Let us consider five promises that Jehovah inspired Ezekiel to share with his fellow exiles. First, let us discuss what each promise would have meant to those faithful ones. Then, we will see how those promises saw a greater fulfillment.

15. What change would be made in the religious practices of the returnees?

¹⁵ PROMISE 1. No more idolatry or other disgusting practices associated with false religion. (Read Ezekiel 11:18; 12:24.) As discussed in Chapter 5 of this publication, Jerusalem and her temple had been polluted with false religious practices, such as idolatry. The people were thus corrupt, alienated from Jehovah. Through Ezekiel, Jehovah foretold that the exiles could look forward to a time when they would once again take part in worship that was clean and undefiled. All other blessings of the restoration would depend on this primary matter: the restoration of God’s arrangement for pure worship.

16. Jehovah made what promise regarding his people’s homeland?

¹⁶ PROMISE 2. A return to their homeland. “I will give you the land of Israel,” Jehovah told the exiles. (Ezek. 11:17) This was a remarkable promise, for the Babylonians, who taunted God’s captive people, surely never gave them any hope of returning to their beloved homeland. (Isa. 14:4, 17) Moreover, as long as the returnees remained faithful, the land would prove fertile and productive, supporting them and providing useful work. The disgrace and misery of famine would remain a thing of the past.​—Read Ezekiel 36:30.

17. What would happen regarding sacrifices to Jehovah?

¹⁷ PROMISE 3. The resuming of gift offerings at Jehovah’s altar. As noted in Chapter 2 of this publication, under the Law, sacrifices and offerings formed a vital part of pure worship. As long as the returning exiles remained obedient and spiritually clean, their offerings would be acceptable to Jehovah. The people could thus find atonement for their sins and remain close to their God. Jehovah promised: “The whole house of Israel, all of them, will serve me in the land. I will take pleasure in them there, and I will require your contributions and the firstfruits of your offerings, all your holy things.” (Ezek. 20:40) Pure worship would truly be restored, bringing blessings to God’s people.

18. How would Jehovah shepherd his people?

¹⁸ PROMISE 4. The sifting out of bad shepherds. A key reason why God’s people went so wrong was the influence of corrupt men who took the lead. Jehovah promised to change that. Regarding such bad shepherds, he promised: “I will dismiss them from feeding my sheep . . . I will rescue my sheep from their mouth.” In contrast, Jehovah assured his faithful people: “I will care for my sheep.” (Ezek. 34:10, 12) How would he do so? He would use faithful, loyal men as shepherds.

19. What did Jehovah promise regarding unity?

¹⁹ PROMISE 5. Unity among worshippers of Jehovah. Imagine how distressing it was for faithful worshippers to see disunity among God’s people before the exile. Influenced by false prophets and corrupt shepherds, the people rebelled against the faithful prophets who represented Jehovah; the people even broke into opposing factions. Thus, one of the most appealing features of the restoration was this promise through Ezekiel: “I will give them a unified heart, and I will put a new spirit in them.” (Ezek. 11:19) As long as the returning Jews remained at unity with Jehovah God and with one another, no opposer could defeat them. As a nation, they could once again bring glory to Jehovah instead of reproach and dishonor.

20, 21. How were God’s promises fulfilled on the returning exiles?

²⁰ Were those five promises fulfilled on the Jews who returned from exile? We do well to remember the words of faithful Joshua of old: “Not one word out of all the good promises that Jehovah your God has spoken to you has failed. They have all come true for you. Not one word of them has failed.” (Josh. 23:14) So it was in Joshua’s day; so it had to be in the days of the exiles who returned to their homeland.

²¹ The Jews gave up idolatry and the other disgusting practices of false religion that had alienated them from Jehovah. Against all likelihood, they resumed living in their homeland, cultivating it and enjoying productive lives there. One of the first things they did was to restore Jehovah’s altar in Jerusalem and make acceptable offerings there. (Ezra 3:2-6) Jehovah blessed them with fine spiritual shepherds, such men as the faithful priest and copyist Ezra, governors Nehemiah and Zerubbabel, High Priest Joshua, and the courageous prophets Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. As long as the people remained responsive to spiritual direction and guidance, they enjoyed a unity unlike any they had known in a long, long time.​—Isa. 61:1-4; read Jeremiah 3:15.

22. How do we know that the initial fulfillment of the restoration prophecies was only a foregleam of something greater?

²² Without question, the initial fulfillment of Jehovah’s restoration promises was encouraging! Still, that fulfillment was really only a foregleam of something much greater. How do we know that? Well, the promises were conditional; Jehovah would fulfill them only to the extent that the people remained obedient and responsive. In time, the Jews again became disobedient and rebellious. But as Joshua pointed out, Jehovah’s word always comes true. So the promises would see a greater, more lasting fulfillment. Let us see how that came about.

So in early 1919, just a few years into “the harvest season,” God’s people were set completely free from captivity in Babylon the Great. (Matt. 13:30) The exile was over!

²⁶ The restoration prophecies of Ezekiel began to see a fulfillment far greater than any that God’s people had seen back in ancient times. Let us now consider how the five promises we have already examined have seen a greater fulfillment.

27. How did God cleanse his people of idolatry?

²⁷ PROMISE 1. An end of idolatry and other disgusting religious practices. At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th, faithful Christians were gathering together and were beginning to discard false religious practices. Veneration of a triune God, belief in the immortality of the human soul, and the hellfire doctrine were all cast aside as unscriptural teachings with roots in false religion. The use of images in worship was exposed as outright idolatry. Gradually, God’s people also came to see the use of the cross in worship as a form of idolatry.​—Ezek. 14:6.

28. In what sense were Jehovah’s people restored to their land?

²⁸ PROMISE 2. A restoration to the spiritual land of God’s people. As they left Babylonish religion behind, faithful Christians found themselves in their proper spiritual land, a blessed condition, or environment, where they would never again suffer spiritual famine. (Read Ezekiel 34:13, 14.) As we will see further in Chapter 19 of this publication, Jehovah has blessed that land with an unprecedented flow of spiritual nourishment.​—Ezek. 11:17.

29. How did the preaching work receive a boost in 1919?

²⁹ PROMISE 3. The resuming of gift offerings at Jehovah’s altar. Back in the first century C.E., Christians were taught that they were to offer to God, not literal animal sacrifices, but far more valuable gifts​—the words that they spoke in praising Jehovah and preaching to others about him. (Heb. 13:15) During the centuries of exile, there was no organized arrangement to make such offerings. At the close of the exile, however, God’s people were already making such sacrifices of praise. They were busy in the preaching work and happily praising God at their meetings. From 1919 on, “the faithful and discreet slave” put greater emphasis on the preaching work and organized it more thoroughly. (Matt. 24:45-47) Jehovah’s altar was thus overflowing with the sacrifices of an ever-growing army of praisers of his holy name!

30. What did Jesus do to meet his people’s need for good shepherds?

³⁰ PROMISE 4. The sifting out of bad shepherds. Christ freed God’s people from the unscrupulous, self-serving false shepherds of Christendom. In Christ’s flock, shepherds who acted like those false shepherds were removed from their position. (Ezek. 20:38) Jesus, as the Fine Shepherd, made sure that his sheep were cared for. In 1919 he appointed his faithful and discreet slave. That small group of loyal anointed Christians took the lead in providing spiritual food, so God’s people were well-cared-for. In time, elders were trained to assist in caring for “the flock of God.” (1 Pet. 5:1, 2) The inspired description recorded at Ezekiel 34:15, 16 has often been used to remind Christian shepherds of the standard set by Jehovah God and Jesus Christ.

31. How did Jehovah fulfill the prophecy of Ezekiel 11:19?

³¹ PROMISE 5. Unity among worshippers of Jehovah. Over the centuries, Christendom has split into tens of thousands of denominations, including countless factions and sects that are hopelessly at odds. In contrast, Jehovah has done something truly miraculous with his restored people. His promise through Ezekiel, “I will give them a unified heart,” has seen a glorious fulfillment. (Ezek. 11:19) Around the world, Christ has millions of followers from countless ethnic, religious, economic, and social backgrounds. Yet, all are taught the same truths and carry out the same work in marvelous harmony. On the final night of his life on earth, Jesus earnestly prayed that his followers would be united. (Read John 17:11, 20-23.) In our day, Jehovah has fulfilled that request in the greatest way.

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  1. Worship free from idolatry

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  2. Return to a fertile homeland

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  3. Acceptable offerings to Jehovah

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  4. Faithful men to take the lead

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  5. United in worship at God’s temple

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  1. Pure worship free from idolatry

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  2. An end to spiritual famine

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  3. Sacrifices of praise offered

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  4. Faithful men to take the lead

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  5. Global unity of worship