From the First to the Last — When the Breath of Life Enters
Throughout our studies, we have followed the beginning of restoration through Christ, the preparation of his spiritual body, the joining of the two, and the larger household that follows.
In Post Nineteen, we examined Ezekiel's two sticks becoming one, the promise of one Shepherd, the covenant of peace, and the dwelling of YHWH (יהוה) among His people.
But Ezekiel 37 begins with another vision.
The prophet is brought into a valley filled with bones. They are very dry, scattered across the valley, and without life.
Then YHWH (יהוה) asks Ezekiel a remarkable question.
Can these bones live?
The answer brings us into an examination of the Word, the Spirit, the opening of graves, and the restoration of those who have lost hope.
And once again, the sequence matters.
The Valley — Very Dry Bones
Ezekiel 37:1–3 describes the hand of YHWH (יהוה) upon Ezekiel. The Spirit brings him into a valley filled with bones.
The bones are numerous and very dry.
Then YHWH (יהוה) asks whether they can live. Ezekiel answers that YHWH (יהוה) knows. Read Ezekiel 37:1–3.
Consider the condition presented.
There is no movement, no strength, and no visible indication that life remains. The bones are not merely weakened. They are described as very dry.
Yet YHWH (יהוה) does not ask Ezekiel whether the bones appear capable of living.
He asks whether they can live.
That distinction returns us to our earlier study of faith and things not yet seen.
Noah acted upon a warning before the waters came. Abraham followed without knowing his destination. And Ezekiel stands before a valley that offers no visible reason to expect life.
What appears impossible to human sight is not beyond the power of YHWH (יהוה).
But the prophet does not take it upon himself to declare what must happen.
He listens.
The Word — Speak to the Bones
YHWH (יהוה) instructs Ezekiel to prophesy over the bones.
They are told to hear His Word.
The promise follows: breath will enter them, sinews will be placed upon them, flesh will grow, skin will cover them, and they will live. Read Ezekiel 37:4–6.
Notice what comes first.
The instruction is given. The prophet speaks according to what YHWH (יהוה) commands.
Then the restoration begins.
We have repeatedly examined the relationship between hearing and life.
Jesus declares in John 5:25 that the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. Read John 5:24–29.
In John 10, the Shepherd calls his sheep by name, and they recognize his voice.
And in our earlier study of Mary, we saw how recognition followed when Jesus called her by name.
Now Ezekiel speaks to bones that cannot respond according to ordinary human expectations.
Yet the Word of YHWH (יהוה) reaches them.
The promise of life begins with what YHWH (יהוה) speaks, not with what the bones are capable of accomplishing for themselves.
The Bones Come Together — Yet There Is No Breath
Ezekiel prophesies as commanded.
A noise follows. There is a rattling, and the bones come together, each bone to its bone.
Sinews and flesh appear, and skin covers them.
But Ezekiel makes an important observation.
There is no breath in them.
Read Ezekiel 37:7–8.
We should not overlook this distinction.
The bodies have been brought together. Their outward form has been restored. Yet they are not described as living until breath enters them.
Now remember the beginning.
Genesis 2:7 describes YHWH (יהוה) forming man from the dust of the ground and breathing into him the breath of life.
The formed body and the receiving of life belong together, but the actions remain distinguishable.
This also brings us back to the cup that appears clean outside while remaining corrupt within. Outward appearance alone cannot establish inward life.
A body may appear complete in form, yet something essential is still missing.
And that raises a question extending beyond Ezekiel's vision.
Can something appear fully formed, organized, and established while still lacking the life that comes from the Spirit of YHWH (יהוה)?
We've already examined this concern when comparing the spiritual dwelling with structures established through human authority.
The outward form does not determine whether the Spirit is present.
The Breath — Come From the Four Winds
YHWH (יהוה) then instructs Ezekiel to prophesy to the breath.
The breath is called from the four winds to enter those who have been slain, so that they may live.
Ezekiel obeys.
The breath enters them, they live, and they stand upon their feet as an exceedingly great army. Read Ezekiel 37:9–10.
Notice the progression.
The bones are gathered together. Their bodies are formed. Then breath enters, and they stand.
