Ezekiel
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The chapter you were reading (chap 19), is just a small section of Ezekiel's prophecies against Judah & Jerusalem (actually from chapter 4 to chapter 24), & it is understood that Ezekiel gave these prophetical warnings (in these chapters) prior to the fall of Jerusalem, reminding his fellow captives (even as Ezekiel was one of them) that God's Judgement on the city & Temple was certain.
When you get to chapters 25 to 32, Ezekiel prophesies against the Gentile nations, that God's Judgement was also coming upon them; but there was still hope for Israel (chapters 33 to 38) & of course this newly revived Israel's role in the coming Millennial Kingdom of their Messiah (chapters 40 to 48). This is just a very brief outline to help you divide the Book & see to whom God is speaking to and of God's Promise that God will "save my flock...will set up one shepherd over them...even my servant David...And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it" ( Ezekiel 34:22-24; referring to their coming Messiah Jesus, son of David (a term that some Jews knew of the Messiah referred to in the Old Testament, Matthew 21:15 & others).
So, when you write, "...it says that we are looking at it is happening today", I'm unsure what you are supposed to be reading in that chapter or the book that indicates this - maybe the problem lies here in that message.
I may be different, but in my understanding of the Bible, I approach scripture simply and do not try to complicate things with preconceived ideas and let the Bible and the Holy Spirit do the interpretation. To me, a symbol will have a non-symbolic meaning.
A symbol represents something real, a real person, a real thing, or a historical event. When I read, I understand words in a literal sense first, then in a figurative or spiritual sense if the literal doesn't make sense.
Are the Christians now the Israel of God? Have the promises to Israel and the church merged into one common heritage? If so that brings up.
Will the promise of the land given to Abraham's seed, Isaac then Jacob be fulfilled? Isaiah 11:11-12 Ezekiel 37:21-25 Jeremiah 24:5-6 Ezekiel 34:11-12 Ezekiel 36:24-26 Hosea 3:4-5 Micah 4:6-7 Zechariah 13:8-9
Will Jesus the Messiah return and reign on the earth, with a rod of iron? Isaiah 2:1-4 Isaiah 11:1-4 Daniel 2:44 Daniel 7:14 Zechariah 14:1-4 Jeremiah 3:17 Revelation 2:26-27 Revelation 11:15 Revelation 12:5 Revelation 19:11-21.
Will there be a literal millennium during which Satan will not deceive the nations and Christ will reign on earth? Revelation 20:1-6 2 Timothy 2:11-12 Isaiah 2:2-4 Isaiah 11:5-16 Isaiah 65:19-25 Isaiah 51:4-5 Zechariah 14:16-21 Micah 4:1-4 Psalms 46:7-11 Matthew 19:28.
To me there are too many scriptures that are showing God has not replaced Israel with the Church. We see in Romans 11:24-27 a day when God will again turn to Israel, the day Jesus returns. Forgive me if some of the scriptures do not fit.
God bless,
RLW
Not sure if this is exactly what you are looking for but here's a few of many references of a future Kingdom here on earth.
Revelation 5:10
And have made us kings and priests to our God;
AND WE SHALL REIGN ON THE EARTH.
Psalm 2:6-8
"Yet I have set My King
On My holy hill of Zion." "I will declare the decree:
The LORD has said to Me,
'You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
Daniel 2:34-35
You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and FILLED THE WHOLE EARTH.
Zechariah 14:9-11.
Zechariah 14:16-19
And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain. If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the LORD strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
Matthew 6:10
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
"ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN."
Matthew 5:5.
Matthew 25:31-34.
Isaiah 2:2.
Jeremiah 30:10.
Ezekiel 34:25-31.
Daniel 2:44.
Micah 4:1-2.
Zechariah 8:1-3.
Revelation 11:5.
God bless you.
Goodnight.
I agree with what you stated.
"Do I need to get baptized along with trusting in Jesus to be saved?
Yes, by the Holy Spirit, not by water:"
Let's look upon another quote of yours concerning those who which the law was given. "Israel."
In Matthew 15:24 Jesus said "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel".
This was not an outright rejection of the Gentiles.
"Moments later, He heals the woman's daughter" but this was a fulfillment of prophecy, a setting of priorities, and a test of the woman's faith.
In Jeremiah 50:6, God calls Israel His people and "lost sheep."
The Messiah, spoken of throughout the Old Testament, was seen as the one who would gather these "lost sheep"
Ezekiel 34:23-24 Micah 5:4-5.
When Jesus presented Himself as a shepherd to Israel, He was claiming to be the fulfillment of Messianic prophecy
Mark 6:34, 14:27. John 10:11-16.
He is simply connecting His presence with God's purpose in Old Testament history. Christ was "born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law"
Galatians 4:4-5.
John the baptist was his forerunner who came in the office of Elisha to prepare the way. Malachi 4:4-6.
This was the baptism of John.
Acts 19:4. "This baptism was only for Israel." John was preparing the way!
Christ has not yet given charge to his disciples to go out to the ends of the earth to "IDENTIFY/BAPTIZE" the Gentiles with the gathered sheep of Israel.
In-fact he didn't send them until AFTER he died on the cross and rose from the dead to atone for the sins of the whole world.
All the offerings and ordinances was a foreshadow of things to come.
Colossians 2:13-17.
Hebrews 10:1-10.
God bless and
Goodnight.
Part 4.
In Revelation 19:17-21 you see the parallel verse " Where the eagles gather as mentioned in
Matthew 24:28.
No mention of the removal of saints. If the saints were raptured and everyone else cast into hell and this is the last day on earth as you presented Who's going to populate the Millennium?
In Revelation 20 you see the Millennium reign of Christ and the great white throne judgment.
Let's use Daniel 12:13 you provided to see who the elect is in these scriptures.
Daniel 12:1-2 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for THE CHILDREN OF THY PEOPLE: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time THY PEOPLE shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Who's Daniels people? Israel.
Who's gathered from the four corners of the earth? Israel.
Isaiah 11:9-12.
Ezekiel 34:11-14.
Daniel is not talking about the Church.
The tribulation will drive Israel to their Messiah.
Hosea 5:15. I will go and return to my place, TILL THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR OFFENCE, AND SEEK MY FACE: IN THEIR AFFLICTION THEY WILL SEEK ME EARLY.
Matthew 23:37-39 (KJV) O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
For I say unto you, YE SHALL NOT SEE ME HENCEFORTH, TILL YE SHALL SAY, BLESSED IS HE THAT COMETH IN THE NAME OF THE LORD.
This means when they behold him as a nation.
God bless.
Please read: John 10:1-18, Psalms 100:3,
Luke 12:22-32,
Matthew 26:31-75, Mark 14:27-72, Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, prophecy from Old Testament: Isaiah 53, Zechariah 13:7,
Example of people lovingly referred to as sheep : 2Samuel 24:17, 1Chronicles 21:17, 2Chronicles 18:16, Psalms 74:1, Psalms 78:52, Psalms 79:13, Ezekiel 34:6,
Matthew 9:26, Matthew 18:12,13, Mark 6:24, 1Peter 2:25, compassion,
Deuteronomy 8:3,
John 6:47-69, notice in that moment "Simon Peter"'s reply: John 6:68,
Hopefully these are helpful
Good information: truth shines from the word of God. As you said the leaders of Jerusalem should have known. I believe they did know, in Matthew 2:3-6, that Jerusalem (chief priests and scribes) was also troubled. They knew the time, but God did to them what He did to Pharoah, He blinded and hardened their hearts, John 12:40. To me this kind of ties into the things S Spencer has been sharing.
There are other scriptures they were probably aware of, like Jeremiah 50:6 and Ezekiel 34 where God told Ezekiel to prophesy against the shepherds, (the leaders) and what God would do, Ezekiel 34:10.
So, they were troubled to hear Jesus was born. They did not even send anyone to Bethlehem to see. You would think they would have been jumping for joy, but they did not want to give up the power, wealth, and Moses's seat they had. Jesus the true Shepherd John 10:11 first came only for the lost sheep of Israel, Matthew 15:24, fulfilling and confirming the covenant Hebrews 13:20. Jesus also told the scribes and the Pharisees their house is left to them desolate, and He will return Matthew 23:36-39.
Their duty as shepherds was over in that generation, 70 AD, and the sheep shall be gathered again, Isaiah 11:12 Ezekiel 37:21-22 Jeremiah 23:3 and more.
God bless,
RLW
Thanks for your reply.
I've never heard a pre-trib view taught that there is 3 comings of Christ, I always understood that there is the 1st coming and the second coming to Earth.
The rapture is called the "harpazo" in the Greek. meaning "to snatch away" or "to seize," The Lord don't come to the earth, We go to him!
1 Thessalonians 4:17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the LORD IN THE AIR: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
His second coming he comes to the Earth with judgment.
In these 2nd coming verses there's no mention of the removal of saints.
Here's just a few of many.
Zechariah 14:4.
Revelation 19:11-16,
Revelation 20:1-6.
Matthew 25:31-32.
The 2nd coming he comes with his saints.
If he raptured in his 2nd coming when he comes and make war against the nations who's going to populate the Millennium?
Here's parallel verses to
Mathew 24:31.
Isaiah 11:12.
Jeremiah 23:7-8.
Jeremiah 16:14-15.
Ezekiel 34:12-13.
Isaiah 45:4.
Goodnight Kay and God bless.
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.
It seems to me there is absolutely no reason to slaughter any sentient beings other than to fill our stomachs with rotting flesh. This practice does not paint a picture of the peaceable kingdom in the garden of Eden. Animal husbandry is barbaric-inhumane-void of compassion.
"Compassion, in which all ethics must take root, can only attain its full breadth and depth if it embraces all living creatures and does not limit itself to mankind." Albert Schweitzer
"I believe in my heart that faith in Jesus Christ can and will lead us beyond an exclusive concern for the well being of other human beings to the broader concern for the well-being of the birds in our backyard, the fish in our rivers, and every living creature on the face of the earth." John Wesley, Christian Theologian.
