Ezekiel 40 & 41 “Descriptive Vision”

“Declare all that you see to the house of Israel.” (v.4)

In this final section of the book of Ezekiel the prophet is given some very descriptive visions by God, 14 years after the city of Jerusalem was taken and the temple destroyed. Ezekiel’s vision of a new temple seems to be a future building project, for no temple matching the measurements given in chapters 40 and following, has yet been built. Because Ezekiel had never had the privilege of serving in the original temple, this must have been a thrilling vision for him.

While a prophet and in exile, he remained a priest. Even in the vision though, he was not allowed into the Most Holy Place (41:3–4). But, to receive and share from God a picture of this new temple to the house of Israel, must have been deeply fulfilling in comparison to other messages he delivered.

Prophets could not pick and choose which messages they would deliver. They were called to be God's mouthpiece to His people. They were given the responsibility of speaking for God as a result of divine inspiration, visions, dreams, and other visitations. Therefore, they could not change His message, or color it up to make the people feel better. Speaking His words, His truth, boldly and truthfully no matter what the consequences to themselves, took tremendous faith, strength, and courage.

Today nothing has changed in God's expectations of His ministers, pastors, teachers, and clergy. Speaking His truth, His Word, His Gospel, with no additions or subtractions is the divine expectation of all, including us. The Apostle Paul said of his preaching, "Unlike so many, we (disciples) do not peddle the word of God. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God" (2 Corinthians 2:17).

The apostle John records Jesus's strong word's concerning the end time prophecy in the book of Revelation with this warning, "If anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and the Holy City, which is described in this scroll" (Rev. 22:19). Therefore, John wisely recorded only the words of Jesus in his book of Revelation, no more no less. The message is clear, speak truth and do not add or subtract from God's Word when speaking for Him.

The Truth: "When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His Commandments, because this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13)


Chris 

Ezekiel 39 "Defeated Gog (Russia) Plundered by Israel.

“Yes, it is coming, and it will surely happen, declares the Lord GOD. This is the day of which I have spoken. Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and bucklers, the bows and arrows, the javelins and spears; and they will make fires with them for seven years. They will not take wood from the field nor cut down any from the forests, because they will make fires with the weapons; and they will plunder those who plundered them, and pillage those who pillaged them,” says the Lord GOD. (vv.8-10)

Here the LORD declares there will come a day when those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and set on fire and burn the weapons of her future invaders from the north, Russia and her allies. Protected by Yahweh, Israel will no longer need the weapons for themselves. Usually weapons left by a defeated enemy would be added to the victor’s cache of arms. After all, there would be other battles to fight, correct? Not so in this case.

For this prophetic war against Gog (Russia) will be no ordinary war, it will be the final battle, whose conclusion will make armaments obsolete. As for the vast amount of military equipment brought by Gog and her allies and left behind on the field of battle, there will be so much that Israel will use their weapons to fuel their fires, for seven years.

The evil Gog and her allies will intend for Israel to fall, and they will fully expect to gather her spoils, and to burn through the nation, but the prophecy explains that, "The plunderers will be plundered and the robbers will be robbed. What the enemy intends for Israel, will be visited upon themselves." (Ezekiel 38:12)

The Truth: "He makes wars to cease throughout the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the shields in the fire." (Psalm 46:9) 

Ezekiel 38 “God’s Judgment Against Gog (Russia)”

“I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains,” says the Lord GOD. “Every man’s sword will be against his brother. And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.”’ (vv.21-23)

Here we have the LORD speaking (through His prophet Ezekiel) concerning an appointed time when He will bring judgment upon Gog (Russia) and those allied with her, who would make war against Israel. Because Gog was arrogant enough to invade God’s own land (My mountains) He would come against Gog and his allies with military power. One way it would come would be as they (the allied nations) began to attack one another (every man’s sword will be against his brother).

Yahweh will also send disease and death against attacking armies. This would be a demonstration of His justice. He will also use the instruments of previous judgment against them; flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. This overwhelming and obviously divine defeat of Gog and her allies will testify to the whole world of God’s character and power.

The Truth: “And I saw them as they went up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded God’s people and the beloved city. But fire from heaven came down on the attacking armies and consumed them.” (Revelation 20:9 –NLT)

Ezekiel 37 “The Valley of Dry Bones”

Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the awhole house of Israel; behold, they say, ‘Our bbones are dried up and our hope has perished. We are completely ccut off.’ (v.11)

Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones is probably the most famous chapter in the book. The bones symbolized Israel’s hopeless condition (vv.11-14) They weren’t just losing big or hoping for a miracle comeback, they were dead as dead can be!

But God brought life to this desolate scene. Before Ezekiel’s eyes, the bones began to rattle, tendons and flesh and skin appeared to bind everything together, the breath of life was breathed into them, and they stood up on their own two feet (vv.1-10). Israel had lost everything—the promised land, their capital city, and their beloved temple. Yet God would bring the nation back from the dead, so to speak, and restore the people to a covenant relationship with Him.

Unbelievers are in the same hopeless condition as Israel (Eph. 2:1–5) They are spiritually dead as dead can be! But just as the dry bones came to life through God’s mighty power, so too can the spiritually dead become alive through Christ’s resurrection power.

If you would like to bring life to your dead soul see the prayer to the right on this page “Connect With God.”  God Bless.

