Today’s selected reading continues in the Old Testament prophetic book of Ezekiel the priest which began during the fifth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah. More specifically, today’s passage is found in chapters twenty-four through twenty-seven of this Old Testament prophetic book. AGAIN IN THE NINTH YEAR, IN THE TENTH MONTH, IN THE TENTH DAY OF THE MONTH, THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ME, SAYING, SON OF MAN, WRITE THEE THE NAME OF THE DAY, EVEN OF THIS SAME DAY: THE KING OF BABYLON SET HIMSELF AGAINST JERUSALEM THIS SAME DAY! WHEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LOR GOD; WOE TO THE BLOODY CITY! FOR HER BLOOD IS IN THE MIDST OF HER; SHE SET IT UPON THE TOP OF A ROCK! THAT IT MIGHT CAUSE FURY TO COME UP TO TAKE VENGEANCE! I HAVE SET HER BLOOD UPON THE TOP OF A ROCK, THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE COVERED! WOE TO THE BLOODY CITY! I WILL VEN MAKE THE PILE FOR FIRE GREAT! HEAP ON WOOD, KINDLE THE FIRE, CONSUME THE FLESH! SHE HATH WEARIED HERSELF WITH LIES, AND HER GREAT SCUM WENT NOT FORTH OUT OF HER: HER SCUM SHALL BE IN THE FIRE! IN THY FILTHINESS IS LEWDNESS: BECAUSE I HAVE PURGED THEE, AND THOU WAST NOT PURGED, THOU SHALT NOT BE PURGED FROM THY FILTHINESS ANY MORE, TILL I HAVE CAUSED MY FURY TO REST UPON THEE! I THE LORD HAVE SPOKEN IT: IT SHALL COME TO PASS, AND I WILL DO IT; I WILL NOT GO BACK, NEITHER WILL I SPARE, NEITHER WILL I REPENT; ACCORDING TO THY WAYS, AND ACCORDING TO THY DOINGS, SHALL THEY JUDGE THEE, SAITH THE LORD GOD! BEHOLD I TAKE AWAY FROM THEE THE DESIRE OF THINE EYES WITH A STROKE: YET NEITHER SHALT THOU MOURN NOR WEEP, NEITHER SHALL THY TEARS RUN DOWN! FORBEAR TO CRY, MAKE NO MOURNING FOR THE DEAD, BIND THE TIRE OF THINE HEAD UPON THEE, AND PUT ON THY SHOES UPON THY FEET, AND COVER NOT THY LIPS, AND EAT NOT THE BREAD OF MEN! SO I SPAKE UNTO THE PEOPLE IN THE MORNING: AND AT EVEN MY WIFE DIED; AND I DID IN THE MORNING AS I WAS COMMANDED! THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; BEHOLD, I WILL PROFANE MY SANCTUARY, THE EXCELLENCY OF YOUR STRENGTH, THE DESIRE OF YOUR EYES, AND THAT WHICH YOUR SOUL PITIETH; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS WHOM YE HAVE LEFT SHALL FALL BY THE SWORD! YE SHALL DO AS I HAVE DONE: YE SHALL NOT COVER YOUR LIPS, NOR EAT THE BREAD OF MEN! YE SHALL NOT MOURN NOR WEEP; BUT YE SHALL PINE AWAY FOR YOUR INIQUITIES, AND MOURN ONE TOWARD ANOTHER! THUS EZEKIEL IS UNTO YOU AS A SIGN: ACCORDING TO ALL THAT HE HATH DONE SHALL YE DO! ALSO, THOU SON OF MAN, SHALL IT NOT BE IN THE DAY WHEN I TAKE FROM THEM THEIR STRENGTH, THE JOY OF THEIR GLORY, THE DESIRE OF THEIR EYES, THAT WHEREUPON THEY SET THEIR MINDS, THEIR SONS AND THEIR DAUGHTERS! IN THAT DAY SHALL THY MOUTH BE OPENED TO HIM WHICH IS ESCAPED, AND THOU SHALT SPEAK, AND BE NO MORE DUMB! THOU SHALT BE A SIGN UNTO THEM; AND THEY SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD!

SON OF MAN, SET THY FACE AGAINST THE AMMONITES, AND PROPHESY AGAINST THEM; AND SAY UNTO THE AMMONITES, HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD GOD; THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; BECAUSE THOU SAIDST, AHA, AGAINST MY SANCTUARY WHEN IT WAS PROFANED; AND AGAINST THE LAND OF ISRAEL, WHEN IT WAS DESOLATE; AND AGAINST THE HOUSE OF JUDAH, WHEN THEY WENT INTO CAPTIVITY; BEHOLD, THEREFORE I WILL DELIVER THEE TO THE MEN OF THE EAST FOR A POSSESSION, AND THEY SHALL SET THEIR PALACES IN THEE, AND MAKE THEIR DWELINGS IN THEE! THEY SHALL EAT THY FRUIT, AND THEY SHALL DRINK THY MILK! FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; BECAUSE THOU HAST CLAPPED THINE HANDS, AND STAMPED WITH THE FEET, AND REJOICED IN HEART WITH ALL THY DESPITE AGAINST THE LAND OF ISRAEL; BEHOLD, THEREFORE I WILL STRETCH OUT MINE HAND UPON THEE, AND WILL DELIVER THEE FOR A SPOIL TO THE HEATHEN; AND I WILL CUT THEE OFF FROM THE PEOPLE, AND I WILL CAUSE THEE TO PERISH OUT OF THE COUNTIRES! I WILL DESTROY THEE; AND THOU SHALT KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD!

THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; BECAUSE THAT MOAB AND SEIR DO SAY, BEHOLD, THE HOUSE OF JUDAH IS LIKE UNTO ALL THE HEATHEN; THEREFORE, BEHOLD, I WILL OPEN THE SIDE OF MOAB FROM THE CITIES, FROM HIS CITIES WHICH ARE ON HIS FRONTEIRS, THE GLORY OF THE COUNTRY! UNTO THE MEN OF THE EAST WITH THE AMMONITES, AND WILL GIVE THEM IN POSSESSION, THAT THE AMMONITES MAY NOT BE REMEMBED AMONG THE NATIONS! I WILL EXECUTE JUDGMENTS UPON MOAB! AND THEY SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD

THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; BECAUSE THAT EDOM HATH DEALTH AGAINST THE HOUES OF JUDAH BY TAKING VENGEANCE, AND HATH GREATLY OFFENDED, AND REVENGED HIMSELF UPON THEM! I WILL ALSO STRETCH OUT MINE HAND UPON EDOM, AND WILL CUT OFF MAN AND BEAST FROM IT! I WILL MAKE IT DESOLATE FROM TEMAN! THEY OF DEDAN SHALL FALL BY THE SWORD! I WILL LAY MY VENGEANCE UPON EDOM BY THE HAND OF MY PEOPLE ISRAEL! THEY SHALL DO IN EDOM ACCORDING TO MINE ANGER AND ACCORDING TO MY FURY! THEY SHALL KNOW MY VENGEANCE!

THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD! BECAUSE THE PHILISTINES HAVE DEALT BY REVENGE, AND HAVE TAKEN VENGEANCE WITH A DESPITEFUL HEART, TO DESTROY IT FOR THE OLD HATRED! THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; BECAUSE, I WILL STRETCH OUT MINE HAND UPON THE PHILISTINES, AND I WILL CUT OFF THE CHERETHIMS, AND DESTROY THE REMNANT OF THE SEA COAST! I WILL EXECUTE GREAT VENGEANCE UPON THEM WITH FURIOUS REBUKES! THEY SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD, WHEN I SHALL LAY MY VENGEANCE UPON THEM!

AND IT CAME TO PASS IN THE ELEVENTH YEAR, IN THE FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH, THAT THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ME! BECAUSE THAT TYRUS HATH SAID AGAINST JERUSALEM, AHA, SHE IS BROKEN THAT WAS THE GATES OF THE PEOPLE! SHE IS TURNED UNTO ME! I SHALL BE REPLENISHED! NOW SHE IS LAID WASTE! BEHOLD, I AM AGAINST THEE, O TYRUS, AND WILL CAUSE MANY NATIONS TO COME UP AGAINST THEE, AS THE SEA CAUSETH HIS WAVES TO COME UP! THEY SHALL DESTROY THE WALLS OF TYRUS, AND BREAK DOWN HER TOWERS! I WILL ALSO SCRAPE HER DUST FROM HER, AND MAKE HER LIKE THE TOP OF A ROCK! IT SHALL BE A PLACE FOR THE SPREADING OF NETS IN THE MIDST OF THE SEA! AND THEY SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD!

BEHOLD, I WILL BRING UPON TYRUS KING NEBUCHADREZZAR KING OF BABYLON, A KING OF KINGS, FROM THE NORTH, WITH HORSES, AND WITH CHARIOTS, AND WITH HORSEMEN, AND COMPANIES, AND MUCH PEOPLE! HE SHALL SLAY WITH THE SWORD THY DAUGHTERS IN THE FIELD! HE SHALL MAKE A FORT AGAINST THEE, AND CAST A MOUNT AGAINST THEE, AND LIFT UP THE BUCKLER AGAINST THEE! HE SHALL SET ENGINES OF WAR AGAINST THY WALLS, AND WITH HIS AXES HE SHALL BREAK DOWN THY TOWERS! THY WALLS SHALL SHAKE AT THE NOISE OF THE HORSEMEN, AND OF THE WHEELS, AND OF THE CHARIOTS, WHEN HE SHALL ENTER INTO THY GATES, AS MEN ENTER INTO A CITY WHEREIN IS MADE A BREACH! WITH THE HOOFS OF HIS HORSES SHALL HE TREAD DOWN ALL THY STREETS! HE SHALL SLAY THY PEOPLE BY THE SWORD, AND THY STRONG GARRISONS SHALL GO DOWN TO THE GROUND! THEY SHALL MAKE A POIL OF THY RICHES, AND MAKE A PREY OF THY MERCHANDISE! THEY SHALL BREAK DOWN THY WALLS, AND DESTROY THY PLEASANT HOUESS! THEY SHALL LAY THY STONES AND THY TIMBER AND THY DUST IN THE MIDST OF THE WATER! I WILL CAUSE THE NOISE OF THY SONGS TO CEASE! THE SOUND OF THY HARPS SHALL BE NO MORE HEARD! THOU SHALT BE BUILT NO MORE! FOR I THE LORD HAVE SPOKEN IT, SAITH THE LORD GOD!

