Book of the Prophet Ezekiel
Compiled by WD Kemner January 2024
God Leaves the Temple
Chapters 8
Vision of Israel’s Sin
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Ezekiel Chapter 8 verses 1-4 |
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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.
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About 14 months since chapter 1. He was sitting in his house with the elders. Not lying on his side, so this is probably just after the lying on his side for 390 days. The “likeness” he saw is described in appearance as the “man” he describes in chapter 1. He is taken away in his vision to Jerusalem.
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Ezekiel Chapter 8 verses 5-6 |
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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 unto me, Son of 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.
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He was taken to the Temple and shown some form of idol or graven image that had been installed at the inner gate. Ezekiel is now seeing first hand what it is that has provoked God to jealousy. “…turn thee yet again…” Where there is one sin there will be a lot more.
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Ezekiel Chapter 8 verses 7-12 |
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And he brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold a hole in the wall. Then said he 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 Shaphan, with every 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 LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.
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The priests had erected a wall to conceal what they were doing from being displayed publicly. He makes a hole in the wall, a peak hole or spy hole. God has Ezekiel view the scene slowly, to see the greatness of the sin. Instead of taking Ezekiel immediately to the greatest abomination, Ezekiel sees the atrocity slowly. It was over whelming in its scope. He widens this hole to a door and then goes in to find what scale this has come to be.
Seventy men were involved in making offering to idols. Seventy was the number of priest that sat on the Sanhedrin at any one time. They were doing in secret what they did not want to be found doing so that they would not be labeled as a hypocrite. The prophet Ezekiel even makes note that he recognized one of the men that was partaking in the pagan ritual.
God has Ezekiel look even further for yet even a greater abomination than what he has just seen.
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Ezekiel Chapter 8 verses 13-18 |
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He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater 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 unto 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. |
The shedding of tears for an idol. The act of worshipping the sun and turning their backs to the temple of God.
Destroying the Temple
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Ezekiel Chapter 9 verse 1 |
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He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.
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The “GO!” Command has been given and the enemy (attacking nation) Babylonians are now being permitted to proceed with their plans to destroy the temple.
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Ezekiel Chapter 9 verses 2-4 |
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And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar.
And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side;
And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
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Six men (destroying angels) came through the higher gate. One for each of the six gates. They came directly to the altar. The place for sacrifice and atonement for sin. They came there to receive their directives from God. There is one additional individual among them. It is the man in linen. As the priests were. This man had an inkhorn like the clerks for the legal profession would have had. His job is to identify those in the city who are concerned about the abominations that are occurring and “marking” them.
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Ezekiel Chapter 9 verses 5-11 |
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And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary.
Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house. And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.
And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem? Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say,
The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not. And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head. And, behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me.
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Everyone else without the “mark” was to be slain. Only those that saw the sin taking place and declared it as sin were saved. The judgment began within the House of God and proceeded out from there.
Chapter 10 Overview
God’s Glory in the Temple
We now get to witness along with Ezekiel God’s presence in the Temple and the creatures Ezekiel described in Chapter 1 and which he now calls cherubims.
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Ezekiel Chapter 10 verse 1 |
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Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.
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The appearance of the likeness of a throne. This is a great reference by Ezekiel. We in our humble little minds attempt to describe the God of Heaven sitting on a meager little throne in order to grasp it into our understanding. Ezekiel is attempting to avoid doing such a thing. God’s throne cannot compare to the throne of any earthly ruler from that of Solomon to the Pharoahs of Egypts or monarchs of Europe.
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Ezekiel Chapter 10 verses 2-7 |
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And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight. Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.
Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD'S glory. And the sound of the cherubims' wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh.
And it came to pass, that when he had commanded the man clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubims; then he went in, and stood beside the wheels.
And one cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubims unto the fire that was between the cherubims, and took thereof, and put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen: who took it, and went out.
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The man in linen was not eager to be quick to beat out judgment. He went and stood and waited as one of the cherubim placed the coal of judgment in the man’s hand. Then the moment He was tasked with His mission He did what God the Father had tasked Him with and went out to do it.
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Ezekiel Chapter 10 verses 8-22 |
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And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man's hand under their wings. And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and the appearance of the wheels was as the colour of a beryl stone. And as for their appearances, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel.
When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went. And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, even the wheels that they four had.
As for the wheels, it was cried unto them in my hearing, O wheel. And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. And the cherubims were lifted up.
This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar.
And when the cherubims went, the wheels went by them: and when the cherubims lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also turned not from beside them. When they stood, these stood; and when they were lifted up, these lifted up themselves also: for the spirit of the living creature was in them.
Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.
And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD'S house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they were the cherubims. Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings. And the likeness of their faces was the same faces which I saw by the river of Chebar, their appearances and themselves: they went every one straight forward.
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“Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house.” Words that no one ever wants to hear regarding the glory of God departing. Ezekiel revisits a description of these creatures that he had first introduced to us in Chapter 1 of the Book of Ezekiel.
Chapter 11 Overview
God’s Glory leaving the Temple
This is the final steps. The removing of God from the temple at Jerusalem. A House built for God’s presence. His presence would be removed and not seen like this again until the arrival of the Millennial Temple after His stepping foot on this planet in the Book of Revelation.
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Ezekiel Chapter 11 verses 1-21 |
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Moreover the spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto the east gate of the LORD'S house, which looketh eastward: and behold at the door of the gate five and twenty men; among whom I saw Jaazaniah the son of Azur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people. Then said he unto me, Son of man, these are the men that devise mischief, and give wicked counsel in this city: Which say, It is not near; let us build houses: this city is the caldron, and we be the flesh.
Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man. And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak; Thus saith the LORD; Thus have ye said, O house of Israel: for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them.
Ye have multiplied your slain in this city, and ye have filled the streets thereof with the slain. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Your slain whom ye have laid in the midst of it, they are the flesh, and this city is the caldron: but I will bring you forth out of the midst of it.
Ye have feared the sword; and I will bring a sword upon you, saith the Lord GOD. And I will bring you out of the midst thereof, and deliver you into the hands of strangers, and will execute judgments among you. Ye shall fall by the sword; I will judge you in the border of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
This city shall not be your caldron, neither shall ye be the flesh in the midst thereof; but I will judge you in the border of Israel: And ye shall know that I am the LORD: for ye have not walked in my statutes, neither executed my judgments, but have done after the manners of the heathen that are round about you.
And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then fell I down upon my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel? Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel wholly, are they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get you far from the LORD: unto us is this land given in possession.
Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come. Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.
And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence. And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord GOD.
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Your sin will FIND YOU! These men (a council of 25) who are important individuals among the people are shown to Ezekiel by God. Two of them are known by name to Ezekiel. These 25 appear to be different than the ones in chapter 8:16 who were worshipping the sun. These 25 are sitting at the door of the gate.
It has been suggested that these being “princes” were probably “judging cases” for the people. They are now found guilty themselves of misjudgment. When Ezekiel prophesied at the command of God to warn the people, one of those recognized dies!
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Ezekiel Chapter 11 verse 22-25 |
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Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above. And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city.
Afterwards the spirit took me up, and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to them of the captivity. So the vision that I had seen went up from me. Then I spake unto them of the captivity all the things that the LORD had shewed me.
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We see the final departure of God from the city and the Temple. He is willing to sacrifice the building BUT he did not leave the earth.