Did God tell Ezekiel that Israel had spiritual blindness? Do we? Let’s look at Ezekiel 12.
How did God describe the house of Israel to Ezekiel?
Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, which has eyes to see but does not see, and ears to hear but does not hear; for they are a rebellious house. (Ezek 12:1-2 NKJV)
How did God ask Ezekiel to visualize His plans for Israel? Is visualization a good sermon tool?
“So now, son of man, pretend you are being sent into exile. Pack the few items an exile could carry, and leave your home to go somewhere else. Do this right in front of the people so they can see you. For perhaps they will pay attention to this, even though they are such rebels. Bring your baggage outside during the day so they can watch you. Then in the evening, as they are watching, leave your house as captives do when they begin a long march to distant lands.
Dig a hole through the wall while they are watching and go out through it. As they watch, lift your pack to your shoulders and walk away into the night. Cover your face so you cannot see the land you are leaving. For I have made you a sign for the people of Israel.” (Ezek 12:3-6 NLT)
How did Ezekiel’s prophetic demonstration play out day by day?
I did so as I was commanded. I brought out my baggage by day, as baggage for moving, and in the evening I dug through the wall with my hand. I brought it out in the dark, and bore it on my shoulder in their sight. (Ezek 12:7 WEB)
What did God want Ezekiel to say when people asked him what he was doing?
In the morning, the Lord’s word came to me: Human one [Son of man], has the house of Israel, that household of rebels, asked you, “What are you doing?” Say to them, The Lord God proclaims: This concerns the prince in Jerusalem, along with the entire house of Israel in it. Say: I’m your sign. Just as I have done, so it will be done to them. They will go into captivity in exile. (Ezek 12:8-11 CEB)
Would king Zedekiah be blinded by Nebuchadnezzar and so not see Babylon?
The leader of Jerusalem will lift his own bag to his shoulders at sunset and leave through a hole that the others have dug in the wall of his house. He will cover his face, so he can't see the land he is leaving. The Lord will spread out a net and trap him as he leaves Jerusalem. He will then be led away to the city of Babylon, but will never see that place, even though he will die there. His own officials and troops will scatter in every direction, and the Lord will track them down and put them to death. (Ezek 12:12-14 CEV)
Would the people being scattered actually help other nations to know God?
And they shall know that I am the Lord, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the countries. But I will let a few of them escape from the sword, from famine and pestilence, that they may declare all their abominations among the nations where they go, and may know that I am the Lord.” (Ezek 12:15-16 ESV)
What circumstances in Jerusalem would help the people to know that God is God?
The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, eat your bread with trembling and drink your water with shaking and anxiety. Then say to the people of the land: This is what the Lord God says about the residents of Jerusalem in the land of Israel: They will eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water in dread, for their land will be stripped of everything in it because of the violence of all who live there. The inhabited cities will be destroyed, and the land will become a desolation. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.” (Ezek 12:17-20 HCSB)
Because the people believed that God’s punishment was delayed, what would happen?
Later, this message came to me from the Lord: “Son of Man, what’s this proverb you have concerning Israel’s land that says, ‘The days pass slowly and every vision ends in nothing.’? Therefore you are to tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says, “I’m about to put an end to use of this proverb in Israel. It will never be used again as a proverb in Israel. Instead, tell them that the days are drawing near when every vision will be fulfilled. There will no longer be worthless visions and flattering divinations in the midst of Israel’s house. Because I am the Lord, I’ll speak and the message that I communicate will be accomplished without delay. While you continue to be a rebellious house, I’ll speak the message and then fulfill it,” declares the Lord God.’” (Ezek 12:21-25 ISV)
How imminent were God’s prophecies for a nation that ignored them?
Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying. Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off. Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; There shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord God. (Ezek 12:26-28 KJV)
Did Jesus also rebuke His own disciples for spiritual blindness quoting this chapter?
Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces you picked up?” They said to Him, “Twelve.” (Mark 8:18-19 LSB)
Did God tell Ezekiel that Israel had spiritual blindness? Do we? You decide!
A New Heart (Ezekiel 11)
Was the biggest problem the people, having a stubborn heart like stone and not pliable flesh? Let’s look at Ezekiel 11.