SHALL NOT THE ISLES SHAKE AT THE SOUND OF THY FALL, WHEN THE WOUNDED CRY, WHEN THE SLAUGHTER IS MADE IN THE MIDST OF THEE! THEN ALL THE PRINCES OF THE SEA SHALL COME DOWN FROM THEIR THRONES, AND LAY AWAY THEIR ROBES, AND PUT OFF THEIR BROIDERED GARMENTS! THEY SHALL CLOTHE THEMSELVES WITH TREMBLING! THEY SHALL SIT UPON THE GROUND, AND SHALL TREMBLE AT EVERY MOMENT, AND BE ASTONISHED AT THEE! HOW ART THOU DESTROYED THAT WAS INHABITED OF SEAFARING MEN, THE RENOWNED CITY, WHICH WAST STRONG IN THE SEA, SHE AND HER INHABITANTS, WHICH CAUSE THEIR TERROR TO BE ON ALL THAT HAUNT IT! WHEN I SHALL MAKE THEE A DESOLATE CITY, LIKE THE CITIES THAT ARE NOT INHABITED; WHEN I SHALL BRING UP THE DEEP UON THEE, AND GREAT WATERS SHALL COVER THEE! WHEN I SHALL BRING THEE DOWN WITH THEM THAT DESCEND INTO THE PIT, WITH THE PEOPLE OF OLD TIME! SHALL SET THEE IN THE LOW PARTS OF THE EART, IN PLACES DESOLATE OF OLD, WITH THEM THAT GO DOWN TO THE PIT, THAT THOU BE NOT INHABITED! I SHALL SET GLORY IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING! I WILL MAKE THEE A TERROR, AND THOU SHALT BE NO MORE!

SAY UNTO TYRUS, O THOU THAT ART SITUATE AT THE ENTRY OF THE SEA, WHICH ART A MERCHANT OF THE PEOPLE FOR MANY ISLES! THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; O TYRUS, THOU HAST SAID, I AM OF PERFECT BEAUTY! THY BORDERS ARE IN THE MIDST OF THE SEAS, THT BUILDERS HAVE PERFECTED THY BEAUTY! AND THEY SHALL MAK THEMSELVES UTTERLY BALD FOR THEE, AND GIRD THEM WITH SACKLOTH, AND THEY SHALL WEEP FOR THEE WITH BITTERNESS OF HEART AND BITTER WAILING! AND IN THEIR WAILING THEY SHALL TAKE UP A LAMENTATION FOR THEE, AND LAMENT OVER THEE, SAYING, WHAT CITY IS LIKE TYRUS, LIKE THE DESTROYED IN THE MIDST OF THE SEA! IN THE TIME WHEN THOU SHALT BE BROKEN BY THE SEAS IN THE DEPTHS OF THE WATERS THY MERCHANDISE AND ALL THY COMPANY IN THE MIDST OF THEE SHALL FALL!

PROPHECIES AGAINST THE NATIONS! THE PROPHETIC WORD AGAINST THE NATIONS CONTINUE! ISAIAH PROPHESIED CONCERNING THE NATIONS! JEREMIAH PROPHESIED CONCERNING THE NATIONS! AMOS PROPHESIED CONCERNING THE NATIONS! THE PROPHETIC WORD AGAINST THE NATIONS! ISAIAH SAW THIS! JEREMIAH SAW THIS! AMOS SAW THIS! THE FOURTH PROPHETIC WORD AGAINST THE NATIONS! THE LORD WILL NOT LEAVE THE NATIONS UNPUNISHED! THE LORD WILL RISE UP AGAINST THE NATIONS! THE UNDERLYING THEME SURROUNDING THESE PROPHETIC WORDS IS THE TREATMENT OF THE LAND OF ISRAEL BY THE NATIONS, PEOPLES AND LANDS WHICH ARE ROUND ABOUT IT! WE DARE NOT MISS THE TREMENDOUS IMPORTANCE OF THE PROPHETIC WORD CONCERNING THE NATIONS! THE TABLE OF NATIONS AS REFERENCED IN THE TENTH CHAPTER OF THE OLD TESTAMENT BOOK OF GENESIS! THE LORD RELEASED A PROPHETIC WORD CONCERNING THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH! NATIONS ARE NOT EXEMPT! KINGDOMS ARE NOT EXEMPT! EMPIRES ARE NOT EXEMPT! KINGS ARE NOT EXEMPT! RULERS ARE NOT EXEMPT! DO NOT THINK YOU WILL ESCAPE! DO NOT THINK YOU CAN ESCAPE! WHEN I SEND JUDGMENT AGAINST MY PEOPLE IT WILL ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE JUDGMENT COMES TO YOUR DOOR! JUDGMENT WILL NOT REMAIN APART FROM THE NATIONS! DO NOT GLOAT OVER THE DEMISE AND DESTRUCTION OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD! THE EPICENTER OF THE JUDGMENT OF THE LORD! WHEN THE TEMPLE AND SANCTUARY FALLS IT IS A SING AND PORTENT OF JUDGMENT UPON THE NATIONS, PEOPLES AND LANDS! PREPARE TO MEET THE LORD GOD OF HOSTS! PREPARE TO MEET THE GOD OF ISRAEL! PREPARE TO MEET THE ONE TRUE AND LIVING GOD! THE LORD EXPOSED EGYPT! THE LORD EXPOSED ASSYRIA! THE LORD WILL EXPOSE BABYLON! NOT EVEN EMPIRES WITH THEIR THRONES AND KINGS ARE SAFE! WOE UNTO THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH WHICH SIT HIGH AND PROUD WITHIN THEIR BORDERS! WOE UNTO THE ARROGANCE AND PRIDE OF THE NATIONS! THE PROPHETIC WORD AGAINST KINGS AND RULERS! THE SWORD BEGINS AT JERUSALEM AND IS TURNED UNTO AND AMONG THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH! IF NOT EVEN MY PEOPLE COULD ESCAPE JUDGMENT…WHAT WOULD CAUSE YOU TO THINK YOU YOURSELF CAN ESCAPE IT?

