This interpretation misapplies Ezekiel 36–37, which is about the national restoration of Israel, not the rapture of the Church. Here’s a clear biblical refutation:
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1. Context: Ezekiel was written to Israel, not the Church
Ezekiel 36–37 directly addresses the house of Israel, not the Church or the body of Christ. For example:
Ezekiel 36:10 – “I will multiply people on you, the whole house of Israel, all of it.”
Ezekiel 36:24 – “I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land.”
This is a physical regathering of ethnic Israel into the Promised Land—not a resurrection of Church-age believers into heaven.
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2. The Valley of Dry Bones = National Resurrection, Not Bodily Rapture
Ezekiel 37:11 – “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel…”
This symbolic resurrection is explained by God Himself—it’s about Israel’s return from dispersion, a national revival and spiritual awakening, not the literal bodily resurrection of Church-age saints.
Ezekiel 37:12 – “I will open your graves and bring you into the land of Israel.”
This resurrection leads to life in the land, not heaven. It mirrors passages like Isaiah 66:8 and Romans 11:26, which speak of Israel’s future national salvation.
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3. The Rapture Is a Mystery Not Revealed in Ezekiel
The rapture was a mystery revealed through Paul, not something found in the Old Testament:
1 Corinthians 15:51 – “Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.”
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 – The Church is caught up to meet the Lord in the air, not gathered to the land.
There is no air-based meeting, trumpet call, or “snatching away” in Ezekiel 36–37.
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4. Israel’s Restoration Leads to the Millennial Kingdom
The context of Ezekiel 36–37 leads directly into Ezekiel 38–39 (Gog and Magog) and Ezekiel 40–48 (Millennial Temple). This confirms it is part of God’s covenant plan for Israel, not the Church’s rapture.
Ezekiel 37:25 – “They shall dwell in the land that I gave to my servant Jacob… and David my servant shall be their prince forever.”
This is earthly and Jewish, in fulfillment of the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants.
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5. The Dead in Christ = Church-Age Believers Only
At the rapture, only the dead in Christ rise (1 Thess. 4:16)—that is, Church-age saints, not Old Testament believers like those in Ezekiel’s vision.
Old Testament saints will be raised at the Second Coming, not at the rapture:
Daniel 12:2 – “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake…”
This happens after the Tribulation, as seen in Revelation 20:4.
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Ezekiel 36–37 = National, spiritual, and physical restoration of Israel to their land
1 Thessalonians 4 = Rapture of the Church to meet Christ in the air
Different groups. Different events. Different timelines. Mixing the two undermines the clarity of God’s prophetic program for both Israel and the Church (see Romans 11:25–29).