Christian Life Page 12

Ez.20:27-29 "All flesh shall see it" (1 of 2)

"....O house of Israel? As I live, saith the LordGod, I will not be enquired of by you./"And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone".

"And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all,"Here we have from the Spirit and it is for our instruction. When the Lord God set Prophet Ezekiel as the watchman for the nation of Israel it has its specific purpose. Therein also are God-inspired lessons for all ages and man. The lesson could be set in few words. Man proposes God disposes. Why history of man always go awry? It shall never be according to how he plans, whether in his own mind or as part of a group as was the case in the Versailles,1919 but it does not work. Pure and simple. A chicken in every pot' President Hoover promised in 1928.

Wall Street crash of 29 was the unkindest cut. Who is to blame. The nation let loose their commitment to God. Two examples of 21 Tulsa race massacre and close in heels against Osage nation all but forgotten from news media but God sees it all. Multiply such hatred among citizenry upset all calculations of a decent and able man. Hoover was defeated by forces he could not name. Similarly Israel would be defeated by an unseen enemy of their own making.

It is not laws of nation that is under discussion but the law of the Spirit by which God fashioned all hearts alike(Ps.33:15)" When we speak of vision we need look for the saying of Jesus,"But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how greatisthat darkness!(Matt.6:23)" If thine eye be evil' is conditional and because of which have we not seen law is made a mockery? Benefit of doubt is a state as much as finding a legal loophole. Man escapes but how long?

Ez.20:1-26 "State of the Union" (2 of 2)

' Because of their persistent disobedience their hearts were hardened a condition which we read that Pharaoh developed. It is prior to judgment of God and it is a phase where the laws and statutes become unenforceable.

God allows their reprobate hearts to devise mischief, but God does not tempt any with anything patently false. The reprobate minds have to learn by own consequences. "And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am theLord."(v.26) For example the slavery question and dispossessing the native Americans of their lands by law would become imponderable issues in course of time.

From the above quote we can understand our present situation. It was inevitable that wrath of God shall descend on the rebellious house of Israel.''Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols./Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;And I polluted them in their own gifts,...' This last line is very clear.

Without God what nations choose as their best feature shall be their very weakness. Law was for Israel their pride of joy and if it had become their shame are we to wonder? Under capitalism wealth is all-in all. If pandemic, a series of them were to descend on nations who crowed over their possessions their own gifts have become polluted, a poisoned chalice.

Ez.20:1-26 "State of the Union" (1 of 2)

Here Prophet Ezekiel is delivering his State of the Union address on behalf of God.

When the elders came with apparent show of deference to the prophet how does the Lord respond to it? 'As I live, saith the LordGod, I will not be enquired of by you'. He has a good reason not to be taken in by their hypocrisy."Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw nearmewith their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:(Is.29:13)." The only way these elders could have done was to make a clean break with the past. It is why God begins with this" 'cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:(v.4)." St Paul also speaks of outing what has remained unaddressed and not got rid of. Before taking Holy Communion the believer has to examine if he is approaching the Lord's Table unworthily or not. The elder's show of piety was nothing without addressing it first."For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged./But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world(1 Co.11:31-32)".

We shall enumerate some of the highlights from this Union address:

It was God who would lead them according to all His promises to Abraham. 'In the day when I chose Israel'

2. 'Defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am theLordyour God(v.7)'.

3. in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty Hand God showed the heathen what Israel was to Him(v.9).

4. 'And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them(v.11)'.

5. 'Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols./Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness(vv.16-17).'

Ez.18 :1-4 A Proverb

The word of the Lord came unto me again, saying,/What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?

3 As I live, saith the Lord God, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.

4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

The proverb concerning Israel has no more use since in his Son it has been settled. "Ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel."

God sent his Son to the world in the fulness of time and he was the word become flesh. For this reason the Spirit qualifies him as the only begotten Son. He set an example for example, faith a facet of His holiness. He set the standard for which we do not resort to riddle or any proverb. Eating sour grapes has consequence. Living by faith as his Son constitute the same quality of his Son. The just shall live by faith.

Physical act of eating sour grapes has consequences only as far our bodies are concerned."Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die". The just shall live by faith. Anything that is not done in faith is sin and it is what the Spirit instructs.

Ez.18:1-20 "This soul of mine"

Key to unlock this chapter is this: "The soul that sinneth, it shall die(v.20)". When God breathed into the nostrils of Adam he made him a living soul. The same creative faith that created everything else is in terms of sentient things. Shape and form of objects are outward manifestation of divine Will that would never err. Glory of divine Power we see but do we see our soul as God would? Does it glorify Him or our own? But soul is what each of us make of by the manner we live by faith. It must speak to God as deep calls unto deep essentially 'the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Co.4:6)'

How do we translate Trinity in personal terms?

God created man in 'our image' signifying it is a multilayered image. In terms of body ageing is a manifestation of it. similarly his propensity to work with the spirit of the times in order to get a head start over others is what spirit of man denotes. Consequently with effort we make sense of the words of others sometimes past the words actually spoken and what is really lurking in the shadows. It only goes as far our physical world is concerned. Thus the prophet could confront Gehazi and say,"And he said unto him, Went not mine heartwith thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee?(2 Ki.5:26a)." When we receive the indwelling Spirit we receive it by faith so in the manner we pursue intentionally things of God we do not further notice the former is quite gone. Here also in loving God with all mind and heart we are led by the spirit. God hates double minded person who preaches Jesus as well as run after as Gehazi did to gather wealth. He is like the man whose latter state is much worse than before (Matt.12:42-45).

There is a day in which soul of man should come for judgment. It is is a day of reckoning. It is what God meant after he put Adam as his steward.

Ez.17:22-24 "Upon an high mountain" (2 of 2)

Zion is qualified as planted by God 'and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent:'. Eminence speaks for its elevated position takes our eyes to the verse in the Book of Psalms,"Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.(48:2)"

God's promise through Prophet Ezekiel makes it clear. 'I will plant it.' For this reason we find the tree of life first revealed in the middle of the Garden of Eden quite remarkable. "And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads(Ge.2:10)".

Number four here indicates four cardinal directions upon which the word of God holds sovereignty so it must occur in God's Time. It like an arrow of time looks to the end times where also Time is as determined by God. Thus Adam is a stand in for Jesus Christ and Jesus is 'last Adam' by the same argument. Thus the Bible is to be understood as God document where Jesus Christ as the Son reigns supreme as Alpha Omega aspect, the beginning and the ending, Adam, Noah, Moses and several others being represented in him. "I the Lord have spoken it' spoken by prophets validate this. Moses spoke as was commanded of God also Ezekiel.

God had in the beginning reserved waters above the firmament (Ge.1:7) which signified His mercy. What does God tell Moses?'For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion(Ro.9:15)'. This pure river in the city of God flows outwards signifying the new earth.

'Upon this mountain' -in short Zion as planted by God has nothing to do with Jerusalem or Israel per se but for the whole earth.

Ez.17:22-24 "Upon an high mountain" (1 of 2)

"Thus saith the LordGod; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent."

Here we have peculiar title of Messiah from the root of Jesse but a branch nevertheless. He is also a high priest but not after the Order of Aaron. " 'Listen, High Priest Joshua, you and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: "for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the Branch."(Ze.3:8)" What does it mean here? 'Changes are coming' surely. When Jesus turned over the money changer's tables and drove away commerce from the Temple grounds it showed the old heart of mart and rigid legalism would be abolished. No more moral humbug but those who worshiped God in Spirit and truth.

The tender one refers to Zerubbabel a grandson of King Jehoiachin, but he was pointing to one whose kingdom shall replace all others."And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. (Dan.2.44).

Zerubabbel ( Ezra 2:2) played a part in rebuilding the temple after return from captivity, High Priest Jeshua and Zerubabbel led the captives home. Jeshua a variant of Joshua, the Hebraic name of Jesus meaning God saves. Significance of the name is not merely coincidental. Zerubabbel laid the foundation of the temple (Zec.4:9)." He and Jeshua were equal in rank the former as the king or Governor while Jeshua was the High Priest. This double honor of Priest King we find first mentioned in Melchizedek, the king of Salem and priest of the most high God. The Spirit is accurate with persons and their due place in the Salvation Plan of God. Zerubabbel and Joshua were merely stand in for Messiah.

Ez.17:11-18 "Shall he prosper?"

"Moreover the word of theLordcame unto me, saying,Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these things mean? tell them, Behold, the king of Babylon is come to Jerusalem, and hath taken the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and led them with him to Babylon;"

"For through the anger of the Lord it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon." (2 Ki.24:20). In v.10 we read of Zedekiah's capture. " But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho;" (Je.52:8). King Nebuchadnezzer was amenable to deal kindly with Judah but his overtures secretly made to Pharaoh of Egypt and on being found out his breaking of oath, the king of Babylon dealt harshly with him. From the manner events came into play it becomes apparent that God was in control and Israel could not have escaped divine chastisement.

Does anyone in possession of an advantage give it away without securing much more from the deal? It must be attributed to God who prompted the conquering king first to set fair conditions for peace than make him a terrible example to other vassal-kings. Why did Israel foolishly persist in defying him? The rebellious house of Israel chose themselves such harsh punishment. Do we see Israel any more enlightened after so many persecutions including a holocaust in recent times? God writes history and while man on winning a battle of dubious worth may crow his own glory. There are several more wars ahead for those who refuse to learn from God's warnings. It is what war on terror has shown us. Sheer indifference to the lives of Palestine civilians in the manner Israel bulldoze their way into Gaza comes up before God whose patience is similar to the fair conditions set by Nebuchadnezzar. ripe for disaster. Zedekiah reneged. God asks, 'Shall he prosper?

Ez.17:1-4 "The Covenant breaker"

And the word of theLordcame unto me, saying,/Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel."(vv.1-2)

A riddle can be framed like a puzzle a famous example of which is the one the Sphinx asked Oedipus. The Hebrew root for it suggests a riddle would need serious thought. We have a famous example of the riddle asked by Samson after tearing a lion to pieces.(Jud.14:14). A parable on the other hand compares two ideas but thing that is compared to the other holds consistency. For example the Parable of the Sower works for this reason: the condition of the heart being varied the message heard and understood by people also varies. Seed falling on a stony ground produces different result than one fallen on the wayside. In this connection a fable relies on fictitious players often animals as in the fables of Aesop to convey a moral mostly implied.

This chapter is a riddle evidently. Topic is set by God himself and the prophet is to compose it. It is a companion chapter in spirit to the Gospel of St Matthew where Jesus sets forth a parable on the kingdom of heaven and also explains it. (Matt.13). Prophet Ezekiel however is required to speak on the covenant breaking Israel, touching upon the consequences that shall follow when King Zedekiah renege on his oath to the King of Babylon. For the exiled nation it surely must have come raw and a view from inside the furnace as to the events taking place beyond. Thus the topical matter is a springboard for hinting at the shape of things to come. Apostasy of Israel forms the theme of the riddle and besides the folly of the king of Judah secretly turning to Pharaoh of Egypt serves a sharp rebuke on the house of Israel that went whoring after other gods when betrothed to God.

Ez.17:5-10 "In a fruitful field"

'He placed it by great waters, and set it as a willow tree' refers to Judea was 'a good land-a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills (De.8:7)

6And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and the roots thereof were under him: so it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs.

'Became a spreading vine of low stature' Judah subjugated by the king of Babylon could not have been as high as Babylon. In Daniel's vision the majesty of the king is made clear."The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth.(Dan.4:10-12)'

The stability of Judah depended on Babylon. The repetition "branches" and "sprigs" emphasizes the ingratitude of Zedekiah, who, not content with moderate prosperity, revolted from him to whom he had sworn allegiance.

7There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers: and, behold, this vine did bend her roots toward him, and shot forth her branches toward him, that he might water it by the furrows of her plantation.

Pharaoh of Egypt is referred here. Water it by the furrows refer to Egyptian irrigation system by means of canals from the River Nile crisscrossing the arable lands. 'Behold, this vine did bend her roots toward him, and shot forth her branches toward him' touches on bad faith on the part of Zedekiah who sought the alliance of Egypt, as though by it he could throw off his dependence on Babylon.

It shall not need all the forces of Babylon to destroy it; a small division of the army will suffice because God will deliver it into Nebuchadnezzar's hand. (Je.37:10)

Judah was planted by God in a fruitful field; now be transplanted by the king of Babylon again in a fruitful field. Zedekiah burning with pride and ambition makes his secret plans. ""Let favour be shewed to the wicked,yetwill he not learn righteousness" (Is.26:10)

Ez.17:5-10 "In a Fruitful field" (1 of 2)

Here we have a riddle where Babylon and Egypt are two eagles. Judgment of Judah is the certain outcome for rejecting divine chastisement by resorting to their own strategies. In their revolt against Babylon they were resisting God's plan. In their rushing off to Egypt similarly ran counter to God's Will. Like Sodom, Egypt has been judged so it was foolishness to seek help from a tottering wall.

Splendor of Babylon owed to it strategic location, trade routes facilitated commerce with India and other places and the name Babylon which we shall come across is reinvented for the end times (Re.18:2). Mighty Babylon is not precisely the place we are here concerned with. As with the Spirit's narrative mode persons and places are often a double for some other. We had just seen daughter of Zion once removed from her vows of betrothal being compared to Sodom.'Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness (16:49).'

