In a number of previous studies I have been involved in showing that the nature of the Kingdom of God is spiritual by comparing Ezekiel 37 with some of Paul’s epistles, especially 2Corinthians chapters three through six. I’ve been discussing how Ezekiel prophesied the restoration of the twelve tribes of Israel, that is, reunifying Judah, the southern kingdom, with Israel, the northern kingdom. Nevertheless, this prophecy isn’t exclusive to Ezekiel 37. Another prophecy that mentions the salvation of the whole House of Israel is Isaiah 49. Notice what he says:
And He said, It is but a little thing that You should be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to bring back the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You for a light to the nations, to be My salvation to the end of the earth. (Isaiah 49:6)
Here we have the Messiah mentioned, my servant, and he was given the task to raise up the tribes of Jacob (i.e. all 12 tribes – Ezekiel 37:11-14, 24), and then to restore (gather again) the preserved ones of Israel. However, the text goes on to say that doing this thing would be but a little matter for the Messiah. Therefore, he would also be given to be Light to the gentiles or the nations. So, what we have here is the preaching of the Gospel. It is the instrument through which the twelve tribes of Israel are gathered together and reunified into one nation, and it is the means by which the gentiles are given understanding.
Consider what the Lord is doing. First we have the reconciliation of the kingdoms of Judah and Israel, which is the reunification of the twelve tribes of Jacob. Secondly, we have the reconciliation of restored Israel with the nations or the gentiles. Under the ministry of the Gospel it has come to pass, “there is neither Jew nor Greek, neither bond nor free, neither male nor female, but all are one in Christ” (Galatians 3:28; emphasis mine). The Lord has reconciled the Apostles to himself and committed onto them the ministry of reconciliation, whereby as ambassadors of Christ they pleaded with the world to be reconciled to God (2Corinthians 5:18-21).
Certainly, it can’t be claimed that Paul, or God through Paul, was restoring the twelve tribes of Israel into a single geopolitical kingdom, as it was under David and Solomon. That is not what is going on here. Paul and the other Apostles preached the Gospel and drew both the lost tribes of Israel and national Jews to Christ. This is a spiritual, not a physical, undertaking. But, not only were the twelve tribes of Israel being restored to God through Gospel of Christ, but so were the gentiles, especially through Paul’s Gospel. He went to the synagogues of the Diaspora, first preaching to the Jews, but then going to the gentiles (Acts 28:28). But, when did Isaiah say this would occur? It was “In an acceptable time have I heard you, and in a day of salvation have I helped you: and I will preserve you, and give you for a covenant of the people” (Isaiah 49:8). Now, consider this:
For He says, “AT A TIME OF WELCOME I HAVE LISTENED TO YOU, AND ON A DAY OF SALVATION I HAVE SUCCOURED YOU.” Now is the time of loving welcome! Now is the day of salvation! (2 Corinthians 6:2)
Paul quotes Isaiah 49:8 then says **this** is the acceptable time and **this** is the day of salvation. In other words, the time had come for Isaiah’s prophecy to be fulfilled, then in the first century AD. At that time the twelve tribes of Israel were being restored, reunified under Jesus, the Messiah. At that time the gentiles had begun to be drawn to the Lord and reconciled to him. But, wait! How can this be true, if Ezekiel says the Lord would bring Israel into its own land (Ezekiel 37:12, 14)? Nevertheless, this must be considered with Isaiah 49:19, which says the land of Israel would be too small or too cramped for them. The land is also spiritual. All are made one in Christ. Christ **is** the Land. He **is** the Kingdom into which we enter. He **is** our Dwelling Place (Psalm 90:1)!
How is the Kingdom physical? If Christ is our Dwelling Place today, in what way could this be improved upon with a future visible, physical, coming of the Lord?
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