December 26, 2006

• Ezekiel’s prophesies and today’s news part 3 by Pastor Don

  I found my notebook – losing one would be devastating to me because the notes in them are priceless. One day I should go back and start writing out notes that I took before I started Xanga. There is so much knowledge to share.

  I was blessed to receive your Christmas greetings. My oldest son corrected me and said it should be 12 fish for Christmas – one for each of the apostles, but my husband has also heard 7 fish. Whatever, a fishy Christmas was quite fun.

  So, now that things have settled down somewhat, I thought I would share last Friday’s Bible study with you. It is a continuation of Ezekiel’s Prophesies and comparing them to events of today and how the world seems to be shaping up. In my private studies right now I am using Kay Arthur’s precept ministries study on Daniel – I do it a bit slower because it is a personal study, not part of a group, and I am so blessed to see how much the prophets are in agreement. I think I may continue in my personal studies this year doing the prophets. Don’t worry, I won’t abandon the Israelites in the wilderness, we will still do that, as I am learning so much following their path through the wilderness. I would love to be able to spend hours and hours and hours studying.

  If you haven’t read the previous two Bible studies on Ezekiel, here are the links for them:

  Part One and Part Two

  Pastor Don pointed out that he forgot to mention the last time that the East Germans also helped Iran with their nuclear supplies.

  People try to say that the Bible is not trustworthy, but the proof of the scripture is that prophesy is unfolding right in front of our eyes. We don’t have to give our opinion about why we believe the Bible, we just have to show that the Bible has prophesied thousands of years ago events that are unfolding today.

  Pastor Don pointed out that we are so fleshly in our nature that we want a word from God every moment, for every decision. But the prophets may have heard a word from God only once every 40 or 50 years, and they held true to that one word of God until they heard the next instruction from God.

  Before going into Ezekiel 40, Pastor Don did a quick review of the end of Ezekiel 39, because Ezekiel 39 leads to 40. (In a previous study, Pastor Don pointed out that the Chapter numbers were not in the original text, they were inserted to help people find passages quickly, but often they are arbitrarily labeled and that the passages of the end of one chapter often are connected to the ones in the next chapter.)

  Ezekiel 39:21 I will set My glory among the nations; all the nations shall see My judgment which I have executed, and My hand which I have laid on them.

  This passage can only occur today – “all the nations shall see…” Only today is that possible with news shows like CNBC, CNN, etc. If you look at other passages in the Old Testament you see that all the nations HEAR, or SHALL BE TOLD, but now all shall SEE.

  Ezekiel 39 talks about a horrific power that is brought down on the people who come against Jerusalem. It talks about burying corpses for 7 months, and by combining this chapter with Zechariah 14 which talks about the same incident, it seems to be nuclear in nature. (see previous two studies for more details on this) There are natural aspects of these events, but people will see it as the hand of God.

  Ezekiel 39: 23-24 The Gentiles shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity; because they were unfaithful to Me, therefore I hid My face from them. I gave them into the hand of their enemies, and they all fell by the sword. According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions I have dealt with them, and hidden My face from them.

  This is important to notice because there is a dangerous teaching that is going on in some of the Christian circles – replacement theology, which states that since the Jews did not believe in Jesus when He was alive on the earth, they have forfeited their place in the Kingdom forever and that the gentiles have taken over that place. This is not what God teaches or what is shown in the prophesies. God clearly points out that he hid the revelation from the Jews for a time being because of their transgressions. This made a way for us gentiles to get into the kingdom. But there is still a nation of Israel, and God will not abandon it for His Name’s sake. His promises are forever, He would not change His mind and go against His promises.

  Ezekiel 39:25 Therefore thus says the LORD GOD: “Now I will bring back the captives of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy name–

  In this part of prophetic wisdom has happened, God will gather the Nation Israel from all the nations where he SENT THEM, planted them during their captivity. (Heather’s note, remember in Genesis where God gave Jacob a new name – Israel. And then after that God would call Jacob/Israel according to his actions – Jacob if he was acting in a fleshly manner and Israel if he was acting in a Godly manner.) Notice in this verse that God is bringing back the captives of Jacob (fleshly Israel) and then later Israel (when the nation is acting in a Godly fashion).

  Pastor Don mentioned that when he was a child if his mom called him, “Donald, come in here” he would come in gladly. But if his mom called, “Donald Eugene..” with the emphasis on Eugene he knew that it wasn’t good. That there would be repercussions for some transgression. In a way it is similar to how God would use Israel and Jacob, letting the people know if He was pleased or not.

  So in verse 25 – the captives of Jacob were the descendants of Israel who were fleshly, and they left in the same way that Jacob left after he stole the birthright from his brother Esau. He feared persecution and destruction at the hand of Esau.

  Pastor Don asked if Jacob’s father knew about the prophesy before Jacob was born, and the answer was yes, there would be no way that Jacob would have gotten the name that meant “heel snatcher” without the father knowing. Jacob would leave his family and flee persecution, but come back with a bride.