IN THE FIFTH DAY OF THE MONTH, WHICH WAS THE FIFTH YEAR OF KING JEHOIACHIN’S CAPTIVITY! AND IT CAME TO PASS IN THE SIXTH YEAR, IN THE SIXTH MONTH, IN THE FIFTH DAY OF THE MONTH! AND IT CAME TO PASS IN THE SEVENTH YEAR, IN THE FIFTH MONTH, THE TENTH DAY OF THE MONTH! AGAIN IN THE NINTH YEAR, IN THE TENTH MONTH, IN THE TENTH DAY OF THE MONTH! AND IT CAME TO PASS IN THE ELEVENTH YEAR, IN THE FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH! FIFTH, SIXTH, SEVENTH, NINTH, ELEVENTH! When you come to this particular section of Scripture you will find the word of the LORD coming unto Ezekiel in the ninth year, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month. The word which would come to Ezekiel during this time would originally be a word concerning Jerusalem the city of the Great King and where the living God of heaven and earth had placed His great and holy name. If you read the words which are found in the twenty-fourth chapter of this prophetic book you will find it written how the king of Babylon would set himself against Jerusalem to act as the divine instrument of judgment and wrath of the LORD of hosts upon the land of Judah and the city of Jerusalem. It must understood that when Nebuchadrezzar initially and originally came against the land of Judah, there appears to be no indication that he sought to destroy the city of Jerusalem. We do know for a fact that in that first invasion and in that first wave of the Babylonian army in the midst of the land Nebuchadrezzar would carry away the choicest of the inhabitants of the city of Jerusalem, and would carry away the treasures which were found in the Temple of the LORD, as well as the treasures which were found in the king’s house. It’s quite interesting to think about the fact that as time progressed the LORD would eventually give over the city of Jerusalem into the hands of the Babylonians that they might destroy it. There would be two waves of Babylonian invasion within and upon the land, and the Babylonian army would come upon the land of Judah with tremendous force so as to carry away captive inhabitants of the land of Judah and the city of Jerusalem. In all reality, the final sign of the judgment and wrath of the LORD upon the house of Israel was the LORD giving up and giving over the city of Jerusalem into the hands of the Babylonians. The final declaration of the wrath and judgment of the LORD would be the LORD giving up the city of Jerusalem—together with the Temple and sanctuary of the LORD—into the hands of the Babylonians, as they would lay siege to the city before eventually and ultimately creating a breach in the wall, entering in at the breach, setting fire to the gates of the city, and ultimately setting fire to the Temple of the LORD.

As I sit here today, I can’t help but encounter and come face to face with the awesome and incredible reality that the final act of judgment and wrath upon the house of Israel was the destruction of the city of Jerusalem, and the destruction of the Temple. The final piece of the judgment and wrath upon the house of Israel would be that house where the LORD had placed His glory, where He had placed His presence, and where He had caused His fire to come down upon the altar during the days of Solomon being completely and utterly destroyed by Nebuzar-Adan, the captain of the guard of the Babylonian army. The final sign of the judgment and wrath of the LORD upon the land of Judah and upon His people would be the giving over of the city of Jerusalem into the hands of the Chaldeans, and allowing them to not only come against the walls and gates of the city, but break through those walls, burn the gates with fire, and and ultimately bring the sword of the LORD unto the Temple of the LORD. When at one point the sword of the LORD would be upon the horizon and outside the walls of Jerusalem and Judah, it would now be permitted to enter straight up into the city of Jerusalem, and come straight to the Temple and sanctuary of the living God. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this awesome and incredible reality, for to do so would be to miss out on the city of Jerusalem as the epicenter of the judgment and wrath of the LORD—not only upon the house of Judah, but also upon the nations of the earth. When the sword of the LORD would come unto the city of Jerusalem, and when the sword of the LORD would be brought unto the mountain of Moriah where Abraham would have offered his son Isaac as a sacrifice, where David built an altar before and unto the LORD, and where Solomon would build the Temple of the LORD, it would be a sign of judgment upon that house and how the LORD would do unto that house what He did unto Shiloh. The judgment of the LORD at and upon His house would be a sign and a portent of judgment and wrath which would come unto the nations of the earth—those nations which were round about the land of Judah and the city of Jerusalem. Consider if you will the words which are found in the final chapters of the Old Testament books of Second Kings, Second Chronicles, and the prophetic book of Jeremiah:

“And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about. And the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah. And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land. And the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which is by the king’s garden: (now the Chaldees were against the city round about) and the king went the way toward the plain. And the army of the Chaldees pursued after the king, and overtook him. So they took the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment upon him. And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon. And in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which is the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzar-Adan, captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem: and he burnt the house of the LORD, and the king’s house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great man’s house burnt he with wire. And all the army of the Chaldees, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down the walls of Jerusalem round about. Now the rest of the people that were left in the city, and the fugitives that fell away to the king of Babylon, with the remnant of the multitude, did Nebuzar-Adan the captain of the guard carry away. But the captain of the guard left of the poor of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen…And the captain of the guard took Serbian the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door: and out of the city he took an officer that was set over the men of war, and five men of them that were in the king’s presence, which were found in the city, and the principal scribe of the host, which mustered the people of the land, and threescore men of the people of the land that were found in the city: and Nebuzar-Adan captain of the guard took these, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah: and the king of Babylon smote them, and slew them at Riblah, in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried away out of their land” (2 Kings 25:1-21).

“Jehoicahin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD. And when the year was expired, king NEbucadnezzar sent, and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly vessels of the house of the LORD, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem. Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he ban to reign, and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the LORD. And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar who had made him swear by God: but he stiffend his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the LROD God of Israel. Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem. And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: but they mocked the messenger of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy. Therefore he bourht upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon youmg man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand. And all the vessels of the hoes of God, great and small, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon. And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof. And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia: to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfill three-score and ten years” (2 Chronicles 36:11-21).

“Zedeiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. And he dit that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done. For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, till He had cast them out from His presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it, and built forts against it round about. So the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zecekiah. And in the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land. Then the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled, and went forth out of the city by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king’s garden: (now the Chaldeans were by the city round about) and they went by the way of the plain. But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho; and all his army was scattered from him. Then they took the king, and carried him up unto the king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath; where he gave judgment upon him. And the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes: he slew also the princes of Judah in RIblah. Then he put out the eyes of Zedekiah; and the king of Babylon bound him in chains, and carried him to Babylon, and put him in prison till the day of his death. Now in the fifth month, in the tenth day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzar-adan, captain of the guard, which served the king of Babylon, into Jerusalem, and burned the house of the LORD, and the king’s house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, and all the house of the great men, burned he with fire: and all the army of the Chaldeans, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down all the walls of Jerusalem round about. Then Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard carried away captive certain of the poor of the people, and the residue of the people that remained in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the multitude. But Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard left certain of the poor of the land for vinedressers and for husbandmen” (Jeremiah 52:1-16).

If you take the time to read the words which are found within the twenty-fourth chapter of this prophetic book you will encounter and come face to face with the awesome reality that the LORD was preparing to not only allow Jerusalem to come under attack by the enemy and adversary, but the LORD was also going to destroy—or allow to be destroyed—the crown jewel of the house of Israel. Despite the fact that Ezekiel was shown the tremendous lewdness found within the Temple of the living God in the midst of the land of Judah, the people of Israel continued to trust in the presence of the Temple in their midst. In all reality, this was something that was found in and during the days of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, for the word of the LORD would come unto Jeremiah on two different occasions proclaiming unto the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem that their trust and their confidence in the Temple of the LORD, and its presence among them in their midst was not only misguided, but would also be exposed by the LORD of hosts. Upon reading the Old Testament prophetic book of Jeremiah you will find that in the seventh chapter, as well as the twenty-sixth chapter of that prophetic book, the word of the LORD would come unto Jeremiah instructing him to stand in the court of the house of the LORD and there proclaim the word of the LORD concerning the Temple. What’s more, is that as you continue to read within this Old Testament book you will find a point in time where Jeremiah was no longer able to move freely in the midst of the land, nor within the city of Jerusalem, and as a direct result of this Baruch the son of Neriah would be charged and tasked with not only writing down all the words Jeremiah prophesied from the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah until the days of Jehoiakim, but also read and proclaim those words in the midst of the court of the house of the LORD. I have previously written that this would be the second time each prophetic word concerning the house of the living God would be proclaimed in the court of the LORD, and essentially the prophetic word concerning the sanctuary would be proclaimed concerning the Temple in which they placed their trust. Consider if you will the following words which are found within the Old Testament prophetic book of Jeremiah as you prepare to also consider the revelation the LORD gave unto Ezekiel concerning the condition of that Temple:

“The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Stand in the gate of the LORD’s house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The Temple of the LORD, The Temple of the LORD, The Temple of the LORD, are these. For if ye thoroughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour; if ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed no innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt: then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers for ever and ever. Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; and come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD. But go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel. And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the LORD, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; therefore will I do unto this house, which is called by my name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh. And I will cast you out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, even the whole seed of Ephraim. Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee. Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger. Do they provoke me to anger? Saith the LORD: DO they not provoke themselves to the confusion of their own faces? Therefore thus saith the LORD God; Behold, mine anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched” (Jeremiah 7:1-20).

“In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the LORD, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD’s house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD’s house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word: IF so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purposed to do unto them because of the evil of their doings. And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; If ye will not hearken unto me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you, to hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened; then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth. So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD. Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die. Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD” (Jeremiah 26:1-10).

“And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day. It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin. Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah: and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book. And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up; I cannot go into the house of the LORD: Therefore go thou, and read in the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of the LORD in the ears of the people in the LORD’s house upon the fasting day: and also thou shalt read them in ears of all Judah that come out of their cities. It may be they will present their supplication before the LORD, and will return every one from his evil way: for great is the anger and the fury that the LORD hath pronounced against this people. And Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book the words of the LORD in the LORD’s house. And it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, in the ninth month, that they proclaimed a fast before the LORD to all the people in Jerusalem, and to all the people that came from the cities of Judah unto Jerusalem. Then read Barcuch in the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the LORD, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the higher court, at the entry of the new gate of the LORD’s house, in the ears of all the people” (Jeremiah 36:1-10).