Who was chiefly responsible for Jerusalem’s apostasy? Who are the instigators of our nation’s sins?
The Lord's Spirit lifted me up and took me to the east gate of the temple, where I saw 25 men, including the two leaders, Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah son of Benaiah. The Lord said, “Ezekiel, son of man, these men are making evil plans and giving dangerous advice to the people of Jerusalem. They say things like, ‘Let's build more houses. This city is like a cooking pot over a fire, and we are the meat, but at least the pot keeps us from being burned in the fire.’ So, Ezekiel, condemn them!” (Ezek 11:1-4 CEV)
Had deaths increased under this bad leadership? What would God do?
And the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and he said to me, “Say, Thus says the Lord: So you think, O house of Israel. For I know the things that come into your mind. You have multiplied your slain in this city and have filled its streets with the slain. Therefore thus says the Lord God: Your slain whom you have laid in the midst of it, they are the meat, and this city is the cauldron, but you shall be brought out of the midst of it. You have feared the sword, and I will bring the sword upon you, declares the Lord God. And I will bring you out of the midst of it, and give you into the hands of foreigners, and execute judgments upon you. (Ezek 11:5-9 ESV)
Why were these weak leaders being punished? Do we also have similar leaders?
You will fall by the sword, and I will judge you at the border of Israel. Then you will know that I am Yahweh. The city will not be a pot for you, and you will not be the meat within it. I will judge you at the border of Israel, so you will know that I am Yahweh, whose statutes you have not followed and whose ordinances you have not practiced. Instead, you have acted according to the ordinances of the nations around you.” (Ezek 11:10-12 HCSB)
When one of the leaders died, did Ezekiel hope that was the end of God’s punishment? What did God point out to him?
While I was prophesying, Benaiah’s son Pelatiah died, so I fell on my face and cried out with a loud voice. “Ah, Lord God,” I said, “are you going to put an end to the survivors within Israel?” Then this message came to me from the Lord: “Son of Man, your brothers, your other relatives, your fellow exiles, and the entire house of Israel are the people to whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, ‘They’ve abandoned the Lord. This land was given to us for an inheritance.’” (Ezek 11:13-15 ISV)
Would God be present in some form of little sanctuaries for the exiles? Is this the origin of the synagogue?
Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord God; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come. (Ezek 11:16 KJV)
Would people eventually return to the land with new hearts?
Therefore say, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries among which you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.”’ When they come there, they will remove all its detestable things and all its abominations from it. And I will give them one heart and give within them a new spirit. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God. But as for those whose hearts walk after their detestable things and abominations, I will give what is due for their way on their heads,” declares Lord Yahweh. (Ezek 11:17-20 LSB)
Where did the glory of the Lord first go after leaving the temple?
Then the cherubim lifted up their wings with the wheels beside them, and the glory of the God of Israel hovered over them. The glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city and stood over the mountain which is east of the city. And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God to Chaldea, to the exiles. Then the vision that I had seen left me. And I told the exiles all the things that the Lord had shown me. (Ezek 11:22-25 NASB)
Finding fault with the people, would God give them a new heart and a new covenant?
But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises. For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. But God found fault with the people and said:
“The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord. This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (Heb 8:6-10 NIV)
Was the biggest problem the people, having a stubborn heart like stone and not pliable flesh? You decide!
Who was chiefly responsible for Jerusalem’s apostasy? Who are the instigators of our nation’s sins?
The Lord's Spirit lifted me up and took me to the east gate of the temple, where I saw 25 men, including the two leaders, Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah son of Benaiah. The Lord said, “Ezekiel, son of man, these men are making evil plans and giving dangerous advice to the people of Jerusalem. They say things like, ‘Let's build more houses. This city is like a cooking pot over a fire, and we are the meat, but at least the pot keeps us from being burned in the fire.’ So, Ezekiel, condemn them!” (Ezek 11:1-4 CEV)
Had deaths increased under this bad leadership? What would God do?
