Greg Locke, like many modern
American pastors in charismatic or evangelical circles, is heavily
influenced by the Dispensationalist framework first popularized by John
Nelson Darby and then graphically systematized by Clarence Larkin in
the early 20th century. This framework dominates much of popular eschatology
today—but it carries significant problems when held rigidly, as Locke appears
to do.
Here’s how this plays out:
🔐
Greg Locke Is “Locked” Into Darbyism and Larkinism
🏗️
1. The Dispensational Framework
- John Nelson Darby
(1800–1882), a leader in the Plymouth Brethren movement, introduced the
concept of dividing history into dispensations—distinct periods in
which God interacts with humanity under different rules.
- Clarence Larkin
(1850–1924) popularized Darby’s theology with detailed prophetic charts
and a strong separation between Israel and the Church.
🔁
2. Core Tenets of Their View:
- A literal return of the Jews to Israel = fulfillment of
end-times prophecy.
- The Church and Israel are entirely distinct; Israel’s
promises are postponed.
- A secret pre-tribulation rapture of the Church.
- A rebuilt temple and reinstitution of sacrifices during
a 7-year tribulation.
- Jesus returns physically to reign for 1,000 years in
Jerusalem (millennial reign).
🧱
How This Affects Locke’s Interpretation
- When Locke sees Jews returning to Israel (1948, 1967),
he filters this through Darby’s lens, interpreting Ezekiel 37
(dry bones) as fulfilled—even though the prophecy also speaks of spiritual
resurrection, cleansing, and Messianic leadership (Ezek.
37:23–28).
- His hermeneutic (method of interpretation) is
rooted not in the internal witness of Scripture but in a chart-based
system inherited from Larkin and Darby.
- This leads to misapplication of prophecies,
including:
- Treating modern geopolitical events as literal
prophecy fulfillments.
- Ignoring the necessary repentance and spiritual
rebirth of Israel described in the very same prophetic passages.
❌
The Danger of This System
- Historical blindness:
It ignores the spiritual meaning of Israel’s exile and return, reducing it
to nationalism.
- False timelines:
Predictive charts have failed again and again.
- Misreading signs:
Real signs (like the Dead Sea fish) are ignored in favor of interpretive
claims that are not visibly or spiritually fulfilled.
- Spiritual reductionism: Replaces inward spiritual resurrection (Ezekiel
36–37) with outward political movement.
✅
A Better Way to Interpret
- Let Scripture interpret Scripture—especially
prophetic language (e.g., “breath” = Spirit = new birth, John 3:8).
- Acknowledge the difference between partial, progressive,
and final fulfillments.
- Don’t treat modern secular Zionism as synonymous
with biblical restoration.
- Look for the fruit of God’s Spirit in any
movement claiming to fulfill prophecy.
📝
Summary
Greg Locke, like many
Dispensationalists, sees prophecy through the lens of Darby and Larkin’s charts
instead of the lens of the Holy Spirit and the cross of Christ. The dry bones
have rattled, but they have not breathed. And until they stand with the Spirit
of Christ in them, the prophecy remains unfulfilled.
HOWEVER:
Ezekiel aligns far more closely with the biblical context, timeline,
and spiritual meaning than the premature and politicized interpretation
promoted by many dispensationalists.
Let’s walk through this step by
step:
🦴
Ezekiel 37 and the Resurrection at Christ’s Return
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1. The Vision: Dry Bones Come to Life
Ezekiel sees a valley of dry bones—“very
dry”—representing the utter hopelessness of the house of Israel. God
asks, “Son of man, can these bones live?” (Ezek. 37:3).
- The bones come together, flesh and skin cover them, but
there is no breath (v. 8).
- Then God commands Ezekiel to prophesy to the breath
(Spirit), and breath enters them, and they stand on their feet—a vast
army (v. 10).
- God explains: “These bones are the whole house of
Israel” (v. 11).
- He promises: “I will open your graves and cause you
to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the
land of Israel” (v. 12, WEB).
- Then
they will know that He is the LORD when He puts His Spirit in them and
they live (v. 14).
🔁
2. Sequence Is Crucial
- Graves opened
→ Spirit enters → They live → They return to the land
- This is not a mere physical regathering of political
refugees. It’s a resurrection—both literal and spiritual.
🧠
3. Spiritual Life, Not Nationalism
- Verse 14: “I will put My Spirit in you, and you
shall live.”
- This echoes Pentecost (Acts 2) for the Church.
- But for Israel, this points to a future
event, when the remnant of Israel is saved at the appearing of
Christ (Rom. 11:26, Zech. 12:10).
- The house of Israel is both scattered and
spiritually dead. They are resurrected at the end of the age, not
by a UN declaration.
🕊️
Supporting Scriptures: Future Resurrection and Restoration
🔹
Daniel 12:2
“Many of those who sleep in the dust
of the earth shall awake…” — timing? “At that time” (v. 1), when Michael
stands up, and there is a time of trouble (tribulation).
🔹
Romans 11:15
“If their rejection brought
reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the
dead?”
Paul connects Israel’s final
restoration with a kind of resurrection—not just metaphorical, but eschatological.
🔹
Matthew 24:30–31
“Then shall appear the sign of the
Son of Man… and He will send His angels with a trumpet to gather His elect…”
This aligns with Ezekiel’s vision
being ultimately fulfilled at the return of Christ, not in 1948 or any
earlier historical moment.
✋
Why the 1948 Application Falls Short
- Modern Israel is predominantly secular and not
filled with the Spirit.
- The twelve tribes (including the lost ten) have not
been gathered.
- There has been no resurrection from the grave,
either physically or spiritually.
- Christ has not yet returned as the one shepherd
ruling over a united Israel (Ezek. 37:24).
✅
What This Really Means
The prophecy of Ezekiel 37 speaks of
a future resurrection and spiritual awakening of Israel that will occur:
- At the return of Lord Jesus Christ.
- When He reigns as King over a united house of Israel (Ezek. 37:22–28).
- When the Spirit is poured out, and they finally live (see also Zech. 12:10; Joel
2:28–32).
📝Summary:
The dry bones will not rise by political
decree, but by the breath of God at the return of the Son of Man. The
graves will be opened, the Spirit will be poured out, and the house of Israel
will be restored—not in part, but in fullness—under the eternal rule of Lord
Jesus Christ.
BUT:
Matthew 27:52–53 is overlooked and points to the firstfruits fulfillment of the resurrection
imagery in Ezekiel 37. When interpreted in harmony with Ephesians 4
and 1 Corinthians 15, it strengthens the argument that the
resurrection of the dry bones is not just about the end times, but began
with a real, historical resurrection of saints at Christ’s own
resurrection.
For you we'll unpack this argument
carefully.
✨
The Dry Bones and the Resurrection at Christ’s Victory
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1. Matthew 27:52–53 – The Holy Ones Raised
“...the tombs also were opened. And
many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of
the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to
many.” (Matthew 27:52–53, ESV)
- This resurrection did not happen at Jesus’ death,
but after His resurrection.
- These saints (likely from the Old Covenant) were bodily
raised and witnessed by many in Jerusalem.
- It is the only place in Scripture where many
dead saints are bodily raised and appear publicly before the
general resurrection at the last day.
➕
Connection to Ezekiel 37
- Ezekiel says: “I will open your graves and bring you
up from them, O my people. Then you will know that I am the LORD”
(Ezek. 37:13).
- That phrase “open your graves” is almost
identical in expression and purpose.
- This is not metaphorical; it's resurrection language.
- So in Matthew 27, we see a real, historical moment
where graves were opened and saints were raised. This offers a prophetic
prototype of what Ezekiel envisioned.
🕊️
2. Ephesians 4:8–10 – Christ Led Captives in His Train
“When he ascended on high he led a
host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”
(In saying, ‘He ascended,’ what does it mean but that he had also descended
into the lower regions, the earth?)
He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens,
that he might fill all things.” (Ephesians 4:8–10, ESV)
- Paul interprets Psalm 68 and applies it to Christ’s resurrection
and ascension.
- The “captives” He led likely refers to the righteous
dead — saints held in Sheol (Abraham’s bosom).
- This affirms that at Christ’s resurrection, He
didn’t rise alone — He liberated others.
- In Jewish understanding, resurrection was associated
with messianic victory. Christ began that process.
🔁
3. 1 Corinthians 15:20–23 – Christ the Firstfruits
“But in fact Christ has been raised
from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep... Each in his
own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to
Christ.” (1 Cor. 15:20, 23, ESV)
- “Firstfruits” means there was more than one
raised—Christ and others.
- If Christ alone had risen, Paul would not have
said “firstfruits” (plural connotation).
- Matthew’s account of others being raised gives us the historical
anchor for the firstfruits idea.
📖
So What Does This Mean for Ezekiel 37?
- Ezekiel’s prophecy can be understood as having layers:
- Symbolic:
Israel’s future national and spiritual revival.
- Spiritual:
The rebirth of the nation by the Spirit (still to come in fullness).
- Literal/Prophetic: The resurrection of actual saints (partially
fulfilled in Matthew 27).
- Eschatological:
Fulfilled in full at the Second Coming when all the dead in Christ
rise (1 Thess. 4:16).
- In this view, Matthew 27 was a partial and prophetic
fulfillment of Ezekiel 37’s vision — a preview, a firstfruits
resurrection that verifies what is coming.
🔑
A Synthesis
The dry bones were raised—literally—at Christ’s resurrection, as a firstfruits
fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecy.
But they will be raised again—in fullness—at His return, when
both Israel and the Church, all the people of God, are united under one
Shepherd and filled with His Spirit forever.
