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Archives for July 2017

THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL, CHAPTER 39, VERSES 25-29

July 24, 2017 by Dr. Mike Bagwell

Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 form a unit. One describing an attack on Israel by a conglomeration of nations (likely Russia and her allies) in the latter days.

Thus far we have studied the alliance, wicked as it is, then the conflict itself … and its outcome!

Bad news for anti-Semitism!

Good news for Israel, the Jews!

There are even verses on how the massive number of dead bodies are to be handled. By literal burial or simply by rotting in the fields, fodder for vultures!

Then … comes today’s Paragraph.

Sort of a summary, ending to the war account. “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name; after that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid. When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there. Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.” Ezekiel 39:25-29

To “bring again” (in Hebrew “shub”) one’s captivity means “to reverse” its effects. “Mercy” is now  being extended God’s people, no longer “judgment!”

Israel has (by the time this account is fulfilled) been fully punished for her sins! God says “they will have borne their shame.” And “carried the load” (in Hebrew “nasa”) of their transgressions!

Back in her land (another miracle of God  on Israel’s behalf, this world-wide regathering), Israel begins “to know” God as never before, maybe at first as Advocate, Defender, even Creator!

But ultimately, by chapter’s end (verse 29) as Saviour!

God here admits (so illustrative of the consequences of sin) that He had “turned His Back” on Israel! Well, more specifically, “hidden His Face!”

But all that is over!

Their “Day of Salvation” has come!

When God will have “poured out” His Holy Spirit upon that (now very little) Nation! The verb translated “pour out” is “shaphak” in Hebrew and means “to gush out,” all over, totally saturating an entity!

The “icing” on the cake!

The “ending” to a beautiful (and truthful) story!

Let’s hear God tell it again: “I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there (abroad). Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.”

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Now tomorrow we enter “Holy Ground” for sure. We begin our journey through Ezekiel chapters 40-48, what God plans to do (furthermore) for (now redeemed) Israel, her freshly renewed “worship” practices during (I believe) the Millennium!

Sounds interesting.

 

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THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL, CHAPTER 39, VERSES 22-24

July 22, 2017 by Dr. Mike Bagwell

The noun is “theodicy.” It means “the justness of God,” literally. And in today’s Ezekiel Text God is giving us a prime example of “theodicy” at its very best! In fact … GOD IS HERE HIS OWN ADVOCATE, HIS OWN DEFENDER!

The question, “Why has God allowed Israel to suffer such agony?”

“Why the hardship she has faced?

Short answer: because of her unconfessed sin.

Even stubbornly continuing in iniquity … after God had sent her many a Prophet!

“So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward. And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword. According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them.” Ezekiel 39:22-24

The “reputation” of God’s Own Name is at stake.

He has said again and again that Israel is “the apple of His Eye.”

His “chosen” Nation!

He has pledged to be her “Protector!”

Yet she had been (apparently) forsaken of the God Who guaranteed her welfare.

Well, let’s look more closely at what God just said! “The heathen (gentiles, parts of nations who apparently did not take part in the attack on Israel) shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity (was taken prisoner) for their (own) iniquity (Israel brought such slavery upon herself): because they trespassed (‘maal’ = to act unfaithfully) against me, therefore hid I my face (‘sathar’ = concealed) from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies (uses the root word for ‘hatred’): so fell they all by the sword (the ‘deadliest’ weapon of that day). According to their uncleanness (‘filthiness’ seven times in Scripture) and according to their transgressions (‘pesha’ = rebellion) have I done unto them.” Wow!

I think God just said, “Don’t blame Me!”

“I am Holy! I MUST judge sin!”

“ISRAEL has sinned egregiously!”

“I have chastened her according to her wickedness!”

God does NOT want to be accused of unfaithfulness toward Israel!

(Here’s a paragraph long “illustration” of GOD’S NAME being vitally important. Israel had just sinned at the foot of Mount Sinai, the “golden calf” incident. And God is so angry at her He plans to “blot” her out of His Book! But Moses prays, intercedes for the nation. “I prayed therefore unto the LORD, and said, O Lord God, DESTROY NOT thy people and thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed through thy greatness, which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Remember thy servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; look not unto the stubbornness of this people, nor to their wickedness, nor to their sin. LEST the land (its inhabitants, the Egyptians) whence thou broughtest us out SAY, BECAUSE THE LORD WAS NOT ABLE to bring them into the land which he promised them, and because he hated them, he hath brought them out TO SLAY THEM in the wilderness. YET THEY ARE THY PEOPLE AND THINE INHERITANCE, which thou broughtest out by thy mighty power and by thy stretched out arm.” Deuteronomy 9:26-29, “Lord … don’t let them say: “God couldn’t do it, could not keep them safe through the wilderness!”)

But in Ezekiel here today it is not Moses defending God. This is … GOD defending GOD!

What a “price,” the “cost” of sin!

(I once saw a little Sermon in pamphlet form, simply entitled, “The Most Expensive Thing in the World.” I just had to look inside! It is SIN! I should have already known that answer.)

