The appearing of the Lord will be characterized by the coming of the large, powerful army described in Joel, Isaiah, Habakkuk, Jude, and the nineteenth chapter of the Book of Revelation. This is the historic second coming of the Lord and His saints to establish His Kingdom on the earth.

We see therefore that at no time does physical Israel become a vast army. But the Olive Tree, the one Seed of Abraham, Christ—Head and Body, indeed will become a vast army, an army that will deliver the Jews at the worst point of their history.

It is clear to me that the scenario we have presented is the primary fulfillment of the dry bones of the thirty-seventh chapter of the Book of Ezekiel.

Even today the saints are feeling a longing to return to the land of Israel. This is because there is no other land that God calls His own in this special manner.

At the time of the Protestant Reformers the Church of Jesus Christ had become a valley of very dry bones. Since that time God has been restoring what had been destroyed, as outlined in the first chapter of the Book of Joel.

We are coming near the time when the Lord Jesus will return and call up His vast army. The time is not yet, for a number of prophecies, particularly concerning the rise of Antichrist and the worldwide revolt against authority, have not occurred as yet. They must take place for the Scriptures cannot be changed.

In any case, the believers of today are not prepared to return with the Lord and attack the hordes of wickedness. But we are moving in that direction. Songs of war are being sung in the assemblies of saints.

Most importantly, however, God is dealing with us concerning our worldliness, the lusts of our flesh, and our self-will. The greatest problem is our self-will. In order to learn the stern obedience to God required of every member of the army of the Lord we are going to have to wait patiently in the various prisons sent to destroy self-will from our personality.

I think the Christians in America can look forward to the dealings of the Lord such as we have not seen for a while. If this does not take place we are going to lose a generation of believers, because it is obvious the present generation has been more occupied with the things of the world than with the Lord. There are exceptions, of course, but the rank and file of believers have been pampered until they have lost their identity as cross-carrying disciples.

Further work must be done to prepare the dry bones for the Battle of Armageddon, the battle to deliver the Jews from the forces of wickedness.

To be continued.