This Article: (7 Pages)
- 1. Introducing the Prophecy of Ezekiel
- 2. Summary chapters 1-14
- 3. Chapters 15 to 24
- 4. Chapters 25 to 32
- 5. Chapters 33 to 39
- 6. Ezekiel 38-39
- 7. Chapters 40 to 48
1) Introducing the Prophecy of Ezekiel
Ezekiel, written during the Babylonian captivity, parallels Revelation. It revealed the future of the Jews, giving visions of their destiny, desolation, dispersal, regathering and the future glory of a revived Israel. Ezekiel is relevant today as it climaxes in a vision of the last days and the vision of a Temple built for all nations.
Revelation is a kaleidoscope of visions of periods of history after 96AD, such as the Roman Empire and its decline, the Muslim era, the rise of Napoleon, and destiny of the Christians and the nations. In every period the faithful recognised the era in which they lived. Isaac Newton recognised that the end of man’s rule on earth was near, but a powerful nation had to arise in northern Europe, which was Russia. Ezekiel and Revelation revealed to the faithful remnant of Jews and Faithful Gentiles the future of the nations and their subjection to the power of the God of Israel, through righteous worldwide government established by his son Y’shua (Jesus).
Consider Luke:
For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day... As it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. (Luke 17:24-30)
The Jews are the witnesses, the sign to the world, of Yahweh’s plan with the earth. Luke continues to record the prophecy given by Y’shua. The Jews would return as a revived nation to their homeland, which would become waste and desolate. When Jerusalem was no longer trodden down by the Gentiles and Jerusalem freed from Gentile domination has to be Israel’s miraculous victory in the Seven Day War in 1967.
They shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.Then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (Luke21:24-27)
There is no ambiguity. The statements are clear. There is now a time of trouble, beginning. The world is filled with violence, immorality and rejection of the Creator and his power.
Ezekiel, Daniel and Jeremiah
These three men are contemporaries and each contribute to aspects of the prophecy. Daniel and Ezekiel were both taken captive to Babtylon as young men. Daniel lived in Babylon where by Divine Revelation and wisdom he revealed to the King and people the destiny of the kingdom of Babylon, its decline and the Kingdoms of the nations that would follow. Daniel’s prophecies were relevant to the gentile powers also and to us today, as we see the world in increasing chaos.
Daniel prophesied:
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: (Daniel 12:1)
Ezekiel, taken captive in the third of the six deportations of captives to Babylon in the reign of king Jehoiachin, lived in Tel-Abib North-West of Babylon. He was a ‘man of sign’ who was appointed to reveal the destiny of the nation of Israel to those in captivity. Jeremiah was in Jerusalem, where he was divinely appointed to warn the Jews that Jerusalem would be destroyed. He battled against false prophets in Jerusalem who were proclaiming that Jerusalem would not be destroyed and those who remained there were favoured in contrast to those in captivity. Jeremiah suffered severe persecution. The message of this false philosophy also reached those in Babylon. Hananiah, a false prophet in Jerusalem prophesied that the captives would return in two years. Hananiah’s death was predicted by Jeremiah and this gave him a measure of vindication in Jerusalem, and together with the prophecies of Ezekiel and Daniel, and the deportation of more Jewish captives to Babylon, the hope of the return to Jerusalem of the captives faded .
Show All
