A Risen Army

[Lakumi]

...

[mordorbund]

Yes He did. And the entire process is described as you read on (with sinew attaching to the dry bones and skin on top of that). The whole thing serves as an allegory for dead Israel to receive life again, while testifying of a literal resurrection. As you read on, you find another allegory coupled with a literal prophecy. The gathering of Israel will principly be the joining of Judah with Ephraim (or Joseph) who have long since been estranged. This is alluded to by joining two "sticks" (which could also be translated "books"). The literal fulfillment of two books joining together can be found when both the Bible (a book written and preserved predominantly by Judah) is joined with the Book of Mormon (a book written and preserved predominantly by Joseph). Both testify of the future gathering of Israel, while the Book of Mormon openly states its purpose is to renew Jehovah's covenant with lost Israel.

[Traveler]

Mordorbund has presented and beautiful and wonderful introduction to principles of prophesy lost for thousands of years that play into the scripture beginning this thread.  One little addition that I would give is that Joseph as a type and shadow - was forced to leave or abandoned  by the house of Israel.  Living among the gentiles Joseph became predominate and powerful among the gentiles.  Joseph's oldest son, Ephraim, is an Egyptian name indicating that Ephraim was a gentile with ancestral roots in the House of Israel. 

 

It seem to me the army Ezekiel saw raised up by G-d was much more than the departed of Israel but also includes a remnant of Israel scattered throughout the world of the gentiles.