  Today this passage hasn’t been fulfilled, because ALL the Jews in the world have not returned to Jerusalem, some are still staying in wonderful comfortable places like New York City and Miami do not desire to return to Israel. But there is a good chance that at some point, something will happen that will shake up their comfortable lives and cause a mass movement towards Israel.

  He also pointed out that in Chapters 38 and 39 there is no mention of the United States. Israel will be surrounded by the hostile nations like Magog. There have been failed attempts to resurrect Babylon on the old site. This will not be happen.

  America is on the brink of making a big mistake in Iraq, if they do the same thing that they did in Vietnam, pick up and leave. If we abandon Iraq, and do nothing to stop the destructive nuclear capacity of Iran and radical Islam taking Iraq, within our lifespan the forces of the north in alliance with Iran and Persia will attack Israel. And we will see terrorist outbreaks in our country, for such an abandonment will be perceived as a sign of weakness.

  Our country is losing the values of God that it was founded in, and becoming weaker in influencing the world. For example, in New Jersey the courts, which are not the lawmakers, insisted that a law be made regarding same sex unions. There are people who are starting to try and convince the world that the Holocaust did not occur, they don’t want people to have empathy for Jewish people. And to say that their claim to the land of Israel isn’t valid because they perpetuated a lie to gain the land. A Jewish rabbi was shaking the hand of an Iranian Mulah, and agreeing that there should be no special treatment for Jews, and speaking against Zionism. We are asleep at the helm, afraid. There is a movement, even from the Catholic church, to try and unite the world’s religions. 

  Tolerance and compromise are the bywords of the devil. Tolerance today has the added meaning of people wanting you to accept that what is being said as absolutely true, and compromising values that are God ordained puts us in direct disobedience to God. The real definition of tolerance has nothing to do with accepting values as true, just accepting that people have the right to have differing views. If you don’t stand for something, you bow to everything. We, who believe and obey God’s Word, are part of a remnant.

  If we are awake, we are to prepare people for the coming of the King of Kings. Our strength is not in politics, but in understanding that we are in the last days. We need to study to show ourselves approved, because we have to stand in the last terrible day.

  It is important to ask ourselves, how are we using our time? Are we using it for the gratification of ourselves or are we using it wisely? If we use it wisely, we can hasten the coming of the Lord.

  Pastor Don mentioned the children’s song, “This little light of mine…” Little lights do not shine much, but we must see ourselves as great lights – moons reflecting the Sun’s light. The sun gives off a lot of light.

  Compelled by coming events, we have to be willing to resist rejection and still show God’s light to the world.

  Ezekiel 39:26-28 after they have born their shame, and all their unfaithfulness in which they were unfaithful to Me, when they dwelt safely in their own land and no one made them afraid. When I have brought them back from the peoples gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and I am hallowed in them in the sight of many nations, then they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who sent them into captivity among the nations, but also brought them back to their land, and left none of them captive any longer.

  How many of them are left out of their land in the end times? NONE. This has not happened yet, but will in the last days. Still today there are many scattered abroad.

  Ezekiel 39:29 ‘And I will not hide My face from them anymore, for I shall have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel’, says the Lord GOD.

  Notice the words: SHALL HAVE – this is a powerful prophesy. It will take a calamity, disaster like never before has happened, the perpetrators of evil will know their demise, and out of it, God will pour out His Spirit on the nation of Israel. (Heather’s note – the nation of Israel is not permanently abandoned by God like the replacement theologists are saying). Out of this, will emerge Chapter 40.

  Ezekiel 40:1 In the twenty-fifth year of our captivity, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was captured, on the very same day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and He too me there.

  Pastor Don asked – where is there? It is a future vision of the New Jerusalem and Temple.

  Ezekiel 40:2-3 In the visions of God, He took me into the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain; on it toward the south was something like the structure of a city. He took me there, and behold, there was a man whose appearance was like the appearance of bronze, He had a line of flax and a measuring rod in his hand, and he stood in the gateway.

  A cubit was a measurement from t he elbow to the tip of the middle finger – and the cubit measurement was calculated using the measurements from the king.

  Ezekiel 40:16 There were beveled window frames in the gate chambers and in their intervening archways on the inside of the gateway all around, and likewise in the vestibule. There were windows all around on the inside. And on each gatepost were palm trees.

  Ezekiel 40:31 Its archways faced the outer court, palm trees were on its gateposts, and going up to it were eight steps.
  
  Ezekiel 40:37 Its gateposts faced the outercourt, palm trees were on its gateposts on this side and on that side, and going up to it were eight steps.

  Notice, in this new temple is 8 steps, not the seven steps of the old temple. That is because it is a new temple in the new Jerusalem. Pastor Don said that years ago he taught on palm trees (I have to find a copy of that teaching) but apparently the punch line was that today when we raise our hands (palms of praise) in holy praise we are like palm trees.

