The Garden of Eden in the Millennial Kingdom
The book of Ezekiel is like a love story in which everything is going wrong at the beginning. It appears the couple will never get married because one of them is making all of the wrong decisions. Figuratively speaking, Israel was the individual who was making all of the wrong decisions. God kept calling Israel to repent and return, but Israel refused. Then our last study was a surprise because Ezekiel 36 prophesied that God Himself would give each Israelite a new heart and a new spirit. The relationship would be saved by God establishing the New Covenant. In the New Testament, we are told Jesus Christ sacrificially died on the cross in order to establish the New Covenant. That made the fulfillment of the prophecy in Ezekiel 36 possible. Now God the Father can forgive Israel’s sins and the sins of Gentiles and give the elect eternal life.
Then in Ezekiel 36:23, the Lord prophesied that after Israel is spiritually reborn from above, He Himself will regather the Hebrews from the places to which He had scattered them back to their own home. God Himself gave them the land which the Scripture calls Canaan and today is called Palestine. These events demonstrate that our spiritual relationship with God can affect both our spiritual and material blessings.
In this study we are told God has given Israel another prophecy. It is a prophecy that says Israel will be blessed after they have returned to their own land. We will also discover a number of important biblical principles. So, I ask, “Why will God give Israel a new heart and a new spirit and then bless them? Why will God do this at some time in the future?”
Blessings Upon the Vegetation
Our study is from Ezekiel 36:29-38. It has three sections. All three sections describe a blessing that Yahweh will give to Israel. The first section is verses 29-32. It is about God’s blessings upon the vegetation of the land. The second section is verses 33-36. It is about blessings upon the land itself. The third section is verses 37-38. It is about God’s blessing upon man.
So, we will begin with verses 29-30 which is about blessings upon the vegetation.
Moreover, I will save you from all your uncleanness; and I will call for the grain and multiply it, and I will not bring a famine on you. I will multiply the fruit of the tree and the produce of the field, so that you will not receive again the disgrace of famine among the nations. Ezekiel 36:29-30 (NASB)
I want us to notice the opening words of verse 29. Notice that Yahweh said, “I will save you.” Some recent Bibles translate Yahweh’s words as “I will deliver you.” But “deliver” is not the best translation. It is too general. Most of the time the Hebrew word is translated as “save.” “Save” has the idea of preventing loss or preventing harm. Yahweh said that He will prevent them from being harmed by and as a result of their wicked condition. Uncleanness refers to the fact that not only are our sins filthy, but as unbelievers we were inherently filthy.
A good illustration of this is the last time I had COVID. All of my symptoms were unclean, such as fever, extreme fatigue, and congestion. But my symptoms only revealed I had a much greater problem. I had COVID inside of me trying to kill me. My body was fighting for survival. My external uncleanness or symptoms revealed I was unclean in a much greater sense. No one wanted to be near me, including my doctor. I did not want to be near myself! That helps us understand that as unbelievers our uncleanness refers to more than our sinful deeds. It refers to our entire person or being.
So, Yahweh said He will save every Jew because they will be completely and totally sinners. Then they will become believers in Jesus Christ. They will still be sinners (Romans 7:14-24), but they will be forgiven and declared to be totally clean or as righteous as Christ. So, the first part of verse 29 means that Yahweh will make the people of Israel spiritually alive with new hearts and new spirits at the second coming of Christ. That is the first part of verse 29.
The last part of verse 29 and verse 30 now describe the blessing they will receive as a result of being saved. Yahweh will bless their crops so that they produce so much that famine will never occur again. The Hebrew word for “crops” refers to produce such as corn, barley, and wheat. Then in verse 30 Yahweh said He will cause the fruit trees and vegetation in the open fields and across the country to flourish.
This gives us our first biblical principle. It is given to us at the end of verse 30. The principle is that famine is a sign of disgrace or dishonor. Why? We have already learned that famine is a sign of divine judgment (Ezekiel 5:12; 7:15; 14:21: Revelation 6:4-8).
Now in verse 31, Yahweh prophesied how Israel will respond.
Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and your abominations. Ezekiel 36:31 (NASB)
In the last study we discovered that the sign of a new heart and a new spirit is when the believer turns from sin toward God. Believers will see their sin and grieve and seek forgiveness because true believers want to please God. We discovered that in verses 26 and 27. Now here Yahweh said Israel will remember their evil ways and deeds. They will loathe themselves because of their evil.
Many years I ago I was interviewing a man who told me that he was a believer in Jesus Christ. He wanted to be an elder in his church. When I asked how he measured up to the qualifications in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, he said that he did not fall short on any one of them. Now that was a man who did not loathe his way and his past sins. He thought that he was qualified to be a godly elder.
Yahweh has just revealed that a sign of a true believer in Jesus Christ is that they still loathe their past way of life and deeds. They will loathe their present way and deeds because they will want to be more godly, even though their guilt has been removed. This will also be true of every Israelite after the second coming of Christ.
In verse 32, Yahweh makes this incredible statement,
“I am not doing this for your sake,” declares the Lord GOD, “let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel!” Ezekiel 36:32 (NASB)
So, why will Yahweh do this?” We will discover the answer later. Here Yahweh said this to make us wonder and think.
Blessings Upon the Cities and Land
The second section in our study is verses 33-36. I have titled it “Blessings Upon the Land.” Here are verses 33-35,
‘”Thus says the Lord GOD, “On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places will be rebuilt. The desolate land will be cultivated instead of being a desolation in the sight of everyone who passes by. They will say, ‘This desolate land has become like the garden of Eden; and the waste, desolate and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited.’” Ezekiel 36:32-35 (NASB)
Verse 33 begins as verse 29 did. On the day that Yahweh cleanses or saves Israel from its uncleanness or iniquities, He will bless Israel’s land and cities. In verse 29, Yahweh promised to bless Israel’s vegetation. Now He promises to bless Israel’s cities and land. Verse 33 says He will cause the cities and waste places to be rebuilt and inhabited. In verse 34 the desolate or deserted land will be cultivated. Vegetation will grow so much that it will look like the garden of Eden. Verse 35 prophesies that the population of the cities will explode in number.
It is obvious that this has not happened yet. This is a description of the millennial kingdom. We will read more about this in chapter 47.
Then verse 36 says,
“Then the nations that are left round about you will know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted that which was desolate; I, the LORD, have spoken and will do it.” Ezekiel 36:36 (NASB)
Yahweh said that the nations that were left will know “that I am the Lord.” He said that some nations will be left because He will not have destroyed Edom, Ammon, Moab, and a host of other nations before and at the battle of Armageddon. Those that are left will know that Yahweh is the Lord.
Blessings Upon the Population
The third section in our study is verses 37-38. We have titled it “Blessings Upon the Population.” Here are verses 37-38,
“‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “This also I will let the house of Israel ask Me to do for them: I will increase their men like a flock. Like the flock for sacrifices, like the flock at Jerusalem during her appointed feasts, so will the waste cities be filled with flocks of men. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”’” Ezekiel 36:37-38 (NASB)
In verse 37 Yahweh prophesied that He will let the house of Israel pray for an increase in the Hebrew population. When Israel prays, Yahweh will make the population explode like a flock. Verse 38 then reveals that the population will be extraordinarily great. It will explode like the flock that was brought to Jerusalem for the various feasts. This a description of an enormous population during the millennial kingdom. This has never happened before.
Conclusion
So, that is the meaning of Ezekiel 36:29-38. But that is not the end of the study because there are a number of biblical principles that we must not miss. Also, we need to answer the question, “Why will Yahweh do this?” “Why will Yahweh cause every Jew to be born from above and give them a new heart and a new spirit at the second coming of Christ? Why will Yahweh then bless them?” I will answer the question at the end of the study. First let us look at some important biblical principles from our study.
We have discovered that the first biblical principle is in verse 30. Famine is a sign of disgrace or judgment upon a nation.