Wow!

God never acts without reason.

Even when we don’t understand the reason.

But today, in Ezekiel 39:22-24, God’s “reason” has been made known. One of them, anyway.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

One phrase caught my attention, verse 22, “from that day forward.”

That’s how dramatic the “deliverance” from Russia and her attacking allies will be! It’s the “clincher” that “proves” to Israel God’s Care for her.

She is beginning to see God as her Creator!

Protector!

Deliverer!

Shepherd!

But some day, not long after today’s Text, Israel will see God (know him) as her Saviour, Redeemer, Messiah! (“What a Day that will be!)

 

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THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL, CHAPTER 39, VERSES 17-21

July 21, 2017 by Dr. Mike Bagwell

God’s GLORY!

That seems to be the ultimate Theme of this two-chapter Span in Ezekiel.

Here’s what I mean.

Our Lord is clearly preparing a “feast,” one of dead bodies!

In an event that will recur at the Battle of Armageddon, the predatory birds of the air (but here, the beasts of the field too) are divinely summoned to eat their fill!

“And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; Speak unto every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood. Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan. And ye shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you. Thus ye shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, saith the Lord GOD. And I WILL SET MY GLORY AMONG THE HEATHEN, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them.” Ezekiel 39:17-21

Without irreverence, this is like another “Lord’s Supper!”

At the expense of Russia and her (dead) allies!

The noun “sacrifice” in our text (“gather yourselves on every side to my SACRIFICE that I do sacrifice for you”) is “zebach,” meaning “slaughter!” It is translated “kill” or “slay” nearly a dozen times. God the Avenger!

Mankind has a “choice” here it seems.

One can eat Jesus’ Flesh and drink Jesus’ Blood and go to Heaven, the internalizing (eating and drinking) being a “picture” of faith and belief and salvation … “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man EAT OF THIS BREAD, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” John 6:51

Add to this John 6:53 … “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye EAT THE FLESH of the Son of man, and DRINK HIS BLOOD, ye have no life in you.”

Wow!

That’s the first choice!

The second?

Or … the ravenous birds and wild beasts of God’s Wrath will “eat” your flesh and “drink” your blood some day. Here at the defeat of Gog and his gang this threat is actualized, or will be. “Speak unto every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may EAT FLESH, and DRINK BLOOD. Ye shall EAT THE FLESH of the mighty, and DRINK THE BLOOD of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan. And YE SHALL EAT FAT till ye be full, and DRINK BLOOD till ye be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you.” God does feed the birds!

But still, WHY?

To defeat a long standing group of Israel’s enemies.

To show Israel God’s mercy and love, to protect her from annihilation.

And … to bring glory to our great God!

Our last verse today … “And I WILL SET MY GLORY among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them.” Verse 21

Note here God’s Glory is associated with His Judgment!

In our day, to us Believers … God’s glory is most often associated with His GRACE!

How blessed we are.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

The reference to “Bashan” (meaning “fruitful” in Hebrew) in our text indicates a part of the Holy Land east of the River Jordan, and sometimes associated with the fattest, most wealthy (and often most wicked) of all the area. The devil’s wicked “champions” will be defeated.

And I am just now noticing God’s inviting the birds and beasts to “His table!” Wow, God the Caterer! “Thus ye shall be filled at MY TABLE with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, saith the Lord GOD.” Verse 20

The Lord willing, more tomorrow.

 

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THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL, CHAPTER 39, VERSES 8-16

July 20, 2017 by Dr. Mike Bagwell

My paragraph divisions in these Ezekiel lessons may see arbitrary. But really, if I know my heart, I’ve been discussing these chapter sections as “led of the Lord.” Plus (I trust) a little dose of human “logic” … which He has so graciously bestowed on us all.

This morning Ezekiel 39:8-16 just “jumped out” at me! Telling the story of Israel’s “burying the dead” (multitudes of soldiers) after Russia’s (and her Arab allies) failed attempt at overrunning God’s “Promised Land.” Nine verses of “clean-up!” Plus … a couple of “enigmatic” lines, hard-to-explain places!

“Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord GOD; this is the day whereof I have spoken. And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years: so that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests; for they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord GOD. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the noses of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call it The valley of Hamongog. And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land. Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown the day that I shall be glorified, saith the Lord GOD. And they shall sever out men of continual employment, passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search. And the passengers that pass through the land, when any seeth a man’s bone, then shall he set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamongog. And also the name of the city shall be Hamonah. Thus shall they cleanse the land.” Again, this is Ezekiel 39:8-16.

Now, as I have done recently, let me clarify the adjectives, giving their antecedents. Some of you have indicated this is helpful. And of course keep in mind, this is the King James Version.

