Today we begin our study of a “pair” of chapters from Ezekiel, probably his “prophetic” magnum opus! Ezekiel 38 and 39 concern Bible prophecy, for sure. A denunciation of a bloc of nations, all of whom “hate” Israel!

“And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against ….” Ezekiel 38:1, negative indeed! ” AGAINST …!  (Against these godless peoples, but very much FOR the Jews!)

Today I want to tell you “about” this vast Text (again chapters 38 and 39, all 52 verses) before (tomorrow) we begin a more detailed discussion of this Material.

I feel as if I almost have a “history” with this Portion of Scripture.

Two of my Uncles were Preachers, Evangelists actually, and one of them (Dr. Jack Green) loved this Part of Ezekiel. In fact, both delighted in Bible Prophecy! I remember as a young Pastor driving across Atlanta one evening to hear him preach (at a combined Service, a number of Churches participating) Ezekiel 38 and 39, which he entitled “When Russia Marches South!”

Furthermore, as a young boy (probably 13-14 years old, if that) I have memories (sweet ones) of my Grandma Green and Aunt Sadie, their strong love for the Bible. And they let me read some material on Ezekiel 38 and 39 published by Dr. Theodore Epp (a Bible Teacher of that day). I recall trying to catalogue this list of nations, getting into my mind their locations and associations. And delighting to think that my Country (the USA) might stand WITH Israel in those dark days!

Now much later … as an Evangelist myself, I still feel “captivated” by this marvelous Text! And I believe God wants me to preach this two-chapter Unit in God’s Word! To preach it again, having tried several times in my years in the Ministry, back in my days as a Pastor.

I have already ordered the “booklets,” small “Bible Portions” with these two chapters printed therein, a handy way of encouraging folks to repeatedly read the Text as a Revival week proceeds.

So now … the Lord (since we have been traveling through Ezekiel anyway) has given me the opportunity to begin studying this horde of enemies and their attack on the Land of Israel. Pray with me please about this planned preaching endeavor. I KNOW it is of the Lord.

Get ready now.

A lot of “geography” must be discussed, in Ezekiel 38 and 39.

And quite a bit of detail. In fact, it will take several days to cover these two chapters. Taking a “literal” view of its content, not trying to “explain it away,” not merely “spiritualizing” it!

Tomorrow morning, the Lord willing, we shall try to identify these aggressors. We shall all leave that Lesson (I suspect) astounded at the relevance of this part of Ezekiel, its clear connection to the geo-political landscape we’re facing right now on planet earth!

God’s Word, what a Book!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

As we traveled this week to our Revival Meeting (which began yesterday morning, this being Monday), Debbie was up front driving. And I was in the back seat reading, studying for the upcoming Sermons. That’s when I saw the “connection!”

How very (inordinately) many ways the Prophet Ezekiel seems to be like the Prophet Moses! This theme will occupy a whole lesson (if not two) at the end of the Ezekiel Series, I suspect.

But today, in Ezekiel 37:15-28, we see one of this similarities.

God instructions are simple, clear: “The word of the LORD came again unto me (Ezekiel), saying, Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah (the southern kingdom), and for the children of Israel his companions … then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim (the northern kingdom), and for all the house of Israel his companions.” Verses 15-16, these wood pieces being “emblems” of two kingdoms long ago separated by civil war! So much so that multitudes (scholars included) have called Ephraim “the LOST ten tribes” of Israel! (Not lost to God, apparently!)

Our Lord immediately continues: “And (Ezekiel) join them (these two pieces of timber) one to another into one stick; and THEY SHALL BECOME ONE in thine hand.” Verse 17, which I would certainly call a “miracle!” Fusion! Instant grafting! Unification! (Incidentally, this is the last of a long series of “action sermons” that God asked Ezekiel to preach.)

Note: Moses performed some miraculous “action sermons,” too! Exodus 17:6, for one example. “Behold, I (the Lord) will stand before thee (Moses) there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt SMITE THE ROCK, and there shall COME WATER OUT of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.” Yes, I do believe it. (Think of the “rod” that became a “serpent,” too!)

But for now, back to Ezekiel. “And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us WHAT THOU MEANEST by these? Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and MAKE THEM ONE STICK, and THEY SHALL BE ONE in mine hand.” Verses 18-19, this (to me) being as exciting as the dry bones coming together! A bright future awaits the people of God, the Jews! Harmony yet again! (Sort of gives Psalm 133 “fresh” meaning, too!)

