Ezekiel 44 - 48

The last five chapters of Ezekiel continue the details of the sanctuary, worship specifics, and the division of land. Israel will worship again one day in their temple and their land, just as the Lord had intended from the beginning. 

Chapter 44 covers the East Gate and the Prince, who will be from the line of David. 

God told Ezekiel to see and hear all that He said concerning the ordinances of the house of the Lord and all its laws. Tell the house of Israel: "Let Us have no more of all your abominations...No foreigner, uncircumcised in heart or...in flesh, shall enter My sanctuary, including any foreigner who is among the children of Israel."

The Lord told Ezekiel the laws concerning the priests, that the Levites will be God's ministers and they shall teach His people the difference between holy and unholy and to discern between unclean and clean. 

Chapter 45 is about the division of the land, including a section for the sanctuary, the priests, and the prince. The prince has the responsibility to judge righteously. And also there are instructions for keeping the Feasts, such as the Passover. 

Chapter 46 concerns the manner of worship, in which the prince shall be present, the priests shall prepare the offerings, and the people will come and worship.

Chapter 47 is about the healing waters and trees. Water will flow from the temple toward the front of the temple. The man with the measuring rod brought Ezekiel through the waters so that it was up to his ankles, then his knees, then his waist, and then high enough so that he had to swim. Wherever the river flowed everything lived. There were also an abundance of trees that were year-long fruit-bearing trees for food. 

Next there were instructions for drawing the borders to divide the land as an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel. 

The last chapter, 48, continues the division of land, and the names of the twelve tribes. The name of the city from that day shall be THE LORD IS THERE.

COMMENTARY

McGee confirms that the prince is not Jesus Christ, but he is either David or he comes from David's line. He also is said to have sons. 

Chapter 45 informs us that the Feast of Passover will be kept. Passover refers to Christ because He is the passover sacrificed for us (1 Cor. 5:7). All of the sacrifices in the Old Testament were fulfilled in Christ, so why are they restored during the Millennium? McGee believes that they are reminders to the people of Israel how they were redeemed, similar to the way the Lord's Supper looks back to that event. The reminders will be for those on earth, while Christ will be in heaven to remind the church.

Chapters 47-48 looks at the division of land during the millennial. The water flows from the altar, which is where all blessings originate. The water is a type of Holy Spirit. When Ezekiel said the waters were to the ankles, it represents the walk of the believer in the Spirit; to the knees, this represents prayer; to the waist, it is when we gird up our loins for service in Christ; and to swim in the waters means "the fullness of the Spirit, looking forward to the day when God will pour out His Spirit upon these people." 

The trees represent the fruit of the land. There will be an eternal spring of water coming from the altar going out into the land. 

And finally, Ezekiel described the division of the land among the twelve tribes, and ended with the name of the city: The Lord is there. 

Ezekiel 41-43

Chapters 41-43 deal with the new temple, including the specific dimensions of and designs for the sanctuary and the temple, chambers for the priests, outer dimensions of the temple, the altar, and the dwelling place of the Lord. 

Ezekiel was brought into the sanctuary, and the man who measured told him that this "is the Most Holy Place." He also described the make up and measurements of the altar, "the table that is before the Lord." He showed Ezekiel the priest's chambers, where they will eat the most holy offerings.

Then "the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters and the earth shone with His glory. It was like the appearance of the vision which I saw when I came to destroy the city...and I fell on my face." Ezekiel saw the Lord come into the temple by the east gate, and "the Spirit lifted him up and brought him into the inner court, and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple."

Then Ezekiel heard Him speak from the temple, and He said, "...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,...by their harlotry or with the carcasses of their kings on their high places...I will dwell in their midst forever."

God commanded Ezekiel to make known to the house of Israel the design of the temple and all its details, and write it down in their sight, so they may keep its whole design and do it. And He gave also the specifics for the day of its consecration. 

When these days are over it shall be, on the eighth day and thereafter, that the priests shall offer your burnt offerings and your peace offerings on the altar; and I will accept you.    

Ezekiel 40

Chapter 40 describes the new temple in the new city of Jerusalem in Israel during the Millennial period. God transported Ezekiel back to Israel and showed him a vision of what the new temple will look like. Ezekiel witnessed a man "whose appearance was like the appearance of bronze. He had a line of flax and a measuring rod in his hand, and he stood in the gateway."

The man (who MacArthur says was an angel, but could have been the Angel of the Lord, since he is called "LORD") measured the temple from gateway to gateway (north, south, east, and west). Ezekiel is commanded to see with his eyes and hear with his ears everything shown to him, that he may go back and tell the house of Israel.

In this chapter it is noted that sacrifices will be conducted again in the new temple. There were chambers for each of the offerings, as well as chambers for singers and chambers for priests, who "are the sons of Zadok, from the sons of Levi, who come near the Lord to minister to Him."

