Notes: Ezekiel 21 To Ezekiel 38:22

*Ezekiel 21:1-7 / *Ezek. 21:1 -

This can refer to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 BC.

--

*Ezekiel 21:8-16 / *Ezek. 21:8 -

(Re: What is the "third swing of the sword"?)

Note that there is no "third swing of the sword" in Ezekiel 21:8-16.

Instead, Ezekiel 21:14 says: "let the sword be doubled the third time", meaning increased eight-fold. This could refer to a nuclear weapon having its destructive power multiplied eight times. Compare the "ruins multiplied" in Ezekiel 21:15.

(See also paragraph 2 of section 2 of Joel 2:30 below)

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*Ezekiel 21:25-27 / *Ezek. 21:25 -

If Ezekiel 21:25 has a fulfillment in our future, it could refer to a false Jewish Messiah who will arise in Israel.

(See Daniel 9:26 below)

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*Ezekiel 21:27 / *Ezek. 21:27 -

Ezekiel 21:27a could include the meaning that Jerusalem (Ezekiel 21:22) must be overturned, in the sense of completely destroyed, three separate times: once in 586 BC (by the Babylonians), then again in 70 AD (by the Romans), and then again at some point in our future (by the Antichrist), right before Jesus Christ's Second Coming (Ezekiel 21:27b, Zechariah 14).

(See also Amos 9:15 and Luke 21:24 below)

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*Ezekiel 22:15-16 / *Ezek. 22:15 -

This can refer to Jews after the destruction of Jerusalem (cf. Ezekiel 22:2) by the Babylonians in 586 BC.

--

*Ezekiel 22:17-22 / *Ezek. 22:17 -

This can refer to the destruction of Jerusalem (Ezekiel 22:19) by the Babylonians in 586 BC.

--

*Ezekiel 23 / *Ezek. 23 -

This refers allegorically to how the northern kingdom of Israel (Samaria) admired the Assyrians (Ezekiel 23:5-8) before they came and attacked the northern kingdom and took it into captivity in 722 BC (Ezekiel 23:9-10; 2 Kings 17:6).

Then Ezekiel 23:11-21 refers to how, even after the defeat of Samaria, Jerusalem admired the Assyrians and then the Babylonians before they came and attacked Jerusalem and took it into captivity in 586 BC (Ezekiel 23:22-25).

--

*Ezekiel 24:6 / *Ezek. 24:6 -

The original Hebrew word (gowral: H1486) translated as "lot" can refer to a small stone used in casting lots, such as in deciding (by chance, and yet by divine will: Proverbs 16:33) who gets to possess what (Proverbs 18:18) in the division of land (Joshua 18:10, Numbers 33:54) or of some other items (Psalms 22:18, John 19:24).

"Let no lot fall upon it" would then mean let this city remain uninhabited. That is, let it be so destroyed that no people would want to come and cast lots to divide it up to possess it, like in Obadiah 1:11.

--

*Ezekiel 24:16 / *Ezek. 24:16 -

The original Hebrew word (maggephah: H4046) translated as "a stroke" can refer to a "plague" (Numbers 14:37) in the sense of any illness resulting in death.

--

*Ezekiel 24:17 / *Ezek. 24:17 -

The original Hebrew word (pe'er: H6287) translated as "the tire" can refer to a "turban" (Easton's).

Regarding the covering of the lips, it was probably a sign of grief (cf. Micah 3:7). Compare the black veils which widows can place over their faces at the funerals of their husbands. In Ezekiel 24:17 the original Hebrew word (`atah: H5844) translated as "cover" can mean to "veil" (Strong's Hebrew Dictionary). That the veil covers the lips could mean that it covers the entire face and not just the top half.

In Ezekiel 24:17, "eating not the bread of men" probably does not refer to fasting, for that would be a sign of grief (1 Chronicles 10:12). And the verse forbids any sign of grieving. Instead, the original Hebrew word ('iysh: H0376) translated as "men" can be translated as "another" (Ezekiel 22:11). That is, it could refer to not eating food provided to you by another person in your time of grief (when you should not be expected to worry about having to prepare any food for yourself). That is, by refusing food offered by another person in condolence, you show that you are not grieving.

