About Holy GhostTheEvangel

Does God Exist? - Part 4

Abstract

In the New Testament, the highly schooled members of the Council could not hide their surprise at the level of intelligence and depth of knowledge possessed by the apostles just because they had spent some time with Jesus. After all, these were mere artisans at best. This is the kind of wisdom to be gained from taking time to study a man like Prophet Ezekiel. He reveals that God is a covenant keeping God. He is the Almighty God, and nothing is impossible for Him. Ezekiel is the only person other than Jesus Christ that God addresses as “Son of man”. In the 21st Century, we still have physically existing evidence of the manifestation of his prophecies. Ezekiel exposes us to the workings of the Holy Ghost and especially, the prophetic ministry.

Summarizing The Book of Ezekiel

The book is a load of imagery, visions, judgments, and prophecies. There are stories of redemption and restoration and more importantly, the return of the glory of the Lord.

The Book of Prophet Ezekiel focusses on the essence of the glory of God residing in the Temple in Jerusalem; its departure into exile away from the suffocation by the reviling sins of His unrepentant bride; and its return into its eternal Temple in a New Jerusalem. Following the call of Ezekiel, God began to show him reasons for His glory vacating Jerusalem (Chapters 4-24). Chapters 25-39 summarizes the judgement of God on neighboring nations that continue to plunder a weakened Jerusalem, while chapters 40-48 talks about the return of God’s people and the glory of God to into the New Temple in the new city called ‘The Lord Is There’.

The Vision

Chapters 1-3 written when Prophet Ezekiel was between ages 25 – 30.

These chapters describe how Ezekiel got placed in Babylon up to the call. We have discussed most of it in earlier sections. Remarkably, Ezekiel recognized that he was faced with the glory of God, and God reveals that He was departing Jerusalem for exile.

The creatures shown to Ezekiel were a combinations animals, humans, and angels. They were apparently layered in order of superiority from animals to man and then the angels. These four creatures cover the four corners of the earth mounted on crystals and other elements that radiate the glory of the Almighty God. The wheels produce of omnidirectional mobility and omnipresent eyes of God. God can see and touch everything, everywhere, every time.

Phase 1 Prophecies – Retribution for Jerusalem

Theme - Then you will know that I AM THE LORD

Chapters 4 - 24 written when Prophet Ezekiel was between ages 30 – 33. Ends with the siege on Jerusalem

Chapters 4 – 24 discuss the reasons for the departure of the glory of God from Jerusalem and exhortations about what needs to change. Ezekiel demonstrates the impeding siege on Jerusalem as he laid on his side for 390 days in Chapter 4. Chapters 5 through 7 contain several performances as well to prophesy the destruction of Jerusalem and the punishment of the people as he cut his beard and spread it in the winds or started stumping and clapping his hands. He also prophesied against the mountains of Edom and Israel in addition to packing his bags, digging a hole, and leaving the city. He wrote messages on wooden sticks as well that signified a future united Israel. Then, talked about the death of his own wife without mourning her.

In chapters 8 to 11, we see visions about the Temple ending with the glory of God it because of the shocking level of idolatry among the people. God appearing as a half-metal half-fire man shows him visions of people worshipping the sun, secret cults worshipping Molek, and people sacrificing children on evil altars. Yet, he talks about a man in white linen marking the heads of righteous men apparently destined for salvation from the impeding destruction. Once again, God saves a remnant of the people. In chapter 10, God’s glory leaves the Temple.

Chapters 12 -24 addressed common beliefs that guided social behavior. Ezekiel spent this section trying to correct many of the social maxims and sayings credited to elders and wise men along with riddles that false prophets have helped to entrench in society; lamentations; pictures of God drawing a sword from its sheath; and God’s anger against a forest including the vision of unfaithful twin sisters named Oholah and Oholibah representing Samaria and Jerusalem respectively.

Phase 2 Prophecies – Judgement on the Nations Around Jerusalem

Theme - Then they will know that I AM THE LORD

I will take revenge on Judah’s neighbors

Chapters 25-39 written when Prophet Ezekiel was between ages 36 – 37.

There is a dire warning here, that is, it is dangerous to take advantage of God’s chosen. The fact that they are weak or being punished gives no one a right to mistreat God’s people. This section is also loaded with prophecies that culminate in the return of The Lord to His glorious Temple. In addition to meeting out punishment to the nations that oppress Jerusalem, Ezekiel begins to talk about the redemption of Israel, including the return of the house of David, the return of the people and the return of the Temple.

Essentially, Israel rebelled against God’s covenant. God sent them into exile to repent in preparation for a new leaf before God’s return to the Temple. Beginning from chapter 25, Ezekiel prophesizes seven dated visions of judgment each against Ammon, Moab, Syria, and Philistia. He prophesizes against Tyre in chapter 26 to 28 and against Egypt in Chapters 29 through 32. In chapter 33, the fugitive from Jerusalem gives the report of how the city was destroyed. Chapters 35 and 36 contain the prophecies against the mountains and the valleys, and the famous valley of dry bones where the story of redemption begins is in chapter 37. Chapters 38 and 39 contains prophecies about Gog and Magog.

Chapter 37 becomes a pivotal chapter in the sense that it brings hope to the people and sheds light on the nature of God in a way that is not just about judgment, but also about mercy. It brings a confluence to the theme of God’s judgement on neighbors that exploit Israel’s weaknesses but also a resurrection of God’s people to life, and the restoration of His eternal covenant of love. We see a confluence of the themes, that Israel may know that I am The Lord and that the nations will know that I am The Lord. There is a promise that Israel will be restored to its land as a nation, under God with an indwelling spirit that keeps them on the right path with God.

Phase 3 Prophecies – God’s Glory Returns To Jerusalem

Theme - Then the nations will know that I AM THE LORD

Chapters 40 - 48 written when Prophet Ezekiel was about ages 50+.

Ezekiel proves that God is full of mercy, always ready to forgive His people and to love them (Ezekiel 36:13-15).

This is revealed in God’s plan to restore His people and return them to their homeland. In addition, God will commission a new Temple and return with His glory into that new Temple. God also details out the architecture of this new Temple, including the ordinances for the priests. He describes the creation of a new river that will flow from the Temple into the Dead Sea. However, this river and the Dead Sea will be filled with breathtakingly beautiful life and surrounding brushes.

God also shows Ezekiel how the land will be divided when His people return home. The new sacrifices in the altars apparently connect to the death of Jesus on the cross. The glory of God returns in chapter 43 and the city is called ‘The Lord Is There’ as the whole world acknowledges that God is The LORD.