What does Paul's Romans 11 analogy say the whole nation of Israel is doing and waiting for?
Paul’s Romans 11 analogy pictures the whole nation of Israel as returning to their homeland and coming back to life, like dry bones restored. Though physically regathered and outwardly revived, they remain spiritually dead, waiting for the second coming, even though they themselves think they await their first coming.
Les explains that Paul’s Romans 11 analogy matches Ezekiel 37, where the valley of dry bones pictures the nation of Israel. The bones were very dry and white, showing Israel had been out of the land of promise, away from temple worship, and blinded. Now God is bringing them back to life as they return to their homeland from every nation, shaking and rattling. Les says the muscle and skin are coming back, but there is still no spiritual life; they remain spiritually dead. The whole nation is coming back to the land and coming back to life, waiting for the second coming as we look at it, though they think they await their first coming.