God had extended the hand of mercy to them time and time again, but they refused to obey and because of their continual sin He finally said enough is enough. if Ezekiel delivered his message to those God intended, or not? Jeremiah also referred to Jerusalem as Jacob (Lamentations 1:17). 49:6; 60:3). God’s people then and now are called to bring the mercy of God to all the nations of the world, so that God might be properly glorified, and the peoples of the earth might be restored to their Maker. 18-20; Isa. God destroyed the House of Israel because of their abominations, “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, am against thee, and will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of the nations. He could only speak in order to deliver God’s message to Israel. The message of Ezekiel, which is ultimately eschatological, anticipates -- even demands -- God's future works in history proclaimed by the NT. He had already told Israel that they were no longer His people,“Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.” (Hosea 1:9). 21:19–23; 30:25). His message was about the next stage of the execution of God's judgment which was the fall of Jerusalem. Later Ezekiel also addressed his message concerning Jerusalem to. The prophet’s message of the love and grace of God is fully expounded by Ezekiel in chapter 36 of his prophecy, which contains all the promises of the gospel. Interpretation 1969 23: 2, 131-157 Share. the difference between the law and a covenant? Be sure to read our article on 'The Truth About Passover', As you are preparing to celebrate the Lord's Supper you may also want to read our new article 'Examine Yourself', This is a non-denominational Bible education site designed by Children of the Promises, Church Doctrine - The Role of the Apostles, Rejoicing in the Days of Unleavened Bread, The Spirit of Truth and Light vs. the Knowlege of Evil, Ezekiel was told to go to his people, the. The nation of Israel had already gone into captivity followed by Judah and now the capital was to be destroyed. Share. Before Christ returns two witnesses will be sent to warn the world in much the same way Ezekiel was sent to warn the House of Israel (Revelation 11:3-13). Summer 2017 - www.shepherdsvoicemagazine.org ]. Ezekiel was given a number of messages to deliver to various peoples and nations. THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. I will sprinkle clean water on you” (36:23–25). So where did he go? You need JavaScript enabled to view it. It compares their perspectives to those of a city dweller and a village dweller who both saw the king. Every sickness , Every demonic bandage, Every Affliction Shall be broken. He is not going to reject the church (spiritual Israel) as he has rejected ancient Israel. The nation of Israel had already gone into captivity followed by Judah and now the capital was to be destroyed. The prophet Ezekiel is one of four Major Prophets along with Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel in Hebrew Scripture, our ... Ezekiel utilizes the parable מָשָׁל - mashal - to convey his message, as seen in the Parable of the Two Eagles and Vine (17), and the Parable of the Pot (24). God’s glory was at stake in Israel’s fidelity—or lack thereof. He could only speak in order to deliver God’s message to Israel. Walter Zimmerli. . In other words, God didn’t limit Himself to the mouth of the … Remember what happened to Jonah when he tried to run away from what God had told him to do. • Broome, Edwin C., Jr. (September 1946). When speaking to ‘them of the captivity’ (Ezekiel 11:25) he was addressing the ‘elders of Israel’ of the ‘House of Israel’ (Ezekiel (14:1, 5 – see also 8:1 and 20:1) who were present among the captives from Judah in Babylon indicating that there were recognised leaders of Israel among the Babylonian captives. He rules over all in power and might, and one day judgment will fall upon those who cling to the things of this world. It is the welfare of God’s name, not only the welfare of Israel, that is at stake in Israel’s corporate life. It involved the fall of Jerusalem, the capital of the once great nation of Israel that flourished under King David and his son Solomon. It was a sign because Jerusalem the former capital of the once great kingdom of Israel, was the last part of the House of Israel to fall, “And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barber’s razor, and cause it to pass upon thine head and upon thy beard: then take thee balances to weigh, and divide the hair. To emphasise the fact that the message would be delivered and the prophecy fulfilled God caused Ezekiel to become mute. The Tanakh JPS translation actually uses the words ‘laid waste’, The Lord has laid waste without pity all the habitations of Jacob. God started by showing him an incredible vision of God’s traveling throne, with angels with four faces and four wings, and wheels within wheels full of eyes! But it is a message for all people, a message of restoration to the greatness that God has always wanted for His creation. They will be sprinkled clean (36:25). God would not vindicate his own name and honor at Israel’s expense, but rather through mercifully restoring them to himself. Was this prophecy fulfilled in ancient times, or is it for today? In First Corinthians 12, the Apostle Paul described the spiritual gifts that have been given to the church. This shall be a sign to the house of Israel.” (Ezekiel 4:3). Prophet: Ezekiel Besides clarity of structure, the book of Ezekiel reveals symmetry. That should be the main focus of the Church today. These things happened to the House of Israel at that time for all the nations of the world to see. He had taken 10,000 captives to Babylon leaving only the poor under the charge of Zedekiah whom he set up as the vassal, or puppet king. After the fall of Jerusalem Jeremiah wrote Lamentations, in which he said, “How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger, and cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel, and remembered not his footstool in the day of his anger! 