COMMENTARY

According to McGee, the new temple is in the new city in Israel, where Jews will go to worship; but Christians will be with Jesus in New Jerusalem where there is no temple (Rev. 21:22) because Jesus is our temple. 

To recap: after the enemy is put down (Ezekiel 38-39), God's children come into the Millenium, and there will be a new temple in Israel for them to worship inside. Great detail is given about its dimensions. "...the Mosaic system will be restored with the reinstating of the levitical liturgy and the burnt offering, sin offering and trespass offering."

The New Temple

Ezekiel 39

Continuing on, God told Ezekiel to prophesy against Gog, that He will lead him, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal from the far north against Israel. God will then disable the armies and they will fall to their deaths. Birds and beasts will devour them and fire will consume them. 

God will make His holy name known, and Israel will never be able to profane His name anymore.

After the defeat of the armies from the north, Israel will spend the next seven years using the weapons from the fallen armies for fire. They will plunder all those who plundered them. 

Also, the armies of Gog will be buried in Israel. And for seven months, the house of Israel will bury them until the land is cleansed of the bodies. 

After the bodies are gone, the Lord will set His glory among the nations and they shall see His judgments -- that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity and unfaithfulness to Him; therefore, God had turned His face from them and gave them over to their enemies.

Now I will bring back the captives of Jacob, and have mercy on the...house of Israel; 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 I have 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..., but also brought them back to their land...And I will not hide My face from them anymore; for I shall have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel...

COMMENTARY

God is going to defeat the army that comes out of the north against Israel. McGee believes this is Russia, and other nations who join them, and God is going to deal with Russia for its past treatment of the Jews. 

ABOUT THE RAPTURE & TRIBULATION PERIOD

The battle of Ezekiel 39 will happen before the Tribulation period ends, before Jesus returns. Where will the church be? With Christ. Remember, the church is raptured (taken out of the world) just before the Tribulation period begins. 

McGee used a great example: When God was ready to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham asked if He would do so if 50 righteous people remained in the city. God said no. What about 40 - 30 - 20 - 10? No, no, no! There were not even 10 righteous people left in Sodom; therefore, God removed Lot and his family before he destroyed the city. God will not let the Tribulation come until He takes His church (his born-again believers) out of the world. Then the Tribulation period will begin.

THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD

You do not want to be around during this period because God will be judging unbelievers and the earth. And once the invader from the north is defeated, it provides an opportunity for the Antichrist to be the world ruler for the last half of the seven-year Tribulation. At the end of the seven years, Jesus Christ will come to earth to establish His kingdom. Then begins the Millennium Period.

Finally, when Israel recognizes God as Lord and Savior and righteousness prevails, then the nation (or any nation) can experience "the love, mercy, and goodness of God."

SOURCE

Ezekiel 38

This chapter is a little tricky, therefore, I am using several sources to figure it out. 

First, Ezekiel said that God told him to set his face against Gog, of the land of Magog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against them. 

Sources agree that Gog is another term for supreme leader or prince. And they agree that this time period is a future battle against Israel. Some believe it happens after the false peace which began the seven-year Tribulation period. McGee and MacArthur believes at the halfway mark, three and one half years in, Israel will be attacked. 

In Ezekiel 38, God told the prophet that a coalition of nations will rise against Israel, and He named Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya, along with a group from the far north. There will be a whole army. This "prince" sees Israel living safely in their land, a land that was once desolate but is now inhabited by God's people, and that they have acquired livestock and goods; this price or Antichrist will devise an evil plan to attack Israel and plunder their goods. In fact, God is going to have His hand in bringing this army specifically to and against Israel.

But God will cause such a great earthquake in that time that all creatures and man will shake at His presence. Mountains shall be thrown down and walls and steep places shall fall to the ground. Such fear will come upon the enemies of God that they will turn their swords on one another. God will bring judgment upon them through pestilence and bloodshed, hailstones, fire, and brimstone. (You may find more of this in Revelation, which describes the battle at the end of the Tribulation.)

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. 

God will protect Israel from her enemies, and Israel will glorify God.

COMMENTARY

So now let us see what McGee says about chapter 38. This chapter is about the final enemy that will come against Israel in the last days. McGee said it is Russia.

McGee says Gog is a word for ruler. Magog means head, and in Hebrew, it is Rosh. McGee also sources two scholars who say the Hebrew word Rosh should be Russia. And he explains that Rosh as a proper name signified the inhabitants of Scythia, which is modern Russia. And Russia was first called Moscovy, derived from Meshech. And Meshech and Tubal sound like Moscow and Tobolsk, which are in Siberia. McGee called this the Linguistic Phenomenon. 

He also added that since Israel is the geographical center of the earth, as far as the bible is concerned, and if one went far north (from Israel), where God said Israel's enemy would come from, he would end up in Russia. 

