Back to Hosea this morning: “For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim. Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.” Hosea 3:4-5

And Israel has been indeed “many days” now without a “King” and without a Temple (“sacrifice”). The most surprising thing in this list is “terraphim,” likely a reference to the household idols Israel at times (dark, backslidden times) has utilized!

The overall point is the emaciated existence Israel has endured for centuries. A nation “without …!”

But Jesus is coming, her King!

And Israel will return to her Land, a land she did not even own until May of 1948, not inhabited by Jews since 70 AD anyway!

But somehow God will place in her a “hunger” for Himself! Israel will choose to “seek” her God. A very strong verb, “baqash,” which can at times mean “beg,” craving Him that intently!

From “without” to enjoying God’s “Goodness!”

Via the “Fear of the Lord,” faith and trust in King Jesus! And His shed Blood on Calvary, that which flowed so freely when our Lord was “pierced” on that old rugged Tree!

And when will this all happen?

“In the latter days,” meaning the Millennium!

I shall likely close every lesson hereafter (nearing the end of this series) with the prayer of Revelation 22:20 …

“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Yes, Hosea!

Even Hosea, the Old Testament Prophet that talks so much about love, and sin, and restoration!

At least I believe these two verses are Millennial:

“Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the SAND of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God. Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.” Hosea 1:10-11

God’s “population promise” to Abraham will some day be fulfilled; literally, mathematically!

“Here’s that Promise, specifically … Genesis 22:17-18 … “That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the SAND which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.” (Obeyed in being willing to sacrifice Isaac!)

“Ye are not my people,” a saying Hosea used twice, consecutively … Hosea 1:9 negatively and Hosea 1:10 (our Text today) positively!

Yet the positive side of this Blessing become even stronger in this Text, not just “You will become My people,” but … “Ye are the sons of the living God.” That’s sounds like the New testament, the Age of Grace!

This great miracle, conversion … happens at the beginning of the Millennium, when Israel (the Nation) is saved!

“One Head,” that is Jesus!

God appointed, but here pictured as wanted by Israel too!

“Jezreel” means “scattered” in Hebrew, but here God has “regathered” His dispersed people.

Called them home to the Holy Land, from all the earth’s other lands! Every continent, every state, every isle when they once dwelt.

Excuse all the exclamation marks, please. I can’t write about this without using them!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

“Even so, come Lord Jesus!”

Revelation 22:20

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Out Text this morning, Ezekiel 39:25-29, ends magnificently!

It is the culminating Paragraph of the Bible Account of God’s defeating a massive army, one attacking Israel. Or planning to attack anyway, to spoil (rob) that wealthy little Country …

A great Battle which involves some huge nations, poised to conquer Israel. “God and Magog,” along with “Persia (Iran), Ethiopia and Libya!” Plus “Gomer” (Germany) as well! (These nations are identifiable yet to this very day! Primarily Russia and her allies.)

God defeats this coalition, killing all but “the sixth part!” It will take Israel “seven months” to bury all the dead!

But then our Text, sort of a general summary … “25 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name; 26 After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid. 27 When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; 28 Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there. 29 Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.” Ezekiel 39:25-29

That last verse has captivated my attention … “Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.”

Did you notice the Lesson title?

Verse 29 looks to me like a Parallel to the “Day of Pentecost” in Acts chapter 2. God plans to again “pour out” His (Holy) Spirit! Once upon the Church! Now upon His favorite Nation!

The verb “pour out” is “shaphak,” and in Hebrew means (and is translated) “to gush out” once! A copious Gift!

Zechariah 12:10 is similar … “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications.”

And the result?

Salvation for Israel!

Sanctification too!

And an eternity of service to the Lord God Almighty!

Wow!

“3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: 4 And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses. 5 One shall say, I am the LORD’S; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel.” Isaiah 44:3-5 here seems to be describing the same glorious Event.

Yes, the Holy Spirit is God’s “Comforter” to mankind! (This is Jesus’ favorite Name for the Spirit.)

God’s “Completer” one Preacher said.

Yet He is so neglected today.

Christian friend reading here today, do you know Him?

One God, triune in Persons, Essence!

Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

Each Member of the Godhead being active in every aspect of our Christian lives! (As He was in every aspect of Creation, for that matter!)

Israel, her best days are still coming.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Today (for the third Lesson) we again study Ezekiel chapter 37, surely a great encouragement to the Israelites!

“23 Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. 24 And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. 25 And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever. 26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. 27 My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 28 And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.” Ezekiel 37:23-28, the reminder of the chapter.

“Saved” and “cleansed!”

“My people,” a term of endearment!

And “David my Servant” is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, I believe.

He is the “One Shepherd!”

In the “Land,” perpetually, meaning “for ever!”

Wow!

God’s “Sanctuary/Tabernacle” there too, a literal Millennial Temple of colossal size, according to Ezekiel chapters 40-48.

With the whole world (the “heathen,” gentiles) looking on in amazement! At a “sanctified” Israel … abiding with her Lord God forever!

And in agreement, too, these now Jesus loving gentiles!

This chapter, should be preached (verse by verse) in every Bible believers’ “Prophecy Conference” from now to Glory!

Israel has a lot yet to endure.

But Oh, what a bright future!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Bright, just like ours … because of Jesus!

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Since the days of King Rehoboam, son of Solomon, has Israel been a “split” nation. Often called the “Northern” Kingdom and the “Southern” Kingdom. At times even being designated by their capital cities; Samaria and Jerusalem. Or by their largest tribes; Ephraim and Judah.

And though not divided by tribal identity today, Israel still is a very splintered Country. Politics, culture, worldviews … how disparate that little Nation is right now.

But all that will change … when Jesus comes again. And that’s the Focus of today’s Ezekiel 37 Text. God is here (again) talking to His Prophet, whom He lovingly calls “son of man” … “16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions: 17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. 18 And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these? 19 Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand. 20 And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes. 21 And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: 22 And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all.” Ezekiel 37:16-22, again a longer Passage than usual, but you must read it to understand my comments.

Two “sticks” … about to be joined as one!

“Judah” representing the south and “Joseph” (whose son was “Ephraim”) here standing for the north.

Made “one” in Christ Jesus the King and our Saviour!

God thrives on unity, when that harmony is rightly achieved and maintained.

As in … “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Ephesians 4:3-6

As in … “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.” Amazing, Psalm 133, all of it!

Something God “hates” as well … “He that soweth discord among brethren.” Proverbs 6:19

Yes, this specific example of God granted Unity is yet future, Millennial … but literal nonetheless.

I suppose I can begin to close this segment of Ezekiel 37 by reminding us that we should also be living in unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ, those truly born again.

Paul is grieved here … “When ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.” The Corinthians, who else?

Paul again, on how to live day by day as believers … “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” Romans 12:18

Jesus’ Prayer for us, a Petition I believe He is still asking of the Father … “Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, THAT THEY MAY BE ONE, AS WE ARE .”John 17:11

Wow!

This “Unity” thing clearly means a lot to God, no doubt because He is One! (The “Godhead,” Paul says; “Father and Son and Holy Spirit!” Never a cross Word!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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