – a chapter that is so difficult for mainstream people to understand – that all they can really do is make a song out of it. Remember the song “Dem Bones Dem Bones Dem Dry Bones”? Well, it’s so much more IMPORTANT than just being a song! It’s the truth of God – it’s the future! I love this passage.

“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. 2) 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. 3) And He said to me, …” – and I’m sure you’ve noticed this before, but folks, this is FANTASTIC – this thought process here. It appears to me beyond any doubt that there will be at the resurrection of these dead people a DUAL PARTICIPATION. We - who will be members of the Family of God; for a long time at this point – are going to be given the opportunity to participate in the resurrection of our family members and our friends. Has Hollywood ever thought of a plot like that!? This is a plan so wonderful, so high, that the mental small people of Hollywood can’t even grasp this! But this is the Plan of God – and this is what He is offering to you and to me! An opportunity to participate in bringing back to life some of the very people who gave us life! A perfect circle. “…’ Son of man, can these bones live?’ So I answered, ‘O Lord GOD, You know.’ 4) Again He said to me, ‘Prophesy [speak] to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the Word of the LORD! 5) Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: ‘Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. 6) I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I AM the LORD.’ 7) So I [spoke] as I was commanded; and as I [spoke], there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone.” – forming perfect skeletons. Verse 8 – “Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them, …” – with all of the organs, everything in place. “…but there was no breath in them.” – they were now just corpses – as it were. And then the Lord GOD said to Ezekiel in this vision – verse 9 – “…’[Speak] to the breath, [speak], son of man, and 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.’ 10) So I [spoke] as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great [company of people].” – millions upon millions – billions of people! Verse 11 – “Then He said to me, ‘Son of man, these bones are the WHOLE HOUSE OF ISRAEL. …’” – remember what Paul said, ‘all Israel will be saved.’ God fell in love with Israel millennia ago, and He has NEVER lost that love! And someday He is going to fulfill all of His promises! And these are people some of which we’re gonna know!

(Garrett, M.C., The Apple Of God's Eye).

Friends, Ezekiel 37 helps show us that people who were dead - and not in Christ Jesus - will indeed be resurrected to the flesh and live again having a true opportunity for salvation unto immortality and eternal life.

"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. 2) 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. 3) And He said to me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?' So I answered, 'O Lord GOD, You know.'

4) Again He said to me, 'Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5) Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: 'Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. 6) I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I AM the LORD.'

7) 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. 8) Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.

9) Also He said to me, 'Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and 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.' 10) So I prophesied as He commanded, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.

11) Then He said to 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!' 12) Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: 'Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13) Then you shall know that I AM the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. 14) I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it,' says the LORD'" - Ezekiel 37:1-14; NKJV throughout, unless otherwise noted.

Now, will salvation be offered to all who have ever lived or will live!?

Yes!!!

Related to this, we made the following video sermon:

Let us notice just what the Old and New Testament plainly teach us:

"' And all flesh shall see the salvation of God'" - Luke 3:6.

" ... And all the ends of the earth shall see The salvation of our God" - Isaiah 52:10.

Again, Minister Michael C. Garrett concerning Ezekiel 37:1-14:

So, who is this referring to!? This is referring to the people who live in and in the Kingdom of God AFTER it is established by Jesus Christ upon His return! Talking about the Millennium!

The Prophet Micah wrote:

"Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea" - Micah 7:18-19.

So, with what we just read above - is the Lord GOD going to pardon sin [iniquity] for only a few or nearly all!? The Lord GOD does not stay angry forever, He delights in mercy. And, as Prophet Micah continued here, the Lord GOD will indeed give TRUTH to Jacob and mercy to Abraham, which He swore to our fathers of old.

And, if you would turn to Ezekiel 11 and Ezekiel 36. They both record for us that the Lord GOD is going to convert many sinners and that they will walk in His statutes - His LAW:

" ... 'Although I have cast them far off among the Gentiles, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet I shall be a little sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.' 17) Therefore say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: 'I will gather you from the peoples, assemble you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.' 18) And they will go there, and they will take away all its detestable things and all its abominations from there. 19) Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, 20) that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God'" - Ezekiel 11:16-20.

"'For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all the countries, and bring you into your own land. 25) Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your IDOLS. 26) I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27) I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgment5s and do them.

28) Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people and I will be your God. 29) I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. I will call for the grain and multiply it, and bring no famine upon you. 30) And I will multiply the fruit of your trees and the increase of your fields, so that you never again bear the reproach of famine among the nations. 31) Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good; and you will loathe yourselves, in your own sight, for your iniquities and your abominations.

32) Not for your sake do I do this,' says the Lord GOD, 'let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel.' 

33) 'Thus says the Lord GOD: 'On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will also enable you to dwell in the cities, and the ruins shall be rebuilt. 34) The desolate land shall be tilled instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass by. 35) So they will say, 'This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.' 36) Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate. I, the LORD, have spoken it, and I will do it'" - Ezekiel 36:24-36.

Now, friends, this great and awesome prophecy has not been fulfilled by the Jews which has gone back to the nation called Israel in the Middle East. God has not given them a 'new heart and a new spirit.' The Lord GOD indeed has a Master Plan of salvation to all those who may feel lost. 

The Prophet Daniel - under the great inspiration of God's Spirit:

"And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3) Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever" - Daniel 12:2-3.

Friends, this shows us that DEATH IS LIKE SLEEP. It's also referring to a resurrection. As I wrote in our 'Letter to our Friends' of November 12th, 2019:

The prophet Daniel foretold this grave time happening BEFORE the SEVENTH TRUMP OF GOD – “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people [the spiritual saints of God] shall be delivered, Everyone who is found written in the Book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some [those who have committed the ‘unpardonable sin’] to shame and everlasting contempt” – Daniel 12:1-2.

Our Lord GOD, in John 5:28-29 emphatically stated:

' Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29) and come forth - those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation [or judgment].'"

Sadly, this is something that mainstream Christianity - including the Mother Church in Rome - does not properly understand.  

Here are a few inaccurate views from some of the different denominations of this world:

• Certain Protestants and Evangelicals: God is trying to save everyone NOW through the name of Jesus Christ. However, since most have not heard the Message of Christ, most who have lived or will live are eternally lost.
• Universalists: God loves everyone and will save everyone.
• Calvinists: God isn't trying to save everyone now and never really plans on truly offering salvation to all because all humans are sinners and deserve eternal damnation. Yet, God is so merciful He sent His Son to die for a few (roughly 1-3% of the total population) that were predestined to be called and saved, and this shows that God has love. Nearly all who ever lived are eternally lost.
• Mormons (a.k.a. the Latter Day Saints): God, since He will not condemn those who - for no fault of their own - have not accepted Christ, that He will save many through baptism for the dead, and their later, hoped for acceptance of Jesus. So, they try to find the names of the dead through genealogical research and have people baptized by proxy for them.
• Eastern Orthodox: They tend to believe that God's Plan of salvation is highly sacramental, and teach that His Plan is not one of terror, but that God may save people up through the time of the 'Great White Throne Judgment.'
• Unitarians: God does not truly care what you believe or even if you do, but if you try and lead a decent life, He will save you. Now NOTE: This is not really the position of unitarian groups such as the Jehovah's Witnesses and many others, yet, the position of those generally known as Unitarians.
• Catholics: God wants to save everyone, yet most will not be saved. Despite never hearing the name Jesus Christ, God has a plan and will save some from the pagan religions who strive to live right and will give salvation to Catholics who have gone through the right sacraments at the appropriate time.

God's living and holy WORD teaches that God created all things and that 'indeed it was very good' (Genesis 1:31), and 'whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments ...' (1 John 5:1-3). The Lord GOD 'made man upright (Ecclesiastes 7:29), but that humans felt that they could decide what is right and what is wrong (Genesis 3:6) - yet, such disobedience leads to death (Romans 6:23). Eternal death. So, because of this transgression, the Lord GOD banned humans from having access to the tree of Life (which represents His Holy Spirit) on their own (Genesis 3:22; John 6:44) - even though the Lord GOD had a Plan of redemption for all mankind 'from the foundation of the world' (Revelation 13:8).

The Lord God allotted mankind 6,000 years of rulership over themselves to live how they want. However, mankind will come to the very brink of human extinction (Matthew 24:22; Daniel 12:1).

And, because the Lord GOD's mercy includes His Plan for the forgiveness of all sins (Acts 13:38) and that Almighty God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ are love (1 John 4:8, 16; John 3:16), They will intervene and send the living Jesus Christ to establish His Kingdom upon this earth (Revelation 11:15; 20:4).

After our soon-coming 'King of kings and Lord of lords' Millennial reign, all who ever lived will be resurrected (Revelation 20:5). And then:

"And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God [Theos; God the Father], and books [the biblos; the Holy Bible] were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books [the Holy Bible]" - Revelation 20:12.

And God the Father and Jesus Christ will plead Their case (John 10:30):

"The LORD stands up to plead, And stands to judge the people" - Isaiah 3:13.

"A noise will come to the ends of the earth - For the LORD has a controversy with the nations; He will plead His case with all flesh. He will give those who are wicked to the sword,' says the LORD" - Jeremiah 25:31.

And friends, concerning WHY Satan the devil and his horde is released for a short season immediately after the Millennial Reign - Revelation 20:3b … because immediately he goes out to the four corners of the world – to Gog and Magog (Siberia, China, Russia area) to gather them together to battle against the beloved city of God and of the saints. And will be DESTROYED. And dead bodies will be piled high when the “Great White Throne” resurrection occurs.

Apparently, nearly all who ever lived will repent and accept Jesus Christ and will begin living God's Way of life.

Since GOD is love (1 John 4:16), it is crystal clear that He indeed has a Master Plan that takes into account EVERY human being (cf. 1 Peter 1:20-21). Almighty God and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ indeed developed a Plan that does not result in the vast majority of humanity suffering untold torture in a "hellfire." It is logical that His ultimate Plan will result in nearly everyone who has ever lived - no matter what their religious background was - to be saved. And there are literally hundreds of passages within His Word to this fact! And this is God's will (2 Peter 3:9; John 3:16-17).

Indeed, the biblical Holy Days reveal GOD's holy and loving Plan of redemption for all mankind. Yet, because the greater majority who profess Christ keep non-biblical holy days (or rather holidays) - such as Easter and Christmas - they simply do not understand that GOD has a Plan which will result in nearly everyone who has ever lived being saved!

The Lord GOD was very clear that only a few will find this Way during this age:

"' Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life [eternal life], and there are few who find it'" - Matthew 7:14.

"'Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom'" - Luke 12:32.

"Then one said to Him, 'Lord, are there few who are saved?' And He said to them, 24) 'Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able'" - Matthew 12:23-24.

So, many will be called, but few chosen in this age (Matthew 22:14). And, there is an 'age to come' (Matthew 12:32), where even infamous sinners will indeed have an opportunity for salvation (cf. Matthew 10:15; 11:22).

Jesus called His Church in this age, a 'little flock' which will be around until His return to this earth.

So, God's living Word clearly says:

"' And all flesh shall see the salvation of God'" - Luke 3:6.

So then those who do not truly see or hear what God's Spirit says in regards to His great Master Plan of salvation will have it explained to them. And this is part of what the Last Great Day pictures.

Jesus taught:

"On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38) He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water'" - John 7:37-38.

The Last Great Day (be sure to read our article Notes Concerning the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day) helps demonstrate that all who have ever lived will indeed have an opportunity for salvation. An opportunity that most will accept (John 7:37-39; Romans 11:25-26; Ezekiel 37:11-14; Hebrews 9:27-28).

Friends, this indeed is part of what Ezekiel 37 is about. □

Additional items of interest:

Notes Concerning the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day

What Is "The Unpardonable Sin"?

'Letter to our Friends' of November 12th, 2019