KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD

Transcription

1 KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD The Book of Ezekiel Dr. Jon McNeff, Senior Pastor February 25, 2018 Note: The following are the pastor s notes used in preaching this message. This is not a complete, word-for-word transcription of what was preached. These notes serve as a companion to the complete message, which is available by listening to the audio version. Bible quotes are primarily from NASB and ESV, respectively. A man can no more diminish the glory of God by refusing to worship Him, than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling darkness on the walls of his cell. John Calvin Timeline: Israel s united kingdom B.C. Divided kingdom B.C. (Israel falls to Assyria) Judah falls to Babylon 605 B.C. (135 years after Israel) Central Theme: the glory of the Lord ten times Purpose:... that all may know that I am the Lord 60 times Ezekiel priest taken into captivity in second siege of Jerusalem in 597 B.C. prophesied and wrote for 23 years ( B.C.) from captivity in Babylon he was a priest who spoke as a prophet contemporary of Jeremiah and Daniel I. THE GLORY OF GOD DESCRIBED Ezekiel 1:4-28 Ezekiel 1 begins with God preparing Ezekiel for some earth-shaking visions Ezekiel 1:4-14 impending judgment: Ezekiel 1:4 Storm from the North Babylon fire judgment bright light and glowing metal glory of God Ezekiel 1:5-14 four living beings human form but Ezekiel 1:6 Each of them had four faces and four wings. Angels same as cherubim in Ezekiel 10:1-22 four represents four corners of the earth God s jurisdiction covers whole earth Ezekiel 1:10 face of a man intelligence lion power bull (ox) strong servant eagle swift Ezekiel 1:13 In the midst of the living beings there was something that looked like burning coals of fire, like torches darting back and forth among the living beings. The fire was bright, and lightning was flashing from the fire. Fire judgment coals slow anger God had watched their sin for 400 years Ezekiel 1:14 And the living beings ran to and fro like bolts of lightning. - Ezekiel 1:5-25 incredible view of heaven: Ezekiel 1:15-16 wheel within a wheel God s war machine total mobility huge on the earth Ezekiel 1:18 lofty wheels were above the earth not for movement circular nature pictured completeness Ezekiel 1:17 moved in four directions without turning total coverage and accessibility Ezekiel 1:18 rims of all four of them were full of eyes round about. Total knowledge Ezekiel 1:19 moved everywhere the four angels moved God s power accompanying His judgment Ezekiel 1:20 followed the spirit the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels. not Holy Spirit the ethos or nature of the wheels Scene moves to heaven: Ezekiel 1:22 over their heads of the living beings there was something like an expanse, like the awesome gleam of crystal, spread out over their heads. Ezekiel 1:24 now he hears them heard the sound of their wings like the sound of abundant waters as they went, like the voice of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army camp this is the voice of God Ezekiel 1:25 it came a voice from above the expanse that was over their heads 1

2 loud! a sound of tumult like an army camp. Ezekiel 1:24 Ezekiel 43:2 His voice is like the sound of many waters Revelation 14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. not like Charlton Heston! Ezekiel 1:26 above the expanse that was over their heads there was something resembling a throne God s throne what is it made of? Wood? Gold? Red velvet? no it was like lapis lazuli like a sapphire translucent light blue like the color of the sky and was a figure with the appearance of a man. Who? God is a Spirit this is preincarnation of the Messiah Jesus Christ! Ezekiel 1:27-28 from his waist up there was something like glowing metal that looked like fire all around within it the color of amber glowing, orangish red and there was a radiance around Him as the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Similar to Revelation 4:3 And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. Ezekiel 1:28 Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking. Heaven is very real don t speak about it enough too occupied with being fulfilled on earth! Another glimpse of heaven in Revelation 4 and 5 Revelation 4 beauty of heaven ultimate worship Revelation 5 God s last will and testament Jesus opens! II. THE GLORY OF GOD DEPARTS Ezekiel 2-11 The glory of the Lord departs in this section judgments on Judah pictured by departure of God s glory: Ezekiel 3:5-7 For you are not being sent to a people of unintelligible speech or difficult language, but to the house of Israel, nor to many peoples of unintelligible speech or difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. But I have sent you to them who should listen to you; yet the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, since they are not willing to listen to Me. Surely the whole house of Israel is stubborn and obstinate. Ezekiel 3:23 So I got up and went out to the plain; and behold, the glory of the Lord was standing there, like the glory which I saw by the river Chebar, and I fell on my face. What happened to the glory of the Lord? Ezekiel 4-7 details the coming siege of Jerusalem (Jeremiah and Lamentations) and the sin which caused it Ezekiel 8:3-4 He stretched out the form of a hand and caught me by a lock of my head; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate of the inner court, where the seat of the idol of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy, was located. And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the appearance which I saw in the plain. Ezekiel 8:7-8 taken to a hole in the wall where he found a secret entrance and dug through it literal Ezekiel 8:10-12 So I entered and looked, and behold, every form of creeping things and beasts and detestable things, with all the idols of the house of Israel, were carved on the wall all around. Standing in front of them were seventy elders of the house of Israel, with Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan standing among them, each man with his censer in his hand and the fragrance of the cloud of incense rising. Then He said to me, Son of man, do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are committing in the dark, each man in the room of his carved images? For they say, The Lord does not see us; the Lord has forsaken the land. Elders were to guard against idolatry, not engage in it the son of Shaphan was same one who read the Word to King Josiah in 2 Kings 22:8-11 after it had been rediscovered in the Temple now he had fallen to this! Greater abomination Ezekiel 8:14 at the northern gate of the Temple women were sitting there weeping for Tammuz. The god of milk, grain, spring vegetation they were mourning the departure of 2