And finally, because Ezekiel 38 described a nation which was against God, Russia has been a nation that has (through communism) declared that there is no God. Most nations have their own man made gods. Russian leaders at one time embraced the idea that no God existed. Well, that was in the 80s. Today, Putin has actually called Russia a Christian nation, in response to America's godlessness and moral bankruptcy. It could be a ploy, and we shall see what comes of Russia's declaration of religion or faith. 

When will the invasion happen? There are numerous interpretations of this. McGee and MacArthur agree it will be at the middle end of the Tribulation period. When the final Antichrist comes to power, he will do so using his platform of peace and safety. 

For the first half of the Tribulation, there is a false peace, but after three and one half years, Russia will come down from the north into Israel and this event will trigger the Great Tribulation by ending the false peace agreement between Israel and the Antichrist. War will break out, the Great Tribulation period (second half) will begin, and the whole earth will suffer a short while.

McGee said that God will give Russia and the other nations reasons to come, so that they will all be situated in Israel, thinking they are going to invade, but instead it is where they will be judged by the living God. Instead of using other nations to judge Israel, God will bring those nations to Israel to be judged themselves, and they will not return to their homes again. 

McGee then explained why he believes Russia will "invade" Israel, such as a need for access to the Mediterranean and for oil from the Middle East or even for mineral deposits from the Dead Sea. Whatever the reasons, chapter 38 said they wanted to plunder what Israel had. 

Ezekiel 37

 THE DRY BONES LIVE

This is a great chapter with more promises of hope for Israel's future.

God gave Ezekiel a vision of a valley full of dry bones and told him to prophesy to the bones that God will cause breath to enter into them and they shall live. "He will put sinews on them and bring flesh upon them, cover them with skin and put breath in them." 

Ezekiel did as commanded and he heard the noise of the bones coming together. He saw the sinews and flesh come upon them and skin cover them. Then God told Ezekiel to prophesy to the breath and tell it to breathe on the slain that they may live; and Ezekiel did as commanded, and he saw "breath come into them and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army."

God described the bones as the whole house of Israel. They were hopeless and cut off, but God said:

Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up...and bring you into the land of Israel...I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land."

God also told Ezekiel to take two sticks, and upon one write Ephraim and the other Joseph, and join them together. Not only will God take the children of Israel from among the nations and bring them into their own land, but Israel shall never be two nations, but one, and they shall live in the land under one King, who is JESUS!!! (It does not say the name Jesus, and rather it says David; however, it is to be understood as Jesus.)

Even better, they will be cleansed of all unrighteousness, walking in the Lord's judgments and observing His statues. They will be able to obey the Lord. Furthermore, God will make an everlasting covenant with them and will dwell with them forever. 

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.

COMMENTARY

It is important to note that the reference to the dry bones coming to life represents the future resurrection of the nation of Israel -- a spiritual revival or restoration -- not individual resurrection or a resurrection of the dead saints of the Christian church. This was a vision that God gave to Ezekiel, in which he literally moved the prophet, "carried" him out in the spirit of the Lord, to a valley of dead, dry bones. 

God is the One who will give life to the spiritually dead, but was through Ezekiel who spoke God's words to the hearers, much like a preacher does. When Ezekiel obeyed God and spoke to the scattered, dead bones, they obeyed and came together. But they were still without a spiritual life.

God then spoke (through Ezekiel) the life-giving breath into the spiritually dead bodies. First, they were scattered bones, then they came together and were bodies, but still dead; finally they were made alive. All three of these stages represent what must happen to the nation of Israel before it is restored. 

Today, Israel is not restored to God, but they are not hopeless. Before 1948, they were as the dry, scattered bones. Since 1948, they have been brought together under a flag and constitution and even a prime minister. However, they are still without spiritual life. 

One day, God is going to make the nation of Israel spiritually alive again. He will bring together all twelve tribes from both the northern and southern kingdoms, and they shall never be two nations again. They will have one Shepherd, which is Jesus Christ. McGee believe David will serve as a regent under Jesus for both the Millennial and the eternal kingdoms. 

Finally, God's sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore. The Nation of Israel and an eternal temple will be here on this earth.

There are two kinds of people on earth: living people and dead people. Those who have Jesus have life and those who do not have the Son, do not have life (John 3:36) and are dead in their sins. You can come to life. Know Jesus as your Savior and live.

Ezekiel 36

This chapter holds promises for Israel in the future: 1. to give the land back to the Jews; 2. for the land to grow food; 3. to rebuild the cities; and 4. to bless Israel even more so than it was in the beginning. 

First, God is going to punish Israel's enemies for their spite and covetousness of the land meant for Israel. They shall bear their own shame, while Israel will grow and prosper. 

God is for Israel! The people will populate the land and rebuild their cities. There will be peace in Israel, and no one shall abuse them ever again. 

God also reminded Israel of why they had to be punished: because they profaned God's holy name. Even in captivity, they offended God's name. In fact, the restoration of Israel to the land is not because or for Israel's sake, but rather to restore God's holy name. 

GOD'S PROMISE TO ISRAEL

For I will take you from among the nation, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people and I will be your God. 

Is that not love, or what? A people who were unfaithful to God, yet, He promises to take back. Do you know anyone - even yourself - who would take back an unfaithful spouse? 

And He told them He would provide food, multiplying their grain and fruit trees and fields. Never shall they experience famine ever.

However, Israel will remember their sin and this will cause them to loathe themselves, which is a good and healthy response. 

All of this is for God's glory and reputation, so that all of the remaining nations around Israel will know that He is the Lord. 

COMMENTARY

Before Israel can be restored to the land, she must be judged and forgiven.

First of all, Israel will be restored. Today that promise has not been fulfilled. When God brings His people back to the land, it will be blessed. There is no sign of blessing, yet. 

Second, or most importantly, God is going to restore His holy name. He is so very patient. Unlike us. Today, God's name is blasphemed everywhere. When this prophecy is fulfilled, every living person will honor Him. Every one. 

Third, God is going to put a new heart into His people. They will be born again. God will pour out His Spirit on all flesh, not just some. Joel talked about this. "On the Day of Pentecost, the apostles received the Holy Spirit. This is like what Joel said is going to happen in the last days."

Even today, God calls out some people for His name's sake. When you repent - turn away from sin - and turn to God, "at that moment you are regenerated by the Holy Spirit, indwelt and baptized by the Holy Spirit," and you become part of the body of Christ (believers). 

Finally, God is going to bless the land physically, so that the people shall say: "this land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden." McGee says, you can say it if you want to, but today Israel - that land - is not at all like the garden of Eden. 

In the end, "they shall know that I am the Lord." Well, they do not know that today. "But the day is coming when Israel will know that He is the Lord."

Ezekiel 35

God commanded Ezekiel to "set his face against Mount Seir," which is Edom. God threatened Edom with judgment. He will stretch out His hand and lay their cities waste, and they shall be desolate.

The reason for judgment was due to "ancient hatred" (Esau's hatred of Jacob) and because they shed blood of the children of Israel (while they tried to escape Babylonian captivity). Another reason was because Edom sought to take the land that did not belong to them. Also, Edom's boasting (pride) was actually against God. 

COMMENTARY

Two things must occur before Israel is restored to the land in peace: Edom must be judged and Israel's sins must also be judged and forgiven. Thus far, Edom has been judged, but still to come is Israel's restoration to the land and God, as well as judgment upon all of Israel's enemies.

Today Edom is desolate, just as God had threatened would happen. The reason was as old as Esau and Jacob. "Edom represents the enemy of God" in this modern world today, who will rise up "against God in the last days under the Antichrist."

God promises to restore Israel to the land where they will have peace. Today Israel does not have peace and that is how we know this promise is still to come. Israel is surrounded by enemies, and God will judge those enemies in His time. 

Ezekiel 34

Ezekiel prophesied against the false shepherds of Israel who misled the people and fed themselves for their own gain. They did not strengthen the weak nor heal the sick nor bound up the broken nor brought back the lost; but instead ruled them forcibly and cruelly. The people were scattered over the face of the earth without a shepherd. God's people became prey for all. Therefore, God was against the "shepherds," and they were held accountable for the lives of the people they destroyed. 

Then, God told Ezekiel what He would do. He said He would search for His sheep and seek them out and deliver them from where they were scattered. He would gather them from the countries and into their own land. He would feed them on the mountains of Israel, in good pasture. They shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. He would seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken, strengthen the sick, and destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment.

And as for you, O My flock, thus says the Lord God: Behold I shall judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and goats. 

GOD'S FUTURE PROMISES TO ISRAEL

These are God's future promises to Israel: He shall save His flock and they will no longer be prey. His servant David shall feed them and be their shepherd. And the Lord will be their God and His servant David a prince among them. 

Furthermore: the Lord 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. [He] will make them and the places all around [His] hill a blessing: and [He] will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing." Trees will bear fruit and the earth shall increase. "They shall be safe in their land; and they shall know that [He is] the Lord, when [He breaks] the bands of their yoke and delivers them from the hands 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...no one shall make them afraid. [He] 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." They shall know that "[He], the Lord God, [is] with them, and they, the house of Israel, are [His] people..." 

You are My flock, the flock of My pasture; you are men, and I am your God.

COMMENTARY 

Now that Jerusalem has been destroyed, it has been confirmed that the false prophets of Israel were liars. They were not giving the people the Word of God. 

