1 Thessalonians Ezekiel used four things to dramatize his message: Prophecies Signs Parables Symbols The vision of the Valley of Dry Bones (37) demonstrates that God can breathe new life into Judah again. BY BABYLON. 5(G)Also from within it came the likeness of four living creatures. 20Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, because there the spirit went; and the wheels were lifted together with them, (AA)for the spirit of the [d]living creatures was in the wheels. 2 Samuel For an informed reading of Ezekiel 1:1-28, 3:12. Where is it to be placed? 4. The selective destruction of people in Jerusalem. Mark key words as before; however, add to your list temple (sanctuary, house), holy, offering, and gate(s). With the fall of Jerusalem and forceful . It is believed that he lived through the teachings of Josiah and Jeremiah and he began his own ministry in about 592 B.C. Ezekiel's task was to disillusion them with reference to this hope, to make clear to them that the city would be destroyed and also the reasons why it would be overthrown. The story of the prophet encountering God spawned merkavah mysticism, aptly named for the merkavah or chariot on which Ezekiel rode to the heavens. The inhabitants would suffer terribly. Ezekiel's vision of the four wheels dramatically illustrates the omnipresence and omniscience of God. The throne vision. The Israelites will return to their own land and rebuild the kingdom that was overthrown, and Yahweh will dwell in their midst forever. 605 BC In Jer 46:2 Pharaoh Neco was defeated at Carchemish by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. In this section add covenant to your list of key words and list what you learn. Because Ezekiel believes that Yahweh rules supreme over all the nations of the earth, any violation of Yahweh's commands without appropriate punishment constitutes an infringement upon the deity's honor. Use this link to donate: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme2/EthosEntertainment Prophet Ezekiel is one of . Chapters 124 concern the fall of Jerusalem. Ezekiel's vision of a temple is enigmatic. 27Also from the appearance of His waist and upward (AK)I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around. He said, " [Ezek 1:15] As I gazed on the creatures, I saw one wheel on the ground next to each of the four-faced creatures. The false prophets were bringing good news of peace (cf Jer 6:14) and the people loved it (cf Jer 5:31) and continued in their sin. He resided by the river of Chebar ( Ezekiel 1 ). To accomplish these tasks, the prophet performed a number of symbolic acts. Job (See opening picture.) Judgments Against the Gloating Nations, Chapter 33-39 Chapter 5. Read the chapter again. This restoration will include both the people of the northern kingdom and the people of Judah. [30] There was apparently some question concerning the inclusion of Ezekiel in the canon of scripture, since it is frequently at odds with the Torah (the five "Books of Moses" which are foundational to Judaism). Ezekiel was left behind in Jerusalem. SEVENTY WEEKS OF DANIEL: A lecture on the Book of Ezekiel by The Shepherd's Chapel's Dr. Arnold Murray. The new spirit reminds us of the New Covenant. 1 Samuel 2. Note the progression in your margin. 23:19; 25:32; Ezek. How long did he prophesy before the final fall of Jerusalem? Author - Date: If the "thirtieth year" (of 1:1), refers to Ezekiel's age, he was 25 when taken captive and 30 when called into ministry. Another Ezekiel Chart, A SIMPLIFIED APPROACH Ezekiel was typical of most prophets that saw glimpses of the last days, in that while he looked forward to a Messiah who reigns, he did not see one coming twice (once to die 2000 years ago and once when he returns to Earth in glory) and neither did he foresee the Church. 2 Thessalonians Assyria and Egypt stopped being the dominant powers, and were overtaken by Babylon, including in notable battles. In the margin list what you learn from marking covenant and then compare it with what you observed about covenant in Ezekiel 16-17. c. Continue noting the same observations from marking every occurrence of know that I am the Lord. The book of Ezekiel closes with a vision of a temple and its associated rituals. Remember Ezekiel is prophesying from exile to Jews in exile before the final destruction of Jerusalem in the first 24 chapters that emphasize judgment. [23] In Ezekiel the phrase describes God mounted on His throne-chariot as he departs from the Temple in chapters 111 and returns to what Marvin Sweeney describes as a portrayal of "the establishment of the new temple in Zion as YHWH returns to the temple, which then serves as the center for a new creation with the tribes of Israel arrayed around it" in chapters 4048. Daniel Ezekiel has many references to time and you will want to mark these in a distinctive way (e.g., a clock face in the margin). Jerusalem must be destroyed because of its sins. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Read Ezekiel 1:1-3:27 and mark distinctively (with a color &/or symbol) the key words or phrases. Daniels prophetic ministry from Babylon began about 605BC. His tomb remains. 