In the book Dispensationalism, Israel and the Church Progressive Dispensationalist Bruce A. Ware quotes Homer A. Kent, Jr., extensively in order to attempt to prove that that there exists only one New Diatheke. Even though Dr. Kent believes that there is only one New Diatheke he does understand that it is in regard to "spiritual regeneration." He also understands the distinction between an "individual" believer's spiritual regeneration as opposed to the spiritual regeneration of the "nation" of Israel:

"The essence of the new covenant is spiritual regeneration, enjoyed now by Christian believers and prophesied for national Israel at the second coming of Christ" (Kent,"The New Covenant and the Church," Grace Theological Journal, 6:2, Fall, 1985, p.290).

Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum understands that there will be a "national regeneration" of Israel, writing that "The basis of Israel's final regeneration is the New Covenant in Jeremiah 31:31-34...The result of the New Covenant will be a total national regeneration of Israel...That Israel was to undergo a national regeneration is not confined to the words of the New Covenant alone. The truths of the New Covenant are greatly elaborated by various prophets" [emphasis added] (Fruchtenbaum, Israel in the Messianic Kingdom).

In the thirty-seventh chapter of the book of Ezekiel we see the prophet taken to a valley full of "dry bones" and these bones are described as "the whole house of Israel":

"The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones...Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts" (Ez.37:1,11).

Charles H. Dyer says, "To what did this vision refer? God said it was about the nation of Israel (the whole house of Israel) that was then in captivity" [emphasis added] (Walvoord & Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary; Old Testament [Colorado Springs: ChariotVictor Publishing, 1985], p.1298).

In the same chapter we see a description of a future regeneration of the "nation" of Israel:

"So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army" (Ez.37:7-10).

Dyer writes that "the breath of life the corpses received symbolized the Holy Spirit, promised in Israel's New Covenant" (Ibid.).

The regeneration of the "nation" of Israel is a blessing under the New Diatheke promised to the "nation" of Israel. It is a "type" of the regeneration of the "individual" believer. Under Israel's New Covenant that nation will be regenerated by the Spirit and the word of God:

"As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever" (Isa.59:21).

Under the New Diatheke which is in operation today the "individual" is regenerated by the Spirit:

"Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life" (2 Cor.3:6; KJV).

Prior to salvation the sinner is described as being "dead" in sin: "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses" (Col.2:13).

The believer is quickened or brought to life upon believing the gospel that comes in the power of the Holy Spirit:

"For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance" (1 Thess.1:5).

"Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into" (1 Pet.1:12).

The Apostle Peter tells believers that they were "born again" by the gospel:

"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever...And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you" (1 Pet.1:23,25).

Donald K. Campbell writes that "it should be observed that a type presents a general though genuine resemblance of its antitype" (Campbell, "The Interpretation of Types," Bibliotheca Sacra [Volume 112 Issue 447, 1955], p. 254)

The Scriptures make it clear that the "national" regeneration of Israel presents a genuine resemblance to an "individual" believer's regeneration so therefore there is no doubt that a typological relationship exists between the two.

Tony Garland writes that "Israel has not been cut off or replaced in God's program. The nation will undergo spiritual regeneration. The means of the regeneration is one and the same as our new birth" (Garland, Israel Through the Eyes of Scripture, Part 6, p.4).

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