Let Us Ever Walk With Jesus - Daniel 1

“In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the articles of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god.” Daniel 1:1-2

During the third year of Jehoiakim’s reign, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel were alive and walking with the Lord. Their king did not walk with the Lord. In fact, Jehoiakim took the written words of Jeremiah and threw them into a fire. Jehoiakim assumed that he could trash God without consequence. He was wrong. He was captured by his enemies. The Lord had said of Jehoiakim in Jeremiah 22:19, “He shall be buried with the burial of a donkey, dragged and cast out beyond the gates of Jerusalem.”

King Nebuchadnezzar raided the house of God. He placed the expensive items in the house of his god.

In Genesis 11:2, people “traveled from the east and found a plain in the land of Shinar.” Shinar is now commonly known as Iraq. Shinar is where Nimrod’s kingdom began (Genesis 10), the Tower of Babel was built (Genesis 11), and where Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 1) made his home.

According to Genesis 9:1,7, after Noah died, God commanded the Israelites to “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.” Eventually, as they spread out, they came to an open plain in the land of Shinar (modern Iraq). According to Genesis 11:1–9, there, they built a city with an enormous tower whose “top is in the heavens” to “make a name for” themselves. The Tower of Babel story explains why we have different languages and how Shinar earned a new name... Babel or Babylon which means “confusion.”

Babylon is a code word in the Bible for a kingdom that opposes God. God gives people wisdom and understanding. Babylon fools and confuses people. In Revelation 17:6, Babylon is “drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.” Babylonian kingdoms have caused the deaths of millions of people including some of God’s prophets.

In Isaiah 11:1-12, the Lord gave to Isaiah a prophecy of Messiah for His people...

“There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. His delight is in the fear of the Lord, and He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing of His ears; but with righteousness He shall judge the poor and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, and faithfulness the belt of His waist. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, who shall stand as a banner to the people; for the Gentiles shall seek Him, and His resting place shall be glorious. It shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people who are left, from Assyria and Egypt, from Pathros and Cush, from Elam and SHINAR, from Hamath and the islands of the sea. He will set up a banner for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.”

Jesus Messiah is the hope of Jews and Gentiles, even those in Shinar, for victory over evil empires. One day, Jesus Messiah will totally vanquish all opposition to love. God’s love will create a new heaven and new earth were there is no more pain or death.

Upon defeating the last antichrist, the Root of Jesse and the son of David — Messiah Jesus — will rule supremely. He will bring His remnant people from the four corners of the world. He will serve as a banner (translated as “signal flag”) as a rallying point for them.

“Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles, young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans. And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king. Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.” Daniel 1:3-7

King Nebuchadnezzar wanted to incorporate the brightest minds and best looking people from among his captives into his service. He reeducated them via a three year training program. They learned the language and literature of Babylon. He renamed them after his gods.

Daniel means, “My God is Judge.” Babylon renamed him “Belteshazzar” which means “Bel’s prince.” Hananiah means “My Lord is gracious.” Babylon renamed him “Shadrach” which means “inspired or illumined by the sun-god.” Mishael means, “who is what God is?” or “who is comparable to God?” Babylon renamed him “Meshach” after the goddess Sheshach, the earth goddess of love. It was during her feast that Persia conquered Babylon. Azariah means “My help is the Lord.” Babylon renamed him “Abed-nego” which means “servant of the shining fire.” Thus, instead of honoring the Lord, these men’s names now honored the four leading gods of Babylon: Bel, the chief-god, the sun-god, the earth-god, and the fire-god.

“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore, he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs. And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, ‘I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king.’ So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, ‘Please test your servants for 10 days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants.’ So he consented with them in this matter and tested them 10 days. And at the end of 10 days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies. Thus the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink and gave them vegetables.” Daniel 1:8-16

Daniel and his fellow believers in the Lord did not want to be filled with sumptuous food or alcoholic drink lest they would lose their love for the Lord. While others catered to their fleshly desires, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah focused on remaining in fellowship with the Lord. They risked being ostracized, tortured, possibly executed for refusing to adhere to the king’s agenda, but God gave them favor with their Babylonian appointed overseer.

The Lord said in Exodus 23:25, “You shall serve the Lord your God, and He shall bless your bread, and your water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of you.” In Deuteronomy 8:3, the Lord said, “Man does not live by bread only, but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.” Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah remained faithful to the Lord’s leading in their lives, and He blessed them both spiritually and physically.

“As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.” Daniel 1:17

The Lord gives knowledge, skill and wisdom that the world’s best schools cannot provide (if God does not give it to them). In Exodus 31:3, the Lord “filled him (Bezalel) with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship. In 1 Kings 3:12, the Lord gave to Solomon “a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.” In Job 32:8, Job said, “There is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.” James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”

God gave Daniel understanding in dreams. God made one of the despised covenant-people eclipse the Chaldeans in the very science on which they most prided themselves. The Chaldeans were considered the elite class of people in Babylon.

“Now at the end of the days, when the king had said that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore, they served before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them 10 times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm. Thus Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus.” Daniel 1:18-21

Proverbs 22:29 says, “Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings. He will not stand before unknown men.” The Lord helped Daniel to excel in his work.

The Lord preserved Daniel against all the threats and plots leveled against him while serving in Babylon. Daniel was one of the first captives taken to Babylon. He lived to see Persia conquer Babylon. Then, King Cyrus of Persia appointed Daniel to serve in his government. In Daniel 10:1, Daniel is mentioned as still living “in the third year of Cyrus.”

God is able to preserve and glorify His Name in the most anti-Christian places. Paul wrote in Philippians 4:22, “All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household.” Once, I was part of business delegation that met in the Great Hall of the People in China. The Great Hall is one of the locations in China where laws against Christians originate. Yet, by God’s grace, others and myself, shared our faith in Christ with those who sat around tables with us. Nothing is impossible with God.

No one could snatch Jesus until His ministry on earth was complete. In regards to our faith in Christ, Jesus said in John 10:27-30...

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.”

I like to sing the words of the hymn entitled, “Let Us Ever Walk With Jesus” by Sigmund von Birken...

“Let us ever walk with Jesus,
follow His example pure,
Flee the world which would deceive us
and to sin our souls allure.
Ever in His footsteps treading,
body here, yet soul above,
full of faith and hope and love,
let us do the Father's bidding.
Faithful Lord, abide with me,
Savior, lead; I follow Thee.

Let us suffer here with Jesus,
to His image e'er conform.
Heaven's glory soon will please us,
sunshine follow on the storm.
Though we sow in tears of sorrow,
we shall reap in heavenly joy,
and the fears that now annoy
shall be laughter on the morrow.
Christ, I suffer here with Thee,
there, O share Thy joy with me.

Let us also die with Jesus,
His death from the second death,
from our soul’s destruction, frees us,
quickens us with life’s glad breath.
Let us mortify, while living,
flesh and blood and die to sin,
and the grave that shuts us in
shall but prove the gate to heaven.
Jesus, here I die to Thee,
there to live eternally.

Let us gladly live with Jesus,
since He's risen from the dead,
death and grave must soon release us.
Jesus, Thou art now our head.
We are truly Thine own members,
where Thou livest, there live we,
take and own us constantly,
faithful Friend, as Thy dear brethren.
Jesus, here I live to Thee,
also there eternally.”

Let us like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah ever walk with the Lord!

There Will Be Only Love For God Is Love - Ezekiel 40-48

In Ezekiel 38-39, the Lord revealed to Ezekiel the future defeat of the mighty army of Magog. Magog had thought to destroy the people of God, but God destroyed Magog as well as all the people from various nations who joined with them.

In Ezekiel 40:1-3, during the 25th year of his captivity in Babylon, the Lord gives to Ezekiel a vision of Israel. From a mountain, he sees a city and a man whose appearance is like bronze. The man is in the gateway of the temple with a line of flax and measuring rod in his hand.

This vision is similar to the one that Jesus Christ gave to the Apostle John in Revelation 1:9. John was “on the island that is called Patmos for the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” He was exiled there. In Revelation 1:13, 15, John sees “the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace.” In Revelation 11:1-2, John wrote, “Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, ‘Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. But leave out the court, which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles...”

