Lesson for October 21, 2020
Knowing the Bible
Lesson 22
The Book of Ezekiel
Ezekiel, a priest, was God’s prophet to both Judah and Israel during the Babylonian captivity. The events that he records cover a period of about 21 years from approximately 595 B.C. until 574 B.C. Ezekiel wrote this prophecy when he was a captive in Babylon with his fellow Israelites, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. God used Ezekiel to teach the new generation who were born in exile the reason they were in captivity, to sustain their faith by prophesying the national restoration of Israel and the execution of judgment on their oppressors and the national glory the nation would enjoy during the Millennium. Like all of God’s prophets there was both a local message to the nation and a message regarding events to be fulfilled in the future.
Ezekiel, more than any other prophet, speaks of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The ministry of the Holy Spirit was different than His ministry in the Church Age. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit did not permanently indwell all believers and only a handful of believers in the Age of Israel were empowered by the Holy Spirit. In those cases, the Holy Spirit indwelt the believer temporarily in order to empower them to complete a specific task for God. Once the task was accomplished, the Holy Spirit was removed from the believer. In theology, we call this ministry of the Holy Spirit, “enduement.” (Psalm 51:11)
Ezekiel was given his prophetic messages through a series of visions and related these messages to the combined nations of Israel through parables and stories. But Israel, as a nation, refused to listen to God’s message and continued in their rebellion. Ezekiel therefore prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem and the ultimately the destruction of the nation. The nation of Israel was privileged above all other nations, as we are as believers in the Church Age, and yet they continually rebelled against God and received divine discipline as a result. Ezekiel was used by God to deliver the message of divine discipline to them and would not respond to his warnings. (Ezekiel 9:9)
Ezekiel also sees the restoration of Israel and the Temple in the future Millennium. This meaningful event was meant to give hope to those who were in exile. Ezekiel in a vision was taken on a tour of the millennial temple. This is a clear indication that temple worship will be resumed during the Millennium. Remember that Israel plays a very important role during this dispensation of the Millennium. The unconditional covenants that God made with Abraham and David will be fulfilled at this time. The description of the Temple and the order of worship and service by the priest is similar to the Tabernacle in the wilderness and the Solomon’s Temple.
Salvation continues to be presented to the new population of the Millennium. The Millennium starts out with believers, yet many of their children turn out to be unbelievers. There is a giant population explosion according to Ezekiel 20:34-38 and Matthew 25:31-46. Spiritually in the millennium is by the filling of the Spirit produces great emotional responses because Christ is present on earth. Seeing Christ will be reason to respond emotionally in a much greater way than we do in the Church Age since Christ is absent. During the Church Age, the filling of the Spirit is designed to produce the character of the humanity of Christ, compare Ephesians 5:1 with Galatians 5:22-23. In the Millennium, the filling of the Holy Spirit has an effect on the emotions which it does not have at present.
Perfect environment exists because Satan is bound and demons are removed. Because Satan and demons are removed, there is no religion in the Millennium. Religion is part of human good and evil. The battle of Armageddon removes all unbelievers from the earth at the beginning of the Millennium according to Ezekiel 20:34-38 and Matthew 25:31-46.
Jesus Christ will rule the earth during the Millennium. The result will be: 1) universal peace. (Psalm 46:9; Isaiah 2:4; Hosea 2:18; Micah 4:3) 2) universal prosperity (Psalm 72:7, 16) 3) free enterprise will operate worldwide creating a perfect economy 4) there will be universal knowledge of God, but mankind will still have free will. (Isaiah 11:9; Jeremiah 31:31- 34; Hebrews 8:14, 10:15-17. 5) there will be longevity in the human race. (Isaiah 65:20) 6) all the unconditional covenants are fulfilled to Israel during the Millennium. (Daniel 9:24; Zechariah 8:22-23, 14:9) 7) there will be a perfect world government under the leadership of Christ and the delegation of authority to believers of the Church Age to rule nations. (Isaiah 11:1-2; Zechariah 14:9; II Timothy 2:12; Revelation 2:25-28, 3:21, 5:10, 20:4,6) 8) there will be a tremendous population explosion, so that by the end of the millennium there will exist many unbelievers on the earth who have rejected the Gospel and who will have joined the Gog revolution of Satan against the rule of Jesus Christ. (Isaiah 11:3-4; Psalm 72:12-14) 9) Israel is regathered and restored as a client nation. (Isaiah 5:26-30, 10:19-23, 11:11-16, 14:1-3; 60:4-6, 65:19; Joel 2:16ff; Zechariah 8:20-23, 10:6-12) 10) there will be perfect environment in nature as Creation will be released from the bondage of man’s sinfulness. (Romans 8:19-22) Plant and animal life will abound. (Isaiah 35:1-7) Animals lose their ferocity. (Isaiah 11:6-9, 65:25)
The Gog Revolution terminates the perfect environment of the Millennium. (Revelation 20:7-10) Satan is released from prison after one thousand years and immediately starts a revolution to overthrow Christ’s reign. This revolution proves that perfect environment is not the solution to man’s problem of the sin nature and spiritual death. Only those who are believers can appreciate perfect environment and the One who provides it. Salvation and Bible doctrine are the only solution to man’s problems. The universe is destroyed and a new heaven and earth is created. (II Peter 3:7-10; Revelation 21)
Ezekiel in the process of prophesying coming events as related to the destruction of Israel’s captors gives us a glimpse of the fall of Satan (originally the highest ranking of God’s angelic beings), the Angelic Conflict and Satan’s final destiny. The Angelic Conflict began as a rebellion to the authority of God by the most beautiful creature to come from the hand of God, Lucifer. Lucifer was the highest ranking of the angelic host. By an act of arrogance, Lucifer attempted to overthrow God and become the ruler of the angelic host. Of course, this didn’t happen and Lucifer and the angels that followed him were tried, convicted and sentenced to the Lake of Fire. Obviously, Lucifer, now called Satan, appealed the sentence and an appeal was granted.