The people scattered, in part because they were not being fed the meat of the Word of God. This happens today when churches are not feeding the people. True Christians will scatter if they are not fed. 

God held the false prophets accountable for the condition of the people. 

In this chapter, God told about the true Shepherd, Jesus. This section looks to God's future promises, which have yet to be fulfilled. God will search out His people, and eighteen times God makes promises of what He will do. 

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, said the sheep hear His voice. Why? Because He is calling them and they know Him. 

Now, about Israel: in this chapter, they are presently in captivity because of their sin, misled by false prophets. But God is not through with Israel, and He will bring them back to the land He gave to them. He will feed them in good pasture, and when they sleep, they will be safe. 

God will separate the sheep from the goats, the believers from the unbelievers. And one day, David will serve under Jesus, and the Church will serve Jesus in New Jerusalem, while the people will worship God in a right relationship with Him, in Israel.

Ezekiel 33

THE WATCHMAN

Ezekiel was a watchman of his people. His responsibility was to warn them of approaching danger. 

God told Ezekiel to prepare His children. When a watchman sees danger, he is to blow the trumpet. Whoever hears the trumpet but does not heed, "if the sword comes and takes him away, his  blood shall be on his own head." Also, "he who takes warning shall save his own life." However, if the watchman sees danger and fails to warn the people, and the sword comes upon anyone, that person is taken away in iniquity, but the watchman will also be held responsible for his life. 

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. 

As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn away from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?

God is a fair judge. Repentance and forgiveness are available to all who have ears. God desires the wicked to turn from their sin and live. Meanwhile, God will judge each according to his own ways. When the children of Israel said that God was not being fair, He replied that it was their way which was not fair. 

When the righteous turns from the righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall die because of it. But when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is lawful and right, he shall live because of it. 

THE FALL OF JERUSALEM

One who escaped from Jerusalem brought news of the fall of Jerusalem to the captives in Babylon. At that moment, Ezekiel was no longer mute. 

Those left in Jerusalem wrongly thought they could hold the city by their own strength. God told Ezekiel to explain why they were mistaken: they ate meat with blood, worshipped idols, and committed murder and adultery. Why should the Lord permit them to keep the land? 

Instead those left behind fell by the sword, beasts, or pestilence; and God made the land desolate.

See, the problem with God's people: they pretended to be interested in what the Watchman had to say - they heard the words with their ears, but they did not follow them, "...for with their mouth they show[ed] much love, but their hearts pursue[d] their own gain." 

COMMENTARY

This chapter of Ezekiel begins the prophecies following the fall of Jerusalem. Here we will look to the  coming millennial kingdom. Ezekiel's message is to the captives of Babylon of a hopeful future. Today we share in this hope, not by anything we can do, but on the Word of God and His promises for the future.

God reiterated Ezekiel's responsibility as a Watchman. And he was a faithful watchman, not like the false prophets who lied about peace and safety. Ezekiel warned the people of the coming judgment, but those who did not listen would be held accountable for their own sin. And those false prophets who did not warn the people would also be held to account. 

God does not want to judge, and He desires that all should be saved and live. But He must judge because He is a holy God. Yet the people believed God to be unfair in His judgment because there were some righteous people mixed up with the wicked in the captives taken to Babylon. This seemed unfair to them.

Well, when someone sins, God will judge him. Even believers sin, and that is why we experience a physical death. But even if a wicked man repents and turns to God, God will save him. But everyone will stand before God in judgment one day. The saved will not lose their salvation, but unbelievers will not be able to stand before God in judgment. God does not hear the prayers of the unsaved (1 Peter 3:12) unless it is in repentance. 

OK, so Jerusalem finally was captured, and one escaped to bring news to Ezekiel, and Ezekiel's voice returned. The people had expected God to take care of the remainder in Jerusalem, but not so. They were not righteous people trusting in God's promises. So he took Jerusalem from them. The captives acted like they were interested in what Ezekiel had to say now, but they did not listen. This was willful disobedience. It is not that people cannot understand God's Word; it is that they love their sin too much. 

Now that all that Ezekiel had warned them of had come true, they knew he was a true prophet of God, albeit too late for all that had befallen them. 

Ezekiel 32

Chapter 32 continues the lamentation for Pharaoh of Egypt. God will bring such destruction upon Egypt, that other nations will be astonished when Babylon comes upon it. The Lord will "make the land of Egypt desolate, and the country destitute of all that once filled it..."

Pharaoh and his multitude shall go to the "depths of the earth," and there they shall see Assyria, "slain, fallen by the sword;" Elam "...slain by the sword;" Meshech and Tubal "...slain by the sword;" and Edom "...slain by the sword..."

Pharaoh will see them and be comforted over all his multitude...slain by the sword. 

For I have caused My terror in the land of the living, and he shall be placed in the midst of the uncircumcised with those slain by the sword... 