But it gets even better! God is going to send them a King! (King Jesus!) “And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes. And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and WILL GATHER THEM on every side, and bring them into their own land: and I WILL MAKE THEM ONE NATION (!!!) in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and ONE KING (!!!) shall be King to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all.” Verses 20-22, King James Version, Wow! Jesus is coming again!

Here’s God cleansing them now! “Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I WILL SAVE THEM out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and WILL CLEANSE THEM: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God.” Verse 23, “I WILL SAVE THEM,” see that?

National Salvation!

Sinners born again, one by one!

Next, the Millennium: “And David (Jesus as the Root and Offspring of David) my servant shall be KING over them; and they all shall have ONE SHEPHERD: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.” Verses 24-25, “forever” and “forever!”

Chapter’s end: “Moreover I (God) will make A COVENANT OF PEACE with them; it shall be AN EVERLASTING COVENANT with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set MY SANCTUARY (TEMPLE) in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And the heathen (Gentiles) shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.” Verses 26-28, what glorious news!

I am amazed, thrilled, thankful to have been allowed of God to write these words today!

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Folks, a whole nation just got saved!

 

Ezekiel 37:1-14 may be the best-known Text in all the Book of Ezekiel. The vision of the valley of dry, dead bones! Bones which suddenly came to life … on the command of God!

Notice that Ezekiel is here said to be “in the spirit.” And God gives him a “tour” of this vast valley of death. “The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, and caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.” The first two verses of the chapter, where such a collection of dry (dead) bones must have once been a battlefield! One in which these “victims” were slaughtered en masse! Nearly a whole army, just as well say a whole (though small) nation!

Then God asks His Prophet a question. “Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.” Verse 3, “live?” What a miracle that would be! (Sometime study the questions God asks in the Old Testament! Or Jesus asked in the New Testament. Enlightening!)

The Lord continues His instructions: “Prophesy (preach) upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.” See here that God is the CAUSE behind this miracle! God is rebuilding this army, this nation! Miraculously, again I emphasize, verses 4-6. (Bones to be overlaid with muscle, flesh and skin!)

So Ezekiel (as usual) obeys: “So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a NOISE, and behold a SHAKING, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.” Wow, verses 7-8. I would be interesting to study the “noises, sounds” God’s mighty acts produce! As on the Day of Pentecost! And as when the Rapture occurs!

Get ready now! “Then said he  (the Lord) unto me (Ezekiel), Prophesy unto the WIND (“ruach” often meaning “spirit” too), prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O BREATH, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.” Verses 9 an 10, the very Breath of God, I suspect!

Remember when God “breathed” into a pile of dirt (in Eden) … and Adam became a “living soul?” (Genesis 2:7 … “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”) Same principle here!

Then God explains the vision, the experience: “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.” The Jews, all 12 tribes, verse 11, the “whole” house of Israel.

Wow, national resurrection!

Then in the next verse (12) God sort of changes metaphors a bit. From dead bones in an open field to (still dead) bones, but now in some grave! “Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your GRAVES, and cause you to come up out of your GRAVES, and bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your GRAVES, O my people, and brought you up out of your GRAVES, and bring you into the land of Israel.” Amazing, what Grace and Mercy and Love! God here again calls them “My people!”

Bring the scattered ones “back” to Israel!

But there’s more, even better too! Salvation ahead for Israel! “And ye (the Jewish population) shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves.” Well, I guess so! No longer blind, verse 13.

Still, in verse 14 it gets sweeter! “And I (the Lord) shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.” That’s being “born-again,” folks! God’s Holy spirit, within!

What hope this must infuse into the hearts of the Jewish people, yet today! At least some of them.

Truly for the Israelites … “For His anger endureth but a moment; in His favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalm 30:5

One word, Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

After an opening (short) paragraph promising more judgment on wicked nations (with Edom still being an example, a representative) … Ezekiel chapter 36 is one of the “brightest” chapters in the Book. At least, so far!

The chapter almost gives the “plan of salvation!”

It begins, of course, with sin. “Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings (sins): their way was before me as the uncleanness of a removed woman.” Verse 17

Next is discussed God’s “Pity, Grace.” (Ironically “Pity” for His Own Name’s Sake, as much, if not more, than “pity” for Israel! Compare this thought to Ephesians 4:32 … “Even as God FOR CHRIST’S SAKE hath forgiven you.” Wow!)  Verse 21 of Ezekiel 36 … “But I had pity for MINE HOLY NAME, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went.”

Then God makes a move, the first move, toward Israel’s salvation! “For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.” The regathering of a scattered people, verse 24. (God made the first move when I was saved, too. Having the Holy Spirit “convict” me of sin. At which point I trusted Him as my Saviour!)