--

*Ezekiel 24:21 / *Ezek. 24:21 -

The original Hebrew word (machmal: H4263) translated as "pitieth" can mean "delights in" (Strong's Hebrew Dictionary), like how parents can delight in their children.

(This is the only place in the Bible where this Hebrew word is used.)

--

*Ezekiel 25 / *Ezek. 25 -

This refers to ancient nations next to Judah rejoicing when it went into its Babylonian captivity in 586 BC, not realizing that God would make sure that they too would be conquered by the Babylonians.

--

*Ezekiel 25:16 / *Ezek. 25:16 -

The original Hebrew word (Kerethiy: H3774) transliterated here as "Cherethims" (and elsewhere as "Cherethites") could be derived from a word (karath: H3772) which can mean "confederates" (Psalms 83:5), in this case a people confederate with the Philistines and living in their land along the sea coast (see also what Zephaniah 2:5 says). Also, the Kerethiy could have been called that because they were from Crete. For compare "Kerethiy" with "kray'-tay", the pronunciation of "Krete" (G2914), the ancient Greek word for Crete, a Greek island.

Some of the Cherethites left their Philistine land and came to live in Israel as warriors for King David (2 Samuel 20:7). The ancient Greeks were great warriors and hired themselves out as mercenaries to different nations.

(Compare 2 Samuel 15:18 above)

--

*Ezekiel 28 / *Ezek. 28 -

(*Tyre)

If Ezekiel 28:2 has application to future events because of its similarity to the never-fulfilled 2 Thessalonians 2:4, then the prince of Tyre could be the future human ruler commonly called the Antichrist (Daniel 11:36, Revelation 13:5-18). If that is the case, then the king of Tyre (Ezekiel 28:12) could be Lucifer (Satan, the dragon), who will empower the Antichrist (the individual-man aspect of Revelation's "beast") (Revelation 13:4, Revelation 12:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:9). Lucifer, before his fall and Adam's fall, could have been placed as a covering cherub over Eden (Ezekiel 28:13-15).

There is a curious correlation between the prince and the king of Tyre on the one hand (Ezekiel 28), and the use of the name "Hiram" in the mystical teachings of a worldwide secret society which ultimately teaches Gnostic Luciferianism, also called Satanism, at its highest degree of initiation. For Hiram was the name of the human king of Tyre at the time of the building of King Solomon's temple (1 Kings 5), about 966 BC. Also, Hiram was the name of another person from Tyre, the human master workman who helped Solomon build the temple (1 Kings 7:13-14). If the king and prince of Tyre addressed in Ezekiel 28 are Lucifer (Satan) and the Antichrist, then the name "Hiram" would be a perfect code name (not the actual name) for both of them, a name by which their identity within the Gnostic Luciferian (Satanist) teachings of the worldwide secret society could be kept secret from all but its highest-level initiates. Just as the human workman named Hiram built a temple to God in which the world was to worship (1 Kings 8:41-43), so the Antichrist will bring the world into the conscious and open worship of Lucifer (Revelation 13:4) when the Antichrist gains power over the earth (Revelation 13:7).

The Antichrist's future, Luciferian rule over the earth could be pictured by the most common, publicly known symbol for the worldwide secret society, in which a drafting/measuring compass, an instrument shaped like the two legs of an "A" (as in "Antichrist"), is sometimes shown standing on top of a globe of the earth. And beneath, as in support of, the "A" is a drafting/measuring square, an instrument shaped like an "L" (as in "Lucifer"). Also, found within the "L" is the letter "G", which could ultimately stand for the (false) "Gnosis" (knowledge) of Gnosticism (compare the original Greek of 1 Timothy 6:20b), which the secret society (mistakenly) thinks can be found in Lucifer. The Antichrist will teach the ancient Gnostic lie that YHWH God is evil (Revelation 13:6, Daniel 11:36), and the ancient Gnostic lie that Christ is not in the flesh (1 John 4:3). The Antichrist will also deny that Jesus is the Christ (1 John 2:22).

Also, there is a major corporation today which has a picture/symbol which is uncannily like the symbol for the secret society.

(See also the "Cabal" section of Revelation 13:5 below. And see Revelation 13:4 below, and 2 Chronicles 4:16 above)

--

*Ezekiel 28:17 / *Ezek. 28:17 -

(Re: Did not Lucifer first fall when he started eating?)

No, eating was not the problem, pride was (Ezekiel 28:17). But Lucifer's having to eat, as all angelic beings may have to eat (Psalms 78:25), could have been instituted by God as a reminder to him (as to all other creatures) of his total dependence on God for his continued existence (Acts 17:28a), to help him remain humble before God. Lucifer either forgot the reason why God has His creatures need to eat, or he thought that he could provide his own food forever even in rebellion against God. Or, he was rebelling precisely against the whole dependence-on-God idea (Matthew 6:11), unable to bear it, and so was driven by his pride to rebel against God no matter what the ultimate consequences might be, even if it meant that he would be ultimately cast into the eternal suffering of the second death, the lake of fire and brimstone (Revelation 20:10, Revelation 21:8, Matthew 25:41,46).

(Compare also Revelation 2:7 below)

--

*Ezekiel 28:24-26 / *Ezek. 28:24 -

Ezekiel 28:24 in its context can refer to the destruction of the ancient city of Zidon (Ezekiel 28:21-23) and of the other pagan cities and nations in the region of ancient Judah (as well as ancient Judah itself), by the Babylonians in the sixth century BC. Ezekiel 28:25-26 can then refer to Judah's subsequent return (in 538 BC) from its Babylonian captivity.

--

*Ezekiel 29:7 / *Ezek. 29:7 -

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary suggests that the Hebrew word (AMD, H5976) translated as "to be at a stand", with its homonym (AMD: H5975) translated nearby as "stand" (Ezekiel 27:29), might actually have originally been the Hebrew word (MAD, H4571) which can mean "to shake". That is, the "M" and the "A" at the start of the word may have been mistakenly transposed by a copyist.

--

*Ezekiel 29:14 / *Ezek. 29:14 -

"Pathros" (H6624) could refer to Upper Egypt, which is southern Egypt. It is called "Upper" in the sense of it being higher up the Nile river, which flows from south to north. Many people might reasonably, yet still mistakenly, think that "Upper Egypt" means that part of Egypt which is higher up on a map, in the sense of farther north.

--

*Ezekiel 29:21 / *Ezek. 29:21 -

In the Bible, the "opening of the mouth" of a person can refer to him speaking something (Judges 11:35-36, Job 3:1, Job 33:2).

In Ezekiel 29:21 the "thee" can be the prophet Ezekiel being restored to speak to Israel, like in Ezekiel 24:27, Ezekiel 33:22, and Ezekiel 3:27. And the "them" and "they" in Ezekiel 29:21 can be a restored Israel.

--

*Ezekiel 30:1-5 / *Ezek. 30:1 -

This, in its context of Ezekiel 30:1-19, can refer to the destruction of Egypt and surrounding countries by "the sword" (Ezekiel 30:4-6) of "Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon" (Ezekiel 30:10-11), and his taking of some people there into captivity (Ezekiel 30:17-18).

(See also Ezekiel 30:10 below)

--

*Ezekiel 30:5 / *Ezek. 30:5 -

"Chub" (Kuwb: H3552) could refer to a country near Egypt, possibly Libya. The Hebrew word (Puwt: H6316) translated as "Libya" earlier in the verse (as well as in Ezekiel 38:5 and Jeremiah 46:9) is elsewhere transliterated as "Phut" (Ezekiel 27:10) or "Put" (Nahum 3:9), and could refer to a land between Egypt and Canaan (Genesis 10:6; 1 Chronicles 1:8). "Lydia" (Luwd: H3865), elsewhere called "Lud" (e.g. Ezekiel 27:10), could refer to a land west of Egypt.

--

*Ezekiel 30:10-11 / *Ezek. 30:10 -

This may refer to the future Antichrist (Daniel 11:42-43). For it is said that the ancient Nebuchadnezzar never conquered Egypt. The Antichrist may claim to be Nebuchadnezzar returned (via "reincarnation").

(See Revelation 13:1 below)

--

*Ezekiel 30:21 / *Ezek. 30:21 -

The original Hebrew word (chittuwl: H2848) translated as "roller" could refer to a bandage, in this case long strips of linen (perhaps soaked in plaster) wrapped around and around the broken arm until the bandage formed a supportive cast for the proper healing of the arm.

--

*Ezekiel 32:6 / *Ezek. 32:6 -

This, in its context, can refer to an ancient defeat of Egypt (Ezekiel 32:2-6).

--

*Ezekiel 32:7 / *Ezek. 32:7 -

This refers to a literal cloud covering the sun as part of God "setting darkness upon thy land" (Ezekiel 32:8) as a punishment, just as the literal darkness in Exodus 10:22-23 was a punishment.

(Compare the "Literal" section of Matthew 24:29 below)

Also, the original Hebrew word (kabah: H3518, pronounced: kaw-baw') translated as "put thee out" does not mean to put something outside, but means to "extinguish" (Strong's Hebrew Dictionary), as in putting out a fire (Leviticus 6:12). This word "kabah" may be the source of our English word "kibosh", pronounced ki-bosh', and used in the phrase "put the kibosh on that", meaning to extinguish it as a possibility.

--

*Ezekiel 32:18-32 / *Ezek. 32:18 -

(The pit of hell)

See Job 33:22 above.

--

*Ezekiel 33:7 / *Ezek. 33:7 -

(Re: A sun/cloud mis-reference)

See Ezekiel 32:7 above.

--

*Ezekiel 33:10-11,18-20 / *Ezek. 33:10 / *Ezek. 33:11 -

See Ezekiel 18:23 above.

~

(Re: Do you actually believe that the eternal suffering of non-Christians will bring God and Christians pleasure and make eternity blissful?)

No, for neither God nor Christians need take any pleasure in non-Christians' suffering per se (cf. Ezekiel 33:11). The only pleasure that God and Christians will take in connection with non-Christians being in the lake of fire and brimstone is that this will provide God with the opportunity to show His holy wrath against evil, and to make His power known (Romans 9:22), forever (Revelation 20:10,15, Revelation 14:10-11, Matthew 25:41,46, Mark 9:45-46).

(See also the "Vessels of wrath" section of Romans 9:11 below)

--

*Ezekiel 34:1-10 / *Ezek. 34:1 -

This can refer to the rulers of ancient Israel, although it can apply by type to the Church (1 Corinthians 10:11).

--

*Ezekiel 34:11-16 / *Ezek. 34:11 -

This can refer to after Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming, at the start of the Millennium (of Revelation 20:4-6), when He will gather to Israel all of the surviving, elect genetic Israelites from around the world who did not become Christians before His Second Coming. Compare also what Ezekiel 20:34-38 says.

--

*Ezekiel 34:12 / *Ezek. 34:12 -

This cloudy and dark day could be a figurative reference to the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24. And note that afterward, here "he is among his sheep". That is, "he" (Jesus Christ) has returned. Compare what Matthew 24:29-31 says.

--

*Ezekiel 34:27-31 / *Ezek. 34:27 -

This can refer to the future Millennium (of Revelation 20:4-6).

--

*Ezekiel 35:1-15 / *Ezek. 35:1 -

This could refer to the same thing as Isaiah 34:1-17.

(See Isaiah 34:4 above)

--

*Ezekiel 36 / *Ezek. 36 -

Ezekiel chapters 36-37 could refer to a restoration of the Jews to their land during the future Millennium.

(Compare section 2 of Matthew 24:34 below)

--

*Ezekiel 36:1-15 / *Ezek. 36:1 -

Here the mountains are literal. They are expressly distinguished from "all the house of Israel, even all of it" (Ezekiel 36:10), which would include its leaders. Also, the mountains came under the control of Idumea (Ezekiel 36:5), while all the house of Israel were "at hand to come" back to the mountains and walk on them and possess them again as their inheritance (Ezekiel 36:12).

--

*Ezekiel 36:5 / *Ezek. 36:5 -

Here the fire could be the fire of 2 Thessalonians 1:8, which will occur at Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10), which will occur right before the future Millennium (Revelation 19:7 to 20:6).

--

*Ezekiel 36:10 / *Ezek. 36:10 -

While this could be fulfilled during the future Millennium, the idea of Ezekiel 36:10 by itself would also apply to the return of the kingdom of Judah to the land of Israel in 538 BC, after Judah's Babylonian captivity. For the kingdom of Judah came to include individuals from all of Israel long before the Babylonian captivity (2 Chronicles 11:16-17).

Also, the idea of Ezekiel 36:10 by itself would also apply to the return of the Jews to the land of Israel in modern times. For the Jews include the descendants of those who were in the kingdom of Judah, which came to include individuals from all of Israel.

(See the "Lost Tribes?" section of Romans 11:17 below)

--

*Ezekiel 36:27 / *Ezek. 36:27 -

The original Hebrew word (`asah: H6213) translated as "cause" can be translated as "grant" (Job 10:12), in the sense that if Christians choose to walk in God's Holy Spirit, He will grant them the ability not to fulfill the lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). But if Christians choose instead to quench the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19) and to commit sin without repentance, then they will ultimately lose their salvation (Romans 8:13).

(See Hebrews 10:26 below)

--

*Ezekiel 36:35 / *Ezek. 36:35 -

During the future Millennium, Jesus Christ will restore parts of the earth so that they will be like the Garden of Eden (Ezekiel 36:35, Isaiah 51:3).

--

*Ezekiel 37:1-24 / *Ezek. 37:1 -

In Ezekiel 37 the resurrection described in verse 10 could refer to the political rebirth of Israel in 538 BC, after its Babylonian captivity. For Ezekiel 37:11 is referring to Israel in the time of the prophet Ezekiel, when Israel was in its Babylonian captivity. The dry bones would then represent the loss of Israel's hope during that time (Ezekiel 37:11).

The "army" in Ezekiel 37:10 may not be literal in the sense of a military force sent to attack or defend some territory, but could be a figurative way of expressing the size of the multitude of people seen by Ezekiel in his vision, like, for example, someone could say: "There is an army of ants in the kitchen", meaning that there is a large number of ants.

While Ezekiel 37:11-12 could have been a metaphor for Israel in its Babylonian captivity, and then its return to the land of Israel after that captivity (Ezra 2:1), at the same time Ezekiel 37:12-24 could also refer to the future, physical resurrection of the Church, which will occur at Jesus Christ's Second Coming (1 Corinthians 15:22-23; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17, Revelation 19:7 to 20:6). For the Church is Israel (Revelation 21:9b,12b). And the Church will be physically resurrected by God's Holy Spirit (Romans 8:11, Ezekiel 37:14).

(See also the "Tribes" section of Romans 11:17 below)

--

*Ezekiel 37:14 / *Ezek. 37:14 -

This can include reference to surviving, elect genetic Israelites at the start of the future Millennium (of Revelation 20:4-6) who had not become Christians before Jesus Christ's Second Coming, but who will become Christians when they see the returned Jesus in person (Zechariah 12:10-14). For God's Holy Spirit is "the spirit of grace and of supplications" in Zechariah 12:10 (compare Hebrews 10:29c, Romans 8:26).

--

*Ezekiel 37:19 / *Ezek. 37:19 -

This awaits a future fulfillment during the Millennium (of Revelation 20:4-6), which will include Christians genetically descended from those in the kingdom of Israel (Samaria) who went into captivity in Assyria in 722 BC (Ezekiel 37:21; 2 Kings 17:6,23).

