Ezeikiel Summation

The Kingdom of God is at hand! Rejoice in the King!

The most important takeaway from Ezekiel for me is, the King is returning are we prepared?

Many will scoff but His promise is clear!

2 Peter 3:3-4 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,  and saying, ” Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.”

2 Peter 3:8-9 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

We must cleanse our hearts!

Psalm 51:10-11 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Matthew 5:8   blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God

John 3:3  In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

The Kingdom is here

Matthew 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.

Revelation 22:7 “And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.” 

Become like a watchmen waiting on our Lord, speak up for the Kingdom!

Isaiah 52:8 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. When the LORD returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes

Isaiah 62:6-7 I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.

Jeremiah 31:6 There will be a day when watchmen cry out on the hills of Ephraim, ‘Come, let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God.

                                                          “The Kingdom of God is at Hand”

Mark 1:15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” 

 Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem

Ray in Everett

Ezekiel Chapters 41-48

The Throne of Yeshua!

Chapter 41-48 are a description of the temple, its structure, the purpose of the different areas and rooms, and the ordinances and laws governing the rabbis.  Since this speaks mainly to Israel and the Jewish people we will cover them all at once, highlighting a few versus that speak also to the church.

In chapter 43 we see that Gods throne sits in the midst of the city.

Ezekiel 43:7-8  He said: “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet. This is where I will live among the Israelites forever and ever. The house of Israel will never again defile my holy name-neither they nor their kings-by their prostitution and the lifeless idols of their kings at their high places.

Revelation 21:2-4 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,

In Ezekiel the throne is in the temple, but in revelation is says there is no temple. In revelation the lord declares “all things new”.  The return of the king? No temple needed God and the Lamb are present

Revelation 21:5  And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”

Revelation 21:22 I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

Chapter 44: Just who will enter into this city? Have you got a “clean heart”?

Ezekiel 44:9 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and flesh is to enter my sanctuary, not even the foreigners who live among the Israelites.

 Revelation 21:27  and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

 Psalm 51:10-11 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Matthew 5:8   Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God

Chapter 45: Here we find a clear indication when to celebrate Resurrection day, not easter.  Our lord was crucified during Passover week, for He is our Passover lamb.  Easter is a celebration involving Ishtar not our Lord. If we were celebrating our Lords resurrection it would always fall on Passover, but we know that does not always happen.

Ezekiel 45:21  “‘In the first month on the fourteenth day you are to observe the Passover, a feast lasting seven days, during which you shall eat bread made without yeast.

 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast-as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.

 Jesus entered Jerusalem for the Passover feast.

John 12:12-15 On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,  took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, ” Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of Israel.” Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written,  “FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY’S COLT.

 John 13:1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father,

 John 19:31 Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath ( for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

 Chapter 47: River of the tree of life flows outward from the city.

Ezekiel 47:1 The man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar.

 Revelation 22:1-2 Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb,

 Ezekiel 47:12 Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”

 Revelation 22:2  in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelvekinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

 Revelation 22:1-5 Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelvekinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.  There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.  And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.

 Just what does this city look like; we got a glimpse of its beauty in the last two chapters. How precious we must be for our Lord to build such a beautiful place.

Revelation 21:18-21 The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.  The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst.  And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

Revelation 22:14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.

Have you washed your robes by the blood of the Lamb?

Revelation 22:20-21 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

Ezekiel 48:35 …. “And the name of the city from that time on will be:

                                                             “THE LORD IS THERE.”

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem

Ray in Everett

Ezekiel Chapter 39

The culmination, Armageddon!

It is the end of the age, the final battle is upon us. God has assured us this will happen, satan must be judged.

Ezekiel 39:1 “Son of man, prophesy against Gog and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.

Ezekiel 39:6 I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in safety in the coastlands, and they will know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 39:7-8 “‘I will make known my holy name among my people Israel. I will no longer let my holy name be profaned, and the nations will know that I the LORD am the Holy One in Israel.  It is coming! It will surely take place, declares the Sovereign LORD. This is the day I have spoken of.

Revelation 20:7-9 When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison,  and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore.  And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them.

The death and destruction is so great God calls upon the creatures of the earth as a cleanup crew. The last great assault on the “camp of the saints “is about to unfold.  The “camp of the Saints and the beloved city”; could this be Jerusalem?  Satan is going to attack the Holy city in one last attempt to make himself king!

