Ezekiel 36-39

We just completed a study into chapters 36 through 39 of the prophet Ezekiel in our home group. Yeah, that Gog and Magog thing. Two more-than-weighty thoughts come to mind: First of all, to those of us who believe that these events are yet to happen, I invite us all to lean over and feel those vibrations from the railroad tracks again. WOW, this is getting serious, beloved. That freight train is getting close! Secondly, to those of you, who believe that these events were fulfilled by General Titus in 70 A.D., and all of the blessings assigned to Israel are meant for the Church, let me suggest otherwise while inviting mutual feedback from my Preterist brothers.

To those of you who are not familiar with the passages, these are the writings of the prophet predicting the invasion by the armies of “that land to the uttermost north” (Russia if you are a futurist), and the armies of Persia (modern day Iran) against “the land of Israel… in the last of days”. If you wish to keep up on current events pertinent to these happenings, I invite you to bookmark the Jerusalem Post along with other Middle-East sites. I also invite you to read these chapters again with much gravity. Russia’s current involvement with Iran is passionate and seems to be mutually productive for both countries. Further, they have in common a disdain and hatred toward Israel. There are some who believe that these events will take place within our immediate lifetime. If so, it seems to me that far more sobriety should be generated within our community than is currently observed. We will pursue these passages to a far greater degree in the future, but for now, let’s address my second thought.

I am not all that knowledgeable about the position held by those who believe that God has terminated His relationship with national Israel. I know enough that I would invite feedback from those who hold this position. I will, with much thought and honesty, consider such feedback. But, let’s for now, pursue a logical sequence: Many questions suggests themselves in the reading of this passage: Who is addressed by the prophet in this passage (indeed, throughout the entire book)? Is it not to the physical land of Israel, “…the mountains of Israel…the hills, the ravines, the valleys, the desolate wastes and the forsaken cities, those who have become a prey and a derision to the surrounding nations (gentiles)? (36:4) Is not the physical land (Eretz Israel) strongly implied? Does this metaphor describe a people with church-like purity?

How does one describe “these people”? First of all, they are “…My people Israel, who will soon come…all the house of Israel, all of it” (36: 8-10) Not only is the return from Diaspora implied, but further, the uniting of the 12 tribes is strongly suggested. These are a people who have defiled the land, have been desolated “for good cause”, who have stumbled, become unclean, been worthy of God’s wrath, shed blood, been spewed out of the land and become scattered. Not only were they scattered, but they profaned His great name in the process. (36:16-20) These are not church-like qualities, one might conclude. Neither are they indicative of a people who might be described as spiritual offspring of Abraham. Here’s my point: It is the very people who are despicable in God’s sight who will be the ones receiving the blessings from that very same God.

When they came to the nations where they went, they profaned My holy name,
because it was said of them, ‘these are the people of the Lord; yet they have
come out of His land’. But I had concern for My holy name, which the house
of Israel had profaned among the nations where they went. Therefore, say
to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God, It is not for your sake, O
house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have
profaned among the nations where you went’. (36:20-22)

Who, then, are these peoples who become candidates for God’s blessing? To whom is the prophet speaking? Better put: What is the fate of these people so described?

Well, they are the people who will be returned to the land. They will be scattered among the gentiles no longer. They will be purged, have their heart of stone removed, and after 3400 years of blindness will have the very God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob reveal Himself to them in holiness (Zech. 12:10), and have the curse pronounced upon them by God’s utterance through the prophet Isaiah (Is. 6:9-10) forever removed. They will live in the land given to their forefathers, will cultivate the land, have the waste places rebuild; they will be one nation in the land (the tribes united), have one shepherd as their prince forever, will enjoy a covenant of peace, have God dwell among them; God will claim them as His people, and cause His sanctuary to dwell in their midst FOREVER!..
Who is to be blessed, here? The Church? Certainly not. It’s those evil people described above, that’s who. (Chapters 36-39) One final question: When were these events (blessings) accomplished? In 586 BC, 70AD, 132AD? Hopefully, one’s exegesis would require a simple response of NEVER. By implication, then, we all await a future event.

If it is as close as some of us feel that it is, then it would seem to be more than important that we acknowledge that fact and act upon it - would it not?