Christian Life Page 13

Ez.10:14-15 "Ox-face" (1 of 2)

And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle./And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar.

In the opening chapter the living creature is shown having an ox-face,"As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle(1:10)". The Spirit in replacing the ox-face with cherub expressly tells two points.

Firstly the mission: Cherubim is part of the angelic host that jealously guard the Holiness of God, as two winged cherubs set up on either side of the mercy seat tell us. Emphasis is laid on the judgment of Israel about to begin with the temple.

Secondly this change from ox to cherub is accusatory and we shall consider this well known verse from the Book of Isaiah."3The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider(Is.1:3)". We have an instance when the Ark was being brought King David ill-advisedly put it in a cart against the command of God, specified in 1 Chr.15:12-14

"And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab,/And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of theLordGod of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it./For because ye did it not at the first, theLordour God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order./So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of theLordGod of Israel".

Ze.14:10 "From Gebba to Rimmon"

Geba is a hill , a Levitical city given to the tribe of Benjamin. Whereas Rimmon once again is associated with the tribe and it marks the rock into which the remnant of 600 Benjamites fled.(Jud.20:45). Seven thousand of them were slain meaning the tribe had been to all intent and purpose was annihilated. This 600 is a remnant and it also applies to the nation of Israel. When Jerusalem is ransacked totally, leaves yet 'and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city."(14:2). This is how God has willed and it was shown out true in the case the tribe of Benjamin. So shall be with the nation of Israel. Only they shall be brought into the body of Christ through much tribulation.

The remnant of the Tribe of Benjamin found a rock to hide themselves. But when the Day of wrath there shall be no escape. "And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places./And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:/For the great day of his wrath is come;"(Re.6:14-17)

"All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem" and it is no longer of literal Jerusalem but lifted up in-midair. New Jerusalem it is called. I will lift up mine eyes from whence cometh my help" (Ps.12:1). Here we have the Spirit using the place name associated with Israel in the context of eternity. A cataclysmic quake to throw the old city into stones of confusion seems in the offing.

Greetings in Christ JESUS

Brothers in Christ

Has eternal punishment begun? In fact it is already LITERALLY running.

It's very hard to understand and to say, but the Truth is that we have entered in the period of sorrows, a time of great sufferings until the END of this current world, and of the coming of JESUS as was prophesied since ancient time. JESUS warned that there shall be upon the earth distress of nations, and men's hearts failing them for fear looking those things which are coming on the earth- Luke 21:25-28-, and He Himself is already executing His prophetic words, understand?

Be sure that as was prophesied by the prophets, and the Apostles, and above all by our Lord JESUS, the ETERNAL punishment had a specific and pre-determined period of time to start, I MUST tell it has already started and we are in the transition from the period of sorrows to the period of ETERNAL chastisement is without a gap, is sequential, there will not be a gap between these two terrible events, the question is that it will NEVER END, it will NEVER STOP, it will be for ever ande ever.

Get ready, get ready

Ez.6:1-7 "Rock of offense" (2 of 2)

God has thrown His protective ring about His people. In the context of everlasting covenant we know is 'from henceforth even for ever. Christ as the Rock of Ages for His people is for eternity. "Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King(Ps.48:2)" Similar to other instances we have the Spirit using the place name associated with Israel in the context of eternity.

We have everlasting covenant and also eternal word. The Holy Spirit in organizing the narrative of Core Will must choose literary means to make it meaningful for man. Thus his Salvation covers all creation. When man is viewed in the image of God his glory covers not only man but also his world. Similarly judgment for the disobedient is not only on man but also his world.

When the Spirit sets these into a narrative mode God sends Man having both deity as well as humanity. So the begotten Son is in relation to God the Father. The Spirit makes him bread from heaven and it has its match in Bethlehem or House of Bread. St Paul qualifies Christ as the spiritual Rock. "for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ(1 Co.10:4)". Christ as the Rock we shall come across many other places, St Paul speaks of the children of Israel slaking their thirst from the Rock that followed them Here in this verse from St Peter we read,"And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence,even to themwhich stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed(1 Pe.2:8)".

Ez.6:1-7 "Rock of offense" (1 of 2)

"And the word of theLordcame unto me, saying,/Son of man, set thy face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them,/And say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LordGod; Thus saith the LordGodto the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valley"(vv.1-3)

"Ye mountains of Israel" to the valley are to be understood spiritually, signifying from the highborn to the lowest of the low."Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain." (Ze.4:7) is a classic example. Christ is a great leveller and he is rock of offense.

