Chapter xxxiii.
The previous chapter closed the predictions which were uttered by the
Prophet before the destruction of Jerusalem, and now we come to the
second part of this prophetic book, containing the predictions of
Ezekiel after the fall of Jerusalem. And these predictions unfold the
great future of Israel, their restoration and national revival, the
spiritual blessings in store for them, the invasion of their land by the
last enemy, Gog and Magog, their complete overthrow, and the deliverance
of His people. After that, in the final nine chapters of this book, the
Prophet records the vision of the coming and crowning glory of Israel,
as they shall possess it when restored to their land. Here we learn how
the departed glory will return and the Prophet describes a great temple
and its worship. It is the millennial temple, that coming, earthly house
to which the nations shall turn to worship the King. Then the name of
Jerusalem will be "Jehovah-shammah"--the Lord is there (xlviii:35).
While the predictions uttered by Ezekiel before the fall of Jerusalem
have mostly been fulfilled, as we learned in our expositions, the great
prophecies which we follow now, given after the fall of the city are
still unfulfilled. These predictions are of great importance and of deep
interest, for they give God's program for His chosen people, how He will
deal with them in His infinite grace and receive them nationally when
the times of the Gentiles are over and He comes again. Because these
things are now so very near, and we stand on the threshold of their
fulfilment, they are for us of double interest. We shall therefore
examine them more closely and also learn from present day events how all
is now getting ready for the accomplishment of God's revealed purposes.
In the introductory chapter of this section, Ezekiel as the watchman is
commissioned to warn the house of Israel; then the messenger came
announcing the fall of Jerusalem; the prophet's lips were unsealed and
he was no more dumb, but uttered again the Word of the Lord.