The comes “cleansing!” Ezekiel 36:25 … “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.” Perhaps the “Water of the Word,” like Paul mentioned in Ephesians 5:26.

After which comes the Holy Spirit, His Ministry! “And I (the Lord) will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” Verse 27, yes this is Salvation, undoubtedly!

Then … clean living (sanctification, we’d call it today), followed by blessing upon blessing! “I will also SAVE YOU from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you. And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen. Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.” Verses 29-31, signs of spiritual growth already! (Like Paul’s “chief of sinners” mentality!) Regret over not coming to God earlier!

Surely we’re looking into the future, here! (Israel is NOT saved yet, folks, not by a long shot!) This is Millennial in nature: “Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be builded. And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by. And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited.” Verses 33-35, note the historical reference to Eden, please.

God’s future (salvation) plan for His people, the Jews!

Chapter’s close: “I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it.” Verse 36, its last line.

All I can say is … “WOW!”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

One more thought. Although God’s Plans here are clearly “set in stone,” unchangeable, steadfast … He still wants Israel (and her friends) to PRAY for these things to happen! “I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it. Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will yet for this BE ENQUIRED OF (“darash” meaning “sought, consulted, begged, required, asked”) by the house of Israel, to do it for them.” Apparently, God LOVES to hear us pray! Oh, the power of intercession!

 

Ezekiel chapter 35 has only 15 verses. Containing bad news for the Country once called “Edom!” Yet good news for the Israelites! Herein God denunciates, promises judgment upon those Jew-hating people.

Yet the name “Edom” per se does not occur in the whole chapter, not in English. Instead, the “enemy” is called “Mount Seir,” four times in fact. “Seir” in Hebrew means “shaggy” and may be a description of the whole area (geographically) occupied by the Edomites. South of Judah, way down past the Dead Sea. Once in our chapter, its last verse, this land is called “Idumea.” Which virtually is the word “Edom,” but in Hebrew.

One interesting fact about this chapter is that God gives His “Reasons” for judging that Country, its inhabitants.

One … because the Edomites (descendants of Isaac through Esau, not Jacob) despised the Jewish people (their distant relatives) so much that they cooperated when Babylon conquered Judah! “BECAUSE thou hast had a perpetual (everlasting) hatred, and hast shed the blood of (helped murder) the children of Israel by the force of the sword in the time of their calamity (when Babylon attacked Judah), in the time that their iniquity had an end (when God fiercely judged her sin). Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will prepare thee unto blood, and blood shall pursue thee: sith thou hast not hated blood, even blood shall pursue thee. Thus will I make mount Seir most desolate, and cut off from it him that passeth out and him that returneth. And I will fill his mountains with his slain men: in thy hills, and in thy valleys, and in all thy rivers, shall they fall that are slain with the sword.” Verses 5-8, “one reaps what one sows!”

Two … because Mount Seir wanted to conquer and possess and rule over Judah, a sovereign nation in God’s Eyes! Edom wanted “to own” Israel. (Jew haters today, beware!) “BECAUSE thou hast said, These two nations (Israel and Judah) and these two countries (Israel and Judah) shall be MINE, and we will POSSESS it; whereas the LORD was there. Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will even do according to thine anger, and according to thine envy which thou hast used out of thy hatred against them.” Verses 10-11, Whose land is it? Sounds like it’s God’s! And He has given it to Israel!

Three … because Mount Seir blasphemed (spoke against, verbally abusive, cursed) the Jewish people! Sins of the tongue, here! “And thou shalt know that I am the LORD, and that I have heard ALL THY BLASPHEMIES which thou hast spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, They are laid desolate, they are given us to consume. Thus with your mouth ye have boasted against me, and have multiplied your words against me: I have heard them.” Verses 12-13, clearly what Edom spoke against Israel … she also spoke against God!

Four, and last of all … because Mount Seir “rejoiced” when Judah fell to the Babylonians! “Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will make thee desolate, as THOU DIDST REJOICE at the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so will I do unto thee: thou shalt be desolate, O mount Seir, and all Idumea, even all of it.” Verses 14-15, reminds me of Proverbs 24:17, about not rejoicing over the tragedies of another! (According to Nahum’s 12th verse Edom wrongly “rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction.” Wow!)

I’ve called this chapter an “encouragement,” but only from the perspective of the Jewish people. One less enemy to attempt her destruction.

By the way, all God’s “threats” against Mount Seir have been fulfilled. In fact, there is no Country called Edom today. Only ruins remain!

Wow!

Looks like other nations and factions would “wise up!”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell