Ezekiel the watchman of his generation
God called Ezekiel who was a priest in Israel into the prophet’s ministry to be a watchmen to warn and to preach to the Jewish captives in Babylon what God was doing in their generation and what would take place in the last days. (Ezekiel 1-3)
prophesied judgment against the Nation, Jerusalem, and the Temple during a dark time in Israel’s history where they turned from God and worshipped idols. Judgment and captivity would be certain and long-term. (Ezekiel 4-24)
God used Ezekiel life as an illustrated sermon. His life would be a sign to Israel of her captivity among the surrounding Gentile Nations. (Ezekiel 4:1-13)
The timeline of events:
God reveals the time Israel would be in captivity. Grant Jeffery’s book, “Signature of God,” Chapter 8 reveals the time element of their captivity. God instructs Ezekiel to lay on his side in public for all to see for 430 days. 390 days for Israel and 40 days for Judah. Each day represented one year in captivity. Lets do the math!
- If we subtract 70 years of time served in captivity in Babylon we have 360 years.
- God told Israel if you do not heed the first punishment for the worship of idols they would be punished again but 7 times more (Leviticus 26:18). So if we apply the seven times punishment rule (7X360) you come to 2520 years that Israel would be in captivity in Gentile nations.
- This reveals that Israel would regain it’s sovereignty after 2520 years. This was fulfilled to the exact day, from the end of Babylonian captivity to May 14, 1948 when Israel announced its statedhood to the world. Amazing!
God also commanded Ezekiel not to mourn the loss of his wife as an illustration of the coming judgment to the nation who turned away from God to worship idols. (Ezekiel 24:17-25)
Finally in the first half of the book of Ezekiel, God speaks of judgment to the surrounding nations because of their treatment of His people Israel. (Ezekiel 25-32)
Finish Strong! 