The second biblical principle comes from verses 25-38. The principle is that our spiritual relationship with God determines what spiritual and material blessings we will receive from the Lord. Throughout the book of Ezekiel, we have learned that God had been punishing the nation for their evil ways and wicked deeds. A few examples are that the nation had wicked and proud leaders. The majority of the nation did not worship God. Antisemitism exploded. Sin and violence increased. That was chapters 3-24.
Now in our last study and this study in Ezekiel 36, we learned that at the second coming of Christ and the battle of Armageddon, Yahweh will save all Israel from their evil way and past sins. He will do this by giving them faith, regenerating them. He will cleanse them. He will remove their guilt. They will be given a new heart and a new spirit. They will abandon their sin and want to please God. Finally, they will have new hearts and new spirits. That is, they will have a spiritual relationship with God.
Now in this study we discovered that God will bless them in the millennial kingdom. So, the second biblical principle is that when our spiritual relationship pleases our Lord, He then gives us spiritual and material blessings. This is true for both Jews and Gentiles. But this principle does not mean that God necessarily makes us rich. Notice in verses 29-30 that Yahweh only said they will not experience famine. That is, He will meet our basic needs. He does not promise to make us as rich as Abraham or Job! So, our spiritual relationship with God affects our material blessings. I want us to see some examples.
In Matthew 6:25-32, Jesus told us God the Father feeds the birds, causes the lilies to grow, and clothes the grass. Then he gives us this promise in verse 33,
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33 (NASB)
He told us that our basic needs will be met if we seek the kingdom of God first and His righteousness. Seeking His righteousness is a characteristic of a believer. This person has been converted and has a new heart and a new spirit which seeks His righteousness. This is over and beyond God’s common grace.
Another example is Matthew 5:6,
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6 (NASB)
Here we are told that if we hunger and thirst to be righteous, then we will be satisfied. Notice that it does not say we are to hunger and thirst for satisfaction. Instead, we are to greatly desire to be righteous. This will result in both spiritual and material blessings. Ephesians 1:3-4 also reveals that our spiritual relationship affects our spiritual blessings. Ephesians 4:28-30 teaches that sin grieves the Holy Spirit. That will affect how He helps us pray, understand the Word of God, minister to others, and achieve victory over sin. So, the second biblical principle is that our spiritual relationship affects our material blessings.
The third biblical principle is that our God calls us to repent and yet He must work in us by His Holy Spirit so that we will repent. That is the message of verses 25-27 and 31.
The fourth biblical principle is given to us in verses 33-35. The millennial kingdom will almost be like the Garden of Eden. I say almost because Adam and Eve were created without sin in Genesis 2 before they sinned in chapter 3. Yet, the millennial kingdom will have a population of immortal believers who have eternal life and there will also be mortal, wicked people. The millennial kingdom will almost be like the Garden of Eden. The world will almost be like it was in the beginning.
The fifth biblical principle is that the blessings promised in Deuteronomy 28:1-15 will be realized in the millennial kingdom. Some of the blessings in that chapter include blessings upon the vegetation, fruit trees, crops, and in child bearing. They also include spiritual blessings.
The sixth biblical principle is given to us in verse 37. He allows us to pray consistent with His will and participate in the fulfillment of His will.
The seventh biblical principle is the New Covenant enables the regathering of Israel to their land. The New Covenant also enables the establishment of the millennial kingdom which will fulfill the Davidic Covenant. Why? Because then the Messiah will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. In addition, these two covenants fulfill the Abrahamic Covenant which promised Abraham a nation and land which in the kingdom will include the world. He was also promised a great nation which during the kingdom will include the saints of all the ages. He was also promised great blessings. All of this will be realized through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Messiah.
Now, we will end by answering the question, “Why will Yahweh do this?” The answer to the question is that God strives to protect His holiness so that we know that He is the Lord (v. 23). So, He will regather Israel to the land. He will establish the millennial kingdom in order fulfill both the Abrahamic and Davidic Covenants. All of this is made possible by the New Covenant by which He makes Abraham a great nation of both Jews and Gentiles. He gives Abraham a land that in the end includes the world. He blesses Abraham and His descendants through Jesus Christ the Messiah. Thus He will prove He is holy. He is like no other so-called gods, thus proving He is the only true God.