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RAY - Benjamin Netanyahu recently proclaimed the fulfillment of the prophecy in Ezekiel, Chapter 37.
Speaking on the recent 65th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz in Poland, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proclaimed the fulfillment of the prophet Ezekiel's vision of the valley of dry bones.
Netanyahu said, "Armed with the Jewish spirit, the justice of man, and the vision of the prophets, we sprouted new branches and grew deep roots. Dry bones became covered with flesh, a spirit filled them, and they lived and stood on their own feet."
Jan Markell, founder and director of Olive Tree Ministries, comments that Netanyahu's statement helps debunk the idea that modern Israel is just a secular country with no connection to ancient biblical prophecy.
"There is a degree of spirituality in Israel, recently with this Benjamin Netanyahu saying that Ezekiel 37 is now fulfilled," she notes. "So I'm encouraged when the top leader in the nation of Israel comes out and stands up for the Bible. This is absolutely tremendously good news."
Markell adds that now that Ezekiel 37 has been fulfilled, chapters 38 and 39 are expected to follow.
"The Ezekiel 38, 39 scenario - that's the Gog and Magog invasion of Israel, where they, being Russia, Iran and some other nations, descend on her to seize her wealth," the Olive Tree Ministries founder mentions.
She concludes that Israel wins that war, and though some scholars argue on the time frame of that event, Markell believes it takes place during the tribulation period.
JOEL - Those are interesting proclamations and interpretations and Israel is indeed more than just a secular country, but they are far from agreeing with latter-day interpretation of those scriptures by our prophets. Here are the scriptures in question:
"And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones alive? And I answered, O Lord God, thou knowest.
Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.
Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:
And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.
So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.
And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them." (Ezek 37: 3-8)
These are most obvioulsy refering to the literal resurrection of those in the house of Israel at the last day.
Notice that the Lord states that he will restore bones, flesh, sinews, skin, and breath, but never mentions blood. Through latter-day revelation we know that resurrected beings "will no longer be quickened by blood but quickened by the spirit which is eternal and they shall become immortal and shall never die." (Joseph Fielding Smith CR 1917 Apr:63)
Joseph Smith:
"As concerning the resurrection I will merely say that all men will come from the grave as they lie down, whether old or young, there will not be "added unto their stature one cubit;" neither taken from it; all will be raised by the power of God, having spirit in their bodies, and not blood." (Times and Seasons, April 15, 1842, p. 752) TLDP:562
President Joseph F. Smith refered to the Ezekiel scriptures in his vision of the redemption of the dead in D&C 138:
"Their sleeping dust was to be restored unto its perfect frame, bone to his bone, and the sinews and the flesh upon them, the spirit and the body to be united never again to be divided, that they might receive a fulness of joy." (D&C 138: 17)
"Moreover, Ezekiel, who was shown in vision the great valley of dry bones, which were to be clothed upon with flesh, to come forth again in the resurrection of the dead, living souls;" (D&C 138:43)
There are times when interpreting scripture when we are forced to look only for the spiritual or figurative meanings, as Prime Minister Netanyahu did, but in this particular case the reference to resurrection must be applied in the literal sense.
Regarding the battle of Gog and Magog LDS scholars and prophets have not stated for certainty exactly who would be involved or what kind of battle it will be although it is certain to be one over religious principles as well as political. Some king from the north, whoever that is or means, with control over many nations will come with his arimes against the chosen people (Dan 11:15).
Evidently, Gog is a name symbolical of all that is evil, militarily speaking, and thus is used to describe the two great conflicts that occur berfore(Dan 11, Ezek 38 and 39) and after the Millennium (Rev 20:7-9, D&C 88:111-116). According to President Joseph Fielding Smith, however, the first of these battles is more appropriately titled the battle of Armageddon, and the second at the end of the Millennium as the battle of Gog and Magog (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation vol. 3 p. 45).
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