The outward structure precedes the manifestation of life.
This brings us to 1 Corinthians 15, where Paul distinguishes the natural body from the spiritual body and identifies the Last Adam as a life-giving Spirit. Read 1 Corinthians 15:42–49.
And remember Jesus' words to Nicodemus in John 3 concerning being born of water and Spirit.
He compares the movement of the wind with those born of the Spirit. Read John 3:3–8.
These accounts bring us toward a larger question.
What does it mean to receive life through the Spirit, rather than merely possess the outward appearance of someone living?
We have already examined this distinction in our study of the spiritual body.
Those who are in Christ are described as a new creation. Paul says that we no longer know Christ according to flesh. And Jesus speaks of himself dwelling in his members.
The life that comes through the Spirit cannot be reduced to outward form.
The Interpretation — Our Bones Are Dried Up
Ezekiel is then given an explanation.
The bones are identified with the whole house of Israel.
They say their bones are dried up, their hope has perished, and they are cut off.
YHWH (יהוה) answers with a promise of opening their graves, bringing them up, and placing them in their own land. Read Ezekiel 37:11–14.
Notice the hopelessness expressed by the people.
They believe they have been cut off.
But their conclusion concerning their condition is not the final word.
YHWH (יהוה) declares that He will open their graves and bring them up.
And He promises to put His Spirit within them so that they will live.
This brings us back to Ezekiel 36, where YHWH (יהוה) promises cleansing, a new heart, a new spirit, and His Spirit within His people. Read Ezekiel 36:25–27.
These promises concern more than an outward return.
They bring us toward inward renewal and the life that comes from God.
The people believe they are cut off. YHWH (יהוה) declares that their condition is not beyond restoration.
That should give us reason to reconsider how quickly human beings judge the spiritual condition of others.
A person may appear hopeless, forgotten, or beyond recovery.
But the One who knows the heart is not dependent upon human judgment to determine whom He may restore.
The Two Sticks — Not the Dry Bones Army
Now consider the second account in Ezekiel 37.
After the vision of the dry bones, Ezekiel receives the instruction concerning the two sticks.
One is for Judah and his companions. The other is for Joseph and his companions. The sticks are joined into one, and the prophecy continues with the gathering of the people, one Shepherd, and the covenant of peace. Read Ezekiel 37:15–28.
We examined this in Post Nineteen — The Two Sticks: Joined as One.
Within our established study, we have connected the two sticks with the two witnesses and the singular male and female created in God's image.
But the valley of dry bones is not the two witnesses.
The dry bones are described as a great multitude being brought to life. The two sticks describe a distinct joining.
The raising of the many and the joining of the two are not interchangeable actions.
And we must continue preserving that distinction when examining the resurrection order and the household being brought toward fullness.
The two are joined. The larger household follows. And life reaches outward through the appointed work of YHWH (יהוה).
Lazarus — Come Forth
Now consider another account involving a grave and a voice.
In John 11, Lazarus has been dead for four days when Jesus arrives.
Martha speaks of the resurrection at the last day, and Jesus declares himself the resurrection and the life.
Later, standing before the tomb, Jesus calls Lazarus to come forth.
Lazarus emerges still bound with burial cloths, and Jesus instructs that he be released. Read John 11:17–44.
Notice the relationship between the voice and the emergence.
Jesus calls. The dead man comes forth. Then others are instructed to remove what binds him.
This brings us back to the importance of hearing, rising, and what follows afterward.
The restoration of life and the removal of what still binds a person are distinguishable actions within the account.
And that gives us another question for our examination of the wider restoration.
Could receiving life be the beginning of a process in which the things associated with death must still be removed?
We have already considered this when discussing the great crowd being shepherded toward living waters, rather than assuming that appearing before the throne means every subsequent work has been completed.
The Tombs Opened — Those Who Come Out Afterward
Matthew 27 describes the earth shaking and tombs opening at Jesus' death.
The coming out of those raised is then described as taking place after his resurrection. Read Matthew 27:50–53.
We previously examined this distinction in Post Twelve — The Third Day: From Darkness to Awakening.