King of Babylon took ' the highest branch' meaning Jehoiachin king of Judah. "Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiachin captive to Babylon. He also took from Jerusalem to Babylon the king's mother, his wives, his officials and the prominent people of the land./The king of Babylon also deported to Babylon the entire force of seven thousand fighting men, strong and fit for war, and a thousand skilled workers and artisans(2 Ki.24:15-16).Only the poorest of the people were left behind.

5He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful field; he placed it by great waters, and set it as a willow tree.

Seed of the land or son of the native soil meaning Zedekiah who was the uncle of Jehoiachin, of David's family. In allowing him to continue under changed circumstances it ought to have been fortuitous for his family.

'He placed it by great waters, and set it as a willow tree' refers to Judea was 'a good land-a land with brooks, streams,

Ez. 16:35-64 "O Daughter of Zion" (2 of 2)

The mighty Samson's fall did not come out of a vacuum. His daily walks and the company chose were ever at heels. Evil communication corrupts good manners, in his case his Nazarite vow and it shall lead him inevitable to Delilah's lap. As a lamb to the slaughter he walked into disaster. " And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him." (Ju.16:20. One of the saddest lines ever penned for our instruction. No different is how those who ought to be teachers err in photoshopping Jesus by making him more salable to the congregation. Take away his deity and what is left ? This slipshod attitude to what is holy makes apostate church. Comparing apples with lemon is OK because fruit is a fruit. But knowing holiness of God is a spiritual task so literal significance of a fruit is not called for but what taste has it? "Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?" This is how one need to approach comparing spiritual with spiritual. (Jas.3:10-12)

"Thou art thy mother's daughter, that lotheth her husband and her children." When one has left off the godliness and simplicity, mother could be Sodom for all that was her characteristic is now reborn in daughter of Zion. "And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD,thatthou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali( Hosea 2:16)". "For thy Makeristhine husband; the LORD of hostsishis name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called (Is.54:5)".

Ez.16:35-63 "O Daughter of Zion" (1 of 2)

"And thine elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell at thy left hand: and thy younger sister, that dwelleth at thy right hand, is Sodom and her daughters.(v.46)"

Judah has been compared figuratively as daughter of Zion and here God finds her many sins worthy of judgment as He did with Sodom. Sodom is dead but continued in the many sins of omission and commission of Judah. Isaiah faulted her faithlessness, "For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against theLord, to provoke the eyes of his glory./The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves(Is.3:8-9).

In forsaking the fountain of living waters what Judah chose for herself is something worse. When beasts of the field cannot find fresh grass they are required to pasture far and wide in order to get their daily needs. Suppose one eats and the body cannot absorb anything of it so one feels more starved after it must be pitiable. A mind also could be similarly affected by sin. A reprobate mind is willing to sells one's own future for the moment's pleasure. Sin is disruption of normal working between God and man. "And even as they did not like to retain God intheirknowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;(Ro.1:28)"

Daughter of Zion is like insatiable in seeking her thrills even as Sodom and Gomorrah did. "For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters,andhewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water (Je.2:13)". In this age of sexual permissiveness one can see parallel. Love that is natural has become debased. If ministers of God preaching love of Christ seem more after filthy lucre, the small mis-steps in judgment took them farther away in course of time.

Ez.16:15-34 "Israel's whoredom" (2 of 2)

"O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?"

Israel similarly began and now her conduct is tantamount to spiritual whoredom. In our own times are we any better? All that was past,- sacrifices of martyrs, acts of love and joyfully suffering loss of all things in order to please the Lord have become null and void. Modern churches must be said to be most prodigal indeed to scatter all their spiritual inheritance; what have we for posterity but shame? Evangelicalism is in no way better than what Israel has become in the time of Ezekiel.

When a believer shifts his faith from God to things we see the disaster coming into play with his spiritual life. Consumerism as a philosophy ought to be kept in its place. For children of God if trust in His promises is gone everything is lost. Yes. Israel forgot having received all the advantages of being a theocratic nation. "For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold,whichthey prepared for Baal (Hosea.2:8)". Instead of Baal the name mammon is more apt.

Sin of Israel :Instead of attributing the glory of her privileges and gifts to God, Israel prided herself on them as her own. In wanting to be like other nations and to be led by a king her sin was to impose her own will. They were sated by waters from the rock in the wilderness. Doing the will of God set a royal fare before his Son. Spiritual meat and drink. " So the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him./ He made him ride on the high places of the earth"(De.32:12-13)

Israel'swhoredom brought this:Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.(Mic.3:9-12)"

Ez.16:15-34 "Israel's whoredom" (1 of 2)

But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was.

