Please Follow us on Twitter and receive Breaking News, Bible Teachings and Feature Articles from the Holy Land. He is specifically mentioned by Ben Sirah (a writer of the Hellenistic period who listed the "great sages" of Israel) and 4 Maccabees (1st century CE). God inspires the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel to reveal to the Israelites why they will become captives to Babylon, His anger against false prophets, and the restoration of Israel., Testament (1000-1200 words). Livable, A Tale of Trees: How Arboreal Theology Pervades the Bible. In chapter 18, the Lord tells the Israelites it doesnt matter how holy their father or mother may be; when we stand before the Lord, we will be held accountable for what we did. But in these verses, that tendency intensifies. It seems that Israel stands alone as the invading soldiers cover the land like a cloud. His Spirit would infuse the nation, and it would once again life. When Ezekiel sees the vision, he falls like a dead man (Ezek. The book of Revelation is John's record of that vision (Revelation 1:9-11). Furthermore, as Gods spokesman, Ezekiels son of man status (see note on 2:1) testifies to the sovereign God he was commissioned to serve. God called this priest to be a prophet at the age of 30, five years into this first Babylonian exile. Pallazzo Pitti, Florence. This is in marked contrast to the Deuteronomistic writers, who held that the sins of the nation would be held against all, without regard for an individual's personal guilt. This Temple is associated with the coming Messianic Age. Hes both commissioned prophet and commissioning glory, both Son of Man and the fiery One who sits on Yahwehs throne in the midst of the living creatures. In general this report details (1) the vision that John saw of Jesus Christ, (2) the message that Jesus Christ gave to the apostle John and (3) the future events that will take place in the last days. The Lord had descended on Sinai in a storm cloud (Ex. 1:2), the temple is still standing in Jerusalem (cf. He was exiled to Babylon in 597 BC, and his ministry began five years later when he was 30 years old. God consistently refers to Ezekiel as the Son of man, it shows that God trusts him and that He had a specific plan for him to serve Him. 23:1822). Amid the silence, God speaks, I will rain down on [Gog], on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. When it falls, you shall perish in the midst of it, and you shall know that I am the LORD.. What is amiss with the nation is that it is corrupt at this center, that as repudiated the God who made it a people and has replaced him by the gods of the surrounding countries. These visions can even be applied today in the modern day church and show how much God loves His people despite repetitive sin. He is now our gate to Divine Revelation and personal communication with our Father in heaven, Adonai Himself. Are these past. A Flemish enamel depicting Ezekiel 9, a vision in which those who grieved Israels sin had their foreheads marked in order to save them from Divine punishment for sins. It was originally published in German by Econ Verlag GmbH under the title Da tat . 6), Ezekiels is part of his ordination as prophet. He can respond to his peoples sin by leaving his sanctuary in Israel, and he can graciously condescend to visit his exiled children in Babylon. Weve shifted from What if they have fun without me? to What If I commit now and regret it later?, On My Shelf: Life and Books with Peter Leithart, Why Kings Sing: A Biblical Theology of Monarchs and Music, The Ten Commandments Make Life . There is a thread of Jewish mysticism based on Ezekiels chariot or Merkabah. Its thought that Ezekiel describes a path of ascent into heavenly places to the throne of God. This is a reminder that God does pursue those whom He loves, but He also wants His people to come to Him out of freedom. Prior to this time, Judah had been a vassal of the Assyrian empire, but the rapid decline of Assyria after c. 630 led Josiah to assert his independence and institute a religious reform stressing loyalty to Yahweh, the national God of Israel. Ezekiel describes the Third Temple in detail throughout the final chapters 40 to 47. Jesus is. Its a remarkable rare occurrence in Scripture. Jeremiah. 1 Chron. Ezekiel did not have just one vision but several and the explanation of each requires an scholars understanding. If He does choose, it is based on goodness, The description of the Book of Revelation as the strangest book of the New Testament could be the reason for the general neglect that is afforded it today. Now he sees His return, to occupy and to consecrate this new building to be His holy sanctuary. Not as slaves, but having a real relationship with Him. [5], The Book of Ezekiel describes itself as the words of Ezekiel ben-Buzi, a priest living in exile in the city of Babylon between 593 and 571 BCE. This resurrection of life is to happen in stages: Bone align themselves together; tendons attach the bones to each other; flesh covers the bones; and finally, the breath of God (literally, His Ruach or Spirit) brings the bones to life as they stand on their feet and form a mighty army. 3348 promise that God will be known through the restoration and spiritual renewal of Israel. The vision of the whirlwind. The book of Ezekiel pronounces judgment on both Israel and surrounding nations, but it also provides a vision of the future millennial kingdom that complements and adds to the vision of other Old and New Testament texts. The chariot is the original glory of God, and the world itself is modeled after the pattern of this glory. 1 Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the River Chebar, thatthe heavens were opened and I saw visions[ a] of God. Each creature is accompanied by a wheel. Let them consider the plan, and if they are ashamed of all they have done, make known to them the design of the temple-its arrangement, its exit and entrances--its whole design and all its regulations and laws. This is perhaps the most well known passage in Ezekiel. [26] The image of the valley of dry bones returning to life in chapter 37 signifies the restoration of the purified Israel. Ezekiel Chapter 1. Four living creatures appear from the whirlwind. Ezekiel was a prophet to the exiles who were living in captivity in Babylo. At the same time, others who called themselves prophets led Israel to believe that there would be no destruction in Jerusalem, that its walls would not be breached nor its families taken into exile: Precisely because they have misled my people, saying, Peace, when there is no peace, and because, when the people build a wall, these prophets smear it with whitewash, say to those who smear it with whitewash that it shall fall! The book of Ezekiel opens up with a vision that is quite startling in itself. Josiah was killed in 609 and Judah became a vassal of the new regional power, the Neo-Babylonian empire. 1:19), but the wheels are on the earth (Ezek. The name Shaddai is probably a cognate of the Akkadian ad"mountain" or "steppe," which is itself a cognate of the Hebrewdeh "field/wilderness." 2:1, 3, 8; 3:1, 3, 4, 10; etc.). Hes the living chariot of God, come from heaven to live among exiles, his face shining with the light of Gods glory. As the cloud approaches, he sees whats insideliving beings, later identified as cherubim (Ezek. 78:23; Mal. A false religion perverts its life and threatens catastrophe. This is not for her sake alone, but to make sure the nations do finally see that He is the one, true, holy and sovereign God of the universe. The chariot can rise from the earth (Ezek. This is the law of the house; Upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Like Isaiahs vision of glory (Isa. Yahwehs departure from the temple is a judgment on Judah but its also an act of compassion. (My Jewish Learning), The idea of a heavenly chariot is not unique to Ezekiel. Behold, the glory of the LORD stood there: Once again, Ezekiel had a vision similar to that which he experienced in Ezekiel 1. i. His desires for a holy nation. The appearance of the wheels and their workmanship was the color of beryl, and the four of them had the same likeness. 3:10). It would be extremely humbling to them for them to have to rebuild their worship place to God. This book is written at a time of great strife for the region of Israel. Throughout the book of Ezekiel, one sees the closeness that he has with the Lord. Through it all, God's powerful acts of justice and promises of undeserved covenant blessing display his heart for us to know and adore. Ezekiel, was a great man of God and very faithful to Him. Daniel 1:17. assignments. And third, you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done it. 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. View cart for details. Bringing the Saints into the Lord's Up-to-date Vision and Move in His Recovery (CWWL, 1984, vol. Ezekiel's Vision of God | Reformed Bible Studies & Devotionals at Ligonier.org | Reformed Bible Studies & Devotionals at Ligonier.org Although the term holy is not used in Ezekiel 1, the entire vision conveys the reality of the Lord's transcendence, His "set-apartness" as the Creator and ruler Therefore say to the Israelites, This is what the Sovereign Lord says: It is not for your sake, people 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. Overall, chs. History Suggests It Isnt. Take part in TGCs Read the Bible initiative, where were encouraging Christians and churches to read together through Gods Word in a year. [6]. cookie policy. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD. (Ezekiel 37:1214). Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly rebuked the worlds leaders for this lie in a speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Oct. 1, 2015: Irans rulers promise to destroy my country, murder my people, and the response from this body the response from nearly every one of the governments represented here has been absolutely nothing utter silence deafening silence.. They have a human form (Ezek. This is the law of the temple: all the surrounding area on top of the mountain will be most holy, such is the law of the temple. Episode 9 | Visions of Ezekiel - YouTube 0:00 / 44:37 Episode 9 | Visions of Ezekiel Lion and Lamb Ministries 62.7K subscribers Subscribe 6.5K views 7 days ago #Ezekiel #messianic. Ezekiel's Vision of God. The physical restoration will take place. [16] While the book exhibits considerable unity and probably reflects much of the historic Ezekiel, it is the product of a long and complex history and does not necessarily preserve the very words of the prophet. Neither do we require such mystical works written outside the Biblical texts to teach us how to approach the throne of God; and it most certainly can be done alone, even in our prayer closets (Matthew 6:6). 1:6). The Prophet Jeremiah: Hope, Peace, and Restoration, Elisha: the Hebrew Prophet of Love and Compassion, Malachi: The Most Mysterious of the Hebrew Prophets. When he did that, the flesh reappear on these bodies. We are always called to this devotion regardless of circumstance or opposition. 9. As a priest, Ezekiel praises the Zadokites over the Levites (lower level temple functionaries), whom he largely blames for the destruction and exile. Sometimes it is hard to do all the work on your own. In the Old Testament, God chose very specific people to give His message to Israel. And the spirit entered into me when He spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard Him that speak unto me. Near the end of Ezekiels visions, he writes about the establishment of the Messianic reign. Through supernatural signs and fulfilled prophecies, such as the regathering and restoration of the Jewish People back into their own land, supernatural protection, and victories against outnumbered armies, it seems the nations should realize that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is real. According to Jewish tradition, the Men of the Great Assembly wrote the Book of Ezekiel, based on the prophet's words. This has been a consistent problem throughout history. They had become such a defiled nation, the Lord was determined to show them just how awful they had become. As God gives this message to His people, through Ezekiel, I think that Ezekiel also senses this great love for a disobedient people. f) The Discharge (32:6) 32:6 "I will also make the land drink the discharge of your blood As far as . How to Handle a Difficult Small-Group Member, 5 Surprising Books to Help Navigate the Gender Debates, Wednesday Addams and the Return of Black-and-White Morality. Gog and Magog are thus indications for the enemies of God's people on the New Earth. Are the Jewish People Still the Chosen People. "The vision of dry bones," explains how God's people would miraculously come together and be re-gathered to their homeland from among the nations of the world where . Not only does the book present a striking picture of the resurrection and restoration of God's people ( Ezekiel 37 ), it . To get the full effect of the vision, we need to see that Ezekiel 1 is only the first of a three-chapter sequence, during which Ezekiel is commissioned as a prophet. The cherubim and wheels and the expanse are only mechanisms to move the enthroned one from place to place. But the heavens open to welcome Ezekiel, the son of man (Ezek. Ezekiel - Outline Author: Ezekiel the priest, son of Buzi (1:3). Book Overviews. Meanwhile, we await the construction of Ezekiels Temple, for which the Temple Institute and Temple Mount Faithful have already prepared blueprints, construction materials, utensils, adornment, furniture and priests who will reestablish ritual sacrifices. The book moves on to anticipate the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, explains this as God's punishment, and closes with the promise of a new beginning and a new Temple. Gods wrath and judgment against His unfaithful bride is not the only theme in Ezekiel. The prophet Jeremiah, who remained in Jerusalem during that time, tried to warn the Jewish People to repent of their idol worship and wickedness or face destruction and captivity. They performed the tasks to maintain relationships with God and the world., I continued my study in pursuit of the doctoral degree in Biblical Studies by reading the text, Encountering the Old Testament. A voice calls to him, saying "Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that . Ezekiel appears only briefly in the Dead Sea Scrolls, but his influence there was profound, most notably in the Temple Scroll with its temple plans, and the defence of the Zadokite priesthood in the Damascus Document. This sovereign God resolved that he would be known and acknowledged. 