And the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and he said to me, “Say, Thus says the Lord: So you think, O house of Israel. For I know the things that come into your mind. You have multiplied your slain in this city and have filled its streets with the slain. Therefore thus says the Lord God: Your slain whom you have laid in the midst of it, they are the meat, and this city is the cauldron, but you shall be brought out of the midst of it. You have feared the sword, and I will bring the sword upon you, declares the Lord God. And I will bring you out of the midst of it, and give you into the hands of foreigners, and execute judgments upon you. (Ezek 11:5-9 ESV)
Why were these weak leaders being punished? Do we also have similar leaders?
You will fall by the sword, and I will judge you at the border of Israel. Then you will know that I am Yahweh. The city will not be a pot for you, and you will not be the meat within it. I will judge you at the border of Israel, so you will know that I am Yahweh, whose statutes you have not followed and whose ordinances you have not practiced. Instead, you have acted according to the ordinances of the nations around you.” (Ezek 11:10-12 HCSB)
When one of the leaders died, did Ezekiel hope that was the end of God’s punishment? What did God point out to him?
While I was prophesying, Benaiah’s son Pelatiah died, so I fell on my face and cried out with a loud voice. “Ah, Lord God,” I said, “are you going to put an end to the survivors within Israel?” Then this message came to me from the Lord: “Son of Man, your brothers, your other relatives, your fellow exiles, and the entire house of Israel are the people to whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, ‘They’ve abandoned the Lord. This land was given to us for an inheritance.’” (Ezek 11:13-15 ISV)
Would God be present in some form of little sanctuaries for the exiles? Is this the origin of the synagogue?
Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord God; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come. (Ezek 11:16 KJV)
Would people eventually return to the land with new hearts?
Therefore say, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries among which you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.”’ When they come there, they will remove all its detestable things and all its abominations from it. And I will give them one heart and give within them a new spirit. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God. But as for those whose hearts walk after their detestable things and abominations, I will give what is due for their way on their heads,” declares Lord Yahweh. (Ezek 11:17-20 LSB)
Where did the glory of the Lord first go after leaving the temple?
Then the cherubim lifted up their wings with the wheels beside them, and the glory of the God of Israel hovered over them. The glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city and stood over the mountain which is east of the city. And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God to Chaldea, to the exiles. Then the vision that I had seen left me. And I told the exiles all the things that the Lord had shown me. (Ezek 11:22-25 NASB)
Finding fault with the people, would God give them a new heart and a new covenant?
But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises. For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. But God found fault with the people and said:
“The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord. This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (Heb 8:6-10 NIV)
Was the biggest problem the people, having a stubborn heart like stone and not pliable flesh? You decide!
God Leaves (Ezekiel 10)
Did God abandon Jerusalem? Does He generally leave the disobedient behind? Let’s begin in Ezekiel 10.
Does Ezekiel return to a description of God’s throne echoing a previous vision?
Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne. And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight. (Ezek 10:1-2 KJV)
Unlike the little winged babies pictured in art, are cherubs actually mighty angels?
Now the cherubim were standing on the right side of the house when the man entered, and the cloud filled the inner court. Then the glory of Yahweh rose up from the cherub to the threshold of the house, and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was filled with the brightness of the glory of Yahweh. Moreover, the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when He speaks. (Ezek 10:3-5 LSB)
Where did the man dressed in linen get coals of fire from?
And it came about when He commanded the man clothed in linen, saying, “Take fire from between the whirling wheels, from between the cherubim,” he entered and stood beside a wheel. Then the cherub reached out with his hand from between the cherubim to the fire which was between the cherubim, took some coals and put them into the hands of the one clothed in linen; and he took them and went out. The cherubim appeared to have something like a human hand under their wings. (Ezek 10:6-8 NASB)
Were further details of the incredible cherub transportation given?
I looked, and I saw beside the cherubim four wheels, one beside each of the cherubim; the wheels sparkled like topaz. As for their appearance, the four of them looked alike; each was like a wheel intersecting a wheel. As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the cherubim faced; the wheels did not turn about as the cherubim went.
The cherubim went in whatever direction the head faced, without turning as they went. Their entire bodies, including their backs, their hands and their wings, were completely full of eyes, as were their four wheels. I heard the wheels being called “the whirling wheels.” Each of the cherubim had four faces: One face was that of a cherub [ox], the second the face of a human being, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. (Ezek 10:9-14 NIV)
Is the description of cherubs here very similar to those described in Ezekiel 1?
