💀 From a Graveyard to a Legion: The Destiny of the Resurrected Host ✨
Have you ever had a “second wind”? You were exhausted, defeated, ready to quit—and then, suddenly, a surge of life hit you, and you stood back up.
Now, multiply that by a nation.
In Ezekiel 37, the prophet witnesses the most famous resurrection scene in the Old Testament. A valley full of bleached, dry bones rattles together. Muscle knits to bone, skin covers flesh, and finally, the breath of God enters them.
They stand up upon their feet—an “exceedingly great army” (Ezekiel 37:10 KJV).
But then the chapter break happens, and we often stop reading. What became of this army? Did they march off to fight Babylon? Did they conquer the world?
The answer is profound. They didn’t pick up swords to kill; they picked up a covenant to live. Their destiny wasn’t military conquest, but spiritual restoration.
This article explores the “Chapter 2” of the Dry Bones, revealing how this army points directly to the unification of God’s people and the birth of the Church.
Part I: Identification—Who Was the Army? 📜
The “Whole House of Israel” 🇮🇱
First, we must identify the soldiers. God explicitly tells Ezekiel who they are:
“Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost…” —Ezekiel 37:11 (KJV)
The army wasn’t a literal battalion of zombies marching on Jerusalem. It was a vision representing the Nation of Israel in exile. They felt dead. They felt their national identity was decomposed.
For a detailed look at the miracle itself, read our deep dive on What Happened in the Valley of Dry Bones?.
The Return to the Land 🌍
What became of them? They went Home.
“Behold, O my people, I will open your graves… and bring you into the land of Israel.” —Ezekiel 37:12 (KJV)
The “army” marched out of the spiritual graveyard of Babylon and back into the Promised Land. This was historically fulfilled when the exiles returned under Ezra and Nehemiah to rebuild the temple. God resurrected their national identity.
Part II: The Mission—Unity and Holiness 🤝
The Mystery of the Two Sticks 🪵
Immediately after the army stands up, God gives Ezekiel a new command: Take two sticks. Write “Judah” on one and “Joseph” (Israel) on the other. Then, join them together in your hand.
“And they shall become one in thine hand.” —Ezekiel 37:17 (KJV)
What did the army do? They united.
For centuries, God’s people had been split into a civil war (North vs. South). The resurrected army’s first mission was reconciliation. God used the death of the exile to kill their division. When they rose, they rose as One People under One King (the coming Messiah).
For more on the tragedy that caused this split, read Rehoboam vs. Jeroboam: Who Was the First King of Northern Israel?.
The Indwelling Spirit 🕊️
The ultimate destiny of this army was not just to live in the land, but to have God live in them.
“And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live…” —Ezekiel 37:14 (KJV)
This points forward to the New Covenant. The “Army” is the Church—filled with the Holy Spirit, united in Christ, standing as a testimony of life in a valley of death.
For more on the visible manifestation of God’s Spirit, see What Was the Mysterious Cloud That Filled Solomon’s Temple?.
Part III: 3 Common Misconceptions About the Dry Bones Army 💡
Misconception 1: It was a literal physical resurrection of dead bodies.
- Correction: This was a “vision” (Ezekiel 37:1). While God can raise the literal dead (and will at the end of time), this specific vision was a metaphor for the national and spiritual revival of a people who felt dead.
Misconception 2: The army represents modern-day political Israel only.
- Correction: While it speaks to the preservation of the Jewish people, the prophecy culminates in “David my servant shall be king over them” (v. 24) and an “everlasting covenant.” This finds its ultimate fulfillment in the Kingdom of Christ, which includes believers from every nation grafted in.
Misconception 3: The army was raised to kill enemies.
- Correction: The text never mentions them fighting. They are raised to “walk in my judgments” and “observe my statutes” (v. 24). Their warfare is spiritual; their purpose is holiness.
Conclusion: You Are Part of the Host 🌟
What became of the army? They became the living evidence that God keeps His promises.
If you are a believer, you are part of this story. You were once a “dry bone”—dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1). But the Breath of God has entered you.
You are now part of this “exceedingly great army.” Your mission isn’t to fight flesh and blood, but to stand in unity with your brothers and sisters and display the life of God to a dying world.
Reflection: Are you living like a dry bone, or like a soldier alive to the Spirit?