The opening of a tomb and the coming out of those raised are not described as precisely the same action.
Now compare Ezekiel 37.
YHWH (יהוה) promises to open graves, bring His people up, and put His Spirit within them.
This returns us to the relationship between opening, emerging, receiving life, and the appointed restoration.
And it reminds us that the beginning of a work should not automatically be treated as its completion.
The Dead Hear — And Those Who Hear Live
John 5 gives us another comparison.
Jesus speaks of an hour when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
He also speaks of those in the tombs hearing his voice and coming forth, with different outcomes. Read John 5:24–29.
Then consider Daniel 12:1–3.
Michael arises during an unparalleled time of trouble. Those written in the book are delivered, and many sleeping in the dust awaken, with different outcomes described.
These passages bring us back to our examination of the First Resurrection and the wider resurrection that follows.
We must preserve the different outcomes rather than assume that every awakening immediately grants the same assurance.
In Revelation 20, those participating in the First Resurrection are described as blessed and holy, with the second death having no authority over them.
Later in that chapter, the dead stand before the throne, books are opened, and judgment takes place. Read Revelation 20:4–15.
The first resurrection and the later opening of the books are distinguishable within the larger restoration.
This returns us to the question of what it means to receive life, remain faithful, and continue toward what YHWH (יהוה) has promised.
The First Resurrection — And Those Who Follow
We have examined Christ as the Firstborn and the Firstfruits.
Paul gives an order in 1 Corinthians 15: Christ the Firstfruits, afterward those who belong to him, and then the end, when death is abolished.
Revelation 20 gives a particular assurance to those participating in the First Resurrection.
The second death has no authority over them.
But Revelation also describes a wider judgment and the invitation to life continuing through the work of restoration.
In our previous study, we considered how the completed spiritual body may serve those who are subsequently restored and guided toward life.
The tabernacle provides a useful comparison.
Different responsibilities are assigned within the dwelling, while its service extends toward the people outside its inner spaces.
And in Ezekiel 47, waters flow outward from the sanctuary, bringing life wherever they go.
The completed spiritual body serves a purpose extending beyond itself.
The dry bones vision now gives us another picture of the life YHWH (יהוה) can bring to those who believe their hope has perished.
The Great Crowd — Life and Continued Shepherding
Revelation 7 describes an innumerable crowd coming out of great tribulation.
They stand before the throne and the Lamb, having washed their robes. They receive shelter, and the Lamb guides them toward fountains of living waters. Read Revelation 7:9–17.
We have preserved this group as distinct from the Bride, the two witnesses, and those associated with the First Resurrection.
Their account emphasizes being brought through tribulation and receiving continued shepherding.
Now compare Ezekiel 37 with Ezekiel 47.
The dry bones receive life through the Spirit. Later, living waters flow outward from the sanctuary.
Both visions bring us toward restoration, but they describe different actions.
The life given to the dry bones and the waters flowing outward are not simply repeated accounts of the same image.
They may illuminate different aspects of how the restoration unfolds.
We have also considered whether the great crowd emerges after the fall of Babylon or after the final worldwide conflict. Those possibilities remain part of our ongoing Landscape.
The important point here is that those beyond the First Resurrection are not forgotten simply because they did not participate in that earlier appointment.
The invitation to life continues according to the purpose of YHWH (יהוה).
Life Received — Faithfulness Still Matters
Our recent discussions brought us to another important question.
If someone receives life and guidance through God's Spirit, what happens if that person later turns away from what has been given?
Hebrews 6:4–8 warns concerning those who have been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, and become partakers of the Holy Spirit, yet afterward fall away.
Hebrews 10:26–29 also warns concerning deliberate rejection after receiving knowledge of the truth. Read Hebrews 6:4–8 and Hebrews 10:26–29.
We have previously distinguished those acting through ignorance from those knowingly rejecting the Spirit after genuine enlightenment.
That distinction matters when considering the wider resurrection.
The First Resurrection carries an explicit assurance concerning the second death.
Those receiving life afterward must be examined according to the promises, warnings, and responsibilities that apply to them.
We should not assume that someone restored to life is therefore free to disregard the One who gave that life.