What a contrast do we find in the circumstances of Israel from that of Abraham. "For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness(Ro.4:3)".Walking with God and being in the centre of His Will as Abraham did is the path to righteousness. Faith is one and when it is adulterated as Israel did, embracing foreign gods and also taking pride in their temple it was a recipe for disaster. Ezekiel is given charge to show his people where they went wrong.

As said before faith is one as the gospel of God is one. No nation can dilute either faith or the gospel and expect God's favor. Israel whoredom was in the many advantages she would receive from the nations about her by following their ways. So faith in her case was not completely relied on God.

Faith works in those who have no confidence in their flesh so would instead build up squarely on the eternal word and promises of God. "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things thatpertainunto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:(2 Pe.1:3)". Our own times is a good example. Many are loath to admit the wonders and miracles in the Bible as true. Their rational mind is in denial of what had worked into the spiritual lives of their fathers. In denying it their steadfastness is gone but can they manufacture something new in its place? In denying their own faith how genuine is faith that is borrowed according to current fads? Instead, wanting to be a good citizens they embrace also the national goals and wealth for everyone which are practiced patently on amoral principles. If faith was genuine and had knit him with God could he have tolerated social injustice and racism as though it never existed?

I was thinking about an earlier post of mine where I said that the three heavens were : the garden of Eden , the kingdom of Israel under Solomon and the Kingdom of God on Earth during Christ's one thousand year reign . Looking at the kingdom of Israel under Solomon , it seems very imperfect considering that Solomon married many foreign women who turned his heart from following God wholeheartedly . As I believe very much that the old foreshadows the new , how can I justify my belief in this ? Solomon is a type of Christ . He married many foreign women :) what are we ? Not Jews most of us ! Foreigners ! Only instead of us turning Christ away from God , Christ has turned our hearts to God ! So that's how I feel about Solomon and his foreign wives , they are a foreshadow of Christ and his foreign wives , us ! :) .

We must remember that Israel in the old testament had a history of relying on its "friends" . Time after time , when Israel strayed from the Truth , worshipped idols etc , even put idols in the Temple ! God would pronounce judgement upon them for their actions and ask them to repent and turn back to Him . They would refuse and put their trust in their friends that they had hired to protect them . This never worked out for them of course , God's punishments stood and Israel suffered defeat after defeat . Only after they had been defeated by their enemies and let down by their friends did they turn their whole hearts back to God . I believe the old to be a foshadow of the new . Solomon says : there is no new thing under the sun . This I think will happen again . Israel has a lot of support and "friends" at the moment , this is emboldening them . To require justice is natural but revenge ? That's for God , vengeance is Mine , I shall repay . How close will Israel's friends stick if Putin openly declares support for Hamas / Palestinians ? He has the biggest nuclear arsenal by far . How close will Israel's friends stick if they keep on killing ordinary Palestinians caught in the cross fire ? I believe that Israel's friends will at some point draw back from them and let them down leaving them extremely vulnerable , this will be too much temptation for their enemies . From Zechariah it would seem as if nuclear weapons will be used , but by who and on whom ? That I can't answer for certain . I think that when Israel is on the brink of destruction this is when the most awesome thing will happen :) . I'm guessing you all know what I'm thinking ! This is how I interpret the last days , the last days of the kingdoms of men and the first days of the Kingdom of God on Earth . It's going to be a bit scary at times for sure , but we who know the Truth should be strong and excited and try to help our loved ones through this scary time for them . Much love to you all .

Ez.12:16; 23-28 "The long and short of prophesy" (2 of 2)

Of this we shall see in this nugget of God's providence,"And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us./And Jesus said unto him, Forbidhimnot: for he that is not against us is for us(Lk.9:49-50)". Partisan spirit of John had to go a long way before he would come to be known the Apostle of Love. So learning as he went in the company of Jesus is what Christian Living in its kern teaches us. We are not dying to sin in water baptism so we may spend the rest of our lives like Israelites hungering for the fleshpots of Egypt. It is what prosperity theology of false teachers work with.

Ezekiel's words "vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel' are for our times as well. Similarly it shall be spoken of the churches in future before out Lord shall make an end of blasphemy from the church."25For I am theLord: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the LordGod(v.26). When these false diviners are in charge we are to be like Ezekiel.

"Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy water with trembling and with carefulness;(v.18) .

Ez.12:16;23-28 "The Long and Short of prophesy" (1 of 2)

"But I will leave a few men of them from the sword, from the famine, and from the pestilence; that they may declare all their abominations among the heathen whither they come; and they shall know that I am theLord (v.16)."

Power and glory of God is such all creation can bask in it. Providence is not alone for animals of the day that are taken to their stalls for the night; night owls have their task cleaning up rodents and big cats on the prowl at night have carcasses to dispose off. Land, air, sea, ocean deep deserts heath and tundra each are part of Providence so glory of God has worked out an order that underpin the well being of everthing on the earth and in heaven. Sin of man perhaps simple flouting of law creates stresses that must ripple through entire web. We know that sin of disobedience began with Adam. "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:(Ro.5:12). Adam placed his own will above that of God. It is never an individual choice but sin must spawn its own brood. So flouting of truth written in heart makes itself visible. For example when Moses ground the golden calf and made the children of Israel drink it and we know that it was not the end."And he took the calf which they had made, and burntitin the fire, and grounditto powder, and straweditupon the water, and made the children of Israel drinkof it(Ex.32:20)" . We read that when the kingdom of Israel was split Jeroboam had a ready answer:"golden calf!"

"Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt./And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan./And this thing became a sin..(1 Ki.12:28-29)" In place of the golden calf destroyed, it doubled!

Ez.12:12-16"The Net and the trident" (2 of 2)

Nations that disobey the commandment of God are taken in a net that is weighted.

In flouting God's commandments Israel was taken in by the very laws, which they vowed to obey. Since their focus was more on flesh than on Spirit they interpreted the Law literally. "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God(Ro.10:3)". Righteousness of God is not in outward form of worship but loving God 'with all my heart, mind and soul.' Loving they neighbor is not merely an idea but is in relation to you. Any one may say I love so and so. Without showing how saying the word 'love' is merely wind. Loving another,- the only way he can be called a good neighbor, is in loving him/her how you love your own. It is what God demands from you. This being the case what shall we say of loving only the white or colored but as a travesty of God's commandment? "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets(Lk.22:40)".

Famine, pestilence and the sword,- the trident of God's vengeance is not by stealth and a gladiator uses it only after tiring the opponent in spending all his energy ducking the short sword or the net that the gladiator may frequently wave about as a matador does with his cape. Thus in a nation's downfall there would have occurred series of events steadily weakening its resources so when these three finally pin it down the famine has taken its toll already and pestilence finish off the weak body that has depleted its auto-immune system. Here we are seeing God's judgment on Israel. It is done for all to see and learn from.

God set Ezekiel as the watchman but he had to publicly decamp as a robber digs through mud-wall 'And I did so as I was commanded: I brought forth my stuff by day, as stuff for captivity, and in the even I digged through the wall with mine hand; I brought ht it forth in the twilight."

Ez.12:12-16 "The Net and the trident" (1 of 2)

And the prince that is among them shall bear upon his shoulder in the twilight, and shall go forth: they shall dig through the wall to carry out thereby: he shall cover his face, that he see not the ground with his eyes.

13My net also will I spread upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare: and I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; yet shall he not see it, though he shall die there.

"Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird (Pr.1:17)". It is thus the devil sets trap to take the foolish in his net. Here we are considering the entire house of Israel for their many sins of commission and omission. In general terms they played ducks and drakes with the Law by treating the Law of Moses literally. If Constitution can be argued for and against at face value is it to be wondered at that the nation would end up as a rebellious house? For example we have in the Gospel of John an incident of a woman taken in adultery. "In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women.Now what do you say? They were using this question as a trap,in order to have a basis for accusing him.(8:5-6-NIV) " In the end the Pharisees and scribes could not settle the matter because their own conscience proved they were incapable. Their heart was not right in the first place: they consulted Jesus on the point of law showed why. Secondly their own sinful nature convicted them.

The net as we associate with the Roman gladiator is to get the opponent entangled in it. We shall consider the net used by gladiator. A gladiator with a net was a retiarus or literally net-man (The word reticule or woman's purse with draw string is derived from it.). He fought with a trident, which we can for our intent and purpose name as famine pestilence and sword. In order to finish off the man taken in the net he has his sword. His additional weapon is a dagger (pugio). Nations that disobey the commandment of God are taken in a net.

Ez.7:10-27 "Day of Wrath" (2 of 2)

Vv. 12-13

The time is come, the day draweth near: let not the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn: for wrath is upon all the multitude thereof./For the seller shall not return to that which is sold, although they were yet alive: for the vision is touching the whole multitude thereof, which shall not return; neither shall any strengthen himself in the iniquity of his life.

Compare the above passages with a land transaction Jeremiah entered with his kinsman. God commands Jeremiah who was shut up to buy the land."Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come unto thee saying, Buy thee my field that is in Anathoth: for the right of redemption is thine to buy it (Je.32:8-9)". It is not the case here. Ezekiel's prophecy is looking forward to the end times and Jerusalem of the rebellious nation no more would merit God's favor. They shall be like doves as mentioned in v.16,'But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity.'

"And I will give it into the hands of the strangers for a prey, and to the wicked of the earth for a spoil; and they shall pollute it./My face will I turn also from them, and they shall pollute my secret place: for the robbers shall enter into it, and defile it."(vv.21-22)

In v.21 we have a clear passage of Jerusalem under the Ottoman Empire. 'for the robbers shall enter into it, and defile it'.

Ez.7:10-27 "Day of Wrath" (1 of 2)

Overview

The time Ezekiel predicted this Jerusalem had not yet been destroyed and Judah had not yet been completely conquered. As discussed before elements of prophesy as delivered are from God and the time is God's Time,- reconstituted time so what is happening touches upon the present, also what has been determined earlier. So Time is on the wings of an arrow that moves one eternity to another. The man in the Linen who shall come in subsequent chapters is the Word of God given a shape consistent with this being a vision. The prophet is among other captives in exile yet he is in Jerusalem witnessing the abominations practiced behind a cloak of piety. It is true now as it was then. So abomination of ministers set over modern churches is cut from the same cloth of Ezekiel's time. Elders prophets and princes worshiping idols in the Holies is covetousness, another variant for idolatry. Jerusalem points to Zion that is in future,"Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken(Is.33:20)".

V.v 10-11

Behold the day, behold, it is come: the morning is gone forth; the rod hath blossomed, pride hath budded. /Violence is risen up into a rod of wickedness: none of them shall remain, nor of their multitude, nor of any of their's: neither shall there be wailing for them.

Here is Aaron's rod is referred. When it blossomed it was a clear indication of God's favor for the nation and the temple worship. Now it has blossomed into one of indignation. Judgment and Mercy are two sides of the word of God."O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation (Is.10:5)".

Ez.6:8-14 "A Remnant" -Conclusion

"Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed(Ro.9:31-33)".

Finally we shall examine the manner remnant moves forward. Cain slew his brother but God did not write 'finis' to the story of Adam's disobedience. Cain was rejected and how shall God's Salvation Plan move forward? "For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew(Ge.4:25)." Why a remnant? We shall understand its significance from the next verse. It was through his son Enos the world shall know the glory of God.'Then began men to call upon the name of theLord.'

Equivalent to the remnant the Spirit gives us the Law of Moses concerning gleaning without which Ruth a Moabite woman would not have been adopted into the holy family of God.

Gleaning of cornfields as well as of fruit trees were allowed in ancient Israel for the poor,- and it was a lowly task but according to the will of God Ruth who was alien, and outside the promise of God found her name in the book of life. She was indeed foreknown of God and become the matriarch of Davidic line.

The lame take the prey is a Spiritual truth because the lame is in the safekeeping of God and physical circumstances do not concern Him. Lazarus was poor nevertheless his future lled him into Abraham's bosom. No less the quantity: God wanted only 300 to fight on the side of Gideon. In the face of so many evidences a remnant is no different in His sight. "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?"(Je.32:27)

Ez.6:8-14 "A Remnant" (2 of 2)

4So will I stretch out my hand upon them, and make the land desolate, yea, more desolate than the wilderness toward Diblath, in all their habitations: and they shall know that I am theLord.

God cannot deny himself. His Holiness is set in the Power and glory of His word. When the Lord God said,'Let there be light' it was so. God fashioned heart of man alike. So truth written in his inner man shall reveal the truth of God to whosoever shall seek him. So 'remnant' as a theological idea is to make the connection between God and Man understood well by man. When the Pharisees asked Jesus to restrain his disciples from shouting "And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out (Lk.19:39-40)"For this reason man is a spectacle unto angels as well."for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men (1 Co.4:9)".In this connection we shall consider the saying of Jesus to his disciples on sending them to preach the gospel,"And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet./Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city(Matt.10:14-15). A remnant is how God's sovereignty established so He shall always be justified as St Paul uses the case of Esau and Jacob.

(Ro:9:21-23)",

"I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." It is thus a remnant of Israel shall be added to the redeemed from the earth. And these shall be found in the New Jerusalem. While discussing Ezekiel we see the rebellious house of Israel was rejected. St Paul states why,"But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Their works only made their case worse. But grace of God is greater.

Ez.6:8-14 "A Remnant" (1 of 2)

8Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries.

