Ezekiel 17: 22-24. Who is the third eagle of Ezekiel 17?
After telling the parable of an eagle (Babylon) taking away Israel, planting it in a new land where it prospered, then of a second eagle (Egypt) who appealed to decadent Zedekiah to come to him for salvation, but led him to disaster, God speaks of a third plucking of a twig.
The third eagle is God Himself. He takes from the cedar (Israel) and takes a twig that He plants on a high mountain (Jerusalem). The promise is made that this little twig (the remnant) will become a stately cedar itself, with worldwide implications.
This sounds very much like a millennial promise.
Ezekiel 18. What is the lesson of this chapter?
Personal responsibility before God, and the grace of God on all who will repent and live right before Him. It was a revelation to the Israelites that they were not being judged for their parents’ sins or their offspring’s, but their own.
This is not to say that evil influences in the family do not take their toll. It is simply saying that any man anywhere who wants to follow God will be rewarded accordingly by Him.
When coupled with God’s offer of the Spirit and salvation under the New Covenant, this teaching seems to be way ahead of its time.
Ezekiel 19. The “lamentations” of Ezekiel. Is this a general sorrow or does Ezekiel have specific persons in mind?
Very specific. “Your mother, a lioness…” is the nation of Judah.
One of her cubs, “…captured… brought with hooks to the land of Egypt,” is Jehoahaz, son of Josiah.
Another of her cubs had their net “spread over him, was captured… put in a cage… and brought to the king of Babylon.” This is Jehoiachin, who eventually found favor with Nebuchadnezzar.
The rest of the lament tells the dismal fall of proud lioness Judah.
Ezekiel 20:25. God gave them statutes that were not good? How possible?
He has already praised the statutes He gave them in the wilderness, so we know He is not speaking of the Mosaic law here. His comment has to do rather with the fact that Israel has rejected His commands and has gone its own way. And as the Lord indicates through Paul, He is able to give people “over” to their lusts eventually. He allowed them to go their way without Him.
Makes us check our own lives. Is there an area He has warned us about many times but has now decided to release us to? Has our conscience been seared so much that we think the things we are doing are actually the way of the Lord, when they are only our own way?
Ezekiel 20:33-44. Are there clues in this passage that point to a future fulfillment?
I think so. Consider:
God is going to pour out wrath at their final coming. Reminds us of the return of Jesus, not the relatively peaceful re-entry under Cyrus?
I shall be king over you. Has this happened in history yet? It shall when Jesus returns.
I will bring you into the wilderness. Sounds like Zechariah, and the Revelation. A wilderness experience where Messiah reveals Himself to the final remnant.
Evil men will be excluded from Israel. No, this has definitely not happened!
You will profane My holy name no longer. What do you think?
From the High Mountain of Jerusalem, God will accept offerings. Yes, as in Revelation 21:24-27, plus Old Covenant prophets’ predictions.
You will loathe yourselves for all the evil you have done.
Enough. This is definitely Millennial also.
Ezekiel 22:2. What 2 other persons in Scripture are called “Son of Man”? What does the term imply?
Daniel is addressed thus twice. Jesus often. Ezekiel, over 90 times!
Is this a term of holy distinction? If so, Daniel and Ezekiel could not share it with Jesus Christ. Quite the contrary, says the Ellicott commentary. It is just a synonym for “man.” Common ordinary man. Jesus was at one time the high-born Son of the Living God, and the son of ordinary man. That is the miracle!
As for Ezekiel, yet another common man made uncommon by the Voice of God which spoke through His words and actions.
Ezekiel 25-32. Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, all have portions of their prophecy given over to Gentile judgment. Are the same nations included?
Take a look.
I= Isaiah. J=Jeremiah. E=Ezekiel:
Babylon. I, J
Assyria. I, E
Philistia. I, J, E
Moab. J, E
Damascus (Syria). I, J
Ethiopia. I
Egypt. I, J, E
Edom. I, J, E
Arabia. I, J
Tyre. I, E
Sidon. E
Ammon. J, E
Elam. J
The chart indicates that Philistia, Egypt, and Edom are the only nations singled out by all three prophets. Isaiah’s diversity is the greatest. Also of note are the strong prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah against Babylon, and Ezekiel’s significant 3-chapter focus on the Satanic Kingdom of Tyre, and a 2-chapter look at Egypt.
Ezekiel 26. Has all of the chapter 26 prophecy been fulfilled?
It would seem so. Ravaged time and again, not only by Nebuchadnezzar, but also by Alexander, and the Saracens in the fourth century, Tyre, once the head of a magnificent sea-going Empire, is nothing more than a village of Lebanon at present, its former glory laid in the dust. The lament of the following chapter brings to mind a similar sad song in the book of Revelation, when her conqueror, Babylon, is herself conquered.
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