In Ezekiel 40:6-46; 41:5-22; 42:1-9, 15-20, the Lord reveals to Ezekiel the dimensions and the descriptions of a future temple in Jerusalem. In Ezekiel 45:1-6, the Lord reveals to Ezekiel the dimensions of lands that will “be set apart a district for the Lord.” This land is for the Levites and the ministers of the temple. Ezekiel was a prophet and a priest so these revelations were relevant to him. In Ezekiel 46:21-24, the Lord reveals to Ezekiel dimensions of four courts located in four corners of the outer court of the temple. These courts have walled areas for kitchens “where the ministers of the temple shall boil the sacrifices of the people.” In Ezekiel 47:13-48:29, the Lord reveals to Ezekiel future locations and dimensions of land for the twelve tribes of Israel, as well as a district set apart for the Lord. In Ezekiel 48:30-34, the Lord reveals to Ezekiel that the new Jerusalem will have twelves gates with three gates on each side of the city. Each gate will be named for a tribe of Israel. In Ezekiel 48:35, Ezekiel is told that “the name of the city shall be: THE LORD IS THERE.”

In Revelation 21:10-21, the Lord reveals to John from a mountain, the great city, the holy Jerusalem. It descends out of heaven from God. It has 12 gates named for the 12 tribes of Israel. Additionally, the city’s wall has 12 foundations named for the 12 apostles of the Lamb. “He who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.” The Lord reveals to John the dimensions of the city. He sees that city is constructed of precious jewels, with gates of pearl and streets “of pure gold, like transparent glass.”

In Revelation 21:22, John does not see a temple in it, “for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” There is no need for a physical place or a priesthood to bring people to God for He is there and His people are always with Him.

In Ezekiel 43:1-5, Ezekiel sees the glory of the Lord coming from the east of Jerusalem. The glory of the Lord came into the temple and filled it.

In Ezekiel 43:6-9, the Lord says to Ezekiel...

“Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever. No more shall the house of Israel defile My holy Name, they nor their kings, by their harlotry or with the carcasses of their kings on their high places. When they set their threshold by My threshold, and their doorpost by My doorpost, with a wall between them and Me, they defiled My holy Name by the abominations which they committed; therefore, I have consumed them in My anger. Now let them put their harlotry and the carcasses of their kings far away from Me, and I will dwell in their midst forever.”

The Lord has always wanted to be with His people, but they failed to reciprocate the same desire to be with Him back to Him..

“Son of man, describe the temple to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the pattern. And if they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the temple and its arrangement, its exits and its entrances, its entire design and all its ordinances, all its forms and all its laws. Write it down in their sight, so that they may keep its whole design and all its ordinances and perform them. This is the law of the temple: the whole area surrounding the mountaintop is most holy. Behold, this is the law of the temple.” Ezekiel 43:10-12

If God’s people are ashamed of their previous sins... repentant... and wanting to be with God, Ezekiel may share with them the design of the temple and its laws.

In Ezekiel 43:18-43, the Lord gives to Ezekiel the ordinances for making atonement for the people in the temple.

In Ezekiel 44:1-3, the Lord tells Ezekiel that “the outer gate of the sanctuary which faces toward the east... ‘This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter by it, because the Lord God of Israel has entered by it; therefore, it shall be shut. As for the prince, because he is the prince, he may sit in it to eat bread before the Lord; he shall enter by way of the vestibule of the gateway and go out the same way.’” The prince is likely a reference to Jesus Christ.

In Ezekiel 44:6, Ezekiel is to say to the people, “Now say to the rebellious, to the house of Israel, thus says the Lord God: O house of Israel, let us have no more of all your abominations.” In Ezekiel 44:10-11, He admonishes the Levites for previously worshiping idols but assures them that “they shall be ministers in My sanctuary, as gatekeepers of the house and ministers of the house.”

In Ezekiel 44:15, the Lord tells Ezekiel that “the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near Me to minister to Me. In Ezekiel 44:16-22, the Lord instructs him how that they should serve Him. In Ezekiel 44:23-24, the Lord says of the Levites, “They shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the unholy and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. In controversy they shall stand as judges and judge it according to My judgments. They shall keep My laws and My statutes in all My appointed meetings, and they shall hallow My Sabbaths.”

In Ezekiel 45:9-10, the Lord gives Ezekiel a word for the future princes of Israel, saying, “Enough, O princes of Israel! Remove violence and plundering, execute justice and righteousness, and stop dispossessing My people... You shall have honest scales...”

In Ezekiel 47:1-12, the Lord shows Ezekiel “water flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east. They walk 1,500 feet along the waters, and the waters are ankle deep. They walk another 1,500 feet along the waters, and the waters are knee deep. They walk another 1,500 feet along the waters, and the waters are waist deep. They walk another 1,500 feet along the waters, and the river is too deep to cross. There are trees on both sides of the river. The river’s water heal the sea... the Dead Sea. There are fish in it. “Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine.”

In Revelation 22:1-3, the Lord shows John “a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore 12 fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” Ezekiel’s vision is fulfilled here in the Book of Revelation.

In Ezekiel 38-48, God gave to Ezekiel a vision of the death of those who wanted to destroy His people, and the restoration of His people back to the land of Israel. The Lord also restored their hearts back to Him. He fed and healed them like a good shepherd does for His sheep. The Lord gave to Ezekiel a vision of Jerusalem and the temple rebuilt. This would happen after the 70 years in Babylonian captivity ended.

In Revelation, the Lord gave to John a vision of the death of those who want to destroy His people, namely the devil and the nations who serve the devil. He also gave to John a vision of what will exist after the Babylon of the end times is destroyed. There will be a new Jerusalem that comes down from God in heaven. New Jerusalem will never again be defiled by sin nor destroyed by war. It will not have a temple because the Lord will be there and His presence will be felt in all places. There will be a new heaven and new earth. The nations who believed in the Lord will walk in light of God’s glory. There will be no more tears. No more death! There will be joy unspeakable and full of glory. There will only be love because God is love. Praise the Lord!

New Heaven, New Earth, New Jerusalem - Ezekiel 39

Pharoah of Egypt and his people, enjoyed temporary riches, fame and power for a season, but lost it all. They lost it all after they began to oppress the people of God. God struck them with a series of plagues. He struck them, gave them time to reconsider their position, and then, struck them again when they persisted in unbelief. When the Egyptian army thought to wipe out the people of God, God wiped them out.

Gog, the Prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, along with his people, will make the same ill choice. They will persist in their hardness against God. Thus, God will give them over to Satan to do the kinds of evils that Satan does against God and God’s people for a season. But eventually, their experiment with evil will yield horrific results for them. They will be destroyed. The Lord reveals this outcome to us in Ezekiel 39 and in Revelation 20.

In the Book of Revelation, Jesus reveals to God’s servants what will happen in the last days before He returns to create a new heaven, new earth, and new Jerusalem.

In Revelation 6:9-11, the Lord speaks of people who were slain for the Word of God and for the testimony which they held. They ask the Lord with loud cries how long until He judges and avenges their blood. He gives them white robes and urges them to rest a little while longer until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers are killed as they were.

To me, this is one of the greatest signs of God’s compassion for lost sinners. He gives those who are nearest and dearest to Him to be witnesses unto death for the sake of saving some of the souls of His enemies from eternal hell. But the Lord does eventually avenge their blood.

In Revelation 8:1-5, the Lord reveals an golden altar in heaven which contains the prayers of His holy people. The Lord reveals an angel with a golden censer filled with incense. The angel takes the prayers of God’s holy people and offers them before God’s throne along with incense from his golden censer. Then, the angel fills his censer with fire from the altar and throws it to the earth. The immediate result is noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake, but a series of great tribulations follows after that upon the kingdoms of the world.

In Revelation 20:4-5, the reveals souls who had been beheaded for their witness for Jesus and for the Word of God. They had refused to bow and worship the bully leader of the satanic kingdom on earth. They would neither take his brand on their foreheads nor on their hands. They are now sitting on thrones in heaven and living and reigning as priests with Christ.

In Revelation 20:8-10, Prince Gog and the descendants of Magog gather a mighty army, the likes of which this world has never seen. Much greater than Pharoah’s army during the days of Moses! Magog was the grandson of Noah via his son Japheth. His descendants settled north of Israel and spread out to the ends of the earth.

It is likely that many descendants from Noah’s sons Shem and Ham join with Magog to attack believers in God. The Jewish people are descendants of Shem and the African and Arab people are descendants of Ham. See Genesis 10-11 for more details.