Mankind was created to resolve this conflict by showing Satan and the fallen angels that God was justified in His sentence. If only one person in history accepted the salvation solution offered by God in His grace, this would prove the fairness of His sentence. Of course, many have accepted the salvation solution found in Christ and every time another person trusts Christ as Savior, another potential witness is created for the prosecution.
In Revelation 12:3-4 we are told that Satan led one-third of the angels in his revolt against God. As a result of this revolt, Satan and the one-third that followed him were cast down to earth. (Ezekiel 28:15-17) Their rebellion against God led to a sentence to the Lake of Fire for all eternity. (Matthew 25:41)
Hebrews 2:2, seems to indicate that there could have been a salvation solution offered to Satan and his followers, but was rejected. Since the sentence imposed upon Satan and the fallen angels was not carried out immediately, it is obvious that an appeal was granted and the sentence delayed. Mankind was created as a means to prove to Satan and his followers that God was fair and just in the sentence. (I John 3:18) The time frame of this appeal is from the sentencing in eternity past until Satan and the fallen angels are cast into the Lake of Fire. (Revelation 20:10)
Ezekiel 28:13-19 describes Satan’s arrogance and rebellion against God, “You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: The ruby, the topaz and the diamond; the beryl, the onyx and the jasper; the lapis lazuli, the turquoise and the emerald; and the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets was in you. On the day that you were created they were prepared. You were the anointed cherub who covers, and I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God; you walked in the midst of the stones of fire. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created until unrighteousness was found in you. By the abundance of your trade you were internally filled with violence, and you sinned; therefore, I have cast you as profane from the mountain of God. And I have destroyed you, O covering cherub from the midst of the stones of fire. Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor. I cast you to the ground.”
Also, in Isaiah 14:12-16, “How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, you who have weakened the nations!But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly
In the recesses of the north. ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most-High.’ Nevertheless, you will be thrust down to Sheol (Hades), to the recesses of the pit. Those who see you will gaze at you, they will ponder over you, saying, ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms.’” Here are the details of the arrogance of Satan and his rebellion against God called the “The Five I Wills of Satan.” In verse 12 Satan is identified as the star of the morning. In verse 13 Satan attempts to replace the authority of God with his authority (I will ascend into heaven). He also tries to take over the throne of God and set himself up as the ruler of the angelic host. (I will exalt my throne above the stars (angels) of God). He also wants to rule over the entire earth. (I will sit in the mount of the congregation). In verse 14 he continues with wanting to displace God as the Sovereign of the universe (I will ascend above the heights of the clouds). Satan wants to become God or at least counterfeit Him in every aspect. (I will be like the Most-High). Verses 15-16 describe Satan’s fate.
Believers in Christ are involved in spiritual warfare as a result of Satan’s appeal. It is by trusting Christ as Savior and executing His plan for our lives that we can become credible witnesses for the prosecution. Angels are observing us and when one person comes to know Christ as Savior the elect angels rejoice. They rejoice because another victory for Christ has been won and it is additional proof that God is fair and just in His dealings, not only with mankind, but also with angels. And we can glorify God by becoming credible witnesses through the faithful execution of His purpose, plan and will.
There are two categories of angels since the rebellion in eternity. The one third who rebelled against God are now called “fallen angels” or “demons.” Those angels who remained faithful to God are called elect or holy. Both categories are organized similar to a military organization, which makes sense because we are told that we are engaged in spiritual warfare. (I Timothy 5:21; Mark 8:38; Matthew 25:41) Elect angels have a specific relation to believers, and are observers of our lives. They rejoice in the salvation of a person and are said to be ministering spirits to the believer. Elect angels are given to every believer as guardians and they guard children. (Galatians 3:19; Acts 7:53; Luke 15:7, 10; I Corinthians 4:9; I Peter 1:12; Psalms 34:7; Matthew 18:10; Hebrews 1:14)