Yet neither should we declare that every person still learning, struggling, or previously deceived has deliberately rejected the Spirit.
YHWH (יהוה) knows the heart, the understanding given, and the response of each person.
The invitation to life is an expression of Grace, not permission to turn away from its source.
One Shepherd — Life Beyond the Valley
Ezekiel 37 does not end with the dry bones.
The chapter continues with the joining of the two sticks, the gathering of the people, one Shepherd, and an everlasting covenant of peace.
YHWH (יהוה) promises His sanctuary and dwelling among them.
Then Ezekiel's later visions bring us to the return of Glory and the living waters flowing from the sanctuary.
And Revelation 22 describes the Spirit and the Bride extending the invitation to those who thirst. Read Revelation 22:1–17.
This returns us to the larger purpose of the restoration.
Life is not given merely so that a body may stand.
It is given so that those restored may live according to the purpose of YHWH (יהוה), under the one Shepherd, receiving His provision and walking in His ways.
What begins in a valley filled with death reaches toward a dwelling filled with life.
And the life that comes from YHWH (יהוה) extends beyond those prepared first.
Where the Word Leads
We began with Ezekiel standing among very dry bones and hearing YHWH (יהוה) ask whether they could live.
The Word was spoken. The bones came together. Sinews, flesh, and skin covered them. Yet breath was still missing.
Then the breath entered, and they stood upon their feet.
We followed the promise of opened graves into Jesus' words concerning the dead hearing his voice, Lazarus coming forth, and the awakening described in Daniel.
We also preserved the distinction between the dry bones army and the two sticks joined as one.
The First Resurrection, the wider judgment, the great crowd, and the living waters brought us toward the larger restoration.
Throughout these passages, one question continues to emerge.
Who determines when a life is beyond restoration?
The bones had no visible strength. The people believed their hope was lost. Yet YHWH (יהוה) spoke of life.
For now, I leave this question:
If YHWH (יהוה) can bring life into a valley where every visible sign of hope has disappeared, are we willing to recognize that His work of restoration may reach far beyond those whom human beings have already judged worthy of life?
The Word is spoken. The Spirit gives life. And those whom YHWH (יהוה) raises are called to stand.
Threads to Follow
- The dry bones and the breath of life: Ezekiel 37:1–14; Genesis 2:7.
- The promised new heart and Spirit: Ezekiel 36:25–27; John 3:3–8.
- The dead hearing the voice: John 5:24–29; John 10:1–16.
- Lazarus called from the tomb: John 11:17–44.
- Opened graves and emergence: Ezekiel 37:11–14; Matthew 27:50–53.
- The two sticks and the one Shepherd: Ezekiel 37:15–28; John 10:11–16.
- The resurrection order: 1 Corinthians 15:20–28, 42–54; Daniel 12:1–3.
- The First Resurrection and later judgment: Revelation 20:4–15.
- The great crowd and living waters: Revelation 7:9–17; Ezekiel 47:1–12; Revelation 22:1–17.
- Receiving the Spirit and remaining faithful: Hebrews 6:4–8; Hebrews 10:26–29.
- The dwelling and restored life: Ezekiel 37:24–28; Ezekiel 43:1–12; Revelation 21–22.
Connected studies in this series
- Post Three — The Sixth Day: The Double Portion Before the Rest: Preparation and the life preceding the appointed rest.
- Post Nine — The Two Witnesses: Heaven and Earth, Male and Female: Distinguishing the witnesses from the dry bones army.
- Post Twelve — The Third Day: From Darkness to Awakening: Christ made alive in Spirit and the opening of tombs.
- Post Fifteen — Faith: Believing Without Seeing: Hope beyond what can be observed.
- Post Eighteen — The First Resurrection: Blessed, Holy, and Beyond the Second Death: Those who rise first and the wider resurrection that follows.
- Post Nineteen — The Two Sticks: Joined as One: The joined pair, the gathering, and the covenant of peace.
The books were opened…
🌿 Studies by Maria Emilia ~ 🗺️ Continue exploring: Visit Bible Books to find studies organized by book of the Bible, along with related studies and links.
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