1:22, 25; 10:18-19; 11:22. Although I alluded to the 10 Lost Tribes as one of the astute Bereans reminded us they are not in fact lost and this idea can lead to some faulty theological conclusions. What? He appears to have spent the rest of his life in Mesopotamia. 2 Peter Create your account. 2 He said to me, "Son of man, stand up, and I will speak to you." 2 As he spoke to me, the Spirit entered me, stood me on my feet, and I heard Chapter 1. What is he told to do? Name the Judean king held captive at the time of Ezekiel's ministry. Ephesians Some of the following notes are adapted from the INTERNATIONAL INDUCTIVE STUDY BIBLE, New American Standard Version from Precept Ministries International. 4:1; 19:11, Ex. 1. Concerning the man who has lived wickedly all of his life but turns from his wickedness and does that which is lawful and right immediately before he dies, all of his wickedness will not be remembered: He will be judged as a righteous man. Perhaps the very last verse of Ezekiel (48:35) conveys what it is that matters most, God dwelling with his people: And the name of the city from that time on will be: the Lord is there and also this one: Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. A voice calls to him, saying "Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me. The messenger gives Ezekiel a tour of the temple, measuring the various walls, gates, and . Ezekiel explained that for each day he lay on his left side, northern Israel would be in captivity for one year, and for each day he lay on his right side, the southern kingdom Judah would spend a year in captivity. Following the short-lived reign of Jehoiachin the second exile took place in 597 BC and this included Ezekiel. Notice when Ezekiel's mouth is shut and then later opened. What came out of the middle of the whirlwind? 11Thus were their faces. For less than $5/mo. 8:1, 2, 1 Kin. [17], The Jewish scriptures were translated into Greek in the two centuries prior to the Common Era. Note that Ezekiel 8-11 is a unit composed of several visions. Here I refer to Ezekiels prophecies, which came as visions, pictures and words from the Lord. Ezekiel's priestly lineage shines through in his prophetic ministry; he often concerned himself with topics such as the temple, the priesthood, the glory of the Lord, and the sacrificial system. The third section, Chapters 4048, presents a plan for rebuilding the Temple and reorganizing the restored state of Israel. 18:46; 2 Kin. For example, on a piece of tile, he drew a picture of Jerusalem under siege and placed the tile in a prominent place, where it could be seen plainly by all those who walked along the street. (AM)This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! Ezekiel could see it all, including named persons dropping dead. In the same way, Ezekiel's seemingly strange behavior in the early chapters of his book was intended to get the attention of a jaded Israelite congregation and to graphically communicate a message of judgment to them. The visions, and the book, are structured around three themes: (1) Judgment on Israel (chapters 124); (2) Judgment on the nations (chapters 2532); and (3) Future blessings for Israel (chapters 3348). Ezekiel's Visions of GodEzekiel 1:1 Library Books & Brochures Pure Worship of Jehovah Restored At Last! THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL: Record the theme/title of each chapter. Ezekiel is brought to a valley of dry bones and the Lord asks him to prophesy of the dry bones. [2] In 597, following a rebellion against Babylon, Ezekiel was among the large group of Judeans taken into captivity by the Babylonians. (1:4-5) The likeness of four living creatures. Much of God's revelation to Ezekiel revolved around the distant decendants of Israel and crucial, end-time events centuries in the future. (1:2) Jehoiachin. Are you sure you want to remove #bookConfirmation# Philemon Note especially the Bold Red vertical line which corresponds to Jerusalem's fall to Babylon (Ezekiel 33:21Now in the twelfth year of our exile, on the fifth of the tenth month, the refugees from Jerusalem came to me, saying, The city has been taken.), Bible Charts and Timelines THIRD & FINAL SIEGE Zechariah CHAPTER 3 "I Began to See Visions of God" 0:00 0:00 EZEKIEL 1:1 FOCUS: An overview of Ezekiel's vision of the celestial chariot 1-3. Zephaniah Ezekiel Sees the Glory & Receives the Call, Chapter 25-32 Ezekiel describes these creatures (Ezekiel 1:5-14). 1. "You will know that I am the LORD", PROPHECY OF JUDGMENT Jonah You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. The idea that the whole human race is divided into two classes, known as the righteous and the wicked, and that the righteous can be identified as the ones who live in strict conformity with all of Yahweh's laws, while the wicked are those who do not obey these laws, is derived from Ezekiel's teachings. List God's instructions to Ezekiel ("the son of man"). In other words dont just title chapter 1 Gods Glory. (Gen 12:3)? from your Reading List will also remove any Ezekiel 1:1 says the 30th year and it appears in context to refer to Ezekiels age of 30 years, the year in fact that Ezekiel would have been eligible for priesthood (see Nu 4:3), he begins his prophetic ministry. This will help you understand the timing of Ezekiel's prophecies. Malachi When was the departure of God's glory prophesied - before or after the fall of Jerusalem? But in the case of foreign nations, punishment is not meant to teach a lesson that will bring about their conversion. 