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Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Thirty-Four): Ecclesiastes 9:2-12

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

In the vision of the Valley of Dry Bones, as described in Ezekiel, there is a profound depiction of resurrection during a period of judgment. Israel rises from mere bones, with sinews, muscles, and skin being restored to them. Breath is put back into these bodies, reviving them as they once lived. These resurrected individuals are then granted access to the Holy Spirit, which they did not have in their prior existence. They undergo a period of judgment, possibly lasting a hundred years, where they must unlearn the ways of their past lives and embrace the right paths. During this time, those already called will assist them, playing a significant role in their reeducation and growth after the Millennium. This era signifies a time when billions will have the opportunity to become intimates of Jesus Christ, learning and living in alignment with God's ways as part of His grand plan.

Death Is Not the End (Part Five)

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The Old Testament presents a vivid depiction of a general resurrection through the prophecy of the Valley of Dry Bones in Ezekiel 37. The bones, described as dry and devoid of any life, represent people who have been dead for a long time, appearing hopelessly beyond revival. Yet, God declares that He will breathe life into them, filling their lungs with the breath of life and restoring their flesh, sinews, and skin. This act signifies a return to physical life on earth, not an ethereal existence in a celestial realm. Through this resurrection, these individuals will come to recognize that the God of Israel, who raised them from the dead, is the one true God.

Death: The End of the Beginning

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

In the vision of the Valley of Dry Bones, as described in Ezekiel 37, God reveals a profound resurrection specifically concerning Israel, yet encompassing all the dead, both small and great, including Gentiles. In this resurrection, millions upon millions will rise to physical life once more, with flesh, sinew, and breath restored to their bodies. This act will demonstrate to them that the true God is indeed God, shattering their misguided notions of the afterlife. Initially, they may feel despair, believing they are raised only for judgment and destruction, lamenting that their hope is lost and they are cut off. Yet, they will come to understand God's mercy and grace, with His Spirit available to them for learning and growth, offering the chance to be welcomed into His Family. Under the best of conditions, free from satan's influence, they will live full and abundant lives, guided by God and His firstfruits, ready to assist even before they call for help. This resurrection fulfills the promise of the Last Great Day, providing a final and best opportunity for salvation to all who have died, ensuring that God's plan for redemption reaches every soul.

Jesus and the Feast (Part Three): Light of the World

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

In Ezekiel 37, the vision of the Valley of Dry Bones serves as a powerful illustration of resurrection and restoration. God uses the imagery of the children of Israel being resurrected to physical life as an example of what will occur during a future time of judgment. The bones, representing the dead of Israel, are described as numerous, filling a valley, and very dry, indicating a long passage of time since their death. These bones symbolize destruction, futility, and death, showing that their lives ended without hope or future. Yet, God brings these bones back to life, attaching sinews, flesh, and muscles, allowing them to stand as a physical army once more. Beyond physical resurrection, He offers them the Holy Spirit, providing the opportunity for conversion and eventual transformation to spirit life, addressing the missing dimension in Israel's history—the lack of God's Spirit that led to their rebellion. This vision extends beyond Israel to all ethnicities and nationalities, as God will grant this opportunity to billions who were never called or offered the gospel throughout history, ensuring they have a chance for salvation during this judgment period.

The Last Great Day

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John O. Reid

The Last Great Day holds profound significance, picturing a time of immense hope and miraculous resurrection. It represents an event where God the Father and Jesus Christ, along with the host of heaven and those changed into spirit sons, will rejoice in triumph as all succeed. This day envisions the resurrection of countless billions, possibly 50 to 80 billion, in the whole house of Israel, all initially unconverted. These individuals, from every generation, will be brought back to life, and though their ways may be foreign to us, God has ensured that throughout history, He has called people who can relate to them when they are raised up. This resurrection, often referred to in the context of the Valley of Dry Bones, symbolizes a vast and daunting task. We, having been trained for a thousand years and equipped with the full use of our powers and minds, will be ready to serve these billions. God has set a time limit, possibly a one-hundred-year period after the Millennium, for these resurrected individuals to live and understand the opportunity to join the God Family. They will need to learn everything, from basics to complex truths, overcoming false religions, deep-seated prejudices, and the pervasive wickedness that has marked humanity's history. The challenges will be immense, addressing hatred, anger, and resentment from past atrocities—wars, ethnic cleansings, murders, and countless other horrors. These conflicts, though distant to us now, will feel immediate to those resurrected. Yet, with satan removed and with us as visible teachers guiding them, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," and with God placing a new heart within them, transformation will be possible. Our role will be to facilitate true forgiveness and reconciliation, a task that will not be easy but will be deeply fulfilling. This work in the Valley of Dry Bones, bringing billions from foolishness and rebellion to possessing the character of God, will be the most rewarding endeavor imaginable. God may even allow us to work with our own family members, leveraging personal insight to better care for them. Ultimately, the Last Great Day, encompassing this vast resurrection, aims to see all who have ever lived either become immortal members of the God Family or cease to exist, ensuring none remain in eternal misery.

The Great White Throne

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The Valley of Dry Bones, as depicted in Ezekiel 37, serves as a profound illustration of a future judgment and resurrection. This vision portrays a vast expanse of dry bones being reassembled by God, with flesh, sinew, and breath restored to them, bringing them back to physical life. It signifies a time when the dead will live again, experiencing a full physical existence for an extended period. During this time, they will be judged according to their works, highlighting a process of evaluation rather than immediate condemnation. The timing of this event is clarified through other scriptural references, placing it after the Millennium, as a second resurrection where the rest of the dead arise from their graves, seas, or wherever their remains were left. This resurrection offers them an opportunity to live again, mirroring our current physical life, and to be assessed in a fair and just manner by the One who restores them.

Eternal Responsibilities

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Martin G. Collins

In Ezekiel 37, we read of the valley of dry bones, a vision of profound significance tied to God's plan for humanity's salvation. This awe-inspiring event represents the resurrection of countless individuals who have not yet had their opportunity to know God's truth. Imagine the excitement of witnessing this moment, seeing those from the past and present, who never had their chance, being brought back to life. If we fulfill our eternal responsibility, we will be there as spirit beings, having been part of God's Family for over a thousand years by that time. As members of the firstfruits, we will have the tremendous privilege to help righteously judge and guide these resurrected billions during the Great White Throne Judgment, assisting them to fulfill their potential under the guidance of God the Father and Jesus Christ.

The Second Resurrection and Union With Christ

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

In the prophecy of Ezekiel 37, we are presented with a vivid image of the Valley of Dry Bones, a vast expanse filled to the brim with old, lifeless bones, symbolizing a place of death. These bones represent the whole house of Israel, spanning countless generations and numbering in the millions, if not billions, since the time of Abraham. God reveals His power and promise through this vision, declaring that these bones, long devoid of hope, will live again. He commands their reconstruction, as the bones are gathered and clothed with flesh, organs are restored, and breath is breathed into them, signifying a physical resurrection. This is not merely a return to life, but an opportunity for something greater, as God offers His Holy Spirit to them, enabling not just physical existence but a true life aligned with His way, with the potential for eternity. These resurrected individuals, coming from diverse eras and regions over four thousand years, will embody a multitude of perspectives and ways of thinking, shaped by different times, places, and cultures. From the ancient days of Abraham in Ur to the scattered tribes across Assyria, Babylon, Europe, and beyond, their experiences and mindsets will be alien to one another and to those tasked with guiding them. Their languages, religions, governments, and customs will vary widely, presenting a profound challenge in teaching them God's way. Like encountering unfamiliar beings, the children of God will face the task of bridging vast differences in thought and understanding to lead these people toward transformation. God assures them, repeating three times, "Then you shall know that I am the Lord," emphasizing His authority and the astonishing reality of this second chance at life. Through His intervention, these bones will stand as a testament to His promise of hope and salvation.

Why the Last Great Day?

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Through the eyes of Ezekiel, God provides a dramatic vision of Israel's restoration during a time of greatness, depicted in the Valley of Dry Bones. This vision unfolds in an open, wide valley, stretching vast and broad, filled with old, desiccated bones, utterly devoid of life. The scene evokes a sense of wonder and magnitude, portraying a huge graveyard under the sun, where God poses the astonishing question to the prophet, "Can these bones live?" To human eyes, it seems utterly impossible that such a mound of ancient, dried, and decayed bones could ever support life. Yet, the vision reveals an awesome transformation as these bones come together, are clothed with skin, begin breathing, and stand up alive, declaring their renewed existence before God. Their last memories may have been of death and suffering, yet in an instant, they stand before Him, alive, realizing His power. Then they shall know that He is the Lord, a shocking revelation to billions of Israelites who had rejected Him in their physical lives over thousands of years. This is not merely a great event with vast numbers, but a testament to a Great God who fulfills His promises with certainty. When He declares He will do something, it is assured, and when this multitude rises as part of His plan, they will understand that He means every word He speaks.

The Blind See

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The Valley of Dry Bones, as referenced in Ezekiel 37, illustrates a profound vision of resurrection and renewal. In this vision, most of Israel will rise in a future resurrection, being made physical again. They will be given a chance to understand and attain eternal life through the gift of God's Spirit. This powerful imagery underscores the promise of a future time when the vast majority of humanity, previously without belief and burdened by sin, will have the opportunity for salvation during a period of judgment.

A Millennium of Preparation

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

In Ezekiel 37, the prophecy of the Valley of Dry Bones foretells the resurrection of Israel to physical life, signifying a broader resurrection of all the dead. As revealed in Revelation 20:12-13, the graves will be opened, and all who have died without a chance for salvation will live again. God will grant them access to His Spirit, as seen in Ezekiel 37:14, allowing them to live a lifetime for judgment according to their works. To these resurrected individuals, it will seem like a second chance, though it is truly their first opportunity for salvation. This period, understood as the Great White Throne Judgment, is speculated to last about 100 years, during which the resurrected will have the chance to repent and prove their submission to God.

The Second Resurrection

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

In Ezekiel 37, the vision of the Valley of Dry Bones serves as a powerful symbol for the whole world, portraying the resurrection of the Israelitish people to physical life. God pictures these people as slain, not necessarily in warfare, but as hapless victims of satan's blindness, slavery, and warfare. Even though they had God's Word, Temple, and prophets, they are shown as born, living, and dying without truly knowing God. Yet, God promises to open up to them by giving His Spirit, so they can live in their own land, know the Lord, and understand that He spoke and performed it. This vision extends beyond Israel, as Jesus makes clear in Matthew 11 and 12 that Gentiles will also rise in judgment at the same time as the Israelitish people, indicating a universal resurrection. These individuals will emerge from the grave healed in body but not in mind, their spirits wounded and characters hardened by years of living apart from God. It will be a challenging process for many to make adjustments and fight the battles of conversion, a process that takes years, requiring organization and people with understanding hearts to guide them toward the same salvation offered now. God's mercy ensures that He is not willing for any to perish, and through His Spirit, symbolized by water in rituals like those during the Feast of Tabernacles, the conversion of all mankind will take place, fulfilling His magnificent plan to harvest human beings into His family.

Psalms: Book Four (Part Three)

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Psalms 105 and 106 describe the Great White Throne period, expressing the yearning desire to be included in His Kingdom and declaring God's praises.

'Done Away' Is Incorrect

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Protestantism alleges that God's law is 'done away.' What Scripture shows, though, is that some aspects are not required presently, but God's law is eternal.

The Purpose of Israel

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

God chose ancient Israel 1) to be separate, 2) to demonstrate His love to them, 3) to keep His promises to Abraham, and 4) to make a covenant with them.

The Needed Dimension

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Unless we humbly submit before God, all of His efforts go for naught. God will not give His Spirit to those who will not obey Him.