Mind of God while dealing with His creation and with earth has a focus, the Son. Whoever thus has the Son has also the Father."He that hath the Son hath life;andhe that hath not the Son of God hath not life(1 John5:12). Apostle John in another place says,'the wrath of God' abides in such a person(Jn.3:36). In short Core Will of God carries Salvation as well as judgment.

The Spirit in order to reveal this truth makes use of natural world so symbolism makes Christ Jesus as the spiritual Rock as well as a Rock of offense. Prophet Ezekiel draws on this analogy and also we find Daniel using Jesus as the stone cut without hands while interpreting the dream of the king.St Paul speaks of the children of Israel slaking their thirst from the Rock that followed them Here in this verse from St Peter we read,"And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence,even to themwhich stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed(1 Pe.2:8)".

So Rock in the parlance of the spirit as in the case of bread and water carry much more than objects themselves. How does the Spirit indicate God's Mercy and providence for His people? We came across this verse before,"As the mountainsareround about Jerusalem, so the LORDisround about his people from henceforth even for ever(125:2)." Here we are looking at one level how Jerusalem is situated.

Ez.5:12-18 (2 of 2) "Pestilence, Famine and Sword"

By law of Gradation judgment of God are graded and set under appropriate horses color coded. But the vital point is that the Angel of his presence with the bow representing the glory of God shall restrain these from going rogue. In short the Lord God executes judgment only according to what they deserve.

As a sign Ezekiel had to shave his head indicating the glory of the Lord has deserted them. Exiles under Assyria and Babylon came in waves culminating in the Roman occupation of Palestine. Jerusalem was depopulated and their temple was razed to the ground in AD 70. On the day of Pentecost the outpouring of the Holy Spirit St Peter explained the significance of it,"And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:(Ac.2:17). When the risen Christ sends his angels to collect the saints it is for New Jerusalem and the law shall go out of Zion from the new."And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem(Is.2:3)".

Ez.6:12-18 (1 of 2)

Pestilence, Famine and Sword

Judgment of God that was to come was determined not because of the sin of Israel but for man's disobedience. We shall understand it from the four horsemen of Apocalypse, which is a misconception bandied about in popular culture. While the Lamb breaks the seven seals in the Book of the Revelation it is the four beasts seated before the throne of heaven who explain one after the other and who are these horsemen?

They are proceeding from heaven signifying all the calamities that were to descend on the earth have been foreknown but the horse in white and the rider on the bow indicate God is totally in control. "And he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer (Re.6:2)" Having understood the living creatures mentioned in the first chapter of Ezekiel let us refresh our minds. They represent the angel of his presence and the hand of man each creature had signifies their authority came from the Son. The Spirit of Christ in the Vision of John is shown as a rider on the white horse and what is the bow? "As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord"(Ez.1:28).

The fourth horse carries Death."And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth(Re.6:8). The number Four establishes these riders are sent to the earth. So all pestilence (beasts of the earth), famine (hunger) and war (indicated by the sword) set out. By law of Gradation judgment of God are graded and set under appropriate horses color coded. But the vital point is that the Angel of his presence with the bow representing the glory of God shall restrain three.

Ez.5:8-11 "Judgment of God"

In order to set Judgment of God in proper perspective we need to keep in mind the Fellowship of God with Man is the driver that keeps judgment of God alongside the Salvation Plan of God. When He judges man as in the case of ten plagues we are told that animals also were affected by it. ".a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast(Ex.9:10). By Association judgment is executed upon man and his world.

In this context when God says "And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.(Ex.25:8)" We have an emblem of which set in heaven. The four beasts with six wings is a memorial before God. The same arrangement is continued in the four living creatures that play a part in the Book of Ezekiel. These are sent from heaven and they reveal as well as execute judgment from time to time.

In these chapters we are considering judgment on the rebellious house of Israel and the city of Jerusalem in particular. God judged Sodom; so was Egypt judged,- and the slaughter of the firstborn was a consequence of it. Weighing in balance is the emblem of the Lamb slain before the worlds began (Re.13:8) and the everlasting covenant. So mercy and Judgement go hand in hand. Holiness of God sums up his Love Mercy Truth and when God sends in fullness of time His Son it is with a view to create a body that we know is the Church of the firstborn. "To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect (He.11:23)",

God has foreknown them and the blessings He promised through Abraham covers all families of the earth and not merely Israel. In order to make this clear we have this image of the tabernacle or New Jerusalem descending from heaven. So this is as different from Jerusalem on earth. This is what the writer to the Hebrews means.