597BC Nebuchadnezzar, who with his defeat of Neco had become the dominant world power, besieged Jerusalem for the second time taking King Jehoiachin into exile to Babylon (this event in 597BC helps understand the fifth year of Jehoiachins exile specifically given by in Ezekiel 1:2) along with 10,000 Jews, one of whom was the young man Ezekiel. I include this chart to highlight who Israels neighbours were at the time Judah was taken into exile (the 10 northern tribes it was 130 years earlier), all of who get mentioned in Ezekiels prophecies in a negative way. Coming into direct contact with that which is unclean contaminates Yahweh's sanctuary and profanes his holy name, which Yahweh will not tolerate. Josiah sought to bring about national revival but it was not to last and the prophetess Huldah (2Ki 22:14, 15, 16, 17) told him that after his death God would bring judgment upon Judah, for they had forsaken God and burned incense to other gods. All four had the same form; the appearance and structure of . [24] The vision in chapters 1:428 reflects common mythological/Biblical themes and the imagery of the Temple: God appears in a cloud from the north the north being the usual home of God/the gods in ancient mythology and Biblical literature with four living creatures corresponding to the two cherubim above the Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant and the two in the Holy of Holies, the innermost chamber of the Temple; the burning coals of fire between the creatures perhaps represents the fire on the sacrificial altar, and the famous "wheel within a wheel" may represent the rings by which the Levites carried the Ark, or the wheels of the cart. Josiah was killed in 609 and Judah became a vassal of the new regional power, the Neo-Babylonian empire. Jude (Who is the Angel of the LORD?) 21:1; Jer. Terms in this set (51) Ezekiel saw his first vision while on the bank of what river? For Jeremiah, these words meant very little: Yahweh's dwelling place is in human hearts rather than in a specific place in the Temple. [3] Its themes include the concepts of the presence of God, purity, Israel as a divine community, and individual responsibility to God. A Vision of a Valley of Bones and Resurrection (chapter 37)Ezekiels message changed, once Jerusalem fell, into one of hope, around returning back to its land where Israel lives in peace and prosperity. Ezekiel has often been called the father of Judaism. The "Third Day" in Hosea - Does it predict Christ's Resurrection? And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speak. 2. TO THE INDUCTIVE STUDY OF EZEKIEL, FIRST YOU WILL WANT TO ESTABLISH THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT BY UNDERSTANDING THE TIMELINE. These wheels were associated with the "four living creatures" ( Ezekiel 1:4 ), who were later described ( Ezekiel 10:5, 20) as cherubim, angelic beings appointed as guardians of the holiness of God. Ezekiel's Vision of a Scroll. The prophet is so overcome by the vision that he falls on his face. How did he get there? REVELATION. Ecclesiastes Prior to that date the prophecies all have to do with warning the people and exhorting them to repent and to trust in God rather than in pacts with Egypt or any other neighbor. Ezra (Record this date in your Bible margin) In 605 BC Ezekiel was 18 years old when 15 yearold Daniel and his 3 friends were captured by Nebuchadnezzar and taken from to Babylon. (1:1) Chebar. Note in the margin who is going to know and how they will know. How?- See interrogate with the 5W'S & H). Ezekiel contextContext is all important when studying the Bible and this is particularly relevant when studying Ezekiel. 1 Kings 16(W)The appearance of the wheels and their workings was (X)like the color of beryl, and all four had the same likeness. He is specifically mentioned by Ben Sirah (a writer of the Hellenistic period who listed the "great sages" of Israel) and 4 Maccabees (1st century CE). [25] The process of purification begins, God prepares to leave, and a priest lights the sacrificial fire to the city. Also note any symbolic acts he was to perform and why. Already in the vision of Ezekiel and the earlier vision in Revelation, the most prominent feature is light: fire, lightning, rainbow, gemstones that brilliantly refract the light. According to Ezekiel, Yahweh's presence went up out of the Temple and rested on a hill outside; then the Temple fell. They sparkled (J)like the color of burnished bronze. Ezekiel's Vision of a Scroll. Thirty was the age when priests commenced their office, so it was a . Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. 586BC Luke document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); see here and especially the slides it contains. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. AS OUTLINED BELOW. Jeremiah The oracle was possessed by the deity and served as a vehicle for the words. Enemies would destroy the city and the *temple. Ezekiel's prophetic and spiritual mission all turns on one central eventthe destruction of Jerusalem (587). James Hebrews [2], According to the book that bears his name, Ezekiel ben-Buzi was born into a priestly family of Jerusalem c.623BCE, during the reign of the reforming king Josiah. Micah Note why he was to speak in that way and the significance of his action. The prophet is so overcome by the vision that he falls on his face. When? Perhaps the most notable aspect of Ezekiel's account of the chariot is the wheels. Although that may be a valid observation, it would hardly distinguish this chapter from others. KEY PHRASES & WORDS*, 63/77x = Phrase found 63 times in Ezekiel out of all 77 uses in the Old Testament. Ezekiel describes his vision as an elaborate and complex image that symbolizes the majesty of Yahweh and proclaims Yahweh's sovereignty over all the nations of the earth. Each of Ezekiel's cherubim have four faces, that of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle. vv. Four of these dates refer to a day and month in 587 b.c., very close to the time of Jerusalems destruction. OF JERUSALEM Watch for and record the reason for the vision of the temple and its measurements. Sometimes the deity appeared in a vision. Holy objects would be profaned whenever anything common or unclean was brought into direct contact with them, a belief that led to a sharp distinction between the secular and the holy and gave new meanings to such items as the observance of dietary laws, payment of tithes, and observance of the Sabbath. - -1-3 - - the call of Ezekiel as a prophet - -4-24 - - Ezekiel's prophecies against Jerusalem - - 25-32- -Ezekiel's prophecies against the nations- - 33-48 - - Ezekiel's prophecies of the future restoration of Israel. 3 John Be especially alert to mark the phrase know that I am the LORD. Where and when did Ezekiel begin his prophetic ministry? Its later influence has included the development of mystical and apocalyptic traditions in Second Temple and Rabbinic Judaism and Christianity. Note whether it was by symbolic acts, messages, visions, parables, or signs. Where is Ezekiel? Images included wheels within wheels, four creatures with four faces, lots of eyes, fames of fire, a crystalline canopy upon which was a throne and on it was seated a glorious being and all were moving in unison in one direction or another. 2 John 26(AH)And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, (AI)in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above (AJ)it. 9Their wings touched one another. The haftarah for the first day of Shavuot is of the most hallowed portions of the Bible. Ezekiel describes his vision as an elaborate and complex image that symbolizes the majesty of Yahweh and proclaims Yahweh's sovereignty over all the nations of the earth. [27] In sum, the book describes God's promise that the people of Israel will maintain their covenant with God when they are purified and receive a "new heart" (another of the book's images) which will enable them to observe God's commandments and live in the land in a proper relationship with Yahweh. The Hebrew Prophet Ezekiel: His Extraordinary Visions and Consistent Message A frieze depicting the Prophets Amon, Nahum, Ezekiel, and Daniel. After reading Ezekiel 40:1-5 I concluded that Ezekiel's vision was about the earthly temple in Jerusalem that would be built after God's people were released from Babylonian captivity: Ezekiel 48:1-29 then lists the tribes of Israel and the land to be allocated to them. 4. Each one had two which covered one side, and each one had two which covered the other side of the body. (2Ki 22:8) King Josiah wept when he heard the Word of God for he saw the awfulness of Judah's sin and knew that God's wrath burned against them. Watch for every reference to the son of man. True. Looking for Biblical wisdom? Yahweh punishes the Israelites in order to teach them a lesson that they have refused to learn in any other way. Ezekiel describes these wheels (Ezekiel 1:15-21). The most important feature of Ezekiel's vision is the promise that the Lord would return to dwell among His people in Jerusalem. Chart from recommended resourceJensen's Survey of the OT- used by permission Genesis There are 13 dated references in Ezekiel and they are listed below. During the studies, I deliberately chose not to speculate or be controversial, but I would be remiss if I were to give the impression all of Ezekiels prophecies have been fulfilled or that the more tricky sections where there has not been literal fulfillment are not to be taken literally. [33] Apart from Revelation, however, where Ezekiel is a major source, there is very little allusion to the prophet in the New Testament; the reasons for this are unclear, but it cannot be assumed that every Christian or Hellenistic Jewish community in the 1st century would have had a complete set of (Hebrew) scripture scrolls, and in any case Ezekiel was under suspicion of encouraging dangerous mystical speculation, as well as being sometimes obscure, incoherent, and pornographic. Chapters 2539 contain a series of oracles addressed to foreign nations, concluding with a section in which the future of Israel is contrasted with that of the foreign nations. The reverse is true of the man who has lived righteously all of his life but turns to wickedness just before he dies: All of his righteousness will not be remembered. Christ's Resurrection Prophesied in the Old Testament DANIEL 9:24-27