Post by Lee on Oct 11, 2014 16:55:15 GMT
EZEKIEL: SON OF MAN
EZEKIEL (God Strengthens) was one of the 3 great pillars who carried the purpose of God thru the terrible epoch of the destruction of God's Kingdom, and the beginning of the dark Gentile night of Nebuchadnezzar's Image that has lasted 2500 years, and is only now coming to an end.
Ezekiel's name occurs just twice in the whole Bible, both in his own book (chs.i& 24). He is addressed by God 92 times as 'Son of Man, a few
more times than this term is applied to Christ himself. Ezekiel clearly was a man of sign. Neither Ezekiel nor his book are mentioned in the
New Testament, but Revelation is obviously linked to his prophecies in very many aspects.
When he began his ministry to and among the captives in Babylon, Jeremiah had already been prophesying at Jerusalem for over 30 years, and Daniel had been prominent for 7 or 8 years at the court of Babylon. Ezekiel & Jeremiah were priestly prophets; Daniel was of the royal line of David.
Ezekiel was carried captive to Babylon at the same time as king Jehoiachin. This is usually dated 597 BC1. Daniel had been carried captive
about 9 years earlier in 606 BC—the first deportation, from which the basic 70 years captivity dates, to Cyrus' proclamation in 536 BC.
Each of these 3 men had a vital function to perform: Jeremiah in the land, Ezekiel with the captives in Babylon2, & Daniel in the Babylonian
court & government. All was clearly under God's control, tho it looked to the natural man like the total collapse of God's power & purpose. Certainly with Daniel in favor & authority the Jews would be well treated. And even more importantly, we see in both Daniel's & Ezekiel's books the controlling angelic hand openly revealed.
We are told the captives with Ezekiel were the better part of the nation: the 'good figs'Jr·24, as contrasted with those left behind in the
land. Like Jeremiah, Ezekiel—in a dark day of destruction & scattering— revealed the divine explanation of why it was all happening, and
foretold for Israel a final day of regathering 8c righteousness & glorious worship, the center of a purified earth in prosperity and at rest. Ezekiel was of the priesthood (1:3), & it appears to have been his mission to be the center of divine approach & intercession for the exiles. God said thru him 11:16 that He (God) would be a 'little sanctuary'—or Holy Place—to them in their captivity. It is very fitting, therefore, that Ezekiel was the one to reveal the pattern of the great House of Prayer for All Nations hinted at by several of the prophets. Ezekiel's prophecies are all dated, and the whole book is in strict chronological order, except in one group for the obvious purpose of association. Ezekiel's recorded prophecies were made over a period of 22 years (5th to 27th of his captivity). That is, from 6 years before till 16 years after the destruction of Jerusalem. His prophecies are all dated from the year Jehoiachin (& Ezekiel) was taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. This is the great dividing line.
His book contains 48 chapters. It pivots around one central event —the final siege and destruction of Jerusalem. This comes in ch. 24 and divides the book exactly in half. Everything before that point is denunciation and condemnation for the wickedness and abominations that made the destruction of the Kingdom inevitable—the glory removed. Everything after that point is consolation and promise—the glory returned.
The last half is subdivided again: 8 chapters of judgment on Israel's enemies; 16 chapters of promise concerning Israel's reestablishment.
These figures are all too regular and significant to be chance: 48 is 12 4s. The last 16 chapters for Israel are subdivided 7 & 9: 7 (33-39) the latter days; 9 (4Ο48) the glorious House of Prayer. Chs. 1-24 (of judgment) were before the siege of Jerusalem; 25-33 (against Gentiles) at time of the siege; 34-48 (of comfort) after the siege.
The great dividing point at ch. 24 is also marked by a great personal tragedy for Ezekiel: a staggering trial of affection &: faith, in which —as 'Son of Man—he faithfully symbolizes both God & the nation.
1978 Berean p 374
EZEKIEL (God Strengthens) was one of the 3 great pillars who carried the purpose of God thru the terrible epoch of the destruction of God's Kingdom, and the beginning of the dark Gentile night of Nebuchadnezzar's Image that has lasted 2500 years, and is only now coming to an end.
Ezekiel's name occurs just twice in the whole Bible, both in his own book (chs.i& 24). He is addressed by God 92 times as 'Son of Man, a few
more times than this term is applied to Christ himself. Ezekiel clearly was a man of sign. Neither Ezekiel nor his book are mentioned in the
New Testament, but Revelation is obviously linked to his prophecies in very many aspects.
When he began his ministry to and among the captives in Babylon, Jeremiah had already been prophesying at Jerusalem for over 30 years, and Daniel had been prominent for 7 or 8 years at the court of Babylon. Ezekiel & Jeremiah were priestly prophets; Daniel was of the royal line of David.
Ezekiel was carried captive to Babylon at the same time as king Jehoiachin. This is usually dated 597 BC1. Daniel had been carried captive
about 9 years earlier in 606 BC—the first deportation, from which the basic 70 years captivity dates, to Cyrus' proclamation in 536 BC.
Each of these 3 men had a vital function to perform: Jeremiah in the land, Ezekiel with the captives in Babylon2, & Daniel in the Babylonian
court & government. All was clearly under God's control, tho it looked to the natural man like the total collapse of God's power & purpose. Certainly with Daniel in favor & authority the Jews would be well treated. And even more importantly, we see in both Daniel's & Ezekiel's books the controlling angelic hand openly revealed.
We are told the captives with Ezekiel were the better part of the nation: the 'good figs'Jr·24, as contrasted with those left behind in the
land. Like Jeremiah, Ezekiel—in a dark day of destruction & scattering— revealed the divine explanation of why it was all happening, and
foretold for Israel a final day of regathering 8c righteousness & glorious worship, the center of a purified earth in prosperity and at rest. Ezekiel was of the priesthood (1:3), & it appears to have been his mission to be the center of divine approach & intercession for the exiles. God said thru him 11:16 that He (God) would be a 'little sanctuary'—or Holy Place—to them in their captivity. It is very fitting, therefore, that Ezekiel was the one to reveal the pattern of the great House of Prayer for All Nations hinted at by several of the prophets. Ezekiel's prophecies are all dated, and the whole book is in strict chronological order, except in one group for the obvious purpose of association. Ezekiel's recorded prophecies were made over a period of 22 years (5th to 27th of his captivity). That is, from 6 years before till 16 years after the destruction of Jerusalem. His prophecies are all dated from the year Jehoiachin (& Ezekiel) was taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. This is the great dividing line.
His book contains 48 chapters. It pivots around one central event —the final siege and destruction of Jerusalem. This comes in ch. 24 and divides the book exactly in half. Everything before that point is denunciation and condemnation for the wickedness and abominations that made the destruction of the Kingdom inevitable—the glory removed. Everything after that point is consolation and promise—the glory returned.
The last half is subdivided again: 8 chapters of judgment on Israel's enemies; 16 chapters of promise concerning Israel's reestablishment.
These figures are all too regular and significant to be chance: 48 is 12 4s. The last 16 chapters for Israel are subdivided 7 & 9: 7 (33-39) the latter days; 9 (4Ο48) the glorious House of Prayer. Chs. 1-24 (of judgment) were before the siege of Jerusalem; 25-33 (against Gentiles) at time of the siege; 34-48 (of comfort) after the siege.
The great dividing point at ch. 24 is also marked by a great personal tragedy for Ezekiel: a staggering trial of affection &: faith, in which —as 'Son of Man—he faithfully symbolizes both God & the nation.
1978 Berean p 374