"I am persuaded you are not insensible to the pain given to every Christian, every humane heart, by those savage diversions, bull-baiting, cock-fighting, horse-racing, and hunting." John Wesley
In Genesis 9:3 God gave Noah the permission to eat animal flesh. This was a concession to man's sinfulness. But when you look at the verse in it's context, it is clear that God is only grudgingly giving humans this permission. "Vegetarianism practiced in the Garden of Eden ( Gen. 1:29-30, 2:16), and the prophecy that natural predators will live together peacefully in the future (Is 11:6-8), suggest that the eating of animal flesh isn't God's ideal." Steve W. Bemke
In the presence of Jehovah
Lino
The lost sheep of Israel ( Jeremiah 50:6)
Jesus came to fulfill the law, the first covenant, flesh had to live a sinless life under the law of Moses given by God before it was considered an executed contract (fulfilled). The prophets, all prophecy pointing to the coming of their Messiah had to be fulfilled. These two things had to be completed before God could make a new covenant. The first covenant was made with the house of Israel and the second was offered to the house of Israel first but they rejected Jesus as their Messiah.
We see in ( Matthew 10:5-8) that Jesus told the twelve, to go only to the house of Israel and not to go by the way of Gentiles. God even told them when the Messiah would come, ( Daniel 9:25) and in ( Ezekiel 34:23-24) they were told a Shepard was coming. but they did not want to give up their authority and wealth they were enjoying, meaning the Sadducees and Pharisees.
Even when Jesus was born, they heard that it was in Bethlehem they were troubled ( Matthew 2:3) they did not even want to go see if it was their King/Messiah. We see in Acts when they totally said they reject Jesus and the new covenant, when they killed Stephen.
Acts 7:57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
The Apostles continued to confirm the new covenant to the house of Israel until Peter had his dream and Paul was converted and what God told Abraham came to be, and the mystery was revealed and confirming to the house of Israel stopped. The branch was broken off so we may be grafted in.
Genesis 18:18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
God bless,
RLW
It appears your primary source from which you hinge your theory is Jude 1:6-7. I encourage you to search 'What is the strange flesh in Jude 1:7?' on GotQuestions website. They did a thorough breakdown of this which I agree with.
I think the strange flesh in verse 7 is the unnatural homosexual behavior that took place within Sodom and Gomorrah, not relations with angels. Of course there was a visit from 2 angels there that the men wanted to have relations with, but they didn't know they were angels. Genesis 6:2-4. HEBREWS 13:2.
Secondly, the example of Jude 1:4-7 points out that God will punish those who disobey and deviate from God's plan for them.
Third, yes, the Bible has metaphors. Example: John 6:56. Eat flesh and drink blood. Have you literally given into cannibalism and eaten Jesus? And is that what it means? No, it's a metaphor. The bread symbolized it. Isaiah 64:8 - are you literally clay? Ezekiel 34:31 - are we a flock of sheep? Here's a simile: Matthew 10:16. 'as' sheep, 'as' serpents, 'as' wolves, which explains it's symbolic. So, when Jesus or God called humans satan were they actually satan or acting like satan? Jesus called Peter satan: Matthew 4:1. So, does that mean Peter was acting like satan or WAS satan? If he literally was satan why then did Jesus forgive him? Peter said he loved Jesus 3 times. Does satan love Jesus?
The other 2 verses you posted seem to serve confirmation bias for your theory, as they are general and are only used to reinforce the original misinterpretation.
God bless...
Ezekiel 34:1-10
What you gonna do when they come for you?
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Ezekiel 34:8
As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock;
Proverbs 16:22
Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
Luke 24:25
Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
Proverbs 15:14
The heart of him that hath understanding seeks knowledge: but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Hebrews 3:19
So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Matthew 13:58
And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Hebrews 3:12
Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Romans 11:30
For as you in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy...
Romans 1:17-28
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made [people], even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are WITHOUT EXCUSE.
Mishael comment: Not making a choice to receive salvation through Jesus; is a choice. Read John 3 carefully.
Jesus Christ is for believers now, their Great Shepherd, Who not only gave His Life for His sheep, but will one day come to gather them in a special way, into His fold to save them from the Anger of God that is coming upon the world, & to relocate them to a new "sheep pen", i.e. unto Himself in the New Jerusalem where we will be with Him & the Father forever.
John 10:12, 8
Luke 15:4-7
1 Peter 2:5
People are sheep, or a goat. Jesus is THE SHEPHERD. He will know who is what.
There also are wolves in sheep's clothing and ravening wolves.
If the sheep are lost, we need to take them over to 1 John verses 5-10; particularly verse 9. Show them how to get all that mud and stickers out of their wool. Baby Christians need to learn to run to Jesus and pray verse 9. Lay it all out and admit everything. They learn to love clean and Light.
A new commandment 1 John 2:8-17
1 John 3:10 in this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness, is NOT of God (a goat); neither he that loveth not his brother.
Once I got to carry a "lamb" in intercessory prayer, for weeks. Someone desperately wanting to die. As soon as that person turned to God for help, I was released. If Jesus let's you carry a lamb you will never be the same person. Sheep, lamb, goat?