As I sit here this morning thinking about the words which are found within these chapters, I cannot help but be drawn to the tremendous reality that on two separate occasions Jeremiah was instructed according to the word of the LORD to stand in the court of the Temple and sanctuary of the LORD. It would be there in the court of the house of the LORD Jeremiah would proclaim the word of the LORD, would call the people back to repentance, and would call the people to once more turn their hearts and their souls unto the living God. Moreover, it would be there in the court of the Temple and sanctuary of the LORD Jeremiah would proclaim and declare unto the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem that if they refused to return to the LORD, and if they persisted to trust in the presence of the Temple of the LORD among them in their midst, the LORD would indeed make that house like Shiloh where He caused the Ark of the Covenant—the symbol of His glory and presence—to go out from the midst of the sanctuary as a divine sign of judgment upon the house. The children of Israel brought forth the Ark of the Covenant from the house of Shiloh thinking it would grant them victory in battle against the Philistines, and yet what they were actually doing was performing a sign of judgment upon that house, for the sign in the midst of them would be the glory of the LORD moving forth and going on from that place. What’s more, is that not only would the glory of the LORD depart from the house in Shiloh—and for a season in the midst of the nation and land of Israel—but so also would the high priest Eli die, and his two sons slain in the battle against the Philistines. When the prophet Jeremiah spoke unto the house of Judah concerning the LORD doing unto the Temple that which He had done unto His house in Shiloh—it was not only an indictment against the priests who ministered in the courts of that house, but it was also a declaration of the glory of the LORD departing and moving on from that place as it had done during the days of Samuel. When Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah spoke unto the house of Judah concerning the Temple and sanctuary of the LORD becoming like the house in Shiloh, it was a powerful declaration that the LORD would allow that house to be given over into the hands of its enemies and adversaries. Although the house which was at Shiloh would not be overtaken by enemies and adversaries, it would nonetheless be given over and given up by the LORD.

It was during the days of Samuel that the LORD would cause the house which was at Shiloh to become desolate in the midst of the land, as the LORD would utterly destroy the house of Eli from the midst of the land while at the same time allowing the last remaining piece of that mystery to remain alive in the land as a witness and testimony against the house of Israel. It’s interesting that the LORD would cause the Ark of the Covenant to go forth from the midst of the house which was at Shiloh, and would allow it to be captured by the Philistines and brought unto the temple of their god Dagon in the Philistian city of Ashdod. Of course we know that the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD would essentially perform a circuit of destruction and devastation in the midst of the land of the Philistines, for it would be brought into three of the five major cities in the land where it would plague and bring the judgment of the LORD upon them. We know that the LORD would allow the Ark of the Covenant to be brought forth from the house at Shiloh as a sign of judgment and wrath against that house, and the LORD would allow the corrupt priesthood within that house to be brought to desolation. The child that would be born during those times—that child which was given the name Ichabod—would remain alive in the midst of the earth as a witness and testimony unto the nation and people of Israel that the glory of the LORD had departed from among them in their midst. Not only had the Ark of the Covenant, which was the symbol of the glory and presence of the LORD been carried forth from the house of Shiloh as a sign of judgment against it, but so also was there a portent and sign among them reminding them of that reality. The child’s name which would be born at that time was “ichabod,” and his very name would signify and suggest the glory of the LORD had departed from the midst of the land of Israel. It wouldn’t be until the days of David when the Ark of the Covenant would be inquired of again, and would be brought into the city of Jerusalem where David would prepare a place and make room for it. Moreover, it would be in the days of Solomon the son of David when a Temple would be built in the midst of the city of Jerusalem where the Ark of the Covenant would find its final resting place in the Holy of Holies there in the most sacred part of the sanctuary. Oh that we would recognize and understand this reality, for when Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah prophesied and proclaimed unto the house of Judah and the inhabitants of the city of Jerusalem that the LORD would make the Temple in which they trusted as the house in Shiloh, he was declaring unto them that the LORD would abandon and forsake that house, and would turn and give it over unto the enemies and adversaries of Israel.

It’s worth noting that it would be unto Jeremiah the word of the LORD would reveal how the Temple and sanctuary of the LORD would be destroyed and given over into the hands of the enemies and adversaries. The word of the LORD would reveal unto Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah that the Temple and sanctuary would be given up by the LORD and given over into the hands of the enemies and adversaries of Israel. What’s more, is that when the word of the LORD revealed unto Ezekiel that the jewel of his eyes would be taken from him, and that he should not mourn, nor weep over it, his wife would die. What we must realize concerning the death of the wife of Ezekiel was that just as his wife was the jewel of his eyes and the jewel of his affection, so too was the Temple of the LORD the jewel of the affection and delight of the house of Judah and the inhabitants of Judah. Through the death of Ezekiel’s wife the LORD was revealing unto the inhabitants of Judah that their crown jewel which stood in the midst of the land would be destroyed and would become no more. Through the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel we find the word of the LORD coming unto the people of Judah and Jerusalem warning them of the destruction and devastation of the Temple and sanctuary of the LORD. What’s interesting to note is that Jeremiah would be alive and in the midst of the land when Nebuzar-adan captain of the guard of the Babylonian army would enter into Jerusalem, and would burn the Temple and sanctuary of the house of the LORD to the ground. In all reality, the final sign of judgment and wrath against the house of Judah and the city of Jerusalem was not necessarily the breach in the wall, the walls being broken down, and the gates burned with fire. These would in and of themselves be signs and portents unto the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem that the judgment and wrath had come upon them, however, the ultimate sign of judgment and wrath would be the LORD allowing the sword to be brought unto the very sanctuary which stood in the midst of the land. When the sanctuary is destroyed and burned with fire it is a powerful sign and portent—not only that judgment and wrath had come upon a people, but also that the judgment and wrath had been fulfilled and completed.

