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3 Now the glory of the God of Israel went up from above the cherubim,where it had been, and moved to the threshold of the temple. Then the Lord called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit at his side4 and said to him, “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it.”
5 As I listened, he said to the others, “Follow him through the city and kill, without showing pity or compassion. 6 Slaughter the old men, the young men and women, the mothers and children, but do not touch anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary.” So they began with the old men who were in front of the temple.
Ezekiel 9:3-6 NIV
One of the reasons that the Rapture that Dispensationalists believe in makes no sense is that the Bible promises that God will protect His own in place.
The "man clothed in linen who had the writing kit" in Ezekiel 9 is obviously an angel. "Those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things" are those who grieve that others are following false religion, multiple gods, and idolatry, and no doubt engaging in sexual immorality. Those who lament, then, are those who know the one true God, and yet are still concerned about others who do not. In the passage in Ezekiel, God directs the angel to put a mark of protection on His people. In Revelation there is the Mark of the Beast, which is a human sign used to mark those in submission to the Beast, and is visible to mortals. In Ezekiel, in contrast, we are told that there is a Divine mark of protection, which is visible to angels but not to mortals. The angels of death, or destroying angels, will pass by those with the Divinely ordered mark of protection.
The Bible is clear that God does send epidemics, famine and catastrophes as punishment for disobedience. The Bible is also clear that God makes specific plans to rescue and protect those who follow Him. Yet God doesn't protect His own by removing them from the world, but in other ways, on Earth.
5 As I listened, he said to the others, “Follow him through the city and kill, without showing pity or compassion. 6 Slaughter the old men, the young men and women, the mothers and children, but do not touch anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary.” So they began with the old men who were in front of the temple.
Ezekiel 9:3-6 NIV
One of the reasons that the Rapture that Dispensationalists believe in makes no sense is that the Bible promises that God will protect His own in place.
The "man clothed in linen who had the writing kit" in Ezekiel 9 is obviously an angel. "Those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things" are those who grieve that others are following false religion, multiple gods, and idolatry, and no doubt engaging in sexual immorality. Those who lament, then, are those who know the one true God, and yet are still concerned about others who do not. In the passage in Ezekiel, God directs the angel to put a mark of protection on His people. In Revelation there is the Mark of the Beast, which is a human sign used to mark those in submission to the Beast, and is visible to mortals. In Ezekiel, in contrast, we are told that there is a Divine mark of protection, which is visible to angels but not to mortals. The angels of death, or destroying angels, will pass by those with the Divinely ordered mark of protection.
The Bible is clear that God does send epidemics, famine and catastrophes as punishment for disobedience. The Bible is also clear that God makes specific plans to rescue and protect those who follow Him. Yet God doesn't protect His own by removing them from the world, but in other ways, on Earth.