And the cherubim were lifted up. This was the living creature I saw by the River Chebar. When the cherubim went, the wheels went beside them; and when the cherubim lifted their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also did not turn from beside them. When the cherubim stood still, the wheels stood still, and when one was lifted up, the other lifted itself up, for the spirit of the living creature was in them. (Ezek 10:15-17 NKJV)
Did the glory of the Lord begin to move out of the temple in Jerusalem?
Then the glory of the Lord moved out from the entrance of the Temple and hovered above the cherubim. And as I watched, the cherubim flew with their wheels to the east gate of the Lord’s Temple. And the glory of the God of Israel hovered above them. (Ezek 10:18-19 NLT)
Was this the same phenomenon that Ezekiel had seen before?
This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river Chebar; and I knew that they were cherubim. Every one had four faces, and every one four wings. The likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings. As for the likeness of their faces, they were the faces which I saw by the river Chebar, their appearances and themselves. They each went straight forward. (Ezek 10:20-22 WEB)
Is there a related description found in the book of Revelation?
Something like a glass sea, like crystal, was in front of the throne. In the center, by the throne, were four living creatures encircling the throne. These creatures were covered with eyes on the front and on the back. The first living creature was like a lion. The second living creature was like an ox. The third living creature had a face like a human being. And the fourth living creature was like an eagle in flight. Each of the four living creatures had six wings, and each was covered all around and on the inside with eyes. They never rest day or night, but keep on saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is coming.” (Rev 4:6-8 CEB)
Did God abandon Jerusalem? Does He generally leave the disobedient behind? You decide!
Does Ezekiel return to a description of God’s throne echoing a previous vision?
Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne. And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight. (Ezek 10:1-2 KJV)
Unlike the little winged babies pictured in art, are cherubs actually mighty angels?
Now the cherubim were standing on the right side of the house when the man entered, and the cloud filled the inner court. Then the glory of Yahweh rose up from the cherub to the threshold of the house, and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was filled with the brightness of the glory of Yahweh. Moreover, the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when He speaks. (Ezek 10:3-5 LSB)
Where did the man dressed in linen get coals of fire from?
And it came about when He commanded the man clothed in linen, saying, “Take fire from between the whirling wheels, from between the cherubim,” he entered and stood beside a wheel. Then the cherub reached out with his hand from between the cherubim to the fire which was between the cherubim, took some coals and put them into the hands of the one clothed in linen; and he took them and went out. The cherubim appeared to have something like a human hand under their wings. (Ezek 10:6-8 NASB)
Were further details of the incredible cherub transportation given?
I looked, and I saw beside the cherubim four wheels, one beside each of the cherubim; the wheels sparkled like topaz. As for their appearance, the four of them looked alike; each was like a wheel intersecting a wheel. As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the cherubim faced; the wheels did not turn about as the cherubim went.
The cherubim went in whatever direction the head faced, without turning as they went. Their entire bodies, including their backs, their hands and their wings, were completely full of eyes, as were their four wheels. I heard the wheels being called “the whirling wheels.” Each of the cherubim had four faces: One face was that of a cherub [ox], the second the face of a human being, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. (Ezek 10:9-14 NIV)
Is the description of cherubs here very similar to those described in Ezekiel 1?
And the cherubim were lifted up. This was the living creature I saw by the River Chebar. When the cherubim went, the wheels went beside them; and when the cherubim lifted their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also did not turn from beside them. When the cherubim stood still, the wheels stood still, and when one was lifted up, the other lifted itself up, for the spirit of the living creature was in them. (Ezek 10:15-17 NKJV)
Did the glory of the Lord begin to move out of the temple in Jerusalem?
Then the glory of the Lord moved out from the entrance of the Temple and hovered above the cherubim. And as I watched, the cherubim flew with their wheels to the east gate of the Lord’s Temple. And the glory of the God of Israel hovered above them. (Ezek 10:18-19 NLT)
Was this the same phenomenon that Ezekiel had seen before?
This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river Chebar; and I knew that they were cherubim. Every one had four faces, and every one four wings. The likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings. As for the likeness of their faces, they were the faces which I saw by the river Chebar, their appearances and themselves. They each went straight forward. (Ezek 10:20-22 WEB)
Is there a related description found in the book of Revelation?