~

(Re: So it will not include any nonelect Israelites?)

No, for only elect/Christian Israelites will be included (Ezekiel 37:23-24, Ezekiel 20:38).

~

(Re: Will it include only genetic Israelites?)

No, for Christian Gentiles are also considered to be part of Israel.

(See the "Tribes" section of Romans 11:17 below)

--

*Ezekiel 37:21-28 / *Ezek. 37:21 / *Ezek. 37:22 -

(See Ezekiel 36(space) above)

Ezekiel 37:21-28 was not fulfilled in the time of the prophet Ezekiel's contemporaries. It, like Romans 11:26, will not be fulfilled until after "the fulness of the Gentiles be come in" (Romans 11:25). For Ezekiel 37:21-28 refers to what will happen during the future Millennium (of Revelation 20:4-6), which will be followed by the Gog/Magog invasion of Israel described in Ezekiel chapters 38-39 and Revelation 20:7-9.

--

*Ezekiel 37:24 / *Ezek. 37:24 -

See Ezekiel 45:22 below, and section 2 of Ezekiel 46:12 below.

--

*Ezekiel 37:28 / *Ezek. 37:28 -

This does not refer to the future, third Jewish temple (Revelation 11:1-2), but to what will occur after the time of the third temple.

--

*Ezekiel chapters 38-39 / *Ezek. chs. 38-39 -

See Revelation 20:7 below.

--

*Ezekiel 38:3 / *Ezek. 38:3 -

(Re: Does "chief prince" require that Gog is an angelic being, and Satan?)

No, for "chief prince" (ro'sh: H7218; nasiy': H5387) is not a technical term referring only to angelic beings. For humans can also be referred to as chief princes (ro'sh: H7218; nasiy': H5387) (1 Chronicles 7:40). And Daniel 10:13 uses different Hebrew words for both "chief" (ri'shown: H7223) and "prince" (sar: H8269). So even the Hebrew intended no necessary connection between the titles in Ezekiel 38:2 and Daniel 10:13.

(See also section 2 of Revelation 20:7 below)

--

*Ezekiel 38:6 / *Ezek. 38:6 -

Gomer and Togarmah could refer to peoples of geographical Europe (See Easton's).

--

*Ezekiel 38:8 / *Ezek. 38:8 -

The original Hebrew word (paqad: H6485) translated as "visited" can mean "mustered" (Strong's Hebrew Dictionary), in this case, mustered for war against Israel.

--

*Ezekiel 38:17 / *Ezek. 38:17 -

Here the plural "prophets" referred to as foretelling the Gog/Magog event could be the prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel chapters 38-39) and the apostle John, who saw the prophetic vision of the book of Revelation (Revelation 20:7-9, Revelation 1:1).

--

*Ezekiel 38:18-20 / *Ezek. 38:18 -

(Re: Same event as Revelation 16:17-20?)

Note that those passages do not require that they are the same event. For God can make the earth shake more than one time.

(See Revelation 11:13 below)

Also, mountains can be destroyed more than one time. For God can miraculously raise mountains up (Isaiah 2:2-3).

--

*Ezekiel 38:21 / *Ezek. 38:21 -

(Re: Same event as Zechariah 14:3,13?)

Note that those passages do not require that they are the same event. For God can, more than one time, make every man's sword be against his brother/neighbor (Exodus 32:27).

--

*Ezekiel 38:22 / *Ezek. 38:22 -

(Re: Same event as Zechariah 14:12, Isaiah 34:3, and Revelation 11:19?)

Note that those passages do not require that they are the same event. For God can bring pestilence/plague more than one time (Exodus 9:14). And He can, more than one time, either send blood upon or cause armies themselves to bleed (Exodus 7:19, Ezekiel 32:6, Revelation 8:7, Revelation 16:4). And He can bring hail more than one time (Exodus 9:24).

(See the "Hail" section of Revelation 11:19 below)

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