Ezekiel 39:17-18 “Son of man, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Call out to every kind of bird and all the wild animals: ‘Assemble and come together from all around to the sacrifice I am preparing for you, the great sacrifice on the mountains of Israel. There you will eat flesh and drink blood.  You will eat the flesh of mighty men and drink the blood of the princes of the earth as if they were rams and lambs, goats and bulls-all of them fattened animals from Bashan.

Revelation 19:17-18  Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, ” Come, assemble for the great supper of God,  so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great

 The destruction is complete!

Ezekiel 39:19-20 At the sacrifice I am preparing for you, you will eat fat till you are glutted and drink blood till you are drunk.  At my table you will eat your fill of horses and riders, mighty men and soldiers of every kind,’ declares the Sovereign LORD.

 Revelation 19:21 And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.

Israel has been exiled and restored many times, but they have always been God chosen people.  In this restoration all will know the glory of God, for the thousand year reign has ended, the eternal kingdom now prevails. Satan is no longer around to deceive the world.

Ezekiel 39:21-23 “I will display my glory among the nations, and all the nations will see the punishment I inflict and the hand I lay upon them.  From that day forward the house of Israel will know that I am the LORD their God.  And the nations will know that the people of Israel went into exile for their sin, because they were unfaithful to me.

Ezekiel 39:27-29 When I have brought them back from the nations and have gathered them from the countries of their enemies, I will show myself holy through them in the sight of many nations.  Then they will know that I am the LORD their God, for though I sent them into exile among the nations, I will gather them to their own land, not leaving any behind.  I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel, declares the Sovereign LORD.”

 “I will no longer hide my face from them”, what an interesting statement.  Did or does  God hide His face from the believers or can he not look upon our sin. The call to repentance is clear; seek the face of God, that He might completely reveal Himself to you. Answer His call to you for repent.  When we accept Yeshuas gift, we are forgiven and clothed in white just as He was, God no longer sees our sin, but a restored creature in His kingdom.

Luke 13:5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” 

Revelation 3:4-6  They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.  He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Jeremiah 33:8-9 I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me.

Hebrews 9:14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

Mark 1:15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” 

Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem

Ray in Everett

Footnote:  what is repentance?  When we are walking in the flesh, we have our back to God. we are walking in defiance, walking away from Him.  To repent then is to turn 180 degrees and walk towards God, accepting His payment for us on the cross and walking in the word, turning away from our sin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ezekiel Chapter 38

Gog and Magog!

Chapter 38 the war every bible scholar seems to be watching for, The Pinnacle event of the end times. Just who are Gog and Magog. Will we see it? Will we be part of it?

In verse 3-6 we see the nations named.  What nations these are today seems to be up to much debate. The only ones I am certain of are Persia and Cush which appear to be the area of Iran.

Ezekiel 38:3-6  and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army-your horses, your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields, all of them brandishing their swords.  Persia, Cush and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets,  also Gomer with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops-the many nations with you.

Some speak as thought this event heralds in the tribulation, the beginning of Yeshua pouring out His wrath upon the earth, that the anti-christ has been revealed and has desecrated the throne. Before Yeshua pours out his judgement the restrainer (Holy Spirit) is removed from the earth, thus the church is removed also, the Rapture. So will we be Present?  It appears not, But what are the circumstances.

Ezekiel 38:11-12 You will say, “I will invade a land of unwalled villages; I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people-all of them living without walls and without gates and bars.  I will plunder and loot and turn my hand against the resettled ruins and the people gathered from the nations, rich in livestock and goods, living at the center of the land.”

Ezekiel 38:14-16  “Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: In that day, when my people Israel are living in safety, will you not take notice of it?  You will come from your place in the far north, you and many nations with you, all of them riding on horses, a great horde, a mighty army. You will advance against my people Israel like a cloud that covers the land. In days to come, O Gog, I will bring you against my land, so that the nations may know me when I show myself holy through you before their eyes.

When will Israel be living under those circumstances?  Some believe that Israel will not be living in un walled cities and in true safety until the millennial kingdom. Let’s look at Revelation.

Rev 20:7-10 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison  and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.

So if this is the final battle at the end of the thousand year reign we will be present, just not part of the battle. In J. Dwight Pentecost book “Things to Come” he calls it the “campaign of Armageddon” comprised of many battles throughout the tribulation and the culmination is when satan is released for his final judgement.  The description that s given in the book has satan attacking the “camp of the Saints” and Yeshua destroys his army totally and satan is defeated one last time.