Something like a glass sea, like crystal, was in front of the throne. In the center, by the throne, were four living creatures encircling the throne. These creatures were covered with eyes on the front and on the back. The first living creature was like a lion. The second living creature was like an ox. The third living creature had a face like a human being. And the fourth living creature was like an eagle in flight. Each of the four living creatures had six wings, and each was covered all around and on the inside with eyes. They never rest day or night, but keep on saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is coming.” (Rev 4:6-8 CEB)
Did God abandon Jerusalem? Does He generally leave the disobedient behind? You decide!
God's Mark (Ezekiel 9)
Is there a special mark on the foreheads of God’s servants to seal them? Is this different from the mark of the beast? Let’s look at Ezekiel 9.
What men did the Lord assign to punish the city of Jerusalem for idolatry?
Then the Lord thundered, “Bring on the men appointed to punish the city! Tell them to bring their weapons with them!” Six men soon appeared from the upper gate that faces north, each carrying a deadly weapon in his hand. With them was a man dressed in linen, who carried a writer’s case at his side. They all went into the Temple courtyard and stood beside the bronze altar. (Ezek 9:1-2 NLT)
Did the one with the writer’s ink have a special responsibility?
The glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub, whereupon it was, to the threshold of the house; and he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writer’s inkhorn [inkwell] by his side. Yahweh said to him, “Go through the middle of the city, through the middle of Jerusalem, and set a mark on the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry over all the abominations that are done within it.” (Ezek 9:3-4 WEB)
Were the others to kill everyone except those with a special mark? Is this similar to a prophecy of the end times?
To the others he said in my hearing: Go through the city after him, and attack. Spare no one! Be merciless! Kill them all, old men, young men and women, babies and mothers. Only don’t touch anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary. So they began with the men, the elders in front of the temple. He said to them: Make the temple unclean! Fill the courts with the slain! Go! And they went out and attacked the city. (Ezek 9:5-7 CEB)
What was Ezekiel’s plea to God about so much punishment?
I was then alone, so I bowed down and cried out to the Lord, “Why are you doing this? Are you so angry with the people of Jerusalem that everyone must die?” (Ezek 9:8 CEV)
What was God’s answer to Ezekiel, His reason for this drastic punishment?
Then he said to me, “The guilt of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. The land is full of blood, and the city full of injustice. For they say, ‘The Lord has forsaken the land, and the Lord does not see.’ As for me, my eye will not spare, nor will I have pity; I will bring their deeds upon their heads.” (Ezek 9:9-10 ESV)
Did the man who was setting apart the righteous finish his task?
Then the man clothed in linen with the writing equipment at his side reported back, “I have done as You commanded me.” (Ezek 9:11 HCSB)
Is there a similar end-time event of marking the servants of our God with a seal on their foreheads?
After this, I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth. They were holding back the four winds of the earth so that no wind could blow on the land, on the sea, or on any tree. I saw another angel coming from the east having the seal of the living God. He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been permitted to harm the land and sea, “Don’t harm the land, the sea, or the trees until we have marked the servants of our God with a seal on their foreheads.” I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000. Those who were sealed were from every tribe of Israel: … After these things, I looked, and there was a crowd so large that no one was able to count it! They were from every nation, tribe, people, and language. They were standing in front of the throne and the lamb and were wearing white robes, with palm branches in their hands. (Revelation 7:1-4,9 ISV)
Is there a special mark on the foreheads of God’s servants to seal them? Is this different from the mark of the beast? You decide!
What men did the Lord assign to punish the city of Jerusalem for idolatry?
Then the Lord thundered, “Bring on the men appointed to punish the city! Tell them to bring their weapons with them!” Six men soon appeared from the upper gate that faces north, each carrying a deadly weapon in his hand. With them was a man dressed in linen, who carried a writer’s case at his side. They all went into the Temple courtyard and stood beside the bronze altar. (Ezek 9:1-2 NLT)
Did the one with the writer’s ink have a special responsibility?
The glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub, whereupon it was, to the threshold of the house; and he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writer’s inkhorn [inkwell] by his side. Yahweh said to him, “Go through the middle of the city, through the middle of Jerusalem, and set a mark on the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry over all the abominations that are done within it.” (Ezek 9:3-4 WEB)
Were the others to kill everyone except those with a special mark? Is this similar to a prophecy of the end times?
To the others he said in my hearing: Go through the city after him, and attack. Spare no one! Be merciless! Kill them all, old men, young men and women, babies and mothers. Only don’t touch anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary. So they began with the men, the elders in front of the temple. He said to them: Make the temple unclean! Fill the courts with the slain! Go! And they went out and attacked the city. (Ezek 9:5-7 CEB)
What was Ezekiel’s plea to God about so much punishment?
I was then alone, so I bowed down and cried out to the Lord, “Why are you doing this? Are you so angry with the people of Jerusalem that everyone must die?” (Ezek 9:8 CEV)
What was God’s answer to Ezekiel, His reason for this drastic punishment?
Then he said to me, “The guilt of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. The land is full of blood, and the city full of injustice. For they say, ‘The Lord has forsaken the land, and the Lord does not see.’ As for me, my eye will not spare, nor will I have pity; I will bring their deeds upon their heads.” (Ezek 9:9-10 ESV)
Did the man who was setting apart the righteous finish his task?
Then the man clothed in linen with the writing equipment at his side reported back, “I have done as You commanded me.” (Ezek 9:11 HCSB)
Is there a similar end-time event of marking the servants of our God with a seal on their foreheads?
After this, I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth. They were holding back the four winds of the earth so that no wind could blow on the land, on the sea, or on any tree. I saw another angel coming from the east having the seal of the living God. He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been permitted to harm the land and sea, “Don’t harm the land, the sea, or the trees until we have marked the servants of our God with a seal on their foreheads.” I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000. Those who were sealed were from every tribe of Israel: … After these things, I looked, and there was a crowd so large that no one was able to count it! They were from every nation, tribe, people, and language. They were standing in front of the throne and the lamb and were wearing white robes, with palm branches in their hands. (Revelation 7:1-4,9 ISV)
Is there a special mark on the foreheads of God’s servants to seal them? Is this different from the mark of the beast? You decide!
Grand Delusions (Ezekiel 8)
Do people still idolize grand delusions even in highly intelligent, highly educated societies? Let’s look at Ezekiel 8.
How did Ezekiel visit Jerusalem in a vision at the hand of the Lord?
In the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, I was sitting in my house and the elders of Judah were sitting in front of me, and there the hand of the Lord God came down on me. I looked, and there was a form that had the appearance of a man. From what seemed to be His waist down was fire, and from His waist up was something that looked bright, like the gleam of amber.
He stretched out what appeared to be a hand and took me by the hair of my head. Then the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and carried me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the inner gate that faces north, where the offensive statue that provokes jealousy was located. I saw the glory of the God of Israel there, like the vision I had seen in the plain. (Ezek 8:1-4 HCSB)
What detestable idolatry did Ezekiel see taking place in front of the temple? Did God say He was leaving His sanctuary?
Then he told me, “Son of Man, look up toward the north.” So I looked off toward the north. Suddenly, off toward the north, facing the gate that led to the altar, the image that provoked God’s jealousy was standing near the entrance. Then the Spirit told me, “Son of Man, don’t you see what they’re doing? The house of Israel practices awful, detestable things here, so I’m going far away from my sanctuary. But you’re about to see things even more detestable than these.” (Ezek 8:5-6 ISV)
How was Ezekiel enabled to see the wicked abominations taking place inside?
And he brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold a hole in the wall. Then said he unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold a door. And he said unto me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here. (Ezek 8:7-9 KJV)
What were the elders of the land secretly plotting inside the temple?
So I entered and looked, and behold, every form of creeping things and beasts and detestable things, with all the idols of the house of Israel, were carved on the wall all around. Standing in front of them were seventy elders of the house of Israel, with Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan standing among them, each man with his censer in his hand and the fragrance of the cloud of incense rising. Then He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each man in the room of his carved images? For they say, ‘Yahweh does not see us; Yahweh has forsaken the land.’” (Ezek 8:10-12 LSB)
Were there worse abominations for Ezekiel to witness at the entrance of the temple?
