HH, Sir Godfrey Gregg D.Div

JEHOVAH God Identifies This Vast Group

“Then He said to me, ‘Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel’” (Ezekiel 37:11).

JEHOVAH then summarizes what He had just described in detail.

“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. Then you shall know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 37:12-13).

Most pictured here never really knew JEHOVAH God during their previous human lives.

The closing verse of this vision reveals why JEHOVAH, who never does anything without a purpose, has just resurrected all these people: “And shall put my [Holy] Spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord.” (Ezekiel 37:14). At that time all of these people will have an opportunity to be converted — that is, to repent of their sins, be forgiven and baptized, and receive JEHOVAH’s Holy Spirit by which they can truly be converted and receive JEHOVAH’s gift of eternal life.

The indication of this preceding verse is that the majority of this great multitude of people will obtain everlasting life in JEHOVAH’s Kingdom.

The New Testament also speaks to this incredible, miraculous phenomenon. The apostle Paul wrote: “And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: ‘The Deliverer [JEHOVAH God] will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob [whose name was changed to Israel]; For this is My covenant with them [i.e., the New Covenant] when I take away their sins’” (Romans 11:26-27).

By no stretch of the imagination is all of Israel being saved now during this present age of man. But JEHOVAH God promises that the whole of Israel will have their opportunity for salvation in the future. Relatively few are being called now to join with the firstfruits of JEHOVAH’s salvation. These called-out ones, true Christians, will be resurrected to receive everlasting life when JEHOVAH God returns

• 1 Corinthians 15:50-54; Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption ⁵¹ Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵² In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. ¹⁵ For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: ¹⁷ Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
• Philippians 3:20-21. For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: ²¹ Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW …