One of the components of the Progressive Dispensationalist's "typological-prophetic" hermeneutic is: "There must be an escalation or heightening from the Old Testament type to the greater New Testament antitype" (Ibid., p.158).

It is clear that there is a escalation or heightening from Israel's New Covenant to today's New Covenant and we can understand this heightening to be from "earthly things" to "heavenly things."

In the Nicodemus Sermon the Lord Jesus spoke of regeneration in connection with both the "individual" and the "nation" of Israel. He told Nicodemus:

"I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again" (Jn.3:3; NIV).

To this Nicodemus asked how he could be born again when he is old, and the Lord Jesus said: "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit" (Jn.3:5-6; NIV).

Previously the Lord had been speaking of an individual's regeneration but He now begins to speak of Israel's regeneration. The Lord shifts from using the second person "singular" pronoun "you" to the second person "plural" [A footnote in the NIV at verse seven says, "The Greek is plural."]:

"You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again. The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit" (Jn.3:7-8; NIV).

Nicodemus still did not understand, asking, "How can these things be?"

By the Lord's reply we can understand that Nicodemus should have been aware of some truth in the OT Scriptures which spoke of a regeneration by the Spirit: "Art thou a teacher of Israel, and knoweth not these things?" (v.10).

Nicodemus should have been aware of the prophecies that speak of the blessings of the New Covenant promised to the nation of Israel. In the thirty-sixth chapter of Ezekiel we see "water" being sprinkled on that nation and the Lord putting His Spirit within that nation (Ez.36:25,27).

Then in the very next chapter we see a description of the regeneration of the nation of Israel. The prophet was taken to a valley full of "dry bones" (Ez.37:1) and these bones are described as "the whole house of Israel" (Ez.37:11).

The following verses in this context describe the regeneration of national Israel and notice the similar language in regard to the "wind": "This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.' So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet-a vast army...Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put my Spirit in you and you will live" (Ez.37: 9-10, 13-14).

Because Nicodemus was ignorant of these prophetic passages that speak of Israel's New Covenant the Lord told Him: "I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?" (Jn.3:12; NIV).

With these verses in view we can understand that the regeneration of the nation of Israel is in regard to "earthly things" while the regeneration of the individual believer is in regard to "heavenly things".