“Behold, it is come (the due day, judgment), and it is done (the destruction of that wicked army), saith the Lord GOD; this is the day whereof I have spoken (prophesied). And they that dwell in the cities (still unharmed, mind you) of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire (literally) and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves (some weapon designed for hand-to-hand combat), and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years: so that they shall take no wood (for heating or cooking) out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests (God’s love for trees); for they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall spoil (plunder, prey upon) those that spoiled them, and rob (take away) those that robbed them, saith the Lord GOD. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give (God the Donor) unto Gog (the Russo-Arabic Confederation) a place there of graves (burying places) in Israel, the valley of the passengers (a location, like ‘Travelers Rest’) on the east of the sea (Mediterranean): and it shall stop the noses (a stench?) of the passengers (nearby travelers): and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude (cohorts, helpers): and they shall call it The valley of Hamongog (like a national cemetery) . And seven months (over half a year) shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse (to make pure, for ceremonial/religious reasons) the land. Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown (name, fame, glory) the day that I SHALL BE GLORIFIED (God properly recognized, honored), saith the Lord GOD. And they shall sever (hire, maybe even ‘draft’) out men of continual employment, passing through the land to bury with the passengers (the passers-by) those (dead) that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search. And the passengers (those ‘on-the-road’ travelers) that pass through the land, when any seeth a man’s bone (the flesh having decomposed), then shall he set up a sign (marker) by it, till the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamongog (a massive burial ground). And also the name of the city shall be Hamonah (means ‘multitudes’). Thus shall they cleanse the land.”

What a paragraph!

God has not only predicted who wins the Battle, He does! But for the sake of Israel, His darling people. Now we’ve also learned God has also pre-described the “burial details,” of hundreds of thousands of soldiers, likely both men and women. Dead (foolishly advised) military warriors, who tried to “rob” Israel of he possessions!

The Text nearly speaks for itself.

And, personally speaking, I can see the preliminary alignment of these hordes! Of Russia and all her allies! Can’t you too?

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

I know a man who was a noted non-Believer in Jesus. Brilliant too, an honor graduate of Georgia-Tech. Who sought to disprove the Bible! And yet as he studied (particularly) the prophecies of Scripture … he was converted to Christianity!

Oh, the POWER of Bible Prophecy!

 

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THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL, CHAPTER 39, VERSES 3-7

July 19, 2017 by Dr. Mike Bagwell

A scientist reading Ezekiel (or any other Book of the Bible) will see certain things that I miss. Of course, that scientist must be a “Believer” in the things of God, not a skeptic. Certain “links,” or “logical developments.”

Today’s verses show such a situation, with our God speaking. “And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand. Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD. And I WILL SEND A FIRE on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD. So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.” Ezekiel 39:3-7

Now, using the same Text, let me identify the pronouns and explain a term or two.

“And I (the Lord) will smite (beat) thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine (Russia and company) arrows to fall out of thy right hand (stripping this enemy of all weapons). Thou shalt fall (means ‘fail’ 318 times) upon the mountains (in Hebrew ‘har’) of Israel, thou, and all thy bands (allies), and the people (a throng) that is with thee: I will give (God’s gift to the buzzards) thee unto the ravenous (root word means ‘to scream, to shriek’) birds of every sort, and to the beasts (‘living creatures’ ) of the field to be devoured (to be ‘fuel’ for God’s creatures). Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD. And I will send (‘to let go, to stretch out’) A FIRE (‘burning, hot’) on Magog (north of Israel, ‘Russia and her allies’ many say), and among them that dwell carelessly (‘safely’) in the isles: and they (the island dwellers) shall know (‘perceive, understand’) that I am the LORD. So will I make my holy (in Hebrew ‘qodesh’ = set apart, dedicated, consecrated, different) name (‘shem’ = reputation, fame, renown) known in the midst of my people (God still ‘owns’ them, ‘loves’ them) Israel; and I will not let them pollute (defile, profane, wound) my holy name (God speaking of Himself) any more: and the heathen (gentiles) shall know that I am the LORD (Jehovah), the Holy One in Israel.”

It seems to me that Ezekiel chapter 38 describes the battle, HOW God overcomes this selfish bloc of Israel’s attackers. Now chapter 39 is giving us more of the specifics.

But back to the “scientist’s” perspective I mentioned earlier. In chapter 38 God told of a great “earthquake” He was sending. One that would help decimate Russia and her gang. “Surely in that day there shall be A GREAT SHAKING in the land of Israel; so that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, SHALL SHAKE AT MY (THE LORD’S) PRESENCE, and THE MOUNTAINS SHALL BE THROWN DOWN, and the STEEP PLACES SHALL FALL, and EVERY WALL SHALL FALL to the ground.” Ezekiel 38:19-20, WOW! God several times through Scripture is said to cause these mighty upheavals, “earthquakes” indeed.

But that saved scientist I noted ties the “earthquake” of yesterday’s Lesson to the intense “fire” in today’s Lesson. He believes the “earthquake” causes the “fire!” In other words, the earth shakes and vibrates and lunges so violently that (cracks, deep fissures in its surface, core occur) … with violent VOLCANOES resulting!

Seems logical.

And that, to me anyway, puts a fresh perspective on these events!

After all, the God Who created is also the God Who judges!

To Him be Glory and Praise.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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