Ez.6:4 "Fire and Sword"

'Three fold judgment covers body represented by hair, the spirit (wind) and soul(fire)''. We shall examine the aspect of fire further.

We have an incident in the life of Jesus when the Samaritans made little of receiving him and John and his brother responded in a manner that invited rebuke from their master. "And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?55But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of(Lk.9:54-55).

Spirit when was given as promised by Jesus after his Ascension it came as many tongues of fire. It is a sign of God's judgment and it shall be as and when God determines. Fire in the present case was to be done before the other captives and the judgment of Jerusalem was what Ezekiel had to impress upon them. Elijah was a double for the Son and so was Ezekiel. In the following chapters we shall see from whence fire would come.

We shall come across the living creatures again and while the glory of God presides over

"Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubims; then he went in, and stood beside the wheels./And one cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubims unto the fire that was between the cherubims, and took thereof, and put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen: who took it, and went out./And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man's hand under their wings(10:6-8).

Angel of his presence represented by the man's hand hands out the fire that shall engulf the rebellious house.. This is how the lock of hair reserved by Ezekiel would bring in. The prophet used the barber's razor and the sword of the Lord shall surely validate the prophet's action.

Ez.5:1-5 "Three-fold Judgment"

Ezekiel was required to weigh the hair in a balance that would have made him a spectacle among other captives.".. For we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men(1 Co.4:9)".

Ezekiel was required to weigh the hair in a balance that would have made him a spectacle among other captives.".. For we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men(1 Co.4:9)".

Ezekiel on dividing the hair in three parts, did as was commanded by God. Similar to what Moses did in the land of Egypt- 'a third part thou shalt scatter in the wind"And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast(Ex.19:8). The wind carries the judgment of God. Pandemic also works similarly and plague of locusts as we have seen in instances around us, can lead to famine. Pandemic in the present crisis kill of 100,000 + Why speak of culture wars when depopulated nations cannot sustain economic levels they enjoyed earlier? Famine is judgment on body and spirit is another. "For thereof shall a fire come forth into all the house of Israel (v,3)" It springs forth from the hair the Prophet had reserved in the hem of his tunic. For all the insults and injuries dealt out to God's poor and disenfranchised children reserves a day of reckoning."For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her(Ze. 2:5).

Three fold judgment covers body represented by hair, the spirit (wind) and soul(fire).'.

Hair represents glory and honour for natural man. The Spirit uses Absalom and Samson for example and we shall consider in this case why God wanted Ezekiel to use a sharp knife so 'I will draw out a sword after them'. "The hoary headisa crown of glory,ifit be found in the way of righteousness" (Pr.16:31) and another, the beauty of old menisthe gray head (Pr.20:29)

Ez.6:1-14 Know the Lord"

"And ye shall know that I am theLord" is the key verse for our meditation. Ezekiel like Isaiah was to warn the house of Israel where lay the fault. Judgement was coming and Ezekiel as the watchman had to warn them and make them change their ways before it was too late.

Son of man, set thy face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them,

3And say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LordGod; Thus saith the LordGodto the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys; Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places.

Nations round about Israel are compared figuratively to mountains. By the same token movers and shakers of his time are mountains of Israel. God's judgment falling upon them bring in for judgment upon their way of life. (v.6) In their idols and images we have a clue what went wrong. "Every man is brutish inhisknowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten imageisfalsehood, andthere isno breath in them.: ( Je. 10:14)"

In contrast we have the key to knowledge: "The fear of the LORDisthe beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holyisunderstanding (Pro.9:10). God's protection ought to have been their refuge but Israel instead chose the foolish path by serving pagan gods of nations that surrounded them. "As the mountainsareround about Jerusalem, so the LORDisround about his people from henceforth even for ever(Ps.125:2)." We have David's prayer,"Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thouartmy rock and my fortress(71:3)".

Ez.5:9-17 "I, The Lord have spoken it"

"Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me".

The Spirit while organizing it sets the period and speech as directly coming from God so seven days indicates more than number of days and 'therefore hear the word at my mouth' carries more than what it merely says. Seven denotes period for the message to be fully understood and the second which is formula we have come across at several places in its various forms. It refers to where it comes from and not to be taken literally. So Ezekiel's trust must be complete; consequently the message is to be delivered to the recipient without any dilution or addition on his part. The principle is same as Jesus said, "For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you(Matt.10:20; Lk 12:12).

We have another example of the prayer of Jonah from the belly of the great fish, It is as finished in its composition and as in the manner the fish obeys the Lord God.."And theLordspake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land( Jonah 2:10)". It is the Spirit that helps with our infirmities and God the Spirit shall know when we pray in distress as Hannah prayer was heard, though out of intense distress no word would come out of her. Young Samuel was the proof that God heard her cry. He fully appreciates our circumstances. In this present crisis it is He who tracks and checks you so you shall not come to harm. Similarly when God chooses you for His ministry he knows how to get the best out of you. So Moses would serve His purpose as Jeremiah did. His tender age was no excuse. When the Lord Almighty has foreknown you and formed and shaped your world to which you enter as His watchman and as a sign are we to fool around with people who despise things of the Spirit?.

Ezekiel had a task however unpleasant it was between God and him. He was under the burden.

Ez.5:5-8 "This is Jerusalem" (2 of 2)

ncluding 'they also which pierced him.'(Re.1:7) The Jews would not hear of the offer of Pilate, instead,"When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucifyhim, crucifyhim. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucifyhim: for I find no fault in him( John 19:4-6)".

Jerusalem as it is inhabited now is more of controversy and what is occupying all their attention: How to divide Jerusalem into two states? These are spiritually wilderness that is fit for wild asses and satyrs. Isaiah hits their problem right on spot,"But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he(the Lord) shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness(Is.34:11)".

"And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.(Is.25:7)" So where shall Messiah-King set up his Millennial Reign? As mentioned in the quote from Hosea it shall be latter days. The Church redeemed from the earth as in the Vision of the Woman clothed with the Son (Re.12) is represented by 144,000 mentioned in Revelation 14. They are on Mount Sion seen standing with the Lamb. Gentile Nations and the remnant of the Jews who are genuinely contrite over having rejected their Savior draw to the risen Christ and flock towards him. The Vail that is spread over the nations shall be lifted.

"Thus saith the LordGod; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her./And she hath changed my judgments into wickedness more than the nations, and my statutes more than the countries that are round about her: for they have refused my judgments and my statutes, they have not walked in them."(vv.5-6)

"Therefore thus saith the LordGod; Behold, I, even I, am against thee, and will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of the nations."(v.8)

Ez.5:5-8 "This is Jerusalem" (1 of 2)

There is a literal Jerusalem, and as mentioned in the Book of the Revelation a Jerusalem spiritually called many other cities. In short literal Jerusalem and New Jerusalem, which is to be understood spiritually are entirely consistent with the Salvation Plan of God.

When John narrates the Vision of Two Witnesses gives synonym of this great city of David with this clue, 'where also our Lord was crucified'. In rejecting the Son who was sent from God the nation of Israel brought judgment upon the city. First we shall consider the quote, "And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified(Re.11:8)". Jerusalem as of old is finished. Jesus before his passion says in no uncertain terms,"For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessedishe that cometh in the name of the Lord(Matt.23:39). Perhaps question arises,'Is not the present state of Israel fulfillment of prophecies of old? The prophet Hosea refers to this,"For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, andwithoutteraphim:/Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days(Hos.3:4-5)."

In order to set the sequence of events leading to their realization in proper order we have this word of our Savior Lord "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory(Matt.24:30-31)". We have another verse to consider,"Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him(Re.1:7).

Ez.5:1-4 "A Third Part" (2 of 2)

Here we see judgment of God in terms of the spirit. In order to show this difference we have the Spiritual Rock Christ following the Israelites in the wilderness. Babylon exile as with diaspora after the destruction of Jerusalem completes judgment of the nations- Egypt and Jerusalem thus represent body and spirit. Literal Jerusalem as the city of God is over. Instead New Jerusalem represents the soul. Jesus has completed the mandate given by his Father.( Psalms 2 and 110 make it clear the seat for Messiah is on the Mount that is not any literal place but of the new earth. It must occur before the great tribulation and at the end satan shall be loosed for a brief period- and from then on events move very swiftly to the Judgment and the Marriage of the Lamb.

'Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.' David predicts Millennial Reign of his Lord from New Jerusalem. (He appears in mid-air and gathers his saints). These large movements of the Jews and the Gentiles constitute God's promise to Abraham (Ge.12:3) becoming fulfilled.

God commands Ezekiel to shave his head and beard, signifies that he is shorn of his glory. As a watchmen what he speaks is as though coming from Him(4:2). As a sign what he does symbolically is underwritten by God,'and I will draw out a sword after them(v.2).

In 4:7 we came across this line,'and thine arm shall be uncovered' while he prophesies to them, to indicate his helplessness in the iniquity of them. God shall avenge him which is made clear by vv.3-4. Shall not God avenge His children who cry unto him against those powers-that-be who think they are expendable on account of their color or station in life? Israel is a stand-in for many other nations. 'and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire; for thereof shall a fire come forth into all the house of Israel(v.4).

Ez.5:1-4 "A Third Part " (1 of 2)

What is a third part? In the lexicon of the Spirit number Three refers to the Son. The third refers to the tripartite nature of man,body soul and spirit. In his human likeness he was identical with man in all aspects but without sin. In the Book of the Revelation also we come across it in connection with the seven angels with the seven trumpets (Re.8). In the Book of Ezekiel we read thus "...Divide the hair./Thou shalt burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled: and thou shalt take a third part, and smite about it with a knife: and a third part thou shalt scatter in the wind; and I will draw out a sword after them(5:1-2)."

The three refers to Trinity and when we translate it in terms of judgment we are looking at sin of rebellion in terms of body, spirit and soul. In Torah we have tetragrammaton which when transliterated is YHWH. It is written without vowels, Trinity is somewhat similar. When we consider the Lord Almighty he is expressed as the Father, the Son who is he but the Great Shepherd of souls, and the Holy Ghost.

In an earlier post we mentioned that God forbade Isaac from going to Egypt as his father did in the time of famine. God allowed Abraham to go since it was the necessity of his body. Similarly it was self preservation that necessitated the flight to Egypt surrounding the birth of Jesus. This was predicted by prophet( Hosea 11:1)

How did children of Israel end up in Egypt? In the eyes of God what the patriarchs did to Joseph was sin against his father Jacob. The nation of Israel had to be delivered from Egypt as a synonym for sin. It was against the spirit and crossing the red sea would be in the larger picture of Salvation Plan of God a sacrament, of dying to sin in body. The deliverance of Israelites under the hand of Moses(faithful in all his house) is like a kangaroo word and the Spirit sets him a double for Jesus 'over his own house.'

Ez.4:13-18 "Wages of Sin"

"And theLordsaid, Even thus shall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread among the Gentiles, whither I will drive them." (v.13)

Here the parable of the Prodigal Son comes to mind. Far away from his father's the son is reduced to eat the husks given to the swines. Diaspora of Jews exposed them to alien customs and their traditions. Defiled bread is like the catch in the Parable of the Dragnet. the bad will be thrown away.

What a terrible thing to feel hungry despite of just having had a square meal? Body craves for nourishment may be it is on account of some ailment that body cannot absorb food. We have seen patients with Bulimea, it is a disorder. In terms of spiritual ailment what is an addiction? Your craving for drugs for instance goes deeper than your need for it.

In a permissive society love of man and woman does not satisfy; experimenting before marriage does not prepare the spouse to find happiness; the more they seek it the end leaves them much worse. Wages of sin simply debases the user and the used. The exiled nation would consume away for their iniquity without addressing their rebellious nature.

Isaiah would say, "Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward./Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint./From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment./Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.(Is.1:4-7)

Ez.4:5-13 "What Defiles a man?-2

The division of scribes and Pharisees merely created tradition for the Jew to observe. Did it make them perfect? As Jesus would observe, "All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.'For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers (Matt.23:3-4)". Law and traditions of man in themselves did not have power to restore fellowship with God. So Jesus excused the disciples who did not wash their hands before eating, "Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.(Matt.15:11)" Later he explained it to his disciples thus,"Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?/But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man./For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:These are the things which defile a man: (vv.17-20)"

Ezekiel was a watchman and a sign. The sign still is as forceful now as was then. We do not know how the people took to the prophet eating defiled food. In the age where the billionaires are spared from paying taxes we see the poor scavenging. Sin has given mind its numbness, it would seem.

Ez.4:5-13 "What defiles a man?"

God first commanded Ezekiel to serve as a sign and he was to lie on his left side and on his right side for the iniquity of Israel and Judah respectively. Period also is specified, 'and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year(v.6)

He was to be rendered immobile 'till thou hast ended the days of thy siege.'. What had he to do with the siege of Jerusalem? Collective sin of Israel and Judah however exacted its toll on him. Similarly why are we held accountable for the weird climate and global warming despite of being conscious of environment and conservation? Nations who destroyed it for quick profits and continue to do with impunity shall go on from bad to verse. Every citizen as Ezekiel in his day was powerless. So siege of Jerusalem is a sign that judgment of God shall surely descend on them. Their reliance on wealth shall be plundered and it cast to the four winds as it were.

God set a diet for Ezekiel in which barley cakes baked 'with dung that cometh out of man, in their sight./And theLord said, Even thus shall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread among the Gentiles, whither I will drive them(vv.12-13).

Have we not seen something similar becoming familiar? We are computer savvy but are we good at separating facts from alternate facts? Do we not see people figuratively gobbling up fake news and misinformation peddled through Social Media platforms? It is moral filth coming out of man.

Tradition gave scribes and Pharisees a stick to beat Jesus with. He knew no sin and did no sin but the tradition of man leveled charge "Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread."

What was law they made much of? For example the question of divorce as instituted by the Law of Moses merely arose because of sin. Jesus explained, "because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives."

Ez.4:1-4 "Sign"

What is the role of man in the creative Will of God?

He is a sign which is understood as naturally represented in the Fellowship of God with Man. As an emblem of it in the Book of the Revelation we see four beasts and twenty-four elders seated about the throne set in heaven. These serve as memorial to the Creative Wisdom and Power of God. Whereas man and other creation serve as the reality of the divine Will on the earth. It marks peace with God. "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth(Ge.1:28)".Everlasting covenant between God and Man covers both heaven and the earth.

The angel of his presence is a sign as to God's sovereignty is not only over man but also his world. The living creature that is introduced in the Book of Ezekiel brings that to our mind. Living creature symbolized the place of man in context of other creation where he was the steward. For this reason ox, eagle lion represented man as representation of the Man in the Fellowship of God. The Spirit uses Adam as a representational figure. "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)"It is connected to Jesus Christ,"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous(5:19)".

God sets Ezekiel as His watchman and as a sign. God sets Ezekiel as His watchman and as a sign. The Spirit also tells how we are to consider our days. As expressions day and night, evening and morning as mentioned in the creation account shall have their own meaning."Lie thou also upon thy left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it: according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon it thou shalt bear their iniquity."(v.4)

Ez.3:24-27 "Lock-down"

In this age of pandemic a term like lockdown is as familiar but was as least understood at the time of Ezekiel. . God commands Ezekiel, 'Go, shut thyself within thine house.' Why Ezekiel had to suffer for the sin of rebellion that characterized the house of Israel? One answer is the nature of sin. It is an insult to the Holiness of God. God is long-suffering but that does not mean He is not taking counter measures to combat it. Secondly one always has to pay for sin of others. Towards this God had already prepared a body. The begotten Son explains it. Before his advent God raises people to control the spread virus and at times root out clusters of it. Herd immunity is achieved by partial judgments.

After the revolt of Korah and Dathan God commands Aaron thus:"You are to be responsible for the care of the sanctuary and the altar,so that my wrath will not fall on the Israelites again.6I myself have selected your fellow Levites from among the Israelites as a gift to you,dedicated to theLord to do the work at the tent of meeting.(Nu.18:5-6) Significant is this line,'so that my wrath will not fall on the Israelites.' They were a gift to the people. God is particular as who should be double for his Son. He is the Mediator, High Priest and the Apostle. Whosoever chosen by God had to be by law of Gradation compatible. In the following verse he says, 'I myself have selected your fellow Levites from among the Israelites as a gift to you,dedicated to theLord to do the work." They were to work and intercession meant he has a new motto: 'God works hitherto and so I work. It is life of faith or total surrender.

"And he saw thatthere wasno man, and wondered thatthere was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him(Is.59:16)".Why there was no intercessor? What answer shall modern Christianity give?

Ez.3:16-23 "Fall on my face"

hen I arose, and went forth into the plain: and, behold, the glory of theLord stood there, as the glory which I saw by the river of Chebar: and I fell on my face.

Here v.23 ends with the expression 'fell on my face' on beholding the glory of God. It is significant we have the same expression coming at the end of the first chapter where he on witnessing the glory of God falls down ."This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake(1:28)".

When the risen Christ reveals to John we read a similar expression, 'And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead (Re.1:17).' The vision of God that Isaiah saw in the year that King Uzziah died was no less impressive but the vision crushes him,'Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts(Is.6:5)".

When God takes over the life of man there is no face to save. King Saul after becoming an enemy of God requires Old Samuel to walk with him while people are looking. So he has sense of royal dignity to save. Is it not how some behave after having made a shipwreck of their faith lives? They still for the grandstand have something to show: shake their prosperity as reward for their services to God. How clever? Saul began well but in harboring implacable hatred and jealousy he backslid from God. It is true in our times.

