Quoted from Joel Rosenberg's blog by wjm
"I am sorry that I didn't respond yesterday but I totally missed it. I read your original post again and then your last one and you have some great points made. I used to believe that the establishment of the nation of Israel again was the beginning of the fulfillment of Ez. 37 but I have really been doing some studying lately and I am not at all sure anymore. A while back, Nate Lewis conducted a poll on this blog with two questions asked. One of them was "Do you think Ez. 37 has been fulfilled?" I answered yes without hesitation. Then a discussion ensued and more opinions and comments were added along the way. All of that got me to examine some of the long held beliefs I had in this regard. I have a bulldog determination to hold on to what I have been taught until proved otherwise. Point in question: has the 37th chapter of Ezekiel been fulfilled as I believe? I decided to ask someone that I trust greatly and he is not only a Christian but he is also a very learned authority on the Hebrew language and history.Then today I received a letter from him and I feel compelled to share it here. I hope I am not out of line doing so but I share it in the hopes of illumination for true biblical interpretation.Here is that message:Email letter from Dr. Fruchtenbaum regarding Ez. 37 Dear Wilma Thank you for your e-mail letter of May 27, 2007.Your observation about Ezekiel 37 is correct. The passage is not dealing with the actual physical resurrection of the dead at the Second Coming, since the passage on the dry bones is obviously symbolic. For example, the bones themselves represent “the whole House of Israel” and yet the whole House of Israel is hardly comprised of dead bones. Furthermore, the bones are speaking to each other as well which bones do not do literally. So it is obviously symbolic.So the actual point of the passage is that it is teaching on the eventual regathering of Israel in unbelief and eventually the nation coming to faith. That is when they finally get the Spirit and that is when they will have a national salvation and that is when the Second Coming will occur.With this e-mail letter in PDF form I will be sending you a copy of our manuscript that covers the vision of the dry bones of Ezekiel 37 which will give you a bit more detail than I can cover within the confines of this e-mail letter. I hope you will find it helpful.Yours for the salvation of Israel,Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, DirectorThe PDF article is titled "The Valley of the Dry Bones: Ezekiel 37:1 thru 14. If you would care to access this same manuscript, it is available on www.ariel.org. It will be under the subtitle of "Fruit" and that link is located at the bottom of the home page.I thought I was too old to learn anymore but I have truly been blessed by Dr. Fruchtenbaum's ministry and feel it is a voice of truth in so much confusion today.I too agree that war in Israel is right now happening, first in little battles but then fully involved. I truly believe we are not to set dates and times but we are to know the seasons. This is the season of God's timing. If it is indeed His judgment, without repentance it cannot be changed. One again, it is a heart thing and we have to decide where we stand and what we are willing to do. I pray for the real Peace of Jerusalem but I know we have a ways to go before He is summoned back for God's wife, Israel. In the meantime, I am looking up and listening ."(from Joel Rosenberg's Blog by wjm)