2 In the 1fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king He explained that they were to be used to edify those in the body of Christ. 65: 277–292. And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Even the mighty king of Babylon, seemingly invincible, does only what the God of Israel decrees (Ezek. one that had escaped out of Jerusalem came unto me, saying, The city is smitten. At this time the only identifiable remnant of the ancient House of Israel today is the Jews. Ezekiel referred to those in Jerusalem as the ‘residue of Israel’ (Ezekiel 9:8). Ezekiel was a biblical prophet and priest of ancient Israel who was the subject and in part the author of an Old Testament book that bears his name. Consumerism and a flood of advertising dull us into thinking that this world is our one shot at truly living. Ezekiel Message , Ezekiel gave a warning message to the whole house of Israel , not just the Jews . Prophesies that portray the restoration of Israel represent that reconciliation of mankind to God. EZEKIEL, THE PROPHET OF THE EXILE. There is a promise of cleansing from sin: “I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you” (v. 25). Indeed, this is the note on which the New Testament ends, as the new Jerusalem comes down out of heaven and Christ is depicted as a sacrificial “Lamb” who has given his life for the sake of “the Bride, the wife of the Lamb” (Rev. But it is a mistake to claim a  commission from Scripture when God has clearly not given it. . According to Jeremiah the cities of the northern kingdom of Israel have already been laid waste: After the fall of Jerusalem Jeremiah wrote Lamentations, in which he said, swallowed up all the habitations of Jacob. And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies’ lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them.” (Leviticus 26:33, 36-39). Greedy consumption of the earth’s resources by a powerful few replaces wise stewardship of what God has entrusted to the human race. God told Ezekiel that the House of Israel would not hearken to Him (Ezekiel 2:5, 7, 3:7, 11) but the message had to be delivered to them. The witness of God’s people to the world. On examining the textual context of this formula, Zimmerli comes to several conclusions: (1) in more than half of the passages this statement of recognition occurs as the fi… God said very plainly that He would require Ezekiel’s blood if he didn’t go and give the warning, “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. 11:19–20; 36:25–26). Source: Ezekiel 21:8–17 . I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. Thus saith the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her.” (Ezekiel 5:1-5). We can all learn the lesson of blessings for obedience to God and difficulties we will suffer because of selfishness and disobedience. And ye shall perish among the heathen, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up. The Tanakh JPS translation says “go to your people, the exile community.”. EZEKIEL’S MESSAGE OF HOPE Ezekiel not only prophesied doom and gloom for those living in his time, he also brought a message of hope for the future, for all people. Some therefore conclude that Ezekiel’s message was for the modern day descendants of the ‘lost ten tribes of Israel’, whom they claim to include a number of European nations plus the British Commonwealth and the United States of America today. See our article -, Will you be part of the bride of Christ? Do you know who the two witnesses will be? whereunto I will not do any more the like, Ezekiel not only prophesied doom and gloom for those living in his time, he also brought a message of hope for the future, for. Using highly symbolic language, Ezekiel described the fate of a number of nations at that time. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.” (John 21:15-17). Ezekiel was a captive of the Babylonians when God called him to be a prophet. The core message of Ezekiel for the worldwide church today is its radical God-centeredness. Oracles of Judgment against Israel (chs. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. The catastrophe into which Ezekiel was born—exile to Babylon—was the polar opposite of what God had called Israel to do. He appointed Ezekiel as watchman over the House of Israel to warn that if they did not repent and turn back to God He would execute the final stage of His judgement on them. Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? Israel was given a message of hope in their time of punishment and captivity specifically through the allegory of the valley of dry bones. They will be given miraculous powers to perform their work. And they shall fall one upon another, as it were before a sword, when none pursueth: and ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies. For it is only in Christ that God’s holiness and justice, on the one hand, and his mercy and love, on the other, are reconciled without compromising either. For verse 11 the Moffatt translation reads “Go to the exiles, to the members of your race”. Will you be part of the bride of Christ? Journal of Biblical Literature. - See our article - Bride of Christ. When He said that He would not ‘do any more the like’ what did God mean? - See our article -, if Ezekiel delivered his message to those God intended, or not? document.getElementById('cloak50b4e19c77ed4662d355bca349ce1f14').innerHTML = ''; Once Jerusalem fell, the prophecy that the cities of Jacob would be laid waste had been fulfilled. The passing delights of sexual immorality replace the lasting delights of walking with God. Ezekiel, prophet-priest of ancient Israel and the subject and in part the author of an Old Testament book that bears his name. SCHOOL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT [TELANGANA] Tuesday, 9.00 am - Wednesday, 1.00 pm, June 01 - 30, … Ezekiel not only prophesied doom and gloom for those living in his time, he also brought a message of hope for the future, for all people. As messengers of God, the prophets didn’t simply write down visions to share with the people—they lived the visions. For in Christ God’s righteous justice is satisfied, and yet God’s amazing grace is on full display as believers receive freely the benefits of Christ’s atoning work. A particular focus of Ezekiel is the way in which Israel’s failures reflect on God himself. Yet our message is two-pronged: not only does God reign in might and justice and judgment-to-come, he also invites into his goodness any who will bow their knee to him (Ezek. If so - what is that diference? Benita Francis. Prophecy: Bad news is coming that will cause hearts to melt, hands to become feeble, spirits to faint, and knees to become weak as water. His prophecies are very attentive to the Temple , the liturgy and the Sabbath. It was to this exiled community that Ezekiel was directed and that was where he went. Live a Supernatural Marriage | Prophet Ezekiah Francis. In the eyes of the surrounding nations, God is spurned on account of Israel’s lack of loyalty to him. If not make sure you read see our Bible Study on God's Law. It has come to my notice that one Prophet Ekon Ltuen has been parading himself as a man of God and making certain financial requests from followers and friends of prophet Ezekiel Jesufunmi. Symbolic action: Ezekiel sighs, groans, and beats his breast. By PROFESSOR WALTER R. BETTERIDGE, Rochester Theological Seminary. What was Ezekiel’s message for today? God said very plainly that He would require Ezekiel’s blood if he didn’t go and give the warning, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel, but his blood will I require at thine hand. 37:23). God made it clear that the execution of His judgement would continue to pursue the remnant in their captivity. The Bible does not say that the Church has commissioned to deliver Ezekiel’s message to the descendents of the lost ten tribes in this day. To those who do, their lifeless bones will be given life, the very breath of God (37:1–14). The role for which the Church has been spiritually equipped today is to perfect those whom God calls, “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:” (Ephesians4:13). He was now going to execute judgment on what was left of the House of Israel, i.e. To emphasise the fact that the message would be delivered and the prophecy fulfilled God caused Ezekiel to become mute. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Ezekiel was told to go to his people, the House of Israel who were in captivity, “Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel.” and “And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them,” and “ And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them.”  (Ezekiel 3:1, 4, 11). Has the modern day church been given that same role? Stay guided as I have never and will not by any means request money from anyone. To find out make sure you read our article - Who Spoke. The book of Revelation clearly indicates that the two witnesses, whom God will send with miraculous powers, will testify to the whole world, not just the remnant of Israel. Centuries later when they rejected and killed Jesus Christ Jerusalem was once again destroyed as part of that judgment. If you want to comment on our website or discuss any of our articles we can be contacted by email at:  This email address is being protected from spambots. 36-39; 2 Chr. He went to the leaders (elders) of the exiled community of those taken captive from Judah who were in Babylon, I came to them of the captivity at Telabib, that dwelt by the river of Chebar. Make sure you read our article -, As you are preparing to celebrate the Lord's Supper you may also want to read. Some consider Ezekiel had a problem because he was in Babylon among the captives of Judah and wasn’t able to deliver the message to the House of Israel at that time. 7 talking about this. Is there a diference between the two? Once the message had been delivered the House of Israel was then responsible for its own demise. Make sure you read our article - Ezekiel's Message. His message was about the final stage of judgement that God was executing on the House of Israel (i.e. Using highly symbolic language, Ezekiel described the fate of a number of nations at that time. Another cause for discouragement was the way Israel had failed in its calling to be a light to the nations. His main message was to do with the final fall and destruction of Jerusalem, which was the last bastion of the Kingdom of Israel at that time. To find out make sure you read our article -, Do you know who the two witnesses will be? His prophecy was very visual (see the Valley of Dry Bones), and the imagery has found its way into the literature and thought of all of the world’s cultures. The fact that Ezekiel lived to regain his speech is proof the he delivered the prophetic message at that time to the right people. Social Media; Email; Share Access; Share this article via social media. They will provide an end-time warning message to every one on this earth that will be appropriate for the occasion. 38–39). ever given to any prophet. They also claim that because Ezekiel did not deliver the message in his day it is now the role of the Church of God to deliver the ‘Ezekiel message’ to the descendants of Israel. It must be remembered that the nation of Israel split, ten tribes under Jeroboam retained the name ‘Israel’ and two tribes under Rehoboam became known as Judah, but collectively they were referred to as the House of Israel, or children of Israel. Who these two are and when they will begin their task, remains to be seen. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Against the same false prophets whom Jeremiah had confronted before who held that Jerusalem would not be destroyed, he confirmed Jeremiah’s message and warned them that they must return to God before they could return to Jerusalem. Eventually God removed His presence from the temple, “Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims. God also said Ezekiel would be struck dumb except when God opened his mouth in prophetic utterances, “And I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be to them a reprover: for they are a rebellious house. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. He was a contemporary of Jeremiah and Daniel. Israel and Judah collectively). 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