Faith in Jesus Christ is not primarily a miracle of geography, language, culture or race. Faith in Christ is a miracle of God! A person hears the Gospel. God works in him or her to will and do His good pleasure. God’s good pleasure is for people to believe in His Son Jesus. Jesus is the Messiah and Savior of the world. No one can believe in Jesus apart from the Father revealing Him to them.

John wrote of Jesus in his Gospel, writing in John 1:10-13...

“He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Salvation is always a miracle of God from start to finish. No one can hold faithfully to Christ by his or her own volition. Peter found that out. Peter told Jesus that he would never deny him, but denied Jesus three times. Jesus told Peter in Luke 22:32, “I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail.” God with us, Emmanuel, is the only way any one of us can remain faithful to professing Jesus Christ as God’s Son, and our Lord and Savior.

In 2 Corinthians 10:4, Paul wrote, “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.” In Ephesians 6:10, Paul wrote that we need to “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” In Ephesians 6:11, we need to “put on the whole armor of God... to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Revelation 12:10-11 tells us that those who overcame the “accuser of the brothers” did so “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”

So, about three thousand years ago the Lord gave Ezekiel the following prophecy:

“And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal; and I will turn you around and lead you on, bringing you up from the far north, and bring you against the mountains of Israel. Then I will knock the bow out of your left hand and cause the arrows to fall out of your right hand. You shall fall upon the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you; I will give you to birds of prey of every sort and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. You shall fall on the open field; for I have spoken, says the Lord God. And I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in security in the coastlands. Then they shall know that I am the Lord. So I will make My holy Name known in the midst of My people Israel, and I will not let them profane My holy Name anymore. Then the nations shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel. Surely it is coming, and it shall be done, says the Lord God. This is the day of which I have spoken.” Ezekiel 39:1-8

God leads Gog’s mighty army to the outskirts of Israel, then, deals to him the knockout blow. They become bird and animal food. The Lord God sends fire on Magog and on those who live in security in the coastlands. At that time, they no longer doubt God. “Then they shall know that I am the Lord.” Through this miracle, God will make His holy Name known in the midst of His people Israel, and they will no longer profane His holy Name anymore. The nations shall also know that He is the Lord, the Holy One in Israel. The Lord declares, “Surely it is coming, and it shall be done.”

It is impossible to rightly interpret the Book of Revelation without understanding God’s faithfulness to the descendants of Noah’s son Shem. God chose them not because they were the mightiest of Noah’s descendants, but because they were the least. Deuteronomy 7:7 says, “The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples.” They were so unfaithful to the Lord throughout their history, but nevertheless, through them God brought His Word to earth and through them God brought the testimony of Jesus. Jesus, born of the line of Shem, is Messiah.

In Revelation 7 and 14, we learn that these descendants of Shem finally stand up for Jesus their Messiah, and in Revelation 7:9, John sees, “a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hand.”

If Jesus kickstarted the Church movement with just twelve Jewish disciples, it is hard for us to imagine what He will do in the end times with 144,000 faithful Jewish disciples, but we know from this passage, that He will win many souls to Himself... even during the darkest days in earth’s history.

“Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and bucklers, the bows and arrows, the javelins, and spears; and they will make fires with them for seven years. They will not take wood from the field nor cut down any from the forests, because they will make fires with the weapons; and they will plunder those who plundered them, and pillage those who pillaged them, says the Lord God.” Ezekiel 39:9-10

It will take God’s people seven years to smelt the metal and burn the wood leftover from Magog’s defeat. At that point, the Lord’s Word in Isaiah 2:2-5 will be fulfilled, “Now it shall come to pass in the latter days... He shall judge between the nations and rebuke many people. They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”

“It will come to pass in that day that I will give Gog a burial place there in Israel, the valley of those who pass by east of the sea; and it will obstruct travelers, because there they will bury Gog and all his multitude. Therefore, they will call it the Valley of Hamon Gog. For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them, in order to cleanse the land. Indeed all the people of the land will be burying, and they will gain renown for it on the day that I am glorified, says the Lord God. They will set apart men regularly employed, with the help of a search party, to pass through the land and bury those bodies remaining on the ground, in order to cleanse it. At the end of seven months they will make a search. The search party will pass through the land; and when anyone sees a man’s bone, he shall set up a marker by it, till the buriers have buried it in the Valley of Hamon Gog. The name of the city will also be Hamonah. Thus, they shall cleanse the land.” Ezekiel 39:11-16

Revelation 14:18-20 speaks metaphorically of Magog’s destruction as grapes being thrown into the winepress of God’s wrath. The blood flows up “to the horses’ bridles for 1,600 furlongs.” 1,600 furlongs is equal to 200 miles. This imagery is used to convey the sheer depth and scale of the bloodshed.

“And as for you, son of man, thus says the Lord God, speak to every sort of bird and to every beast of the field: assemble yourselves and come; gather together from all sides to My sacrificial meal which I am sacrificing for you, a great sacrificial meal on the mountains of Israel, that you may eat flesh and drink blood. You shall eat the flesh of the mighty, drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams and lambs, of goats and bulls, all of them fatlings of Bashan. You shall eat fat till you are full, and drink blood till you are drunk, at My sacrificial meal which I am sacrificing for you. You shall be filled at My table with horses and riders, with mighty men and with all the men of war, says the Lord God.” Ezekiel 39:17-20

When the disciples asked Jesus where the prophecies of which He spoke in Matthew 24 would take place, He responded in Matthew 24:28, “Wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.” Revelation 19:21 says, “And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.”

“I will set My glory among the nations; all the nations shall see My judgment which I have executed, and My hand which I have laid on them. So the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God from that day forward. The Gentiles shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity; because they were unfaithful to Me, therefore I hid My face from them. I gave them into the hand of their enemies, and they all fell by the sword. According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions I have dealt with them and hidden My face from them.” Ezekiel 39:21-24

The Lord will be glorified among the nations. Israel will know that Jesus is the Lord from that day forward. In terms of the exile and the return of Israel to the Promised Land, God will reveal to the nations that they experienced this falling away, and tribulation because of their lust for sin. A good lesson for all people everywhere, not to take the Lord lightly, and not to embrace a sinful lifestyle.

“Therefore, thus says the Lord God: now I will bring back the captives of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy Name—after they have borne their shame, and all their unfaithfulness in which they were unfaithful to Me, when they dwelt safely in their own land and no one made them afraid. When I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and I am hallowed in them in the sight of many nations, then they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who sent them into captivity among the nations, but also brought them back to their land, and left none of them captive any longer. And I will not hide My face from them anymore; for I shall have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel, says the Lord God.” Ezekiel 39:25-29

The events of Israel’s exile to Babylon and their return to the Promised Land, and the events which happen to Israel in the last days run parallel with one another. The events in the last days are on a much grander scale. Instead of Babylon being one nation in the Middle East, Babylon will be a global empire that opposes Christ and His followers. Instead of a return to an earthly Promised Land, God’s people will receive a heavenly Promised Land which they will never again lose, but the rather, dwell in forever with God. A new heaven, new earth and new Jerusalem!

“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’ Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’” Revelation 21:1-5

During Last Days Before All Things Become New - Ezekiel 38

“Now the Word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, and say, thus says the Lord God: behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops —many people are with you.’” Ezekiel 38:1-6

The name “Magog” first appears in Genesis 10:2, “The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.” The name “Magog” last appears in Revelation 20:8-9, “And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. ... And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.”

According to Jamieson Fausset Brown Commentary, “Gog refers to the prince of the land of Magog. The title was probably a common one of the kings of the country, as ‘Pharaoh’ in Egypt. These names might be adopted by Ezekiel... as ideal titles for the great last anti-Christian confederacy.” Magog consists of descendants from Noah’s son Japheth. Gomer and Togarmah are also descendants of Noah’s son Japheth. His people settled to the north of Israel in what is now sometimes referred to as Asia Minor and they spread out across Europe and Russia.

According to Jamieson Fausset Brown Commentary, “The ‘Prince of Rosh...’ the modern Russians may have hence assumed their name, as Moscow and Tobolsk from Meshech and Tubal.” “Magog was Gog’s original kingdom, though he acquired also Meshech and Tubal, so as to be called their chief prince.”

Persia refers to the people of modern day Iran. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya join with Magog against God’s people.