It’s worth noting just how much the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem trusted in the presence of the Temple of the LORD among them in their midst, and how the inhabitants of both city and nation placed so much confidence in the presence of the Temple. The people who dwelt in the midst of the land believed within their hearts that the Temple of the LORD was a surety and safeguard from the wrath and judgment of the LORD, for surely the LORD would not allow the enemy and adversary to come unto the place where His holy sanctuary was. In all reality, this gave them the freedom and license to continue in their abominable and detestable ways before and in the sight of the LORD—and not only continue in their iniquitous and idolatrous ways, but also defile and pollute the Temple and sanctuary of the LORD. As you read the words which are found in the prophetic book of Ezekiel you will find Ezekiel being brought in visions of God unto Jerusalem and unto the Temple and sanctuary of the LORD which was present in the midst of the city. It would be there at the Temple and sanctuary of the LORD Ezekiel would see the tremendous pollution and defilement which was found in the sanctuary and Temple of the LORD. It would be in these visions of God Ezekiel would see the condition of the Temple in which the people of God had placed their trust and confidence. Pause for a moment and think about just how tragic this actually was, for the people of Judah and Jerusalem would place their trust in the presence of the Temple of the LORD, and they actually thought that the Temple would somehow save them—this despite the great abominations which were found within the Temple and sanctuary of the LORD. It would be unto Ezekiel the son of Buzi the LORD would expose and reveal the great wickedness and corruption in the midst of the sanctuary which was found in the midst of the city of Jerusalem. With this in mind, I now invite you to turn and direct your attention to the words which are found in the Old Testament prophetic book of Ezekiel, and specifically in the eighth chapter of the book:

“And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the LORD God fell there upon me. Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber. And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north, where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy. And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain. Then said he unto me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the way toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold northward at the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry. He said furthermore utno me, Son o man, seest thou what they do? Even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? But turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations. And he brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold a hole in the wall. Then said he said unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold a door. And he said unto me, GO in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here. So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, pourtrayed upon the wall round about. And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shphan, with evey man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up. Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? For they say, The LOD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth. He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see great abominations that they do. Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD’s house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz. Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these. And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD’s house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east. Then he said not me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose. Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them” (Ezekiel 8:1-18).

Now, I fully realize and recognize you might be wondering why I placed so much emphasis on the corruption and pollution within the Temple and sanctuary of the LORD, as well as the prophetic word of judgment and destruction upon it. The truth of the matter is that the destruction of the Temple of the LORD was not only the final element of the wrath of the LORD upon the house of Judah, but it was also a portent and sign in and of itself unto the nations of the earth. Those nations and those peoples which were round about Judah and Israel watched as the LORD had utterly devastated and destroyed both Israel and Judah, how the LORD had utterly destroyed Jerusalem and Samaria, and they had watched and witnessed how the LORD had even caused His own sanctuary and Temple to be destroyed with fire by the enemy and adversary. There were nations which were round about Israel and Judah which saw what the LORD had done in the midst of Israel and Judah, and they began to gloat and arrogantly boast over the demise and destruction of the city of Jerusalem, the land of Israel and Judah, as well as the Temple and sanctuary of the LORD. What makes this incredibly dangerous for the nations round about Israel and Judah is that their gloating and their boast would reach unto heaven, and the LORD of hosts would Himself hear the words which they would speak concerning His people, concerning His heritage, and concerning the Temple and sanctuary where He had placed His great and holy name. In all reality, I am absolutely and completely convinced that once the judgment and wrath of fell upon and consumed the Temple and sanctuary which stood in the midst of the city of Jerusalem, it would only be a matter of time before the judgment and wrath of the LORD would be turned and would make its way unto the nations. What’s more, is that I am absolutely and completely convinced that when the judgment and wrath of the LORD was completed in the land of Judah, upon the city of Jerusalem, and even upon the Temple and sanctuary which the LORD had placed His name and His glory, it would then turn and be directed toward the nations which were round about Israel and Judah. What’s more, is that as you read the prophetic language found within the Old Testament you will find that there was more than one prophet who prophesied concerning and unto the nations of the earth. You cannot read the prophetic literature found within the Old Testament and not encounter the fact that Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Amos each prophesied concerning the nations of the earth—from Egypt to Philistia, from Tyre to Sidon, from Moab to Ammon, from Syria to Edom, and even unto Babylon herself.

What makes this all the more striking and alarming is when you read the words which are found in this prophetic book beginning to read with and from the twenty-fifth chapter, for you will find Ammon being the first nation listed in the prophecy of the nations. As you approach these chapters within the prophetic book of Ezekiel you will find the word of the LORD being directed toward the kingdoms and nations of the earth, as the LORD would have a unique controversy with each nation, with each kingdom, with each people which were round about Israel and Judah. When speaking unto and concerning the Ammonites the word of the LORD would declare how they had arrogantly gloated and boasted over the sanctuary of the LORD, and the judgment and wrath which the LORD had poured out upon it. When the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Ezekiel, it would expressly speak of how Ammon said within their heart, “Aha, against my sanctuary, when it was profaned; and against the land of Israel, when it was desolate; and against the house of Judah when they went into captivity.” Please don’t miss and lose sight of this tremendous truth and reality, for at the very beginning of the prophetic word revealed unto and concerning the nations round about Israel and Judah you will find Ammon leading the pack, and being engaged in a controversy with the LORD because of their arrogant boasting against the Temple and sanctuary of the LORD. It is absolutely necessary and imperative that we recognize and understand this awesome and powerful truth, for it brings us face to face with the beginning of the prophetic word which would be released unto and concerning the nations of the earth. The LORD would judge the nations and inhabitants of the earth for their own wickedness, their own corruption, their own abominations, and their own transgression and iniquity in His sight. The LORD would indeed judge His own people, yet He would and could not leave the nations of the earth unpunished. The LORD would and could not allow His holy nation, and His holy people to be judged for their iniquity and transgression and not also judge the nations and peoples round about Israel and Judah. Those nations which were round about Israel and Judah arrogantly gloated and boasted over the devastation and destruction that would come upon and against the people of God, as well as against the sanctuary of the LORD, and as a direct result of their boasting the LORD would turn and direct His judgment and His wrath against and upon them.