And He said to me, “Yet you will see still greater abominations which they are committing!” Then He brought me to the entrance of the gate of the Lord’s house which was toward the north; and behold, women were sitting there weeping for Tammuz. And He said to me, “Do you see this, son of man? Yet you will see still greater abominations than these!” (Ezek 8:13-15 NASB)
Were sun worship and violence also abominations practiced around the temple?
He then brought me into the inner court of the house of the Lord, and there at the entrance to the temple, between the portico and the altar, were about twenty-five men. With their backs toward the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east, they were bowing down to the sun in the east.
He said to me, “Have you seen this, son of man? Is it a trivial matter for the people of Judah to do the detestable things they are doing here? Must they also fill the land with violence and continually arouse my anger? Look at them putting the branch to their nose! Therefore I will deal with them in anger; I will not look on them with pity or spare them. Although they shout in my ears, I will not listen to them.” (Ezek 8:16-18 NIV)
Do people still profess to be wise, but are actually fools, inventing delusions in our modern world?
Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. (Rom 1:22-23 NKJV)
Do people still idolize grand delusions even in highly intelligent, highly educated societies? You decide!
How did Ezekiel visit Jerusalem in a vision at the hand of the Lord?
In the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, I was sitting in my house and the elders of Judah were sitting in front of me, and there the hand of the Lord God came down on me. I looked, and there was a form that had the appearance of a man. From what seemed to be His waist down was fire, and from His waist up was something that looked bright, like the gleam of amber.
He stretched out what appeared to be a hand and took me by the hair of my head. Then the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and carried me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the inner gate that faces north, where the offensive statue that provokes jealousy was located. I saw the glory of the God of Israel there, like the vision I had seen in the plain. (Ezek 8:1-4 HCSB)
What detestable idolatry did Ezekiel see taking place in front of the temple? Did God say He was leaving His sanctuary?
Then he told me, “Son of Man, look up toward the north.” So I looked off toward the north. Suddenly, off toward the north, facing the gate that led to the altar, the image that provoked God’s jealousy was standing near the entrance. Then the Spirit told me, “Son of Man, don’t you see what they’re doing? The house of Israel practices awful, detestable things here, so I’m going far away from my sanctuary. But you’re about to see things even more detestable than these.” (Ezek 8:5-6 ISV)
How was Ezekiel enabled to see the wicked abominations taking place inside?
And he brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold a hole in the wall. Then said he unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold a door. And he said unto me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here. (Ezek 8:7-9 KJV)
What were the elders of the land secretly plotting inside the temple?
So I entered and looked, and behold, every form of creeping things and beasts and detestable things, with all the idols of the house of Israel, were carved on the wall all around. Standing in front of them were seventy elders of the house of Israel, with Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan standing among them, each man with his censer in his hand and the fragrance of the cloud of incense rising. Then He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each man in the room of his carved images? For they say, ‘Yahweh does not see us; Yahweh has forsaken the land.’” (Ezek 8:10-12 LSB)
Were there worse abominations for Ezekiel to witness at the entrance of the temple?
And He said to me, “Yet you will see still greater abominations which they are committing!” Then He brought me to the entrance of the gate of the Lord’s house which was toward the north; and behold, women were sitting there weeping for Tammuz. And He said to me, “Do you see this, son of man? Yet you will see still greater abominations than these!” (Ezek 8:13-15 NASB)
Were sun worship and violence also abominations practiced around the temple?
He then brought me into the inner court of the house of the Lord, and there at the entrance to the temple, between the portico and the altar, were about twenty-five men. With their backs toward the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east, they were bowing down to the sun in the east.
He said to me, “Have you seen this, son of man? Is it a trivial matter for the people of Judah to do the detestable things they are doing here? Must they also fill the land with violence and continually arouse my anger? Look at them putting the branch to their nose! Therefore I will deal with them in anger; I will not look on them with pity or spare them. Although they shout in my ears, I will not listen to them.” (Ezek 8:16-18 NIV)
Do people still profess to be wise, but are actually fools, inventing delusions in our modern world?
Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. (Rom 1:22-23 NKJV)
Do people still idolize grand delusions even in highly intelligent, highly educated societies? You decide!
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