The Lord gave Ezekiel a prophecy against these lands in that they will form a great army to attack His people dwelling in Israel. According to Revelation 20:8-9, their turn against God’s people is a work of Satan. Why would anyone seek to destroy those through whom God brought His Word, His Messiah and His Holy Spirit? But events are not a tragedy for God’s people, but for those who oppose them. God is going to gather His enemies just as He did previously with Pharoah and his armies... to destroy them in a moment. It is never good to harden one’s heart against the Lord and His anointed.

“Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them. After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely. You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you.” Ezekiel 38:7-9

“After many days,” this is prophecy which will be fulfilled in the future, not in Ezekiel’s days.

“Thus says the Lord God: on that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan: you will say, I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates—to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land. Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to you, ‘Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?” Ezekiel 38:10-13

According to Jamieson Fausset Brown Commentary, these co-conspirators with the descendants of Japheth are merchants, who “though not taking an active part against the cause of God, are well pleased to see others do it. Worldliness makes them ready to deal in the ill-gotten spoil of the invaders of God’s people. Gain is before godliness with them (1 Maccabees 3:41).”

“Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog, ‘Thus says the Lord God: on that day when My people Israel dwell safely, will you not know it? Then you will come from your place out of the far north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army. You will come up against My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land. It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes. Thus says the Lord God: are you he of whom I have spoken in former days by My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied for years in those days that I would bring you against them?” Ezekiel 38:14-17

The fact that Revelation 20:8-9 corresponds with Ezekiel prophecy means that his “latter days” refers to the end of this present world’s existence before the Lord creates a new heaven and new earth.

“It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes.” A majority of Japheth’s descendants will not hallow God. They will blaspheme His Name. They will war against professors of Christ, but God is going to humble them in the sight of all people before Christ returns. This act of God will fulfill the prophetic words of many of God’s prophetic servants in the Bible.

“And it will come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel, says the Lord God, that My fury will show in My face. For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: surely in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel, so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains, says the Lord God. Every man’s sword will be against his brother. And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 38:18-23

In that day, there will be a great earthquake in the land of Israel so that the creatures of the air, land and sea quake in God’s presence. Every man’s sword will be against his brother. God will break down their unity during the heat of the battle. There will be pestilence and bloodshed. There will be cataclysmic events like flooding, great hailstones and brimstone – fire from heaven.

Jesus Christ revealed both in the Gospels and in the Book of Revelation such events coming to pass in the days before He returns.

The events of Israel’s defeat and exile by Babylon followed by their return to the Promised Land are a type of what is to come in the last days. A great world empire that consists of those who oppose Christ and His people will arise. For a time, they will seem to be greater than God, but as in the days of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, there will be prophets saying to the people, “No, don’t believe the lies of this evil empire referred to as “Babylon” in the Book of Revelation, stand for the “Testimony of Jesus and the Word of God.”

During his last days on earth, the Apostle John bore witness to the testimony of Jesus and the Word of God. In Revelation 1:9, he wrote, “I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

According to Revelation 12:17, the devil is at war with those “who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

According to Revelation 12:11, God’s people overcome the devil “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” By abiding in Christ, they do not concede defeat to the enemy of human souls.

According to the angel who speaks to John in Revelation 19:10, “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

Therefore, no matter what kind of technology the nations develop... no matter what kind of amazing signs they create on earth, in the sky, in the sea, and on our screens... we should hold to the testimony of Jesus and to the Word of God.

All things shall end as Jesus Christ revealed to His servants in Revelation 11:15: “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” Amen! Hallelujah!

God’s Glory Revealed in His New Creation - Ezekiel 37

In Ezekiel 36:22-23, the Lord spoke of healing Israel’s spiritual life for the sake of His Name so that His great name would be hallowed among the nations. In Ezekiel 36:24, He spoke of bringing them back from exile to the Promised Land. In Ezekiel 36:25, He spoke of sprinkling them with clean water and cleansing them from their idols. In Ezekiel 36:26-27, He spoke of giving them new hearts by placing His Spirit within them. His Spirit would empower them to walk in His statutes and keep His judgments to do them. In Ezekiel 36:37, He spoke of increasing their men like a flock.

The God who created and sustains the whole universe is a miracle working God. He is also a loving and compassionate God. But what was going to change among His people?

Israel had never been able to walk in God’s ways collectively and consistently. All her political leaders, priests, prophets and people fell short of His glory.

The difference maker was going to be His Son sent into the world to be a ransom for her sins. When the perfectly sinless Son of God became an offering for their sins, when He removed their sins, Satan could no longer claim them as his people. Even Job, though he did not deny his faith in God, he too fell short of God’s glory.

When their sins would be laid on Christ and God’s righteousness would be imputed to them, then God’s Spirit could come and live in them and empower them to walk as God’s Son Jesus walks. He would make of them new creations.

In Ezekiel 37, the Lord speaks of dry bones coming together, developing flesh, and becoming fully human. Then, the breath of life comes into them. This miracle is reminiscent of when God created the first Adam from the dust of the earth and breathed into him the breath of life.

In Ezekiel 37, the Lord speaks of making one nation out of the previously divided tribes. This miracle happened in great measure in the Gospels and in the Book of Acts, but according to the Book of Revelation, even greater days are ahead for Israel. In Revelation chapters 7 and 14, Jesus revealed to John 144,000 elect evangelists composed of 12,000 men from each of the tribes of Israel. The Book of Revelation also speaks of multitudes of people brought into the Kingdom of Heaven during the last and great tribulation period on earth. Praise the Lord!

“The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed, they were very dry. And He said to me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’ So, I answered, ‘O Lord God, You know.’” Ezekiel 37:1-3

Neither Ezekiel nor any other preacher could cause a dead congregation to resurrect unless the Lord intervened and by His grace in Christ Jesus, by His Spirit and by His Word. Thus, we pray.

“Again He said to me, ‘Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the Word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God to these bones: surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.’ So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them. Also He said to me, ‘Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, thus says the Lord God: come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.’ So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.” Ezekiel 37:4-10

God’s Word combined with the Holy Spirit brought about this resurrection. The word for “breath” in Hebrew is the same word for “Spirit.” The third element of this miracle was that God directed it to happen. He gave Ezekiel a command to keep. A prophecy to prophesy! God initiated and saw this miracle brought to pass.

“Then He said to me, ‘Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ Therefore prophesy and say to them, thus says the Lord God: behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves and bring you into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it, says the Lord.’” Ezekiel 37:11-14

According to Matthew 27:52-53, many saints were resurrected from the dead on the day Jesus was crucified. Their graves were opened by an earthquake and their bodies came back to life. After Jesus’ resurrection, these newly resurrected saints emerged from their tombs, went into Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.

The above passage speaks of one kind of resurrection... a physical one, but there is also a spiritual resurrection which God faithfully gave to Israel in the form of new life in Christ.

Ephesians 2:4-6 says, “God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” When God forgives a person his or her sins, He places His Spirit within them. Then, they see, hear and know that He is GOD. Doubts are replaced with faith. Indecision is replaced with singlemindedness to believe in Christ and to proclaim His Gospel to others.

After I was born again by God’s Spirit, I knew that I knew that Jesus Christ is Lord. He is alive! He shall return! He is with me. My Good Shepherd is leading me to His Father’s house.

“Again the Word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘As for you, son of man, take a stick for yourself and write on it: for Judah and for the children of Israel, his companions. Then take another stick and write on it, for Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel, his companions. Then join them one to another for yourself into one stick, and they will become one in your hand. And when the children of your people speak to you, saying, ‘Will you not show us what you mean by these?’— say to them, thus says the Lord God: surely I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will join them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand. And the sticks on which you write will be in your hand before their eyes.” Ezekiel 37:15-20

Judah represents the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Joseph and Ephraim represent the ten northern tribes. The twelve tribes were going to come together in Messiah and be one people.

My wife asked me as she read this passage, “Could it be that the two sticks were put together in a crisscross manner so that they formed a cross?” I believe that the Lord would have led Ezekiel by His Spirit to do just that because He said that all Scripture points to Jesus Christ. It is in the cross of Christ that two become one.

“Then say to them, thus says the Lord God: surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one King shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again. They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned and will cleanse them. Then they shall be My people, and I will be their God.” Ezekiel 37:21-23

The Lord promised to appoint one King to reign over them and that their nation would never be divided again. The King that God is speaking of is His Son Jesus Christ from the line of Jesse, a descendant of David.

“David My Servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one Shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes and do them. Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children’s children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever.” Ezekiel 37:24-25

This is quite a miracle, but God promised to them something even greater than these things. He promised to take idolatry from their hearts and cleanse them so that they would be happy to be His people, and He to be their God. God promised them one King and one Shepherd to guide them. The government would no longer be divided between political and spiritual leaders.