THE CONTROVERSY WITH THE NATIONS! If there is one thing we must recognize and understand when reading the words found in these chapters, it’s that the LORD cannot and will not allow the nations of the earth to go entirely and altogether unpunished. The LORD cannot and will not allow the nations of the earth to continue on in their wickedness and their abominations before Him in His sight. Even when you look at these nations in the modern context, you will find that these nations represent Egypt, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and other nations which were round about Israel. The words found in these chapters bring us face to face with the awesome and incredible reality that the LORD can and will judge the proud and haughty heart of man, and the arrogant boasting that is found within man’s heart. The LORD would judge His own nation and people because of their iniquity and wickedness in His sight and presence, and yet when He was finished with that judgment, that wrath and that destruction, He would turn His attention to the people of the nations round about Israel. Those who prided themselves in their wealth, those who prided themselves in their security, those who prided themselves in their fortified walls, those who prided themselves in their location, those who prided themselves in their might and strength would find themselves contending with the Holy One of Israel. How absolutely incredible it is to think about and consider the fact that the nations of the earth would indeed find themselves contending with the Holy One of Israel, and even though they are not and have not been His people whom He chose of old, they would nonetheless find themselves encountering the one true and living God, and His judgment and wrath which would come against them. Those who boasted that they would and could not be moved, and that they dwelt securely within their borders, within their cities, within their towns, within their villages, and those who prided themselves on their walls, their gates, their cities, their defenses, and the like would find themselves encountering the Holy One of Israel who would not leave them unpunished. In fact, the word of the LORD would be proclaimed through Ezekiel that the LORD would cause these nations round about Israel and Judah to themselves be invaded and how the LORD would give their land into the hands of the people of the east as a possession. Moreover, the LORD would allow these nations to themselves experience the sword of the LORD, and themselves be carried away as captives into the midst of a strange and foreign land.

NO NATION WAS SAFE! NO KINGDOM WAS SAFE! NO PEOPLE WERE SAFE! The word of the LORD which was spoken through the prophet Ezekiel during these times wonderfully and powerfully demonstrates the fact that despite the arrogant boasting of the nations which were round about Israel and Judah, they would find themselves very quickly and very soon experiencing the judgment of the LORD against and upon them for their own iniquity, their own transgression, their own wickedness, and their own immorality. Concerning Ammon the LORD would declare that He would stretch out His hand upon them, would deliver them for a spoil to the heathen, would cut them off from the people, and would cause them to perish out of the countries. Moreover, the LORD would destroy them, and in the end they would know that He was indeed the LORD. Concerning Moab and Seir the LORD would declare that he would open up the side of Moab from the cities, and unto the men of the east with the Ammonites would give them as a possession unto the heathen and unto the people of the east. Moreover, the LORD would declare that they would not be remembered among the nations, for the LORD would execute judgment upon them. Concerning Edom the LORD would stretch out His hand upon them, would cut off man and beast from it, and would make it desolate from Teman to Dedan, and they would fall by the sword. Moreover, the LORD would lay His vengeance upon Edom by the hand of His people Israel, and they would do in Edom according to the anger of the LORD. This would the LORD do because Edom dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and greatly offended because they revenged themselves upon them. Concerning the Philistines, the LORD would stretch out His hands upon them to cut them off and to destroy the remnant of the sea coast through great vengeance and furious rebukes because they dealt by revenge, and took vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it for the old hatred.

It is absolutely necessary that we recognize and understand the words which are found within these chapters, for the LORD would not only judge the pride and arrogance of the nations round about Israel and Judah, but the LORD would also judge them based on their treatment of His people and their inheritance and possession. Perhaps one of the greatest realities found within this passage of Scripture is when you think about and consider that the judgment of the LORD would come upon these nations—not only because of their own wickedness and their own abominations, but also because of their arrogant boasting over the house of Israel, the city of Jerusalem, and the Temple and sanctuary of the living God. The LORD would indeed judge and punish the nations of the earth, and would completely and utterly wipe their names from the map that they might know that He alone is the LORD God. Today we don’t have a nation of Moab, nor do we have a nation of Ammon, nor do we have a nation of Edom. Today we don’t have a nation of Philistia, nor do we have Tyre and Sidon. Today we have Lebanon, we have Gaza, and we have Jordan. Please don’t miss the incredibly significance and importance of this reality, for it brings us face to face with the awesome and wonderful truth of the LORD’s judgment and wrath against the nations of the earth—and specifically those nations which would dare afflict, oppress and oppose His people. Oh that we would truly come to terms with and understand the LORD’s controversy with the nations of the earth, and the judgment and wrath of the LORD which can and will be executed against and upon these nations. Even in the days and times in which we are presently living the LORD can, and the LORD will bring judgment upon the doorsteps of the nations of the earth, and upon the pride and arrogance of men. The LORD can and will bring His judgment and His wrath upon all those who place their trust in their confidence in wealth, in possessions, in merchandise, in trade, and all those things we boast of within this generation. Even when you come to the prophetic word of the LORD against Tyrus you will find the greatest controversy the LORD had with Tyrus was its trust and confidence in its wealth, in its geographical location among the nations, and its great merchandise among the earth. In all reality, it would be through the prophet Ezekiel the LORD would pronounce judgment against and upon Tyrus because of its excessive merchandise, trade, wealth and possession, and it would be in the final New Testament prophetic book of the Revelation of Jesus the Christ we find the LORD bringing judgment against and upon mystery Babylon for its own trade, its own commerce, its own merchandise and its own wealth. Oh that we would read the words found within these chapters and would carefully examine our own hearts and our own souls before and in the sight of the living God that we might walk in purity, holiness, righteousness and obedience before Him in faithfulness and love.