There is no yea and no with God. Either your heart is entirely given to do His bidding or none at all. Total surrender is total sanctification which in the case of Ezekiel makes him 'fall on his face.'

It is what faith does. Its effect is total. So whether it is mind's eye or physical vision in question faith cannot be divided from the heart. Flesh profits nothing so the glory of God when seen must draw the entire body to respond.

Ez.3:10-15 "Led by the Spirit"

God is speaking to us this very day, "unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the LordGod; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear." Ezekiel was only required to receive it in faith 'that in the parlance of the Spirit has this phrase,'in thine heart, and hear with thine ears.' Compare with the Spirit's expression at the end of each message to the seven churches in Asia minor.'He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches (Re.2:7)'

This message is the testimony of Jesus Christ Jesus Christ sent to the angel of the church of Ephesus. Having become familiar with the living creatures what does this expression of angel signify? Is it not the Angel of his Presence or the spirit of Christ? When we read these expressions we need understand faith is the currency on which messages of God are tendered and received. No other.

Vv. 12-15Consider these expressions,'Then the spirit took me up' and 'So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away,' and these shows he was led by the Spirit and not any miraculous transportation in spirit. Jesus was led by the Spirit before he was fully ready to begin his ministry. Forty days is an indication of preparation that we see after he was risen as well. 'Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil (Matt.4:1)".

In the episode of Evangelist Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch the Spirit took the initiative. "Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot(Ac.8:29). At the end we are told,"The Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing./But Philip was found at Azotus:(8:39-40)" It does not profit us to read into lines not intended by the Spirit so we may assume Philip was led by the Spirit and he did all was told in faith. Travel plans of personages are not the main point but instruction in righteousness.

Ez.3:1-11 "One Language Two Continents"

House of Israel was one entity because of the language they spoke was common. But here from what God tells the prophet it is clear that absence of faith was the root cause. Because of their disbelief they were split every one as two continents. On one level every one was connected with the other by a common language. Their speech did not help the state of their heart. In departing from God they demonstrated their heart was evil with disbelief. As writer to the Hebrews said,"They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways (He.3:10-12)."Their speech was merely adequate to feed and satisfy the requirements of flesh and blood; but in persisting backsliding heart revealed it was not at rest with the body. In short body was at odds with the spirit.

When God commands Ezekiel,"Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel we know already what it carried. It was full of woe and lamentations.

"So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. 'Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.' Prophet Ezekiel would indeed taste it as such because he received his word in faith and his command, "Son of man, all my words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine ears". For those whose heart was astir because of disbelief shall resist him as they resisted Moses earlier and even wanted to stone him. His task was to warn them in all seriousness and leave it at that.

"For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God (He.7:19). This better hope required faith by which they could cleave unto God. St Paul explains it "But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members(Ro.7:23)".

Ez.2:8-10 "Written within and without" (2 of 2)

"a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits./Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it (Ze.5:2-3)". Curse for stealing is written on one side whereas for swearing is limited to the other side. By the same rationale when it is made into a book or folded up what is written on the within and without are about different things.

It is as different as clean plates without and unclean within; similarly white sepulchres holding rotting bones and flesh within. "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness(Matt.23;27)". The Book with seven seals was similar to the roll: "And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals(Re.5:1).As each seal is broke open woeful events are rolled out which is more in keeping with God's judgment on Israel.

But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.

9And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein;

10And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.

Ez.2:8-10 "Written within and without" (1 of 2)

In order to have an insight into the narrative mode of the Spirit we shall begin with examples. He organizes the narrative arc from the stand point of the divine Will and How it is accomplished. When a hand writes on the Wall judgment is executed the same night. "And this is the writing that was inscribed: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin (Dan.5:25)," and it is done,"That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed (Dan.5:30-ESV)". So God sent the hand that wrote the inscription (v.24). In short the visual sign of the hand is the judgment part of divine Will.

From John's Gospel we are told that "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:( John 5:22)" Having said this let us go back to the vision concerning the living creatures. "And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides;(1:8)" What does the hand of the angel of his presence indicate? Judgment on disobedient whether north south, east or west shall be equal. God is no respecter of persons. (Ro.2:11). No an hand was sent unto me. It holds out a roll of book or a scroll.

In v.10 we read thus:"And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe."In the Book of Zechariah we are given the Vision of a Flying Roll.

Ez.2:5-8 "Of Whose are we?