The name David means “Beloved” in Hebrew. The Beloved shall be their prince forever. In 2 Peter 1:17, Peter recalled, “For He [Jesus] received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’” God the Father called Jesus “Beloved” during His baptism in Matthew 3:17 and also during His transfiguration in Matthew 17:5. The voice from heaven said, “This is My David [My Beloved] Son, in whom I am well pleased.” God never spoke from heaven about anyone else like He did for Jesus.

“Moreover, I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed, I will be their God, and they shall be My people. The nations also will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.” Ezekiel 37:26-28

His everlasting covenant of the Prince of Peace with Israel is peace. He will be their sanctuary. He will tabernacle among them. His holy place will be in them. In His people! Not in brick and mortar! All nations will know something has changed in Israel. This is a reference to Jesus Christ.

In Matthew 26:27-28, Jesus “took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.’” In Romans 5:1, the Apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The truth that we are justified by the merits of Christ and not by our own merits, gives us peace with God. We know that we are justified by what Jesus did for us, and not by our own flawed works of righteousness.

The bringing together of people with God and with one another in love is the work of David, the Beloved One of God, in whom we all find acceptance and peace with God. In Christ, God tabernacles – indwells – is with us. Emmanuel is a Hebrew word that means “God with us.” Jesus Christ is Emmanuel. He sanctifies us and makes us one with God and one another.

My prayer is that more people will receive and believe this truth and be born again into a new and living faith in Christ Jesus. All things are possible with God!

Praise the Name of Jesus - Ezekiel 35-36

Ezekiel 35:1 begins with the word “moreover” connecting this chapter to the previous chapter in which the Lord spoke of Messiah coming to them from the line of David and as a good shepherd. Chapter and verse numbers were added to God’s Word afterwards for the sake of referencing. In Ezekiel 35, the Lord brings a word of judgment against the hateful actions of Edom towards His people Israel.

In Ezekiel 35:4-5, the Lord said of Edom, “I shall lay your cities waste, and you shall be desolate. Then you shall know that I am the Lord. Because you have had an ancient hatred and have shed the blood of the children of Israel by the power of the sword at the time of their calamity when their iniquity came to an end.”

Edom harbored hatred for a long time against Israel... going back to the time when Jacob deceived Edom (Esau) out of his birthright. Edom’s descendants... his nation had not forgiven Jacob (Israel). Edom also had sin. We all do. Unforgiveness and hatred does no one any good. It is from the devil. The devil destroys. Jesus gives life. Esau should have forgiven his brother Jacob and instructed his descendants to do the same.

In Ezekiel 35:10-12, Edom harbored plans to rob Israel. “Because you have said, ‘These two nations and these two countries (Israel and Judah) shall be mine, and we will possess them,’ although the Lord was there, therefore, as I live, says the Lord God, I will do according to your anger and according to the envy which you showed in your hatred against them; and I will make Myself known among them when I judge you. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.”

It is not that Israel was better than Edom, the Lord says in Ezekiel 36:17-18 that Israel’s way was like the uncleanness of a woman in her customary impurity to Him, that is why He poured out His fury on them. They shed blood for their idols and defiled the land. The Lord was taking action on them for the sake of His great Name which Israel had profaned by their behavior.

“Therefore, say to the house of Israel, thus says the Lord God: I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy Name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. And I will sanctify My great Name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord, says the Lord God, when I am hallowed in you before their eyes.” Ezekiel 36:22-23

Furthermore, the Lord was going to cleanse Israel from her idolatrous ways and give her a new heart and a new spirit. The Lord said in Ezekiel 36:27, “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” In Ezekiel 36:28-31, He delivers them from their uncleannesses. He calls for the grain to multiply, trees and fields to produce. He helps them to remember their evil ways and deeds that were not good, and to loathe themselves for their iniquities and abominations. To repent and be forgiven!

It is in the great Name of Jesus Christ that God saves. His Name is worthy of all glory. His Name was never defiled by acts of sin which He committed because He never sinned. Those who profess faith in the Name of Jesus have their names written in heaven.

Acts 4:8-12 says, “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: ‘Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.’”

In Romans 10:9-10, the Apostle Paul wrote, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

It is in the Name of Jesus that God rescues Israel and Gentile nations from sin.

In Luke 13:35, Jesus told the Pharisees, “Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see Me until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!’” Praising the Name of Jesus is the best route to take both for one’s well-being and because His Name is worthy to be praised. No one else lived a sinless life and then, offered up Himself to be an atoning sacrifice for the sins of all people. Only Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior did that! Praise be to His holy Name!

When God removes sin, He replaces curses of sin with blessings of righteousness.

“Thus says the Lord God: on the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will also enable you to dwell in the cities, and the ruins shall be rebuilt. The desolate land shall be tilled instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass by. So they will say this land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited. Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate. I, the Lord, have spoken it, and I will do it.” Ezekiel 36:33-36

“... so shall the ruined cities be filled with flocks of men. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 36:38

 

 

Divine Intervention - Ezekiel 33-34

“And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity, in the tenth month, on the fifth day of the month, that one who had escaped from Jerusalem came to me and said, “’The city has been captured!’” Ezekiel 33:21

It’s been twelve, almost thirteen years since Ezekiel was forcefully removed from his country to the land of Babylon. When he left his country, Jerusalem was still intact, but now, he knows it is destroyed, because after it was captured, it was destroyed. First, it was a dying city! Now, it is gone. Imagine his grief! He was living in a foreign land, most likely reminiscing from time to time about his homeland. Now, he will never see his former city again as it was.

After receiving this news, the Lord gave Ezekiel a word about being a faithful watchmen. Now, in chapter 34, the Lord gives Ezekiel a word which contrasts the poor shepherding previously with good shepherding that is going to happen when Messiah comes.

“And the Word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, thus says the Lord God to the shepherds: woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock. The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill; yes, My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for them.” Ezekiel 34:1-5

What happened? Was the lack of good shepherds due to poor parenting? The parents did not train their children up in the Lord? They did not teach them the Scriptures? They did not pray with them? They did not teach them to live for God and neighbor and not themselves? Jerusalem had a leadership crisis. Her political and spiritual leaders were only acting as though serving the people, but they only served themselves. The sheep had no coherence. They could not unite when the enemy attacked. They were underfed. The lacked a sense of worth due to the treatment that they received, but this was their normal. They learned to live with it. But the Lord was not content with their situation. He called it out. It was too late to save their city, but it was not too late to change course with the surviving sheep.

“Thus says the Lord God: behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them.” Ezekiel 34:10

The Lord’s plan was to replace the self-serving shepherds with a better shepherd.

“For thus says the Lord God: indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment.” Ezekiel 34:11-16

Pursue! The Lord was going to pursue the sheep who went off by themselves. The Lord was going to pursue them and find them. He would cross countryside, mountains and valleys to ensure that they received the sustenance that they needed to thrive. He was going to feed their souls well. He was going to bring them into fellowship with others who experienced His love. He was going to give them rest and instead of driving them constantly despite exhaustion. He was going to bind up their wounds and heal them.

“And as for you, O My flock, thus says the Lord God: behold, I shall judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and goats. Is it too little for you to have eaten up the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the residue of your pasture—and to have drunk of the clear waters, that you must foul the residue with your feet? And as for My flock, they eat what you have trampled with your feet, and they drink what you have fouled with your feet. Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: behold, I Myself will judge between the fat and the lean sheep. Because you have pushed with side and shoulder, butted all the weak one’s with your horns, and scattered them abroad, therefore I will save My flock, and they shall no longer be a prey; and I will judge between sheep and sheep. I will establish one Shepherd over them, and He shall feed them—My servant David. He shall feed them and be their Shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken.” Ezekiel 34:17-24

As Jesus said in Matthew 25:31-46, He was going to divide the flock. He would also deal with the self-serving sheep out from those who served Him and others. No longer would bullies rule the roost. The Lord Himself was going to show up and set things right. The one Shepherd of the line of David is a reference to Messiah Jesus.

