Congregation Bible Study (30 min.): Rr ch. 10 paras. 13-17 and boxes 10B and 10C.
13 a) How were the words of Ezekiel 37:10, 14 fulfilled from 537 BC?
For from this year on, Jehovah revived them, set them on their feet, freeing them from captivity, and returned them to Israel to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple. Together with the 1,750 later exiles, the total number rises to 44,000 Jews; just as Ezekiel 37:10 says, a whole army.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
In the text it is mentioned that a huge army was going to leave and indeed that was what happened since Jehovah revived them and made them stand up, when he freed them from captivity and allowed them to return to Israel and a group of 42,000 Three hundred and sixty Israelites and some seven thousand non-Israelites left Babylon to rebuild Jerusalem and its temple and to settle in Israelite territory.
b) What verses indicate that there were members of the ten-tribe kingdom who returned to Israel?
There are several verses that indicate and confirm that there were members of the kingdom of the ten tribes who returned and helped with the rebuilding of the temple, such as 1 Chronicles 9: 3 naming the descendants of these specific tribes as Jeremiah 33: 7 does with Judah and with the captives of Jerusalem or the same Ezra 6:17 indicates that animals were offered as an offering according to the number of the tribes.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
We see that in Ezra chapter 8 verses 1 to 20 the names of the Heads of the families who went up who returned with Ezra to Jerusalem are mentioned.
14 a) How does Ezekiel 37:24 indicate when the main fulfillment of the prophecy would be?
This prophecy would be fulfilled mainly shortly after Jesus began to act as King and this has happened throughout the years since 1919 when Jehovah put his spirit in his people.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
As mentioned in the text, the main fulfillment of this restoration prophecy would happen shortly after Jesus Christ began to act as King and this was the case since in 1919, Jehovah put his spirit in his people and thanks to that they came back to life and were liberated from the captivity in Babylon the Great.
b) What happened in 1919? (See also the box “The 'dry bones' and the 'two witnesses': the relationship between the two visions”).
In 1919 Jehovah put his spirit on his people and this allowed them to be liberated and establish on earth the spiritual paradise that we benefit from today with our brothers and congregations until the arrival of the Kingdom of God that will be very shortly. The people of God today have become a great army that carries the good of the kingdom to every part of the earth.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
As mentioned in the box in 1919 True Worship is restored as all the Anointed ones leave Great Babylon, and it is there that a small group of Anointed Brothers is appointed to lead Jehovah's organization.
15,16 a) How have God's people become “a very great army”?
This begins to occur after the year 191 with the faithful slave appointed by Christ. As of this year, the prophecies of Zacharias and Ezekiel have been fulfilled and the people of God have begun to grow exponentially until today we are millions throughout the Earth dedicating our lives to the service of Jehovah.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
This Great Army are the Anointed ones that remain on earth and all the Servants of several million people, and all this thanks to the fact that we continue to fulfill what Jesus entrusted to us to preach to all people and with our eyes set on Kingdom blessings.
b) Why does this prophecy of Ezekiel help us to face difficult situations in life? (See the box “Jehovah Helps Us Get Up.”)
We are comforted to know that Jehovah gave life to dead bones that had been dry for a long time. He will give us the strength we need to face all the difficult situations in our life, because his wish is that we do well in life and that we be happy serving him. And examining Ezekiel's restoration prophecies will be of great benefit to us knowing all these details.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
So we can be completely sure that if we turn to Jehovah when we feel trouble bringing us down, he will treat us lovingly, put his arms under us, lift us up tenderly, and help us get back on our feet.
ANSWER BASED ON THE BOX “Jehovah Helps Us Get Up”).
As we see in the Box, sometimes we are so burdened by problems or daily worries that we feel exhausted and without the strength to move on, but this prophecy teaches us that God has the power to give us strength to overcome any barriers and difficulties.
17. What will we see in the next chapter?
In the next chapter we will see what the great responsibility that restoration entails and what our role in it is. We will discuss what Jehovah commissioned Ezekiel before Jerusalem was destroyed.
OPTIONAL ANSWER
In the next Chapter, we will discuss a task that Jehovah entrusted to Ezekiel even before Jerusalem was destroyed and we will understand why the Restoration of Pure Worship carries a great responsibility.
Pure worship and you
1. Why did the Jewish exiles in Babylon say that their bones were dry?
They said this because the exiled Jews had no hope left, they had been completely eliminated, away from their beloved land. The non-exiles lost their lives with the destruction of the city, the corruption was such that they did not think it would be possible to return to a worship as before, they had lost all courage and hope.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
Because they were in a situation similar to death, the dry bones meant that it is a situation extended in time and practically entirely in exiled captivity, although they were alive it was as if they were not, because they had no enthusiasm they were symbolically dead for more 200 years until Jehovah through ezekiel's prophecies restored hope and life.
2. In what sense was "the Israel of God" today as dead?
These prophecies of the Restoration produced a long period of symbolic death for all of God's people and their pure worship. Acts 3:21 says that he must remain in heaven until the times of restoration come. A long period where the Israel of God was in a situation of symbolic death until a progressive restoration takes place as we will see in the next question.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
In the sense that the Congregation of Anointed Christians was in captivity for so long that it is comparable to a widespread death with dry bones because it lasted more than 200 years, furthermore the Catholic Church at that time did not want the Bible to be read all the time. town and that's why they didn't want it translated.
3. How did “the Israel of God” experience progressive restoration? And when did it revive?
God's people revived in 1919 and intensified their preaching with restored pure worship. This was achieved by a series of events that involved the progressive restoration of God's Israel thanks to the work and risk of men like Tyndale, Russell and their collaborators and many more who risked their lives to keep God's message alive and bring it to the people.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
We see that it was a progressive restoration due to various events of great importance that were not easy and took a lot of work and courage, for example there is the case of William who translated the Bible into English and was executed for it and the work of Russell and his collaborators approaching Biblical truth to many people who began to know them through many practical and useful tools.
4. How do you feel about being part of the “great army” that Ezekiel predicted?
(Personal question) The truth that it is an enormous privilege and also responsibility belongs to the people of God. We must be distinguished at all times in our lives from others by our actions, behavior, education and respect. Going against the current of this world is not easy and it is what allows us to have the honor of announcing the good news of God and bearing his name.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
We can feel very happy since we are part of the fulfillment of this prophecy which is a great privilege, since we can observe how Jehovah directs his Organization through the Faithful and Prudent Slave who give us all this Spiritual Food to keep us strong in Faith.
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