At many places we come across a remnant. First we shall consider this verse taken from Isaiah. "Except theLordof hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah(Is.1:9)." Curiously enough the prophet is addressing the leaders of Israel thus:Hear the word of theLord, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. Disobedience is not about place names that shall be destroyed by fire and brimstone or by great flood. Now we shall consider this verse which is from the Book of Zechariah." And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith theLord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein./And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, TheLordis my God (Ze.13:8-9)".

The preceding verse is obviously about the Son of man: 'What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends'(v.6) should leave in our mind no doubt that the prophet is referring to the suffering and death of Jesus in the 'house of Israel'.

9And they that escape of you shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, which hath departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols: and they shall lothe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.

10And they shall know that I am theLord, and that I have not said in vain that I would do this evil unto them.

Ez.7:1-9 "An End"

Ezekiel as a watchman predicts an end to the abominations committed by the rebellious house of Israel. 'The end is come upon the four corners of the land' however is a signal that it is not the end of God's Mercy. However the remnant of them shall indeed is ahead, 'So the words 'and ye shall know that I am theLord' leave a door open for hope.

In the light of the above let us consider what Jerusalem would mean to the remnant,"...Of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified(Re.11:8)". We considered in a previous post on Sodom from the Book of Isaiah (1:9). Sodom as a place is finished. Yet Isaiah addresses the shakers and movers of Jerusalem with these words, "Hear the word of theLord, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah(v.10)". Sodom refers not to the place but unrighteous Israel and they shall not escape judgment. But God reserves a remnant so his Salvation Plan connects to the Lion of Judah and the branch, from the root of Jesse. The Son is the Rock of offense. No more Zion of old shall come to mind. Instead a spiritual Zion shall be rebuilt on the foundation of Jesus Christ." Afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city./Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness(Is.1:26-27)".

While we consider Judgment of God it is not the full end. He judged Egypt but did not the Children of Israel carry Egypt in their hearts when they murmured over manna day in and day out in the wilderness? "We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:/6But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes(Nu.11:5-6)".

Egypt as a place was finished as was Sodom. Jerusalem shall similarly follow their fate. But all these are in relation to the crucified Christ.

Ez.9: 1-6 " Mark Up" (2 of 2)

"Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river.

6And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?

7And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

8And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?(Dan.12:5-8)

Linen in the lexicon of the Spirit indicates the Son of man and here it refers to the church that had no righteousness of its own to speak of but it was allowed on account of the work of faith. 'for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. The angel who marks those who were to be preserved is similar to those on whose foreheads the name of the Father shall be written."Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb,standing on Mount Zion,and with him 144,000who had his name and his Father's namewritten on their foreheads(Re.14:1)".

He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.

2And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar.

"The higher gate on the north side"(v.2) refers to judgment and north here is not to be confused with cardinal direction as we use in normal sense.

Ez.9. "Mark up" (1 of 2)

Holiness of God is unchangeable. So we speak the word as eternal of which no iota or tittle shall be removed. The Word or the Law if cannot be enforced is deemed useless. When John saw the risen Christ he writes 'and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword:(v.16)'The word of God must be so sharp so it can upturn the soil of the heart so make the seed of gospel has the wherewithal to bear fruit.

When one is convicted of his sins it is not merely seeing his own state in a clear glass as it were, but also realizing his need for release from bondage. So the word of God is like a scalpel in cutting away the wounds in order to work healing. The writer to the Hebrews says, "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart(He.4:12)."

Seven Spirits of God ever burning before the throne are angels made spirits as emblem before the throne of God '4Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:(Ps.104:4). So seven lamps of fire burning before the throne signify Holiness of God shall be maintained forever. Power and glory of the Word ensure it from all injury. When we are shown various abominations being practiced behind a cloak of piety we may well appreciate what Ezekiel would have thought: it was in the justness of God to depart from there. "And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God(Re.4:5)".

The Spirit of Christ that worked with holy men of old (1 Pe.1:10-11) as well as the seven beings mentioned in this chapter are angelic beings. Among them the man in linen with the inkhorn is seen in the Book of Daniel

Ez.10:14-15 "Ox-face" (2 of 2)

The above passage refers to an earlier incident,"And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it./And the anger of theLordwas kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God(2 Sa.6:6-7)" The oxen did not make mistake. The Spirit through Isaiah tells that animals had a better understanding on the holiness of God. Balaam's ass showed better understanding when he saw the angel with a drawn sword barring passage.

The living creature assumed the appropriate aspect as the avenging angel.