“I will make a covenant of peace with them and cause wild beasts to cease from the land; and they will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing. Then the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase. They shall be safe in their land; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bands of their yoke and delivered them from the hand of those who enslaved them. And they shall no longer be a prey for the nations, nor shall beasts of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and no one shall make them afraid. I will raise up for them a garden of renown, and they shall no longer be consumed with hunger in the land, nor bear the shame of the Gentiles anymore. Thus they shall know that I, the Lord their God, am with them, and they, the house of Israel, are My people, says the Lord God. You are My flock, the flock of My pasture; you are men, and I am your God, says the Lord God.” Ezekiel 34:25-31

“A covenant of peace with them” means He is contracting with them to be their Prince of Peace. That’s what Jesus does. He brings peace into our hearts because He reminds that God is greater than all the evil doers around us. He has our back. He takes out the “wild beasts” who threaten and attack us. He brings the “showers of blessing” that fill our hearts with joy and with strength to love once again, He brings the “fruit” of good produce from our lives. He breaks the unjust “yoke” of those “who enslaved” to serve their selfish agendas. He saves from being “a prey for the nations” and delivers from our fears. He raises “a garden of renown” from which we have ample supply to do His will. “Thus they shall know that I, the Lord their God, am with them, and they... are My people, says the Lord God. You are My flock, the flock of My pasture; you are men, and I am your God, says the Lord God.” Praise the Lord!

“Yes, come Lord Jesus come! We need You Good Shepherd to help us in these ways and we ask You to please intervene for us.”

Sounding The Alarm - Ezekiel 33

A year and half prior to the prophecies of Ezekiel 33, the city of Jerusalem was captured and burned by the Babylonian army. They didn’t have TV, telephones or internet in those days. The swiftest forms of transportation were horses and camels. So, it was a year and half after the event when a survivor of Jerusalem told Ezekiel what happened. It was in this context, that the Lord gave to Ezekiel a word about being watchmen who sounds the alarm.

“Again the Word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand. So, you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a Word from My mouth and warn them for Me.” Ezekiel 33:1-7

In the US Army, the maximum penalty for guard who falls asleep while on duty during wartime is the death penalty. The watchman is responsible to sound the alarm if he sees life threatening circumstances materializing. The Lord called Ezekiel to watch out for people’s souls.

“When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.” Ezekiel 33:8-9

There is a greater life to protect than the biological body. It is the soul. The only One who can transfer our souls from this temporary world to the eternal kingdom of God is God Himself. Everyone needs a personal relationship with the Lord.

“Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’” Ezekiel 33:11

The Lord says in 1 Timothy 2:4 that He wants all people to be saved. In Matthew 22:9, He says, “Go into the highways and byways, and invite everyone you find to the wedding feast.”

“When I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, but he trusts in his own righteousness and commits iniquity, none of his righteous works shall be remembered; but because of the iniquity that he has committed, he shall die.” Ezekiel 33:13

One of the devil’s devious deceptions is to convince sinners to trust in self-righteousness. That if they do certain good deeds and don’t do certain bad deeds, they are righteous before God! Jesus illustrated self-righteous faith in Luke 18:11-12, He said, “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’” He prayed “thus with himself” – “God.” Yes, he was a god, but a false God. Jesus said that the Pharisee was not just before God. He assumed that he did not need Jesus Messiah as much as the worst tax-collector or prostitute did. To God, one sin is unacceptable. We must all confess that we are sinners in a need of Christ to save us fro our sins.

“Again, when I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ if he turns from his sin and does what is lawful and right... he shall surely live.” Ezekiel 33:14, 16

The lawful and right deed to do is to repent of self-righteous faith and to ask God to be merciful to you and to impute to you His righteousness via faith in His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus said in Luke 18:13-14, “The tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you; this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

“And it came to pass in the 12th year of our captivity, in the 10th month, on the 5th day of the month, that one who had escaped from Jerusalem came to me and said, “The city has been captured!” Ezekiel 33:21

The above passage gives us the context and time frame of this prophecy. What better time to talk about being faithful watchmen than immediately following the destruction of a society due to watchmen who did not do their jobs?

“Then the Word of the Lord came to me, saying: son of man, they who inhabit those ruins in the land of Israel are saying, ‘Abraham was only one, and he inherited the land. But we are many; the land has been given to us as a possession.’ Therefore, say to them, thus says the Lord God: you eat meat with blood, you lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood. Should you then possess the land? You rely on your sword, you commit abominations, and you defile one another’s wives. Should you then possess the land?” Ezekiel 33:23-26

There always seems to be someone who has a word from the Lord that does not require God’s people to repent of sin and to be transformed by God. The word that was going around in Ezekiel’s day reasoned like this, if God saved one Abraham, how much more would He not save many Abraham’s. They thought that since they were Abraham’s descendants, God would save them just as God saved their forefather. But Abraham did not eat meat with blood in it. He didn’t worship idols. He didn’t rely on his sword and murder. He didn’t commit adultery. No, God was not going to save them when they behaved like that.

“As for you, son of man, the children of your people are talking about you beside the walls and in the doors of the houses; and they speak to one another, everyone saying to his brother, ‘Please come and hear what the Word is that comes from the Lord.’ So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain. Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them. And when this comes to pass—surely it will come—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.” Ezekiel 33:30-33

The Lord revealed to Ezekiel that people were speaking well of him besides walls and in the doorways of their houses. Neighborly chats! His listeners were inviting others to come and hear him speak. His words sounded like beautiful music to their ears. The problem was that no one was acting on his words. With mouths they expressed love, but in hearts they were still greedy.

Did their inaction discredit Ezekiel’s prophetic ministry among them? No, the Lord assured Ezekiel that he was a prophet to them.

Ezekiel was like the prophets who proceeded him, of which the Lord said in 2 Chronicles 36:15-16, “And the Lord God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy.”

In Matthew 23:37, Jesus lamented over those who kill the true prophets of God, saying, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!”

Concerning the prophecies that Jesus Christ has given our generation, He says in Revelation 1:3, “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.” The Lord is sounding the alarm. Are His words only beautiful music to our ears? Or are we heeding them and making efforts to warn those around us of them to saving of their souls? May God by His grace and by His Spirit help us to do so!

HE Is LORD - Ezekiel 29-32

\In Ezekiel 29-32, the Lord called Ezekiel to prophecy against Egypt and its allies. The Lord gave to Ezekiel the exactly right words to say. Egypt was a powerful nation at the time of this prophecy. Many nations allied themselves to Egypt believing her to be stronger than Babylon but were wrong. God was against Egypt. His plan was to give the treasures of Egypt to Babylon as a reward. A reward? Yes, Babylon had destroyed the Sidonians at a great cost to their economy and received no compensation for it, so the Lord said the treasures of Egypt would be Babylon’s compensation. The nations who joined with Egypt would also suffer great losses.

“Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt. Speak, and say, thus says the Lord God: behold, I am against you, O Pharaoh king of Egypt, O great monster who lies in the midst of his rivers, who has said, ‘My River is my own; I have made it for myself.’ ...I have given you as food to the beasts of the field and to the birds of the heavens.” Ezekiel 29:2-3, 5

God calls Egypt a monster. The Egyptians were descendants of Noah’s son Ham. They were people created in God’s image, but they became inhabited by evil spirits and became like monsters. There was no love for God or neighbor in them. They preferred to worship the idols that evil spirits told them to create and serve. They became proud and belligerent... out of control. They accumulated great wealth and power. They used their technological advances to bully others and to serve their selfish interests. God compared them to a river monster but prophesied that animals and birds would feast on them. God created people to rule over the creatures of the sky, land and sea, but when people turn against God, He reverses the order so that the creatures humble them.

“Then all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the Lord because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel. When they took hold of you with the hand, you broke and tore all their shoulders; when they leaned on you, you broke and made all their backs quiver.” “And the land of Egypt shall become desolate and waste; then they will know that I am the Lord, because he said, ‘The River is mine, and I have made it.’ I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate; and among the cities that are laid waste, her cities shall be desolate 40 years; and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries.” Ezekiel 29:6-7, 9, 12

God’s people, Israel, had looked to Egypt to save them from being destroyed by Babylon, but the Lord told them in advance, even before it came to pass, that leaning on Egypt would hurt them. Egypt was going to be destroyed because of her pride. Then, the Egyptians would know that the God of Israel is God.

It is often after people lose all their props that they turn to God and come to know Him. God promised to scatter the Egyptians amongst the nations for a period of 40 years. As Israel wandered 40 years in the wilderness, so the Egyptians would wander among the nations for 40 years.

“Yet, thus says the Lord God: at the end of 40 years I will gather the Egyptians from the peoples among whom they were scattered. I will bring back the captives of Egypt and cause them to return to the land of Pathros, to the land of their origin, and there they shall be a lowly kingdom. It shall be the lowliest of kingdoms; it shall never again exalt itself above the nations, for I will diminish them so that they will not rule over the nations anymore. No longer shall it be the confidence of the house of Israel but will remind them of their iniquity when they turned to follow them. Then they shall know that I am the Lord God.” Ezekiel 29:13-16

The Lord prophesied of restoring the Egyptians to their land after 40 years of exile, but they would be the lowliest of kingdoms. She would not rule over nations any longer. She would never again become an idol to the Israelites. The Egyptians were going to lose their superpower status but they were going to come to know God. Indeed, there are many Egyptian Christians.

“Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon caused his army to labor strenuously against Tyre... yet neither he nor his army received wages from Tyre, for the labor which they expended on it. Therefore thus says the Lord God: surely I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; he shall take away her wealth, carry off her spoil, and remove her pillage; and that will be the wages for his army. I have given him the land of Egypt for his labor, because they worked for Me, says the Lord God.” Ezekiel 29:18-20

The Lord used a pagan king to humble proud nations. The Lord repaid him and his people for doing it. In a similar way, the Lord allows the proud devil to destroy arrogance amongst people today. The way of escape from the devil’s attacks is to humble oneself and turn to the Lord.

In Matthew 5:22-26, Jesus spoke against being angry with your brother without a cause. He urged the one who has offended his brother to go to him and be reconciled with him. Then, He said, “Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.” In other words, rather than trying to justify your misbehavior when accused by the devil, agree with him, admit that you are a sinner and in need of a Savior. Trust that the blood of Christ is sufficient to blot out every sin that you have ever committed and rejoice in God your Savior!

“In that day I will cause the horn of the house of Israel to spring forth, and I will open your mouth to speak in their midst. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 29:21

After repentance, and knowing the Lord, comes fellowship. The Lord was going to bring about a new day of fellowship in Him between Egypt and Israel.

In Ezekiel 30:5, the Lord adds Ethiopia, Libya, Lydia, all the mingled people, Chub, and the men of the lands who are allied with Egypt to the list of nations to be defeated by Babylon. Ezekiel 30:8 says that all Egyptians helpers shall be destroyed. In Ezekiel 30:18-19, the Lord says that “her arrogant strength shall cease... Thus I will execute judgments on Egypt, then they shall know that I am the Lord.”

Though Egypt had once been as glorious and great as the trees of Eden, she would be brought down. She should have turned to the Lord after He did miracles in her by the hand of Moses.

“To which of the trees in Eden will you then be likened in glory and greatness? Yet you shall be brought down with the trees of Eden to the depths of the earth; you shall lie in the midst of the uncircumcised, with those slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, says the Lord God.” Ezekiel 31:18

The Lord called Ezekiel to lament for Egypt because like a monster she had fouled up the rivers of the nations.

“Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say to him: you are like a young lion among the nations, and you are like a monster in the seas, bursting forth in your rivers, troubling the waters with your feet, and fouling their rivers.” Ezekiel 32:2

The Lord was going to turn the lights out on Egypt.

“All the bright lights of the heavens I will make dark over you, and bring darkness upon your land, says the Lord God.” Ezekiel 32:8

The Babylonians would plunder the pomp of Egypt.

“For thus says the Lord God: the sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon you. By the swords of the mighty warriors, all of them the most terrible of the nations, I will cause your multitude to fall. They shall plunder the pomp of Egypt, and all its multitude shall be destroyed.” Ezekiel 32:11-12

Are there proud empires today that need to be humbled? Yes! I pray that the Lord will use us His people to warn them sufficiently to turn from pride to God the Father, Jesus Christ His Son and the Holy Spirit. Every nation that exalts itself against Him eventually falls.

In Ezekiel 32:22-30, the Lord lists the nations that will descend with Egypt into a pit due to their sins. “Assyria is there.” “There is Elam and all her multitude.” “There are Meshech and Tubal and all their multitudes.” “There is Edom.” “There are the princes of the north, all of them, and all the Sidonians.”

Hebrews 10:31 says, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” That is, if you have been resisting His Spirit’s efforts to bring you to salvation. There comes a point when the Lord no longer holds out the olive branch. He wields the sword. Once it begins, it doesn’t end until that nation or person is totally humbled before Him, and knows that HE, indeed, is LORD.

In The Lamb’s Book of Life - Ezekiel 25-28

In Ezekiel 25, the Lord calls Ezekiel to prophesy against the Amorites, Moabites, Edomites and Philistines. The Amorites and Moabites were descendants of Abraham’s nephew Lot. The Edomites were descendants of Abraham’s grandson Esau. The Philistines were Judah’s neighbors to the south but they were not good neighbors.

Ezekiel 26-28 is a prophecy against Tyre and Sidon. Tyre and Sidon were cities located to the north of Jerusalem on the Mediterranean Sea coast. They were highly successful and wealthy tradesmen, but also were the epitome of pride and arrogance.

“Say to the Ammonites, hear the word of the Lord God! Thus says the Lord God: because you said ‘aha’ against My sanctuary when it was profaned, and against the land of Israel when it was desolate, and against the house of Judah when they went into captivity, indeed, therefore, I will deliver you as a possession to the men of the East, and they shall set their encampments among you and make their dwellings among you; they shall eat your fruit, and they shall drink your milk. ...Then you shall know that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 25:3-5

The Ammonites celebrated the destruction of God’s holy place. God judged them specifically for rejoicing during the downfall of Judah. Ezekiel 25:6-7 says that they clapped their hands, stamped their feet, and rejoiced in heart with all their disdain for the land of Israel. Therefore, God promised to give them as plunder to the nations. They would know that He is the Lord.

In Ezekiel 25:8-11, the Lord charged Moab with celebrating the demise of Judah. So, He said, “I will execute judgments upon Moab, and they shall know that I am the Lord.”

In Ezekiel 25:12-14, the Lord promised to take vengeance on the Edomites for their vengeance against Judah. They collaborated with Judah’s enemies. They would know that He is the Lord.

In Ezekiel 25:15-17, the Lord promised to destroy the Philistines for taking vengeance on Judah with a spiteful heart and with old hatred. The Philistines would know that He is the Lord.

Ezekiel 26-28 are three chapters of prophecies against Tyre and Sidon. They were sister cities. In Ezekiel 26:1-2, Tyre rejoiced in Jerusalem’s downfall. They assumed that Jerusalem would be turned over to them and they would inherit Jerusalem’s treasures. That did not happen!

In Ezekiel 26:3-6, the Lord promised to bring many nations against Tyre and “make her like the top of a rock.” “A place for spreading nets in the midst of the sea!” Then, they would know that He is the Lord.

In Ezekiel 26:7-14, Ezekiel prophesied of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon coming against Tyre with his mighty army to plunder their riches and merchandise. His army would break down their defenses and destroy their pleasant houses. He would put an end to their songs. Their city would never be rebuilt.

In Ezekiel 26:17-18, the Lord called for lamentations for Tyre because she whose seafaring men were strong and famous would be gone. In Ezekiel 26:21, the Lord prophesied saying, “I will make you a terror, and you shall be no more; though you are sought for, you will never be found again, says the Lord God.”

In Ezekiel 27:3-24, Tyre had boasted saying, “I am perfect in beauty.” Tyre had been built with the finest woods. Their ships had the finest linen from Egypt for their sails. They had famous people from other locations for their oarsmen, for building their ships, and for fighting their battles. They had precious metals like iron and gold. They had horses, steeds and mules in abundance. They had ivory, ebony, emeralds, rubies, coral and finely embroidered clothing. They had the best of grains, honey, sugarcane, spices, cooking oil and wine. They had flocks and herds for meat. They had healing balms. They had the finest clothing in the world. They were loaded with luxuries. Like the last days empire of Babylon that is described in Revelation 18.

In Ezekiel 27:30-36, the merchants of the earth weep for Tyre with bitterness of heart and bitter wailing, saying, “You satisfied many people; you enriched the kings of the earth with your many luxury goods and your merchandise. But you are broken by the seas in the depths of the waters.” “You will become a horror and be no more forever.”

In Ezekiel 28:1-8, the Lord describes the mindset of the prince of Tyre. He says, “I am a god, I sit in the seat of gods, in the midst of the seas.” But the Lord says to him, “You are a man, and not a god, though you set your heart as the heart of a god.” God promised to bring the most terrible of nations against Tyre because Tyre’s heart was lifted up because of their riches... “because you have set your heart as the heart of a god.” They would throw her into a Pit.