So what war are we expecting to happen before the tribulation as a sign? Are we paying attention? Some say the Psalm 83 war is a precursor to the tribulation that we will observe.

Psalm 83:2-4 For behold, Your enemies make a tumult; And those who hate You have lifted up their head. They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, And consulted together against Your sheltered ones. They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”

A few bible scholars are saying it has already happened.  The six day war, Jun 5, 1967 – Jun 10, 1967, may fit the description.  If this is the case then most missed this sign, or it hasn’t happened yet.  Where do you stand?

Yeshuas wrath is complete, who side are you on?

Ezekiel 38:18-23 This is what will happen in that day: When Gog attacks the land of Israel, my hot anger will be aroused, declares the Sovereign LORD.  In my zeal and fiery wrath I declare that at that time there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. The fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the beasts of the field, every creature that moves along the ground, and all the people on the face of the earth will tremble at my presence. The mountains will be overturned, the cliffs will crumble and every wall will fall to the ground.  I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Sovereign LORD. Every man’s sword will be against his brother.  I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed; I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him.  And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’

                                                        The kingdom of God is at hand, be a watchmen

Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem

Ray in Everett

Further study can be found at:

Things to come, by J. Dwight Pentecost.  First published in1958, twentieth printing was in 1980

Chapter 20(XX) is on the battle of Armageddon.

Chapter 10(x)   partial rapture

Chapter11(xI)  post trib rapture

Chapter12(XII)  midtrib rapture

Chapter 13(XIII)   pretrib rapture

Revelation 20:7-10   mentioned on pages   231,355,475,548.

231—the scriptural doctrine of the tribulation

355—the campaign of Armageddon

475—the kingdom program in the present age

548—the preparation for the eternal kingdom

Still available at many store, Amazon 27.54, for a hardcove

More at these websites:

https://christinprophecy.org/articles/timing-gog-magog/

http://daniel11truth.com/when-is-the-battle-with-gog-and-magog.htm

https://christinprophecy.org/articles/the-wars-of-the-end-times/

Ezekiel Chapter 37

Israel Reborn!

Ezekiel is taken to the valley of dry bones where Yeshua asks: Ezekiel 37:3 He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”  This appears to be part of a multi fulfilling prophesy of which the latest is Israel becoming a nation.  Israel was reborn in one day, on May 14, 1948

in Ezekiel 4:3-6, the prophet said the Jews, who had lost control of their homeland, would be punished for 430 years. This prophecy, according to Bible scholar Grant Jeffrey, pinpointed the 1948 rebirth of Israel. Here’s a summary of Jeffrey’s theory: http://watchmanbiblestudy.com/articles/1948PropheciesFulfilled.html

Do the dry bones represent the tribes of Israel return to the land?  The dry bones became bodies. Or the people began returning to their land.

Ezekiel 37:4-8 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!  This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.  I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.'” So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone.  I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.

Yeshua breathes life into the risen.  Or for His returning people Israel is reborn as a nation!

Ezekiel 37:9-10  Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what stood up on their feet-a vast army. the Sovereign LORD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.'” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and

Prophesy fulfilled!

Ezekiel 37:21-23  and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land.  I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms.  They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.

They will bind themselves in an everlasting covenant with  Yeshua!

Jerimiah 50:4-5 “In those days, at that time,”declares the LORD,”the people of Israel and the people of Judah together will go in tears to seek the LORD their God. They will ask the way to Zion and turn their faces toward it.They will come and bind themselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten.

Hosea 1:10-11  The people of Judah and the people of Israel will be reunited, and they will appoint one leader and will come up out of the land, for great will be the day of Jezreel.

And just what is the great day of Jezreel?

Jezreel means “sown of God,” or “God’s sowing” (Hosea 2:22, 23). These words embody a rich Messianic promise which has already been partially fulfilled, but the complete realization of which is yet in the future.

Yeshua will eventually come and dwell with His people in the New Jerusalem, presiding over His kingdom!

Ezekiel 37:27-28 My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people.  Then the nations will know that I the LORD make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever

Revelation 21:3-4 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.”

We are living in exciting times, There is much to be watchful for in these end times. Many things will and must happen before the return of our Lord. This is just a tip of the iceberg, there is much to consider and much more to be mindful of.

Become like a watchmen waiting on our Lord, speak up for the Kingdom!

Isaiah 52:8 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. When the LORD returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes

Isaiah 62:6-7 I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.

Jerimiah 31:6 There will be a day when watchmen cry out on the hills of Ephraim, ‘Come, let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God.

 Matthew 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Pay for the peace of Jerusalem

Ray in Everett

For more info you can read:  “10 Prophecies fulfilled in 1948”  at

http://watchmanbiblestudy.com/articles/1948PropheciesFulfilled.html

 

 

Ezekiel Chapter 36

God will not be mocked!

In the first seven versus we see the Lords declarations on the nations around Israel. Pay attention to the Phrase; ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says”. Edom is singled out again, as in chapter 35, from the rest of the nations.

Ezekiel 36:1-7 “Son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel and say, ‘O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD. 2 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: The enemy said of you, “Aha! The ancient heights have become our possession.” ‘  3 Therefore prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because they ravaged and hounded you from every side so that you became the possession of the rest of the nations and the object of people’s malicious talk and slander, 4 therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Sovereign LORD: This is what the Sovereign LORD says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, to the desolate ruins and the deserted towns that have been plundered and ridiculed by the rest of the nations around you- 5 this is what the Sovereign LORD says: In my burning zeal I have spoken against the rest of the nations, and against all Edom, for with glee and with malice in their hearts they made my land their own possession so that they might plunder its pastureland.’ 6 Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel and say to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I speak in my jealous wrath because you have suffered the scorn of the nations. 7 Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I swear with uplifted hand that the nations around you will also suffer scorn.

Israel is promised a blessing simply because they are Yeshuas chosen people. Much is promised to them even when he takes them out of the land because of their wickedness. There is always a promised return and a fulfillment of prophecy.

Ezekiel 36:8-12 ‘But you, O mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit for my people Israel, for they will soon come home. 9 I am concerned for you and will look on you with favor; you will be plowed and sown, 10 and I will multiply the number of people upon you, even the whole house of Israel. The towns will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. 11 I will increase the number of men and animals upon you, and they will be fruitful and become numerous. I will settle people on you as in the past and will make you prosper more than before. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

Edom is given to as an inheritance to Israel.

Ezekiel 36:12-15 I will cause people, my people Israel, to walk upon you. They will possess you, and you will be their inheritance; you will never again deprive them of their children.  “‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because people say to you, “You devour men and deprive your nation of its children,” 14 therefore you will no longer devour men or make your nation childless, declares the Sovereign LORD. 15 No longer will I make you hear the taunts of the nations, and no longer will you suffer the scorn of the peoples or cause your nation to fall, declares the Sovereign LORD.'”

Yet again Israel profanes the Lords name!

Ezekiel 36:16-17 Again the word of the LORD came to me:  “Son of man, when the people of Israel were living in their own land, they defiled it by their conduct and their actions

Ezekiel 36:19-20 I dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered through the countries; I judged them according to their conduct and their actions.

Ezekiel 36:22 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone.

Ezekiel 36:22  I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show myself holy through you before their eyes.

Israel is promised a great restoration and a blessing.

Ezekiel 36:24-32 “‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land.  I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.  You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God.  I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine upon you.  I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famine.  Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices.  I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign LORD. Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct, O house of Israel!

The land is replenished when they return. Does this not sound like modern Israel?

Ezekiel 36:32-36 “‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt.  The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it.  They will say, “This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited.” “ Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the LORD have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it

Ezekiel 36:37-38  “This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Once again I will yield to the plea of the house of Israel and do this for them: I will make their people as numerous as sheep,  as numerous as the flocks for offerings at Jerusalem during her appointed feasts. So will the ruined cities be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”

Chapter 35 & 36 shows us how Yeshua judges those who scorn and judge Israel, his people. How will Yeshua look upon those among us who judge one another? Is there hope for our failing?

Matthew 7:2 “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 

Yeshua restores His people to the land even after they profane His name( Ezekiel 36:24-32). We are His people also and will receive forgiveness through his blood and the Grace given to us under His covering.

Praise Yeshua for His forgiveness of sins

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

 

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem

Ray in Everett

 

Ezekiel Chapter 35

Judgement, Judging!

In chapters 35 Yeshua judges the nations around Israel for mocking and cheering while He was trying to get Israel’s attention and bring them back to Him.  Why does he care about the surrounding nation? Can we learn from His Actions?

Ezekiel 35:3-4 and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against you, Mount Seir, and I will stretch out my hand against you and make you a desolate waste.  I will turn your towns into ruins and you will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 35:5-6 “‘Because you harbored an ancient hostility and delivered the Israelites over to the sword at the time of their calamity, the time their punishment reached its climax,  therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will give you over to bloodshed and it will pursue you.