The Truth: “God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in he heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:4-7)

Ezekiel 36 “Prophecy Against Edom”

Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir, and prophesy against it and say to it, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am against you, Mount Seir, and I will stretch out My hand against you and make you a desolation and a waste.’ (vv.1-3)

Today’s reading begins with a prophecy against the nation of Edom. Mt. Seir, mentioned in our text, was their stronghold and is located just a few miles north east of Elat. The enmity between Edom and Israel extended all the way back to Jacob and Esau. When the Edomites looted Jerusalem after the Babylonian conquest (Obad. 1:11–14), in which they angered the Lord and incurred His judgment.

In Ezekiel’s day the Edomites rejoiced in the calamities of both Israel and Judah, and intended to capitalize on their enemy’s defeat and seize the Israelite’s land for themselves (vv.10-13). These plans showed disrespect for God, because He had given the land to Jacob as an inheritance. Therefore, the prophecy against Edom here is not only warranted, but an appropriate introduction to God’s promise in chapter 36, to restore Israel to her land, and that one day they would return from exile—homes would be built, crops would be grown, the people would live in peace again (Ezek 36:8–12).

This showed God’s people that no discipline lasts forever (36:15). God’s justice aims not to take vengeance on sinners, but to restore them to fellowship with Him. The same is true today for us: God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness and thus, learn from it.

The Truth: “All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” (Hebrews 12:11)

Ezekiel 34 “Prophecy Against the Shepherds of Israel”

Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to those shepherds, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock?” (vv.1-2)

This chapter is built around a contrast between God and the false shepherds, who were the political and religious leaders of Israel. These leaders had failed to care for the flock, instead they looked to profit at its expense (vv.1-6). God opposed such “shepherds” and would hold them accountable as “sheep” who had gotten fat while others starved (vv.7-10, 17–24). As the divine Shepherd, He would rescue His people from this horrible situation by shepherding the flock with justice (vv.11-16).

Verse 24 of our reading indicates that the Shepherd will be a descendant of David and God Himself. This messianic riddle is solved in Jesus Christ. He is our Good Shepherd and we are His sheep (John 10:1–16). We follow His voice as He leads us to green pastures and quiet waters. Whereas a hired hand runs away when a wolf comes, Jesus proved He is the true Shepherd by laying down His life for us. Those who follow Him can “have life, and have it more abundantly.”

If you would like to join His flock just pray the prayer on the right hand side of this page "Connect with God." God bless you as you follow where He leads.

The Truth: “I am the good shepherd, and b know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.” (John 10:14-15)

Ezekiel 33 “Don’t Just Hear it – Live it!”

“They come to you as people come, and sit before you as My people and hear your words, but they do not do them, for they do the lustful desires expressed by their mouth, and their heart goes after their gain. “Behold, you are to them like a sensual song by one who has a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument; for they hear your words but they do not practice them. “So when it comes to pass—as surely it will—then they will know that a prophet has been in their midst.” (vv.31-33)

The prophet Ezekiel spoke to an audience who loved to listen but refused to act. The Lord said to Ezekiel: “Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them” (33:32).

Many so called Christians do the same. O they will come to church, listen to the teaching, even say “Amen,” but when it comes to putting that teaching into practice in there lives, they do not. They simply continue in the ways of their own heart.

Jesus said: “Whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house. And great was its fall.” (Matthew 7:24-26).

May we be doers and not hearers only. God bless.

The Truth: “For it is not the hearers of the Law who are righteous before God, but it is the doers of the Law who will be declared righteous.” (Romans 2:13)

Ezekiel 32 (Pt.2) “The Seventh Oracle Against Egypt”

It came to pass also in the twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the month, that the word of the LORD came to me, saying: “Son of man, wail over the multitude of Egypt,
 and cast them down to the depths of the earth,
 her and the daughters of the famous nations, 
with those who go down to the Pit:
 ‘Whom do you surpass in beauty?
 Go down, be placed with the uncircumcised.’
“They shall fall in the midst of those slain by the sword;
 she is delivered to the sword,
 drawing her and all her multitudes.
The strong among the mighty 
shall speak to him out of the midst of hell 
with those who help him:
‘They have gone down,
 they lie with the uncircumcised, slain by the sword.’ (vv.17-21)

This last of the seven prophecies against Egypt also happened in the twelfth year, the year after the fall of Jerusalem. Most agree that since no month is specifically mentioned, this happened the same month as the previous oracle (Ezekiel 32:1). This would be about two weeks later. As in Ezekiel 31:14-17, Egypt’s destiny was to go to sheol, to the pit, the depths of the earth. Though Egypt surpassed many in beauty, their destiny would be agony and disgrace, placed with the uncircumcised.

“The oracle affirms that Yahweh is the Lord not only of individuals but also of history. The rise and fall of nations may appear attributable to charismatic and gifted leaders, but behind all international movements one must acknowledge the supreme hand of Yahweh, who alone fixes the times and seasons of their lives, sets the limits to their conduct, determines the nature of their downfall, appoints the agents of judgment, and in the process accomplishes his goal: the universal recognition of his power and his person.” (Block)

God closed His words of judgment to Egypt through Ezekiel with another solemn warning of the judgment, the terror that He would surely bring, “For I have caused My terror in the land of the living” (v.32).

The Truth: “In that day the Egyptians will become like women, and they will tremble and be in dread because of the waving of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which He is going to wave over them.” (Isaiah 19:16)