Today we look at the final two verses in Ezekiel 47. Essentially they cover God’s “care” for any foreigners who might have identified with Israel, particularly during her terrible ordeal at the hands of the anti-Christ. (The Tribulation, which directly preceded the Millennium.)
Our Text: “And it shall come to pass, that ye shall divide it by lot for an inheritance unto you, and to the STRANGERS that sojourn among you, which shall beget children among you: and they shall be unto you as born in the country among the children of Israel; they shall have inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel. And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the STRANGER sojourneth, there shall ye give him his inheritance, saith the Lord GOD.” Ezekiel 47:22-23
Dividing the land by lot is mostly the subject of the next chapter, Ezekiel 48. Still, the outstanding value of our two verses this morning is that “strangers” are now included in the “heritage!”
Indeed, God loves everyone!
Don’t misunderstand me here. The Lord always required Israel to care for the foreigners who CHOSE to move into her land, coming to “better” themselves. That is … if they were willing to “adopt” Israel’s ways and follow Israel’s God!
Leviticus 19:34 gives us an example of the older legislation. “But the STRANGER that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.” But no land allotment was specified, not under Moses.
Yet here today, in our Text, the STANGERS are given more than every before … a land parcel, a real estate inheritance! Here it is again: “And it shall come to pass, that ye shall divide it (land) by lot for an inheritance unto you, and to the STRANGERS that sojourn among you … and they shall be unto you as born in the country among the children of Israel; they shall have inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel.” Talk about the Grace of God!
Truly, even in those grand future days … “Whosoever will may come.”
(Think how we “gentiles” have been allowed into God’s Family, too. I speak now of our very salvation! And we also have been placed in God’s “Will,” and given an abundant inheritance “in Christ,” in Jesus our Lord!)
“Heirs of God, joint-heirs with Christ,” Romans 8:17, as I preached two nights ago in Revival! How’s that for taking care of strangers?
Wow!
Then … one more thing stands out in today’s lesson. About these strangers, who (by the way) have obviously (voluntarily) come under the Rule of Jesus, Who will be occupying the Throne of the whole earth for those 1,000 years, for the millennium. Sitting on the Throne of David! Our dear Lord as KING!
And that “thing” is … still from today’s verses, this short line … “the STRANGERS that sojourn among you, which SHALL BEGET CHILDREN among you ….”
Children will be born during the Millennium!
We (us Christians, the Church) will be here as well, but in our glorified bodies. No children for us, those days (of physicality) being gone.
But the inhabitants of the earth who have not yet received their glorified bodies, the surviving Jews (the Remnant) and a few others (gentiles, strangers) who did not try to massacre Israel at Armageddon, will live those thousand years in human bodies … Noah nearly did (930 years), as well as Methuselah (969 years) … AND APPARENTLY BEAR CHILDREN IF THEY SO CHOOSE!
Wow!
The original inhabitants of the Millennium, natural citizens of earth under Jesus’ Rule, will have all been saved. Or so I believe. But these children (multitudes will be born in those ten centuries of peace and welfare) may not have yet received Jesus as Saviour!
Apparently not all of them (ever) do … because Satan (once released from the bottomless Pit where he had been imprisoned for 1,000 years) will lead some of earth’s citizens (who obviously have not submitted to Jesus as Saviour) in a great (final) rebellion!
Here’s John’s account of the failed coup … “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out TO DECEIVE THE NATIONS (STRANGERS, GENTILES) which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog (perennial enemies of God), to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and FIRE came down from God out of heaven, and DEVOURED them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Revelation 20:7-10
Wow!
That may have been more than I should have discussed today. But those “children” born during the Millennium spawned my thoughts. (Children and Grandchildren and Great-grandchildren and so forth, for ten centuries!)
The Lord willing, more tomorrow, beginning Ezekiel chapter 48. The final verses in this great prophecy, truly “MAJOR” in every sense of the word!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell