Kingdom Coming Part 2
At Keys Vineyard Church, we are presenting a series called ‘Kingdom Coming,’ which we post here on Online Bible Institute.
Last week, we introduced Kingdom Coming and said that the three points to remember in this series are the Glory Departs, the Exile, and the Prophets. We talked about the Glory Departing and what exile means for us. This week, we are going to start talking about the prophets.
In Ezekiel 37:12-14, the prophet is given a vision of dry bones coming to life, symbolizing the restoration of Israel from exile.
Ezekiel 37:12–14 (NIV)
12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’ ”
This passage portrays God’s power to revive a hopeless and spiritually dead nation, but its ultimate fulfillment is found in the work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
The valley of dry bones is a metaphor for spiritual death—a condition of separation from God, where hope and life seem impossible. The bones are dry, lifeless, and beyond repair by human efforts. This parallels humanity’s condition in sin, as described by Paul in Ephesians 2:1: “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins.” The problem is more profound than moral failing; it is a spiritual death from which only God can deliver.
The promise of God to breathe life into these dry bones points forward to the ultimate act of resurrection: the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. On the cross, Jesus took upon Himself the weight of humanity’s sin and spiritual death. His death became the sacrifice that opened the way for a new life, just as God breathed life into the dry bones of Ezekiel’s vision. In John 11:25, Jesus declares, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” This is the fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecy—not merely a physical restoration, but a deeper spiritual renewal that brings eternal life.
Ezekiel 37:14 emphasizes that God will put His Spirit in His people and they will live. This is fulfilled through the Holy Spirit, given to believers after Christ’s resurrection. The Spirit is the breath of God, the same breath that revived the bones, now bringing new life to all who believe in Jesus. Through the cross and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we are no longer spiritually dead; we are brought to life in Christ:
Romans 8:11 (NIV)
11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
This weekend at Keys Vineyard Church, we will discuss all this and more, so be sure to join us in person or online.
Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.