Here we have a terrible indictment coming from God at a nation whom He had once qualified as His Firstborn. It is how God wanted his servant Moses to introduce them as His people to Pharaoh. 'They are a rebellious house' and God wants them to be shown what they had become. It was the task of Ezekiel to speak his words and serve as a sign as well as suffer personally for their sins. Social distancing during the pandemic became mandatory. Rebelling against sensible laws set in place for order and safety, for public good is to be blamed. They are in fact rebelling against God.

Without ensuring faith of theIn the following verse we have this line,"Sothe LORD alone did lead him, andthere was no strange god with him(v.12)."God as the Maker of the heaven and the earth has placed man in His house. Moses was faithful and his role was as one entrusted with the upkeep of it. "For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God./ And Moses verily was faithful in all his house(He.3:4-5), From the Book of Moses the Lord alone did lead him shows the nature of faith and it was pretty obvious from his infancy so much so the writer to the Hebrews testifies thus,"By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;(He.11:24)" So what proves your antecedents that you belong to the House of God? Is it not faith?

Every verse here God repeats their rebellious character. In their bondage He had respect and concern. He gave them commandments and delivered them with a mighty hand from a furnace that the land of Egypt had become ."As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings(De.32:11)":

5And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.

Ez.2:1-4 "Son of man"

Here we have the Gospel and its role in the frame of reference which is Fellowship of God with Man. It is established by Law. It is eternally enshrined in the heavens (Ps.119:89)

Jesus called him by preference as Son of man. When he comes into the house of Zacchaeus what does he say? "This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham./For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost( Luke 19:10)" The house of the man, of a tax-collector is a microcosm for the world. Jesus had no place to lay his head, just as well. Any home that opened the doors to him received the Son sent by his Father. John 3:16. Zacchaeus despised by the Jews is a case in point. The Spirit one might say is the driver of the gospel. The Spirit supplies each component in the mechanism of the earth (a house to live in.') God is the Maker of heaven and the earth and His visions ought to convince us the House is very much lived in. God uses the vision to impress Ezekiel upon His sovereignty. Just as the Spirit reins in living creature in such least reducible world of motion voice of speech supplied by the Lord God control the history of mankind. The Gospel is the gospel of reconciliation as well as serves judgment upon the disobedient. So gospel is as the writer to the Hebrews would say, "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)".

When God addresses the prophet as Son of man the same title the Son shall use when the time comes therefore by law of Gradation is a stand-in for every believer.

And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee.

2And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me.

Ez.14:16-20 "Arise, Shine Forth"

In vv.16-20 The Spirit lays stress on three names, as exemplars of righteousness. They lived in faith despite of the circumstances.

"Noah found grace in the eyes of theLord./....Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God(Ge.6:8-9)". He lived at a time when it was not different from what we are living. Truth is alternate truth and revising reality to buttress the wicked ideology is same as those who lived when 'the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually(v.6:5)'. Their culture wars was muck that a great flood simply washed away. At such a time Noah condemned them by patiently deepening his faith. The ark that he built was a sign.

Daniel was in exile but he would not defile himself with the royal dishes offered to their gods. So God gave him gifts and grace to live among them. He interpreted dreams of his royal master but in order to be faithful he relied on the Wisdom of God. He was righteous in his generation. Job despite of his losses clung to God in order to place his life in its proper context. "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee./Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes( Job 42:5-6)". He realized wealth or lack of it along with whatever the flesh stands for is trifle to the knowledge of God from hearing and seeing. What is hearing but the Word and what is seeing but end of our faith, salvation? Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.(Is.60:1)"

Their righteousness delivered them. And God was justified in exacting vengeance on the wicked as we shall see with our own eyes God judging every ungodliness.'And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord God

Ez.14:12-15 "Take Three" (2 of 2)

"That her land may be desolate from all that is therein, because of the violence of all them that dwell therein(12:18-19)"

14:14-16

Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the LordGod./If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts:/Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the LordGod, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate.

Each saint is set as a sign for his generation. In serving God faithfully shall deliver his souls. There is no second term. It is the reason why the writer to the Hebrews warned,"For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,/But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries./He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: /Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?(He.10:26-29)"

Jesus died for our sins once thereafter God has set him above every other name and as the co-heir of the kingdom of God. It would presumptuous for any man to think he can after deliberately sinning find grace. In doing so we tempt God.

Noah Job Daniel are all stand -in for Jesus as the Son. Who are Noah,Daniel and Job? Are they not our teachers?"And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:(Is.30:20)"