Ezekiel 35:9 I will make you desolate forever; your towns will not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

Matthew 7:2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

How is the Lord going to treat them?

Ezekiel 35:10 -11″‘Because you have said, “These two nations and countries will be ours and we will take possession of them,” even though I the LORD was there, therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will treat you in accordance with the anger and jealousy you showed in your hatred of them and I will make myself known among them when I judge you.

Matthew 7:2  For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

James 2:13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

Psalm 137:7 Remember, O LORD, what the Edomites did on the day Jerusalem fell. “Tear it down,” they cried, “tear it down to its foundations!”

How does Yeshua treat those who judge others? We can see how He treated the Nations.  What can we expect when we act in judgement?

Ezekiel 35:15 Because you rejoiced when the inheritance of the house of Israel became desolate, that is how I will treat you. You will be desolate, O Mount Seir, you and all of Edom. Then they will know that I am the LORD.'”

Matthew 7:2  For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

James 2:13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

If we come alongside a brother and point out sin is that judgement?  Do we lift them out of the sin OR judge them for their sin?

Gal 6:1-5 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.  For each one shall bear his own load.

Matt 18:15-17 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

2 Thessalonians 3:15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Romans 14:10-11 You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before Yeshua’s judgment seat.

Are we to judge the non-believers around us, or share the word and let the Holy Spirit work?

1 Corinthians 5:12-13 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  Yeshua will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”

Acts 17:31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”

We are not to judge but love one another, and “bear one another’s burdens.”

Luke 6:37-38  “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem

Ray in Everett

Here are a few more versus on Judgement: John 12:47-50, 1 John 1:6-10, 1 John 5:16-20, James 4:11-12

 

Ezekiel Chapter 34

Shepherds?

Your pastor is the shepherd of your congregation, and as such has taken on much responsibility, with much reward.

1 Peter 5:1-4  To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers-not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve;  not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

Hebrews 13:20-21 May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

But to the shepherds that do not do Gods work amongst the flock, WOE.  Will he be judged as the shepherds of Israel were?

Ezekiel 34:2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?

Ezekiel 34:5-6 My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for the

Ezekiel 34:7-10 “‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:  As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock,  therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:  This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.

 

Yeshua has come as our chief shepherd and redeemer.  He will gather the scattered flock to Himself.

John 10:14-18 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me- just as the Father knows me and I know the Father-and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.  The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life-only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” 

Ezekiel 34:11-12 “‘For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them.  As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.

John 10:16-17  I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

Mark 6:33-34  When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

As He gathers so also will He judge!

Ezekiel 34:17-18 “‘As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats.

Ezekiel 34:20-21 Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.

Ezekiel 34:22-24 I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another. I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd.  I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the LORD have spoken.

Matt 25:32-33 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

And when Yeshua returns,” The Kingdom of God” will be here in earth as it once was.

Ezekiel 34:25-26 “‘I will make a covenant of peace with them and rid the land of wild beasts so that they may live in the desert and sleep in the forests in safety. I will bless them and the places surrounding my hill. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing.

Ezekiel 34:30-31 Then they will know that I, the LORD their God, am with them and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, declares the Sovereign LORD.  You my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, are people, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign LORD.'”

Rev 7:14-8:1 “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.  Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.  Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat.  For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

 

     Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.

 

Pray for the Leaders of you church

Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem

Ray in Everett

Ezekiel Chapter 33

The Watchmen. The announcement of salvation!

Ezekiel has been made a watchman over Israel just as we are to be watchmen for the coming events, and even as believers looking out for each other.

Ezekiel 33:1-5 The word of the LORD came to me:  “Son of man, speak to your countrymen and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman,  and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people,  then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not take warning and the sword comes and takes his life, his blood will be on his own head.

Shall we let them continue in their sin or should we come alongside them to teach and Pray?

Rom 6:1-4 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?  By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?  Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Surely, we are commanded to love our fellow believers so that we might speak to them in love about the Law of God.

Ezekiel 33:7-9 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood.  But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself.

 Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

 

The Lord will knock at each and every door/heart asking to be let in, all who are to come to belief will be given the opportunity to accept His love.

 

Ezekiel 33:11 Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?’

As a watchmen we must be willing to speak the truth, in love.  We are each to be judged on our own merit.