  Ezekiel 40:46 The chamber which faces north is for the priests who have charge of the altar; those are the sons of Zadok, from the sons of Levi, who come near the LORD to minister to Him.

  Ezekiel 41:16-19 their doorposts and the beveled window frames. And the galleries all around their three stories opposite the threshold were paneled with wood from the ground to the windows-the windows were covered from the space above the door, even to the inner room, as well as outside, and on every wall around, inside and outside by measure. And it was made with cherubim and palm trees, a palm tree between cherub and cherub. Each cherub had two faces, so that the face of a man was toward a palm tree on one side, and the face of a young lion toward a palm tree on the other side; thus it was made throughout the temple all around.

  Palms of praise,

  Ezekiel 4l:21 The doorposts of the temple were square, as was the front of the sanctuary; their appearance was similar.

  Ezekiel 42 & 43 give further descriptions of the temple.

  Ezekiel 43:10-12 Son of man, describe the temple to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the pattern. And if they are ashamed of all that they have done, make it known to them the design of the temple and its arrangement, its exits and its entrances, its entire design and all its ordinances, all its forms and all its laws. Write it down in their sight, so that they may keep its whole design and all its ordinances, and perform them. This is the law of the temple: The whole area surrounding the mountaintop is most holy. Behold, this is the law of the temple.

  We were told to underline in verse 12: “The law of the temple.”

  Ezekiel 43:18 And He said to me, “Son of man, thus says the Lord GOD; ‘These are the ordinances for the altar on the day when it is made, for sacrificing burnt offerings on it, and for sprinkling blood on it.

  Ordinances on how the temple is to be used.

  Ezekiel 43:27 When these days are over it shall be on the eighth day and thereafter, that the priests shall offer your burnt offerings and your peace offerings on the altar, and I will accept you,’ says the Lord GOD.

  Another reference to the 8th day. Does it stop on the 8th day? No – for it says THEREAFTER. And also God points out that He accepts the Israelites.

  Ezekiel 44:1-2 Then He brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary which faces toward the east, but it was shut. And the LORD said to me, “This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter by it, because the LORD God of Israel has entered by it, therefore it shall be shut.

  If you go to Israel you will see that the Western Gate is shut and sealed. The Muslims were trying to prevent this prophesy from occurring. To further make it harder, they made the area right up to the wall and in front of the Western wall into a cemetery. They did this so that when the Messiah comes, because He is a priest, He would not want to walk through the cemetery and be around the dead, so He would not be able to enter by this gate. In the natural this makes sense, but we know something the Muslims don’t know. The dead in Christ will rise first – so when Jesus comes again, there won’t be any bodies in that cemetery!

  Pastor Don also mentioned that we must pray for the nominal Christians and nominal Muslims, that they may know the truth about God. The nominal Muslims do not know the Koran. In the Koran it is pointed out that Jews and Gentiles are to be given every opportunity to convert and if they refuse, they are to be put into slavery or killed.

  Just like in France, we are now beginning to see the effects of what happens when a Muslim community increases in size in our country and begins to take over government positions. At some point in time we will find that our ability to worship as Christians will be severely curtailed. We are also seeing problems emerge in parts of England and Holland.

  Chapter 44:3-4 As for the prince, because he is the prince, he may sit in it to eat bread before the LORD; he shall enter by way of the vestibule of the gateway, and go out the same way. Also He brought me by way of the north gate to the front of the temple; so I looked, and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD; and I fell on my face.

  As Ezekiel 34:24 says And I, the LORD, will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken.

  Could be David that is the prince.

  Ezekiel 44:5 And the LORD said to me, “Son of man, mark well, see with your eyes and hear with your ears, all that I say to you concerning all the ordinances of the house of the LORD and all its laws. Mark well who may enter the house and all who go out from the sanctuary.

  This temple is not built yet, but it will be in existence in the Millennial reign, Revelation 20.

  We haven’t had the events of Chapter 38 – the great earthquake yet.

  There is still debate about the exact location of the Temple, that it may not be what is today called the Temple mound. Inside the dome is a large granite rock that some say is the rock that  Abraham was to sacrifice Isaac on, and is also considered the rock that Mohammed stood on. The dimensions of this rock are too big to fit in the holy of holies, and no where in the Old Testament is such a big rock mentioned in connection with the Temple. There will be an antichrist who will come on the scene and bring a peace agreement – perhaps pointing out a site that is 1000 feet away from the Dome of the rock. He may point out that the western wall (wailing wall) is really the eastern wall.

  We discussed some more questions and issues and Pastor Don pointed out that, Prophesy that is not mixed with faith is worthless.

  Our Bible study needs another hour or two to fully develop these topics. There is so much to share, but maybe these notes will help in your personal studies.

  Hoping you have a blessed day.

  Heather

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