Hope you are learning much from what is being unpacked—and we're on
point across every major prophetic and theological thread. What we've outlined
presents a clear, compelling alternative to the dispensational framework
promoted by figures like Greg Locke. Let's provide some more structured critique and theological exposition.
📜
Critique of Dispensational Misinterpretation: The Dry Bones and the True
Resurrection of Israel
🧱
1. The Problem with the Darby-Larkin-Scofield-Ryrie Framework
The dispensational
system—popularized by John Nelson Darby, visualized by Clarence
Larkin, and institutionalized by C.I. Scofield and Charles Ryrie—is
built on the rigid separation between Israel and the Church and demands interpretive
insertions rather than awaiting Scriptural fulfillment.
🔍
Example:
- Greg Locke
(and others like him) interpret Ezekiel 37 (dry bones) as fulfilled
in 1948 with the founding of the modern state of Israel.
- Yet this fulfillment is not literal or spiritual:
- No graves were opened.
- No breath of God (Spirit) has entered the people as a
nation.
- No king from David is ruling them.
- No reunification of Judah and the 10 lost tribes.
Dispensationalism becomes a chart-driven
system of premature declarations, detached from the actual timing,
scope, and substance of the prophecies.
🌊
2. The Real Fulfillment: Observable vs. Allegorical
Compare two prophecies from Ezekiel:
🐟
Ezekiel 47 – Waters Flowing into the Dead Sea
- Freshwater and fish now appearing in areas near the
Dead Sea is an observable, measurable partial fulfillment of
prophecy.
- Unlike the dry bones vision, this is not a forced
interpretation—it is happening.
- Yet dispensationalists rarely highlight this, because
it does not fit their chart.
🦴
Ezekiel 37 – Dry Bones and Resurrection
- A vision of national resurrection with
spiritual life—fulfilled only when:
- Graves are opened.
- The Spirit is poured out.
- The Son of David rules forever.
- Firstfruits of this were literally fulfilled in Matthew
27:52–53, when “many bodies of the saints” were raised after
Jesus’ resurrection.
✝️ 3. Christ’s Resurrection and the Firstfruits Typology
- Jesus’ resurrection
fulfilled the Feast of Firstfruits—pointing to a real, bodily
resurrection that is the guarantee of all future resurrections (1 Cor.
15:20–23).
- The only other time the firstfruits feast was observed
in this way was Joshua 5, when Israel entered the Promised Land—a type
of the resurrection life.
- Paul explains this in Ephesians 4:8 and 1
Corinthians 15, confirming that Jesus raised others with Him,
beginning the resurrection process. Christ, the firstfruits, those at his coming and then the end.
🔥
4. Pentecost: A Nation Born in a Day
“Shall a nation be born in a day?”
(Isaiah 66:8)
- Dispensationalists
claim this refers to modern Israel in 1948.
- But in Acts 2, Pentecost fulfills it far more
perfectly:
- 3,000 are born again and baptized.
- Peter proclaims the risen Christ as Lord and King.
- The Church is formed—a “holy nation, a royal
priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9).
- Peter explicitly identifies this as fulfillment
(Acts 2:16–21).
Thus, the Church becomes the true
continuation of Israel, not in nationality, but in faith and Spirit
(Gal. 3:7, Rom. 9:6–8).
🧬
5. Who Are the Real Israelites? The Lost Tribes and the Global Gospel
- Jesus came not only to the Jews (Judah) but also to the
lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matt. 15:24).
- The ten northern tribes were scattered, and
their identities absorbed into the nations.
- Researchers like Yair Davidiy argue that many of
these tribes became part of the European national identities—exactly
where the Gospel made its deepest inroads.
- Romans 11 affirms that a remnant of Israel will
be saved and grafted in again.
This dismantles Locke’s claim that
today’s Jews know their tribal heritage or that they represent the full house
of Israel. The modern Israeli state is predominantly populated by people of
mixed or uncertain descent, with secular orientation and no
evidence of spiritual rebirth.
🌍
6. Abraham’s Seed: Inheritors of the Promise
“I will multiply your descendants as
the stars of heaven… and in your seed all the nations of the earth will be
blessed.” (Genesis 22:17–18)
- Paul explains that this promise is fulfilled in
Christ (Gal. 3:16), and those who are in Christ are Abraham’s seed
(Gal. 3:29).
- The land promise is not abolished, but transformed:
- Hebrews 11:13–16 says Abraham looked not for Canaan,
but for a heavenly country.
- Romans 4:13 says Abraham was promised to be heir of the
world, not just one strip of land.
Thus, the true heirs of the
promise are those born of the Spirit, not of flesh (John 1:13, Gal. 4:28).
🔚
Final Summary
The resurrection of the dry bones
did not happen in 1948.
It began at Christ’s resurrection, continued at Pentecost, and will conclude at
His return.
The true Israel is the people of God—born of the Spirit, raised in Christ, and
gathered under one Shepherd.
Modern Zionism is not the climax of prophecy—it is a diversion from it.