3 Tammuz into the underworld when crops died in the scorching summer heat 1 - instead of God they engaged in vile sexual practices to pray for crops! Ezekiel 8:16 Then He brought me into the inner court of the Lord s house. And behold, at the entrance to the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs to the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east; and they were prostrating themselves eastward toward the sun. How did God deal with this? Ezekiel 9:3-4 Then the glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub on which it had been, to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed in linen at whose loins was the writing case. (superior position records the events) The Lord said to him, Go through the midst of the city, even through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst. The glory of God lifted from the altar to the threshold of the Temple Ezekiel 10:1-4 Then I looked, and behold, in the expanse that was over the heads of the cherubim something like a sapphire stone, in appearance resembling a throne, appeared above them. (God s view!) And He spoke to the man clothed in linen and said, Enter between the whirling wheels under the cherubim and fill your hands with coals of fire from between the cherubim and scatter them over the city. The recorder of Ezekiel 9:3 spreads coals of judgment over city And he entered in my sight. Now the cherubim were standing on the right side of the temple when the man entered, and the cloud filled the inner court. Then the glory of the Lord went up from the cherub to the threshold of the temple, and the temple was filled with the cloud and the court was filled with the brightness of the glory of the Lord. Second warning Ezekiel 10:18-19 Then the glory of the Lord departed from the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim. When the cherubim departed, they lifted their wings and rose up from the earth in my sight with the wheels beside them; and they stood still at the entrance of the east gate of the Lord s house, and the glory of the God of Israel hovered over them. Glory moves to the entrance of Eastern gate I m leaving! Ezekiel 11:21-23 But as for those whose hearts go after their detestable things and abominations, I will bring their conduct down on their heads, declares the Lord God. Then the cherubim lifted up their wings with the wheels beside them, and the glory of the God of Israel hovered over them. The glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city and stood over the mountain which is east of the city. The glory of God has left the building! Hold that thought! III. THE GLORY OF THE LORD JUDGES THE NATIONS Ezekiel The strongest example of the purpose of the book Ezekiel 24:16-27: Ezekiel 24:16 I am about to take from you the desire of your eyes with a blow; but you shall not mourn and you shall not weep, and your tears shall not come. Ezekiel 24:17 don t mourn Ezekiel 24:18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died... Ezekiel 24:19 The people said to me, Will you not tell us what these things that you are doing mean for us? Why? Ezekiel 24:21 God destroyed the Temple Ezekiel 24:24 Thus Ezekiel will be a sign to you; according to all that he has done you will do; when it comes, then you will know that I am the Lord God. Judgment on Gentile nations follows Ammon (Ezekiel 25:1-7) Moab (Ezekiel 25:8-11) Edom (Ezekiel 25:12-14) Philistia (Ezekiel 25:15-17) Tyre (Ezekiel 26:1-28:19) Sidon (Ezekiel 28:20-24) Excursus on restoration of Israel (Ezekiel 28:25,26) Egypt (Ezekiel 29:1-32:32) God is impartial in judgment as in mercy 1 P. W. Gaebelein Jr., Tammuz, ed. Geoffrey W. Bromiley, The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised (Wm. B. Eerdmans, ),

4 Some view judgment as harsh but what would happen if there was no judgment shooting at Florida high school took 17 lives people demand justice Where is God? Final judgment in Revelation 21 Here I am! I agree! IV. THE GLORY OF GOD RETURNS Ezekiel Ad in Mines Magazine in El Paso, Texas placed by mining experts and engineers Wanted: Man to work on nuclear fissionable isotopes, molecular reactive counters and three phased cyclotronic uranium photosynthesizers. No experience necessary. 2 Same with Ezekiel! Prophetic section: Duty of the watchman Ezekiel 33:11 Say to them, As I live! declares the Lord God, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel? Ezekiel 34 begins with indictment of false shepherds (Ezekiel 34:1-10) then begins series of great prophetic themes: 1) Promise of Messiah Ezekiel 34:23 Then I will set over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he will feed them; he will feed them himself and be their shepherd. cf. Ezekiel 37:24 2) Millennial blessing Ezekiel 34:25-31 covenant of peace productivity no more slavery I will be their God. 3) Scattering and restoration of Israel Ezekiel 36:17-21 then Ezekiel 36:22-24 Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God, It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went. I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight. For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land. Ezekiel said Israel would be scattered to nations of the world 13 times far beyond Babylon they were scattered from 150 B.C. until 1947 re-gather will be to a literal land Ezekiel 37 picture of dry bones coming to life Ezekiel 37:11-13 Then He said to me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel; behold, they say, Our bones are dried up and our hope has perished. We are completely cut off. Therefore prophesy and say to them, Thus says the Lord God, Behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people. 4) Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16) Ezekiel end of seven year Tribulation ominous picture of military invasion of Israel from the north future no history like this Old Testament countries are geographic approximations today s countries make sense 2 J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary: The Prophets (Ezekiel), electronic ed., vol. 25 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991),

