EZEKIEL

1. EZEKIEL The Prophet & Priest St. Mina Coptic Church Hamilton, On

2. Three phases of captivity to Babylon

3. Carchemish Babylon Nebuchadnezzar Jerusalem Pharaoh Neco

4. About this prophecy: I. Concerning the writer • Writer is Ezekiel (meaning: the strength of God/one strengthened by God) • He girded up the loins of his mind to the service, God put strength into him. Ezekiel’s name was answered when God said I have made thy face strong against their faces. • According to the Jewish tradition, he was put to death by the captives in Babylon, for his faithfulness and boldness in reproving them; they dragged him upon the stones till his brain was dashed out • An arabic historian says that he was put to death and was buried in the sepulchre of Shem the son of Noah.

5. II. Concerning the date, place, and time • in Babylon, house of bondage to the Israel; the prophet himself, and his people were captives • Ezekiel and Daniel are the only writing prophets of the Old Testament who lived and prophesied out of the land of Israel (and Jonah who went to Nineveh) • Prophesied in the beginning of the captivity, when Daniel in the latter end of it. • It was God's good-will and gracious design in time of affliction, that He raised up prophets among them, to convince them in the beginning of their troubles, and to comfort them when they were dejected and discouraged.

6. III. Concerning its matter and scope • Much of it is very mysterious, dark, and hard to be understood, especially the beginning and the latter end of it. • This made the Jewish rabbi forbade its reading to their young men, till they came to be thirty years of age, lest by the difficulties they meet with, they should be prejudiced against the scriptures. • If we read the difficult parts of scripture with humility and reverence, and search them diligently, we may gather a great deal for the confirming of our faith and the encouraging of our hope in God

7. The sermons are mostly plain; principal purpose is to show God’s people their transgressions • In their captivity they might repent and not repining • It was of great use to the oppressed captives themselves to have a prophet with them, a testimony to their holy religion against their oppressors who ridiculed it and them • The reproofs and the threatening were very sharp and bold, yet towards the close of the book very comfortable assurances are given of great mercy God had for them • This prophet speaks less than almost any of the prophets about the kingdom of the Messiah

8. Ezekiel a prophet with many characteristic • Priest, was very interested in the purity of the rituals along with the purity of the person, the communal and sound worship, and obedience to God's law. The holiness of God took control on his life and his ideas • Prophet, revealed the sins of Israel and Judah and the nations, announcing the discipline of God, calling for repentance, revealing the promises of God. Had many visions • Shepherd, shared with God’s people their pain

9. Ezekiel a prophet with many characteristic • Theologian, explained the theological concepts behind the destruction of Jerusalem and its renewal • Religious leader, laid the foundation of the spiritual community after the exile to live as befits • Poet, left us many poetic pieces that are great and very moving • Artist drawing pictures that are filled with strange secrets, sometimes difficult to imagine.

10. The book has six main sections • 1 - Call of Ezekiel chap. 1-32 - threats before the fall of Jerusalem,  chap. 4-123 - the sins of Israel and Jerusalem, chap. 13-244 - prophecies against the nations chap. 25-325 - prophecies about the return from captivity chap. 33-396 – Rebuild of the Temple and Jerusalem chap. 40-48

11.  Ezekiel the Prophet as a symbol of Christ • Ezekiel in his thirties, had seen the heavens open, at the river Chebar, and the heavens opened up; same at the Jordan River for baptism of Jesus Christ when he was thirty years old • Ezekiel was called "Son of Adam" likewise, Jesus was called "Son of Man" to confirm His incarnation and endurance of suffering for our sake • Ezekiel lived among captives and Jesus came among us to free us from the captivity of sin • Heavens opened up in front of Ezekiel and he saw the heavenly chariot, and the Lord opened Paradise for us to share with the heavenly host their praising.

12. Ezekiel’s Vision John’s Revelation A Temple within the City The New Jerusalem • Ezekiel is taken in this vision to a very high mountain (40:2) • John is carried in the Spirit to a great and high mountain (21:10) • A man uses a rod to measure the dimensions of the temple (40:5-ff) • An angel measures the city with a rod (21:15-17) • The entire temple area is a perfect square (42:15-20) • The entire city is a perfect cube (21:16)

13. Ezekiel’s Vision John’s Revelation A Temple within the City The New Jerusalem • The presence of the glory of the Lord enters the temple (43:3-4) • No need of sun or moon because the Lord illumines His city (22:5) • No foreigner is admitted into the temple (44:9) • Nothing unclean and no unbeliever is allowed into the city (21:8, 27) • A river of water flows out of the temple (47:1) • A river of the water of life comes from the throne of God (22:1)

14. Ezekiel’s Vision John’s Revelation A Temple within the City The New Jerusalem • There are a total of 12 gates around the city (48:30-34) • There are 12 gates to the city (21:21) • The name of the city shall be: “The Lord is there” (48:35). • The throne of God shall be there (22:3)