Ezekiel 33:12 “Therefore, son of man, say to your countrymen, ‘The righteousness of the righteous man will not save him when he disobeys, and the wickedness of the wicked man will not cause him to fall when he turns from it.

Ezekiel 33:17-20 “Yet your countrymen say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But it is their way that is not just.  If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, he will die for it.  And if a wicked man turns away from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he will live by doing so.  Yet, O house of Israel, you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But I will judge each of you according to his own ways.”

Just as we are judged by our ways so shall our nation be judged by her deeds.

Ezekiel 33:25-26 You rely on your sword, you do detestable things, and each of you defiles his neighbor’s wife. Should you then possess the land?’

Ezekiel 33:27-29 I will make the land a desolate waste, and her proud strength will come to an end, and the mountains of Israel will become desolate so that no one will cross them.  Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I have made the land a desolate waste because of all the detestable things they have done.’

2 Chronicles 7:14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land

Do we follow Gods commandments?  Do we share with our brothers? Do we hear the word and obey, or forget once we leave our worship service.

Ezekiel 33:31 My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain.

Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Where to you stand? The coming chapters begin to show us the offer of salvation and the coming events that effect Israel.  Are you prepared for the coming of our Lord? Do you know what to “watch” for?  The Messiah is coming but He warns of many false prophets and false messiah before His arrival. Learn what to watch for!

Matt 24:4-8 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.  For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.

Matt 24:15-17 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel-let the reader understand- 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

WE LIVE IN EXCITING TIMES. When President Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moved the embassy there, Netanyahu’s response was, “the third temple is within our Grasp”

“The Kingdom of God is at Hand”

Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem

Ray in Everett

 

Ezekiel Chapter 32

A lament or sorrow for Pharaohs destruction, the mighty lion is made low.

Ezekiel 32:2 “Son of man, take up a lament concerning Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him: “‘You are like a lion among the nations; you are like a monster in the seas thrashing about in your streams, churning the water with your feet and muddying the streams.

Pharaoh’s judgment described in verses 3-9, is so complete the surrounding kings are fearful of the Lord.

Ezekiel 32:10 I will cause many peoples to be appalled at you, and their kings will shudder with horror because of you when I brandish my sword before them. On the day of your downfall each of them will tremble every moment for his life.

The Babylon king is brought to bear against Pharaoh and the hordes.

Ezekiel 32:11 “‘For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “‘The sword of the king of Babylon will come against you.

The surrounding hordes or allies are swept up into the judgement

Ezekiel 32:12 I will cause your hordes to fall by the swords of mighty men– the most ruthless of all nations. They will shatter the pride of Egypt, and all her hordes will be overthrown.

Ezekiel 32:17-19 In the twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me: 18 “Son of man, wail for the hordes of Egypt and consign to the earth below both her and the daughters of mighty nations, with those who go down to the pit.

Just who are these hordes or allies of Egypt?

Ezekiel 32:22-23 “Assyria is there with her whole army; she is surrounded by the graves of all her slain, all who have fallen by the sword. 23 Their graves are in the depths of the pit and her army lies around her grave. All who had spread terror in the land of the living are slain, fallen by the sword.

Ezekiel 32:24  “Elam is there, with all her hordes around her grave. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword. All who had spread terror in the land of the living went down uncircumcised to the earth below.

Ezekiel 32:26  “Meshech and Tubal are there, with all their hordes around their graves. All of them are uncircumcised, killed by the sword because they spread their terror in the land of the livin

Ezekiel 32:28 “You too, O Pharaoh, will be broken and will lie among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword.

Ezekiel 32:29  “Edom is there, her kings and all her princes; despite their power, they are laid with those killed by the sword. They lie with the uncircumcised, with those who go down to the pit.

Ezekiel 32:30  “All the princes of the north and all the Sidonians are there; they went down with the slain in disgrace despite the terror caused by their power.

Ezekiel 32:31-32 “Pharaoh-he and all his army-will see them and he will be consoled for all his hordes that were killed by the sword, declares the Sovereign LORD. 32 Although I had him spread terror in the land of the living, Pharaoh and all his hordes will be laid among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword, declares the Sovereign LORD.

The land and its people have been judged for their treatment of Gods chosen, the Israel nation. Will we see this again? The nations that currently surround Israel would like to drive her into the sea.  A great battle is looming in our future. Are you prepared for the 2^nd coming of our lord?

Prepare your Hearts!

Ps 51:10-11 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Matthew 5:8   Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem

Ray in Everett