5 Ezekiel 38:2 Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him who are we talking about? Gog not a place refers to man of stature in 1 Chronicles 5:4 Gog is listed as a son of Joel translated as Agag in Numbers 24:7 and Og in Deuteronomy 3:1 referred to him in Ezekiel 38:21 Magog listed as grandson of Noah in Genesis 10:2 founder of a kingdom north of the Black and Caspian Sea his people were later called Scythians possibly extended to SE Anatolia later called the Mongols and Huns stan countries describing a group of barbaric tribes North of Israel Rosh refers to a prince or tribal leader not Russia Meshech and Tubal two divisions of modern Turkey Ezekiel 38:5-6 Persia, Ethiopia and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer with all its troops; Beth-togarmah from the remote parts of the north with all its troops many peoples with you. Persia Iran partner with modern Magog could be Russia partners with Iran in Syria this week they vetoed UN Security Council humanitarian resolution to stop shelling Ghouta where 400 have been killed Ethiopia Sudan Put Libya, Morocco Gomer Germany? southern Europe? Beth-togarmah Turkey or Armenia Notice who are not mentioned Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt also Ezekiel 38:12 Sheba and Dedan Saudi Arabia Tarshish western merchants non-participants interested in the spoil What is the prophecy against them? battle of Armageddon Ezekiel 38 Invasion during time when they thought they were living securely (Ezekiel 38:8) Ezekiel 38:16 you will come up against My people Israel like a cloud to cover the land, it shall come about in the last days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me when I am sanctified through you before their eyes, O Gog. Horrific forces invade Israel Ezekiel 38:18 My fury will mount up in My anger. Great earthquake (Ezekiel 38:19) (cf. Revelation 16:12) Ezekiel 39:1-10 invaders destroyed Ezekiel 39:7 My holy name I will make known in the midst of My people Israel; and I will not let My holy name be profaned anymore. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel. Ezekiel 39:9-10 seven years to burn their weapons Ezekiel 39:11 seven months to bury their dead Ezekiel 39:21-29 Israel restored Ezekiel 39:28 Then they will know that I am the Lord their God because I made them go into exile among the nations, and then gathered them again to their own land; and I will leave none of them there any longer. Ezekiel Millennial Temple literal not the church proof? 1) Everything to this point refers to Israel 2) Instructions to the house of Israel Ezekiel 40:4 Ezekiel 40:3 comes from a man whose appearance was like the appearance of bronze cf. Ezekiel 1:27-28 Jesus Himself 3) Clear language Ezekiel 40:5 And behold, there was a wall on the outside of the temple all around minute details provided throughout Ezekiel ) Instructions for five sacrifices Burnt (Ezekiel 40:39 Grain (Ezekiel 45:15) Peace (Ezekiel 45:15) Guilt (Ezekiel 40:39) Drink (Ezekiel 45:17) MEMORIAL ONLY Old Testament sacrifices didn t save anyone neither will these 5

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7 Why so much space devoted to the new Temple? one of the longest summaries of history in Bible five purposes: 1) Most significant thing READ Ezekiel 43:1-5 glory returns! Bookend Ezekiel began with vision of glory of God in heaven ends with glory returning establishes God s rule over the nations of history and individual sin of the people 2) This is the place of Jesus millennial rule Ezekiel 43:7 Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell among the sons of Israel forever. 3) To commemorate the cross of Christ sacrifices memorialize the cross Old Testament sacrifices never obtained salvation neither will these Old Testament looked forward these look back Jews will still come to Christ through power of Holy Spirit (Jeremiah 31) and the cross (Zechariah 12:10) 4) To provide final victory over sin (Ezekiel 47:1-12) amazing changes in the land will occur at the advent of the Kingdom of God the amazing flow of water from underneath the Temple will no doubt coincide with the return of Christ when He plants His feet on the Mount of Olives just opposite the Temple across the Kidron Valley (Zechariah 14:4). Half the flow will run to the Mediterranean and half will run to the Dead Sea, healing its harsh mineral waters (Ezekiel 47:8). This is a symbol of the final cleansing of sin. QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION 1. What do most people think of when they hear the word glory? 2. Describe the vision of heaven in Ezekiel 1:22-28 in your own words. 3. What is happening in Ezekiel 9:3, 10:4, and 11:23? 4. What is the vision of dry bones in Ezekiel 37:1-14, and to what does it refer? 5. How can we tell that the vision of the Temple in Ezekiel is a physical, earthly temple? 6. How does the glory of God affect your life? 7