Important Dates To Remember 612 B.C. 606 B.C. 586 B.C. 539 B.C. 536 B.C. 520 B.C. 516 B.C. 483 B.C. 458 B.C. 445 B.C. 430 B.C. Babylon defeats Assyria 1st captives taken (Daniel & 3 friends) Judah falls to Babylon; captivity begins Medo-Persia defeats Babylon – Zerubbabel (temple) Prophecies of Haggai & Zechariah Temple completed Story of Esther (between Ezra 6-7) – Ezra (spiritual infrastructure) – Nehemiah (city walls) Prophecy of Malachi 70 yrs RETURN #1 RETURN #2 RETURN #3 Important Dates To Remember NOW…

586 B.C.; Judah falls, Jerusalem destroyed Jeremiah – Daniel – Ezekiel: Timeline (B.C.) 640 536 586 593 605 571 627 Jeremiah Daniel Ezekiel 586 B.C.; Judah falls, Jerusalem destroyed

Chapters 1-24; Judgments against Judah and Jerusalem Lessons from Ezekiel 612 430 520 22 yrs In 593/592 B.C., the prophet Ezekiel receives his call to be a prophet. Outline of the book of Ezekiel: Chapters 1-24; Judgments against Judah and Jerusalem Chapters 25-32; Judgments against the nations. Chapters 33-48; God’s announcements of restoration and salvation.

Lessons from Ezekiel 612 430 520 22 yrs In 593/592 B.C., the prophet Ezekiel receives his call to be a prophet. Four primary objectives God had in mind for Ezekiel’s work: To dispel any hope that the yoke of Babylon might soon be broken. To present God’s case against Israel, to show how deeply they had sinned. To help move His people to repentance. To offer His people hope, to encourage them to turn to Him and to renew their efforts to serve Him.

By the rivers of Babylon There we sat down, yea, we wept Ps 137 By the rivers of Babylon There we sat down, yea, we wept When we remembered Zion Upon the willows in the midst thereof We hung up our harps For there they that led us required a song They that wasted us required mirth, saying Sing us one of the songs of Zion How can we sing Jehovah’s song In a foreign land?

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem Let my right hand forget her skills Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth If I remember thee not If I prefer not Jerusalem Above my chief Joy Remember, O Jehovah Edom The day of Jerusalem Who said: “Raze it, Raze it” Even to the foundation thereof O daughter of Babylon, who will be destroyed

Happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee As thou hast served us Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones Against the rock

Lessons from Ezekiel 612 430 520 22 yrs In 593/592 B.C., the prophet Ezekiel receives his call to be a prophet: “Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the River Chebar, that the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. On the fifth day of the month, which was in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, the word of the Lord came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Chebar; and the hand of the Lord was upon him (Ezekiel 1:1-3)

Lessons from Ezekiel VISIONS OF GOD (Chap. 1): 612 430 520 22 yrs VISIONS OF GOD (Chap. 1): God was revealing Himself to Ezekiel to call him to be His prophet. “This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.” (1:28) The living creatures: the creatures are identified in chapter 10:15, 20-22 as “cherubim”. Appearance changes from context to context; doubtful they are specific beings with an identity of their own. Possibly represent the creation of God; both man and beast as it serves Him in all things to do His will. Their function seems to be the transporting and serving the LORD in His activities.

Lessons from Ezekiel Ezekiel’s commission to prophesy (Chap. 2-3): 612 430 520 22 yrs Ezekiel’s commission to prophesy (Chap. 2-3): “Son of man, stand up, and I will speak to you.” God is going to send Ezekiel to the children of Israel, a people who have a history of rebellion, and are still in rebellion. The people are hard-hearted and stubborn but Ezekiel is to tell them what the LORD says. Who knows if the people will listen, but they will know that a prophet has been among them. Don’t fear them or their words. Speak the words of God and do not be rebellious as the people are.

Lessons from Ezekiel Ezekiel’s commission to prophesy (Chap. 2-3): 612 430 520 22 yrs Ezekiel’s commission to prophesy (Chap. 2-3): A scroll appears before Ezekiel that held lamentations, mourning, and woe. God instructs Ezekiel to “eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” God then instructs Ezekiel to “go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them.” (3:4) Would the people listen to Ezekiel / God? (vs. 7) God then sends him to the captives with the instruction, “Thus says the Lord God, whether they hear, or whether they refuse.” It was like honey in sweetness in his mouth.

Lessons from Ezekiel 612 430 520 22 yrs Ezekiel’s is made a watchman (Chap. 3:16-27): (vs. 17) “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth and give them warning from Me…” Wicked: No warning given, the wicked would die in their iniquities but God would require their blood at his hand. If warning was given, the wicked would still die in their iniquities if they did not turn, but the watchman would have delivered his soul.

Lessons from Ezekiel 612 430 520 22 yrs Ezekiel’s is made a watchman (Chap. 3:16-27): Ezekiel is told to shut himself up in his house, be bound with ropes, and not able to speak. (vs. 27) “But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD. He who hears, let him hear; and he who refuses, let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house.”

Lessons for Today Lessons for Today 1900 2000 2016 Lessons for Today 1900 2000 2016 Three primary objectives God has in mind for OUR work today: To present God’s Word to the World, to show how all have sinned. Rom. 3:23; Rom. 6:17 (mankind without God are “slaves of sin”) To help move people to repentance Luke 13:3; 2 Peter 3:9 To offer people hope, to encourage them to turn to Him or renew their efforts to serve Him. Rom. 5:2; Rom. 12:1-2

Ro 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Ro 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Lu 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 2Pe 3:9 ¶ The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Ro 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Ro 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Ro 12:1 ¶ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Lessons for Today 1900 2000 2016 God instructed Ezekiel to “eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” God then instructed Ezekiel to “go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them.” (3:4) Are we willing to “ingest” God’s word (2 Tim. 2:15) and be ready to speak to people about His words (1 Peter 3:15)?

Are we prepared to be “watchmen” for God? Lessons for Today 1900 2000 2016 Are we prepared to be “watchmen” for God? Mt. 28:19-20 “…make disciples…teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” 2 Tim. 4:2 “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.