Presents
Pamphlet
#8005
God gives us another physical example to help us understand what will happen to us spiritually in these end times. Bear in mind that fire cannot touch or burn that which is spiritual, such as a thought or an attitude or love.
We now continue with Ezekiel's enactment of the prophetic judgments upon the city of Jerusalem. He is portraying it in a manner in which we can VISUALIZE that city in the midst of the nations and create a mental PICTURE, even a "Virtual Movie" in our mind's eye. Remember Ezekiel had taken a Babylonian brick and etched the city of Jerusalem on it (showing that Jerusalem rests upon uncleanness and confusion), and laid it before him, and set battle array against it. He then set an iron "bread" griddle between him and the city to symbolize his separation and protection, and then he began to show the city under siege.
The Lord then told him to lie on his left side 390 days for the House of Israel and then turn over and lie on his right side 40 days for the House of Judah, each day being given for a year, to show the length of time of their respective punishments. Also, during this time period of Israel's punishment he was to be rationed bread and water, consuming just enough to survive. And worse yet, the bread he was to eat was to be made with a convoluted blend of 6 grains mixed with man's dung (which God then allowed him to substitute with cow patties). This symbolized the defiled "doctrines" that the children of Israel would "eat" among the nations, and they continue to eat "doodoo bread" even to this very day in our so called "Christian Churches".
God then promised that He Himself would eventually completely break the "staff of bread" (call it the main source) in Jerusalem, which Jesus Christ will accomplish at the sound of the 7th Trump when He returns.
We are now going to SEE the final
episode of this play, "The Siege of Jerusalem".
In it we will be shown three ways in which the children of Israel are "consumed"
because of their rebellion and disobedience to their Father and His commandments.
Do not make it difficult nor try to complicate it past the simplicity in
which it is intended to help us clearly understand God's judgment upon
His chosen people, true Israel,
even up to this very day and all the way to end of the "final siege" when
the 7th Trump ends the reign of the spurious messiah in Jerusalem.As
with most prophecy, the key to our understanding lies in knowing
the meaning of the symbology used for illustration.
We will examine the symbols as we go.
The word "knife" in this verse is exactly the same word translated "sword" in the next few verses, and so should it be here also. Do you know what a "sword" represents? If you don't, you will never ever understand the book of Revelation. The sword is the Word of God which proceeds out of the mouth of Jesus Christ, who is the Word of God.
Know also that since Satan imitates Jesus Christ, though he is the spurious messiah, that he also has a sword, which even "looks like" the real sword, but his word is false.Rev. 1:16
And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
We read that Ezekiel is to take the sword and use it like a razor and cut the "hair" from his head and beard. Now a Levitical priest was not supposed to "make bald his head nor shave his whiskers":Leviticus 21:1"And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron, and say unto them... [5] They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh. [6] They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God: for the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore they shall be holy."
Ezekiel's "hair" is used to represent the holy people, the children of God, i.e. His children, who are "supposed" to be holy.
Then after Ezekiel cuts his hair, he is to carefully divide it and weigh it on balances. And you know what? Not one hair will escape being weighed in the balances. And our Father does not use imperfect or falsified scales that are not completely, 100% accurate. He hates unfairness!
Our Father's judgment is ALWAYS fair and just and He uses the same "weights" to weigh everyone. (Hint: The scale with the just weights is the Word of God.) If you come up short, and don't measure up, you will get what you deserve, fair and square. God is not a respecter of persons. We all get on the same scales and weigh in. Here's what happened to Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans, when God weighed him and had Daniel, one of His heavyweights, give him the bad news:Proverbs 11:1
A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.
Let's re-read verse one to keep everything in context.Daniel 5:27
TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.[30] In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.
Ezekiel 5:1
And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barber's razor, and cause it to pass upon thine head and upon thy beard: then take thee balances to weigh, and divide the hair.
Prophecies that contain "fire" seem to be the most difficult for people to understand, because like judgment, all most can visualize is the negative aspect, i.e. someone receiving punishment in the case of judgment or something being engulfed in flames and consumed away to ashes in the case of fire. But if you apply fire to gold it does not consume it, but rather purifies it by causing the slag, the impurities, to rise to the top to be skimmed off.[2] Thou shalt burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled: and thou shalt take a third part, and smite about it with a knife: and a third part thou shalt scatter in the wind; and I will draw out a sword after them.
So it depends on WHAT YOU ARE as to whether the same fire will harm you or not. If you are stubble, Good Bye! If you are gold, you will become even finer gold.
We must also understand that fire cannot touch or burn that which is spiritual, such as a thought or an attitude or love (even though we can get all "fired up" and burn with passion or have a burning desire! You know, "Come on Baby Light My Fire!")
We all know that there are many things that can destroy the flesh, including the sword and the fire, but there is only One Person who can destroy the soul, and that is God Almighty.
Here are Christ's words documenting that:
Perhaps now you can begin to understand Hebrews 12:29.Matthew 10:28
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
It is the fire of our Father that warms the heart of those who love Him and consumes away those who do not, i.e. those wicked who stand before Him as stubble. One of the most vivid and VISUAL accounts in all of God's Word is the casting into the fiery furnace of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. (A friend of mine always says MyShack, YourShack, and AbedWeGo.) It is well worth taking the time to review it, because as noted earlier, if you don't have a clear understanding of the "consuming fire" much of the Word will remained melted shut to your eyes and ears.Hebrews 12:28
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: [29]For our God is a consuming fire.