COMMENTARY 

Again, Nebuchadnezzar will kill Pharaoh of Egypt, and Pharaoh will go to sheol, where he will find others much like himself: Assyria, Elam, Mesheck, Tubal, Edom, and all their multitude. This is just a little peek into the unseen, unknown world of the dead awaiting final judgment. 

Ezekiel 31

God commanded Ezekiel to tell Pharaoh: How great do you think you are? Look at how great Assyria was -- and I (the Lord) reduced them to nothing. I permitted aliens, "the most terrible of nations," to cut it down. I, the Lord, caused it. 

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. 

COMMENTARY 

Chapter 31 is the fall and lament of Pharaoh. As per McGee's commentary, Egypt was judged on the basis of the light she had been given. Egypt had once been the "breadbasket" of the world. 

God compared Egypt to Assyria, which was also a great nation until God cut it down. Pharaoh should have taken notice. Instead he was prideful.

Now another king and nation have been given power: Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. God will use him to punish Pharaoh, who will be killed and go to sheol. Sheol is a reference to the word grave, or "the unseen world," the temporary place where the spirit goes. Sheol is split into two sections -- one for the believer and one for the lost.  

When Pharaoh was killed, where did he go? He went to sheol. And in the next chapter, he will be surprised whom he will find there. It is a little reminiscent of Dante's Inferno.

Ezekiel 30

In this chapter, God told Ezekiel that the day of the Lord is near for the Gentiles when a sword shall come upon Egypt and her allies, Ethiopia, Libya, Lydia, and more. God will put His sword into the hand of the King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, and he shall come against Egypt and her allies, and he shall prevail. 

COMMENTARY

This is actually a lamentation for Egypt, once a great and powerful nation. Now God proclaimed its desolation. 

Israel was not the only nation that looked to Egypt for military support. All of the surrounding nations will be judged together with Egypt. 

The Lord promised that He would "sell the land into the hand of the wicked: and [He] will make the land waste, and all that is therein, by the hand of strangers...," And He did. Years after Babylon, Egypt fell to Alexander the Great, and the land was controlled by foreigners; Cleopatra, who was Greek, ruled over Egypt. 

The Lord also destroyed all of the idols and the royal lines of Egypt. All of these prophecies have come to pass. God is always true to His word, even if He is long suffering.

Ezekiel 29

PROCLAMATION AGAINST EGYPT

Ezekiel prophesied against Egypt because of their mistreatment of Israel. Unfortunately, the Israelites wrongly relied militarily on the Egyptians, when they should have trusted in God. Nonetheless, the Egyptians failed them.

Pharaoh of Egypt proclaimed the River his own and that he made it for himself, but God corrected him and said, "The River is mine, and I have made it." 

For all Pharaoh's pride and cruelty towards Israel, God punished him and proclaimed the land of Egypt uninhabitable for forty years. He sent the sword of Babylon against Egypt, permitted Nebuchadnezzar to plunder her riches, and his army took away her power and glory forever. Never again would Egypt "exalt itself above the nations."

COMMENTARY

Egypt was a powerful, wealthy, prestigious nation -- partly because of its geography. It was desert, and that was a good deterrent from attacks. The only way in and the main focus for protection was through the River Nile, which was the pride of this particular Pharaoh, Hophra. This is why God referred to him as a crocodile (or the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine own and I have made it for myself).

Unfortunately, Egypt was known for its abuse of the Israelites, submitting them to slavery and exposing  them to idolatry.

God tends to use objects that people worship (gods) to contradict them and reveal their foolishness. For example, during the Ten Plagues in Egypt, God used the objects Egypt worshiped, like beasts and insects and animals. Imagine being inundated with frogs, an object of worship. Would you kill your goddess? See how the Lord confounds the people!

It wasn't until seventeen years after the prophecy that God revealed to Egypt that He permitted Babylon to take the Egyptians into captivity. And for forty years they would not be able to return to their land. But once they returned, they would never be able to rise again to the status they had before captivity. And that is still true today. 

A very cool SOURCE for Bible study

Ezekiel 28

This chapter has three parts: a rebuke of the prince of Tyre, a lamentation for Satan, and a promise for future Israel.

First, God, through Ezekiel, told the prince of Tyre that because of his pride, He will destroy him. The prince called himself a god, but God reminded him that he was a man. 

Then, God told the history of Satan, how He had made him beautiful, "the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty." God "established" him, and Satan was with God. BUT, Satan became filled with violence and his heart was lifted up because of his beauty (just like the prince of Tyre). 

In addition to Tyre, God has some things against Sidon, but while He destroyed Tyre, He only judged Sidon. 

Finally, God reminded Israel again that in His time He will gather them from the nations where they had been scattered and "hallowed...in the sight of the Gentiles," and He will return them to

 their own land which [God] gave to [His] 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.

COMMENTARY 

Who controls all the kingdoms of the world? Even today?

Satan.

The prince of Tyre was a "type of Antichrist." There will be many, and the prince of Tyre is an example of what an antichrist is: one who says, "I am a god." As Paul said: an antichrist is one who "exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped...(2 Thess. 2:4)." 

About Satan: keep in mind that he was created perfect in beauty. The idea that Satan or the devil is hideous and vile looking is wrong. He comes imitating light, and he is very attractive. 

What brought Satan down was his own pride. He wanted to separate from God and lift himself up higher than God. He simply rebelled against God and God cannot tolerate rebellion. Therefore, Satan will be judged eventually.  

Finally, God pronounced again His future plan for Israel, to regather His people into the land where they will dwell in peace. Today no one can say that that has happened or is happening because the Jewish people have lived surrounded by their enemies for decades. There is no peace. And there are still many Jews scattered abroad who will one day return to Israel.

God is not done with Israel.

Ezekiel 27

God is serious about Tyre. 

Because of their pride, God is going to cause their "riches, wares, and merchandise, mariners and pilots, caulkers and merchandisers, all men of war, and the entire company which is in [their] midst, [to] fall into the midst of the seas on the day of [their] ruin. 

You will become a horror, and be no more forever.

COMMENTARY

The theme of this chapter is lamentation for Tyre, though I did not focus on that in my narrative above. God had already said He would destroy Tyre and why. Now Ezekiel lamented for Tyre because it was a great city in beauty and prestige. 

Tyre was an important commercial center, and  merchants came from all over to buy and sell. You could find anything you wanted in Tyre. But because of its pride in its glory, rituals, and wealth, God judged it. Now there was lamentation and weeping over the end of that great city. 

It is one thing to enjoy prosperity, but it is entirely wrong to make it an idol or to worship it. God will judge it accordingly, which He will do in the future, and could very well be doing so now.

source

Ezekiel 26

For the next three chapters, God gives a proclamation against Tyre for it's treatment of Israel. Although once friends, Tyre later sold the Jews into slavery. Therefore, God punished Tyre to such a degree that they were basically wiped off the face of the earth. 

God promised that many nations would come up against Tyre and become plunder for them. Babylon, for one, slayed the people by the sword and plundered its riches and pillaged their merchandise. Worst of all, God declared that Tyre would never be rebuilt, meaning it would never reach its Biblical-Day status of wealth and prestige. Today it is repopulated on the ruins of Ancient Tyre, in Lebanon. 

COMMENTARY

Tyre was the capital of Phoenicia, and they were seagoing traders. King Hiram of Tyre was good friends with King David and later Solomon, and he supplied them with building material. Unfortunately, the people of Tyre worshiped the Baals, and King Hiram's daughter, Jezebel, married King Ahab, and she brought Baal worship to the northern kingdom. 

Thence, when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem, he also took Tyre. But God also foretold that many nations would come up against Tyre, Later, Alexander the Great would destroy what was left; and God promised that the city would never be rebuilt again. 

Ezekiel 25

The Lord told Ezekiel to prophesy against the nations of Ammon, Moab, Edom, and Philistia.

To Ammon: because Ammon "rejoiced in heart" over the profaning of God's sanctuary, the desolation of the land of Israel, and did not help the house of Israel when they were taken into captivity, God delivered them as a possession to the "men of the East (Babylon)." God cut them off, caused them to perish, and destroyed them so that they would know that He is the Lord.

To Moab: for "gloating" over Israel's fall and proclaiming Israel had no special privilege with God, He cleared the territory and gave it as a possession to the men of the East, with the Ammonites. God executed judgments upon Moab that they would know that He is the Lord.

To Edom: because Edom took vengeance upon Judah, God cut off man and beast and made it desolate. God declared that Israel would do in Edom according to [His] anger and fury, that Edom may know [His] vengeance. Years later (164 B.C. and 126 B.C.), it was Jewish forces that subjugated Edom in battle. 

To Philistia: because the Philistines "took vengeance with a spiteful heart (due to old hatred)," God destroyed the remnant and "execute[d] great vengeance on them," that they shall know that He is the Lord. 

COMMENTARY

All of these nations have disappeared, and prophecies about them have been fulfilled.

Up to this point in Ezekiel, there was a group of Israel remaining in Jerusalem, and they had been holding out hope, thanks to the false prophets, that God would not destroy the city. They were in for a rude awakening.

But now Ezekiel is writing about the surrounding nations, and this is a message for us today, too. 

First, remember there are two prophets: Ezekiel, who is stationed in Babylon with the captives, and also Jeremiah, who was left behind with the group in Jerusalem. Jeremiah was the weeping prophet, and he suffered from a broken heart. He was a lot like our Savior who would arrive on earth approximately 500 years from that point. He, too, would weep over Jerusalem because He knew that destruction (judgment) would come again because God's people rejected the living and true God (again!).

It is true that God is merciful and kind, and not willing that any should perish, that He died on the cross for us. But then we read Ezekiel 25, and we see God's wrath and judgment. This second prophet, Ezekiel, is stoic. His wife, whom he loved, died, and he did not mourn. Ezekiel is like the other side of God, who is holy and righteous. God will judge. And if you reject His salvation, He must judge, just as He did the surrounding enemies of Israel.

Two of the nations, Ammon and Moab, were products of incestuous relationships between Lot and his two daughters. Ammon was the younger daughter, and Moab was the older daughter. Ammon was destroyed for supporting the enemy of Israel, and yet, that same enemy then turned on Ammon. Moab was destroyed for being glad over Israel's fall. 

Edom's mistreatment of Israel provoked God's judgment. And the Philistine's jealousness against Israel  elicited God's judgment upon them as well.

In all four prophecies, which have been fulfilled, nations were destroyed because of their hatred of Israel and its people. If God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, enemies of Israel today can expect the same judgment from God. 

Ezekiel 24

God used another parable to demonstrate His judgment upon Jerusalem. At that moment, Babylon began its siege upon the city. 

The parable was about a cooking pot with choice meats boiling in water over a fire. After the meat and juice were removed, only the scum remained. Ezekiel told how the scum in the pot and the pot itself continued to burn in the fire. 

The pot represented Jerusalem and the scum was the sin within the city. The fire was God's judgment upon the city, and God's judgment was to be great because of the lies and sin of Jerusalem. 

God used another demonstration to teach His people. He took Ezekiel's wife from him, as she died in captivity; however, Ezekiel was not to mourn for her. This perplexed the people. But it was a sign to them that when God took away their pride (of Jerusalem) they would not be able to mourn for her either. 

Finally, after Jerusalem and her temple were razed to the ground, some escaped and brought news to Ezekiel, who had been mute for a time. After that he was free to speak again. 

COMMENTARY

I am beginning to understand how severe Ezekiel's message was to God's people then, and for us today. We would do well to heed.

Again, this is a parable about a pot cooking meat, and after the meat and water were removed, scum was left behind. That scum represented sin and the pot was the city. Together God continued to burn them in a very great fire. That is what He did to the city, and that is what He will do to sin. Our sin. 

In many ways, the pot is like the world, and that scum is our sin. God must destroy it, and one day He will, and the world with it. 

It is very difficult to understand why God had to take Ezekiel's wife, "the desire of his own eyes," but it is important to recognize that Ezekiel obeyed God: he did not mourn. This astounded the people in captivity that Ezekiel would not officially mourn publically (as was the custom). God wanted them to see that He was removing - no, destroying - their beloved city and temple (their pride) and they would not be able to mourn. They utterly failed in obedience to God and now He was taking what was His. Basically, He would shut their mouths, which is what He did to Ezekiel. For two years he was mute, until a few of those left behind in Jerusalem made it out alive after the siege and finally arrived to deliver the news to Ezekiel that it was all gone. Only then was Ezekiel able to speak again. 

Ezekiel 23

Ezekiel shared another parable from God:

Two sisters, Oholah and Oholibah, had committed harlotry.

Oholah was Samaria of the northern kingdom and Oholibah was Judah/Jerusalem of the southern kingdom. Oholah lusted after the Assyrians; therefore, God delivered her to them, and they executed God's judgment over them. 

Oholibah also coveted after the idols of the neighboring Gentiles; therefore God brought the Babylonians against her because they had forgotten their God. 

God commanded Ezekiel to declare the abominations of the two kingdoms, for they had "committed adultery with their idols and even sacrificed their sons (for their idols), passing them through the fire, to devour them." They had done this to the Lord and defiled His sanctuary.

Therefore, an assembly will come up against them and give them up to judgment with stones and swords. God will put an end to the lewdness and then they shall know that He is the Lord. 

COMMENTARY

Again, God gave Ezekiel another parable to give to His people. Two sisters were no longer virgins but had become harlots.

When God said "My tent is in her (Oholibah)," He meant the temple of Solomon, in Jerusalem, where the people approached God. The people of the north would travel to the temple in Jerusalem in the south to  worship and sacrifice.

But the northern kingdom had rebelled and separated from the southern part of Israel. Jeroboam erected two calves for worship (one in Bethel and one in Samaria) to keep the people from going to worship in Jerusalem. That is what was meant by "her own tent (Oholah)."

Meanwhile, in the southern kingdom, the people were going through the ritual of religious practice, but their hearts were far from God. They were continuing in sin. Furthermore, King Ahaz sought to replicate the altar of the Assyrians, an obvious offense to God. 

Thence, we have more reasons why God pronounced judgment upon the land and people of Israel.