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When we carefully consider the words of the Prophet there is evidence that the move back into the land is not through the motivation of the people but the hand of the Lord consummating His promise to Israel. Eze. 20: 43 It is well documented that after the seventy years in Babylon the Lord opened the door for Israel to return to their land. They are unchanged for they still are remembering their wrongs doings and as all who continue in sin, they loath themselves. The truly repentant, while remembering the past, do not grieve because of that memory but rejoice in the knowledge that their sins have been pardoned. Most assuredly the return of Israel in the fulfillment of this prophecy was in the return led by Nehemiah. Their experiences in that return are to be learned in the books of Nehemiah, Ezra, Haggai and Zachariah as well as other old testament books. They would know beyond the shadow of a doubt that their return was the hand of the Lord doing what He had promised because of His nameís sake and not because of they had changed their hearts. Pretty much sounds like the same old bunch.
Eze. 20:44 Like leaving Egypt, when they left Babylon they were a mixed multitude. Under the impact of the hearing of the Word of the Lord they separated themselves from the mixture, desirous of doing the will of the Lord. That is revival. Neh. 13:3.
Ezekielís prophecy then turns toward those who had replaced the captives in the land when they were carried into Babylon. They were the very poorest of citizens who were left in the land by Nebuchadnezzar. 2 Kings 25:11-12.
People from the kingdom of Babylon who were not the best of citizenry were also allowed into the land, thus the prophecy was directed toward them. They would soon be removed from the land by fire. Eze. 20:45-49
The Lord has used fire to purify and sanctify and will in the revival that lies before us, purge His church with the Holy Spirit and baptism of fire. The Lord Jesus is depicted as one who will be a refiner and a purifier of silver and gold. Mal. 3:3 That which is superfluous will be burned out of the individual members of the body of Christ or they will not be in that body.
Many of those who were taken captive and most definitely those born in Babylon during the seventy years had not heard read the Law of the Lord. Therefore, to them Ezekiel was speaking in parables too difficult for them to understand. When they returned to the Lord and the land their response to the Word was beautiful. The gave great attention to the Word. Standing when it was read. Its impact on them caused them to worship the Lord , with fervor. They understood, and rejoiced in what they heard. Neh. 8:3, 5, 6, 8-9.