23 Read Ezekiel 1:26-28. Do the Palestinians Descend from the Philistines? Amazingly, Ezekiel describes all of these future scenarios that we have seen unfold in our generation. A long passage with much detail, Ezekiel describes his first word from the Lord. The book of Daniel recounts timeless stories of heroes exhibiting unshakable faith and . Ezekiel goes through many different types of idolatry and images that the Israelites use to take the place of Father God. 33:2122). The first major vision can be found in Ezekiel 1:4-28. Something like this has happened before. Ezekiel describes these creatures (Ezekiel 1:5-14). 1:2627). As one writer wrote, taking such steps allows God to unearth the dry bones in our lives, to revive our hearts and to breathe new life into our souls. Ezekiel was a faithful servant that loved his Master. Each cherub has four facesthe face of a bull, a lion, an eagle, and a man ( Ezek. can use them for free to gain inspiration and new creative ideas for their writing 1:6) and four wings (Ezek. [1], Ezekiel is referenced more in the Book of Revelation than in any other New Testament writing. 48 Vitosha Boulevard, ground floor, 1000, Sofia, Bulgaria Bulgarian reg. The prophet is so overcome by the vision that he falls on his face. As well, Russia, Iran, and Syria share a joint intelligence command center in Iraq to carry out their united war against ISIS. What a contrast visions and weeping! As artist-in-residence, Siona Benjamin is creating an exquisite Torah Ark for the school. Ezekiel's commission would last for some 22 years and involve some challenging assignments. The Visions of Ezekiel e) The Refuse (32:5) 32:5 "I will lay your flesh on the mountains And fill the valleys with your refuse. The Greek version of these books is called the Septuagint. Danielhad already been taken captive into Babylon in about 605 BC during Nebuchadnezzars preliminary siege. 20:1: The scene here is from heaven to earth as an angel comes down to earth having the key and a great chain with him; the key refers to access; to open access or to grant access to thus access is granted to this angel to bind Satan., This report supplies an overview of the Book of Revelation prepared by Leoner Suarez a biblical theologian with the purpose to contribute knowledge and understanding of the book of Revelation to the biblical studies program of Kean University. However, as mentioned above, he was a faithful servant. Ezekiel unashamedly spoke the truth to Israel about their sin, their captivity and how the people could be redeemed from it. Luke, Galatians, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Romans, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, and Philemon, God inspired the prophets to tell the people what they needed to know and do in order to follow His will. For instance, if Ezekiel did not warn a righteous person about committing iniquity, God said that person shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand. Ezekiel 1 was chosen as the haftarah for the first day of Shavuot, [1] as it picks up on the theme of divine revelation, which is what the festival celebrates. This portion is as a reestablishment of the law and how to live according to the law. He promises: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Important Vision #2: Ezekiel 8-11. Ezekiel was a prophet who ministered to the nation Israel during the Babylonian captivity (606-536 B.C.). A storm blows in with a cloud containing God's chariot held up by four living creatures (cherubim). 28:12; Ps. Watch. Throughout the text, therefore, there are nuggets of information dropped as to what to look for to determine when that will happen so people can prepare accordingly. vv. I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Sometimes He may make no sense and it can be very scary, but just as Jesus says in John 10:27, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; When ones heart is devoted to God, he can be sure that the Lord will direct his steps. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan., The future; a daunting subject that people over generations have fretted about and try to plan against by constructing predictions on what may happen based on what they think they know. In this film, created for Practical Matters by independent documentary filmmaker Sonia Narang, an Indian Jewish visual artist works with a group of high school students at the SAR Academy, a modern Orthodox day school in New York City. 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