In Ezekiel 28:11-12, the Lord describes the king of Tyre as the anointed cherub who fell due to iniquity. In other words, the king of Tyre was an embodiment of Satan. He loved to appear as perfect, full of wisdom and beauty, but sin was in his heart.

God describes the fallen cherub who is embodied in the King of Tyre...

“You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: the sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created. You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you. By the abundance of your trading you became filled with violence within, and you sinned; therefore I cast you as a profane thing out of the mountain of God; and I destroyed you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the fiery stones.” Ezekiel 28:13-16

In Ezekiel 28:17-19, the devil’s “heart was lifted up because of... beauty.” He corrupted wisdom for the sake of splendor. So, God cast him to the ground. He brought fire and it devoured him. “You have become a horror and shall be no more forever.”

In Ezekiel 28:20-23, the Lord called Ezekiel, the son of man, to set his face toward Sidon, and prophesy against her. The Lord promised to execute judgments in her and be hallowed in her. Sidon was a sister city to Tyre. She would experience pestilence and bloodshed in her streets and come to know that God alone is Lord.

“And there shall no longer be a pricking brier or a painful thorn for the house of Israel from among all who are around them, who despise them. Then they shall know that I am the Lord God. Thus says the Lord God: when I have gathered the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered and am hallowed in them in the sight of the Gentiles, then they will dwell in their own land which I gave to My servant Jacob. And they will dwell safely there, build houses, and plant vineyards; yes, they will dwell securely, when I execute judgments on all those around them who despise them. Then they shall know that I am the Lord their God.” Ezekiel 28:24-26

The Lord promised to restore the Promised Land to His people after a season of correction in Babylon. No longer would Israel’s neighbors be like briars and thorns around about them. They will enjoy safety, houses, vineyards and respect once again.

While all these judgments came to pass on the lands mentioned in Ezekiel’s prophecies, we know that the one behind the pride and arrogance of rich rulers still exists. In the Book of Revelation, Jesus Christ reveals to God’s servants what shall come to pass in the future. The nations who join with the antichrist shall lose the war against Christ.

“And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Revelation 20:10

“If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.” Revelation 14:9-10

What will the hyphen on your tombstone represent? The hyphen is that little line between the date you were born and the day you die. Will it represent a life of love for God and for neighbor, or for fame and fortune?

Revelation 20:10 says, “Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.” How does one’s name appear in the Lamb’s book of life? The answer is by believing in, following and professing that He, Jesus Christ, is Lord and Savior.

Signs - Ezekiel 23-24

In Ezekiel 23, the Lord compares those who abandon Him to harlots. They prefer the favor of ungodly peers more than desire the favor of the lover of their souls.

“The Word of the Lord came again to me, saying: ‘Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother. They committed harlotry in Egypt... Their names: Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister; they were Mine, and they bore sons and daughters. As for their names, Samaria is Oholah, and Jerusalem is Oholibah.’” Ezekiel 23:1-4

Oholah means “her tent,” representing the northern kingdom of Israel (Samaria), while Oholibah means “My tent is in her,” representing the southern kingdom of Judah (Jerusalem). These symbolic names describe how both kingdoms were unfaithful to God. Oholah signifies Israel’s self-made places of worship, while Oholibah refers to Jerusalem, which housed God’s temple but was still idolatrous and unfaithful.

“Oholah played the harlot even though she was Mine; and she lusted for her lovers, the neighboring Assyrians.” “Therefore, I have delivered her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians, for whom she lusted. ...They executed judgment on her.” Ezekiel 23:5, 9-10

The ones who lured her from God, turned on her and destroyed her. Kind of like hunters who set out an animal’s favorite food not because they love the animal but because they want to kill it and devour it’s goods.

“Now although her sister Oholibah saw this, she became more corrupt in her lust than she, and in her harlotry more corrupt than her sister’s harlotry.” “She increased her harlotry; she looked at men portrayed on the wall images of Chaldeans portrayed in vermilion... As soon as her eyes saw them, she lusted for them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea. Then the Babylonians came to her, into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their immorality; so, she was defiled by them and alienated herself from them.” Ezekiel 23:11, 14, 16-17

Oholibah (Jerusalem) followed in her sister’s ways even though she saw that her sister’s ending was not a happy one. Those who lure people from God are defiled and by their nature seek to defile others, especially the one who is holy to the Lord. Gaining a defiler’s favor is no favor, but a death trap. After joining herself to the Chaldeans, and after being defiled by them, she alienated herself from them. Now, she had loneliness.

“Then I alienated Myself from her, as I had alienated Myself from her sister.” Ezekiel 23:18

Sin alienates us from God. The only way back to God is via repentance of unfaithfulness to Him and via sincerely asking Him for His forgiveness with a view to be faithful to Him going forward.

“I will delegate judgment to them, and they shall judge you according to their judgments. I will set My jealousy against you, and they shall deal furiously with you...” “For thus says the Lord God: surely I will deliver you into the hand of those you hate, into the hand of those from whom you alienated yourself. They will deal hatefully with you, take away all you have worked for, and leave you naked and bare...” Ezekiel 23:24-25, 28-29

They didn’t want to hear or accept God’s judgments. They told God’s messengers not to judge them. So, God handed them over to people who hated them. Their new masters judged them with cruelty. They robbed them of everything including their self-respect.

“You have walked in the way of your sister; therefore, I will put her cup in your hand. Thus says the Lord God: you shall drink of your sister’s cup, the deep and wide one; you shall be laughed to scorn and held in derision; it contains much. You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, the cup of horror and desolation, the cup of your sister Samaria.” Ezekiel 23:31-33

God gave to Samaria and to Jerusalem a cup filled with scorn, derision, drunkenness, sorrow, horror and desolation. This is the cup of God’s wrath against sin. It is the cup that Jesus drank in the garden of Gethsemane. After Jesus submitted to drinking God’s cup of wrath for our sins, He experienced captivity, insults, torture, crucifixion, and finally death. He did this for our salvation that we might saved from the eternal torments which unforgiven sinners experience.

“Therefore, thus says the Lord God: because you have forgotten Me and cast Me behind your back, therefore you shall bear the penalty of your lewdness and your harlotry.” Ezekiel 23:35

It is a terrible decision to forget God and cast Him behind one’s back. Those who do so must bear the consequences of their bad choices.

“The Lord also said to me: ‘Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah? Then declare to them their abominations.” “After they had slain their children for their idols, on the same day they came into My sanctuary to profane it; and indeed, thus they have done in the midst of My house.” Ezekiel 23:36, 39

Ezekiel was to judge the abdominal acts of his people including how they sacrificed their children to idols and then, came into God’s house as though nothing was wrong.

“Then you shall know that I am the Lord God.” Ezekiel 23:49

The Lord’s goal was to bring His erring child back into fellowship with Him.

In Ezekiel 24:1-14, the Lord compares the city of Jerusalem to a cooking pot and the people in it to meat for cooking. He called them scum.

“Then set the pot empty on the coals, that it may become hot and its bronze may burn, that its filthiness may be melted in it, that its scum may be consumed.” “I, the Lord, have spoken it; it shall come to pass, and I will do it; I will not hold back, nor will I spare, nor will I relent; according to your ways and according to your deeds they will judge you, says the Lord God.” Ezekiel 24:11, 14

In Ezekiel 24:15-27, the Lord told Ezekiel that he was a sign to the people of things to come. The Lord told him that his wife would die, but he was not to grieve for her. Then, she died that evening, and Ezekiel did just as the Lord told him to do. People said to Ezekiel, “Will you not tell us what these things signify to us, that you behave so?” He told the people that he was sign to them of things to come for them.

The Apostle Paul spoke of being a sign to people. In 1 Corinthians 4:9-13, he wrote, “For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.”

It isn’t that the Lord does not love His beloved prophets and apostles, but as He says in Luke 10:3, He sends us “out as lambs among wolves.” A lamb amidst a pack of wolves is not a pretty sight. To get a preview of what happens we need look no farther than what happened to Jesus on Good Friday. Nevertheless, may the Lord help us to be His signs so that people see Christ in us and turn to Him for salvation. And in the end, those of us who serve the Lord faithfully, speaking what He speaks, we shall enjoy pleasures forevermore at His right hand.