Daniel 3:21
Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
They should have known better than to shop at Satan's Outlets. Cheap imitation fabrics just will not withstand the heat![22] Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.
This would be a good place to take a commercial break and keep everyone in suspense as to the outcome of their fall into the burning fiery furnace.[23] And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
They walked right out of the burning fiery furnace and everyone saw them do it!Daniel 3:26
Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
This example was given to us specifically so that we could SEE that fire will not harm us if we are one of His elect.Not one hair on their heads was even singed by a fire that was made "7 times" hotter. "7" is the number of spiritual perfection, telling us that this example is given so that we understand that the "spiritual fire" that we would be tossed into in these last days would not harm us either. So the "fiery darts" are coming, but have no fear, they cannot penetrate the gospel armor.[27] And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
Let's re-read Ezekiel 5:2.
So not only is everyone is going to get weighed on the scales, they are going to feel the heat and either be found wanting or be purified. Ezekiel is to place 1/3 of the hairs right in the middle of the Babylonian brick with the city etched on it and light them suckers at the time of the "end of the siege"!That would even be the final siege by the king of Babylon yet to come. And the rest shall not escape the judgment of the Word of God and the sword that prodeedeth out His mouth, even those scattered abroad, in the Christians nations, who know not their heritage is of the House of Israel. We also see Jesus Christ at the time just preceding the Day of the Lord (Rev. 1:10) standing in the midst of ALL seven churches in Rev. 1, with the twoedged sword proceeding out of His mouth.Ezekiel 5:2
Thou shalt burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled: and thou shalt take a third part, and smite about it with a knife: and a third part thou shalt scatter in the wind; and I will draw out a sword after them.
He's got the sword after all His children, just as He said He would to Ezekiel.Rev. 1:13
And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.[16] And He had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
There has always been a remnant of the House of Israel, those chosen "before the foundation of this world age" (Eph 1:4) who were predestinated and justified (Rom. 8) in the world that then was (2 Pet. 3).Ezekiel 5:3
Thou shalt also take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy skirts.
Did you read that?[4] Then take of them again, and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire; for thereof shall a fire come forth into all the house of Israel.
But make no mistake about it, God told Ezekiel in verse 4, "there shall a fire come forth into ALL the House of Israel". And that fire (Him)comes from the altar of the Living God, even to all the world, and it happens at the time of the end.
Here's John's account in Revelation:
Rev. 8:2
And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets...
Remember that Ezekiel was written especially for those wise of the end times, those who understand the warmth of the consuming fire to those who love Him and the heat with which it fervently melts those rudiments that are evil. God even calls His ministers, His elect, "ministers of fire". Hebrews 1:7 "And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire."[5] And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.[6] And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
"Thus saith the Lord GOD!" This is the picture of the city of Jerusalem. This completes the physical enactment and demonstrations. Can you SEE the pictures, the whole set of scenes that Ezekiel has portrayed?Ezekiel 5:5
Thus saith the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her.
Next our Father will cite the reasons He gets so angry and furious with His rebellious children.
Let's you and me not be counted among those who are rebellious.
Did you know that there are no surprises with our Father concerning His letting the children know exactly where He stands on the issues, those issues being His law and His will! He does not conduct focus groups nor take opinion polls to determine what's popular, so His Word never changes, even as it is written; He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8).
Remember the Lord God brought His people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, out of their bondage to be free men, to be inheritors of His great blessings, and to be His Holy people? He later gathered them all together in a family assembly at Mount Sinai and made a covenant with them, whereby He PROMISED them wonderful BLESSINGS if they would walk in His statutes and keep His commandments, and He PROMISED them severe PUNISHMENT if they did not hearken unto Him, and did not keep His commandments, and despised His statutes. That was about 1491 BC. (It would serve the dedicated student well to read the 26th chapter of Leviticus before completing this chapter 5 of Ezekiel, for the punishment is happening exactly as He said it would.)
Then 1,000 years later, one day later to God (2 Pet. 3), our Father makes a special trip from heaven in His SUV (Space Utility Vehicle), with His throne on board, to visit the priest and the prophet Ezekiel. He is very concerned about the plight of His children and furiously angry that they have so rebelled against Him, but nevertheless they are going to get what's coming to them.
So from His throne, the Lord GOD directed his servant EZEK-I-EL to prepare a model, and illustrate the city of Jerusalem under siege and His people receiving their punishment. Ezekiel demonstrated the famine the people would endure and the type of "dung" bread they would eat, which is how our Father views their disgusting doctrines, theories, and traditions of men, which He calls abominations.
You have to admit, He sure has given us a pretty good PICTURE of what would happen to Jerusalem and His children, hasn't He? Our Father will now basically repeat that which He foretold at Mount Sinai, the reasons why Jerusalem, His holy city, and His people would suffer captivity and punishment, and He places special emphasis on the time of the end, when the four winds are present (vs. 12) and when the "famine" would be increased (vs. 16).
Here are the sins of Jerusalem: