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Book of Ezekiel
Chapter 7

Some have called this chapter a dirge (poem or funeral song); and there are those who say there are actually FOUR prophecies in it: (1) 7:2-4, (2) 7:5-9, (3) 7:10-11, and (4) 7:12-13, followed by an explanation of the common subject (7:14-27).
The date of this section of the prophecy as given in Ezekiel 1:1, would leave about seven years before the capture of the city, the blinding of Zedekiah (2 Ki.25:7; Jer.39:7; 52:11), and the destruction of the Temple (2 Ki.25:9-17; 2 Chron.36:19; Jer.52:13); although some date this chapter shortly before the fall of the city, supposing that the date at the head of a section does not necessarily embrace everything that follows until the next date is given.

A main feature of this Chapter is the repetition. The end has come (7:2); the day has come (7:10); the time has come (7:7); and doom has come (7:7, 12). This repetition is explained by some as because of popular belief in the Holiness of Jerusalem; its destruction was unthinkable to the Israelite mind. Their view was that, as long as GOD is LORD, God's Holy Temple and God's Holy City would stand.

Theme:  Prophecy of the final destruction of Jerusalem.
Chapter 7 contains the second of two messages of judgment against the entire land of Israel. Through chapter 5, Ezekiel's messages had concerned Jerusalem, but now the whole land is considered. Jerusalem had not yet been destroyed and, although most of the inhabitants had been removed from the land, many people still remained there. But . . . even with all that had taken place, the rebellious house (2:5-6, 8-9, 27) did NOT turn to God.

The Desolation of the Land (7:1-15)

Ezekiel 7:1 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, (KJV)

Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying . . . the word of the Lord came again to the prophet, for this is a different and separate prophecy from the one in Chapter 6 . . . even though it is of the same kind, and was delivered either immediately after the former one; or maybe sometime between that and the following in Chapter 8, which has a date to it. The Targum calls it the word of prophecy from the LORD. The prophet still continues to bring his alarming message to the house of Israel: and having in several preceding Chapters announced the judgments that were coming upon them; here in this Chapter, by several awakening forms of expression, informs them, that those judgments are now at the very door.

*****Ezekiel is still passing on to the people of Israel what the Lord GOD has to say to them. The first message, given in chapter 6, opened with the same words.

Ezekiel 7:2 Also, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD unto the land of Israel; An end, the end is come upon the four corners of the land. (KJV)

Also, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD unto the land of Israel . . . the inhabitants of it; not the ten tribes, who were already carried captive; but the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and those that were with them, who dwelt in the land. The mountains, hills, rivers and valleys, were before addressed; now it is the land itself: what the LORD by the prophet said unto the land, or the people of it, follows:
An end . . .  meaning the end of GOD'S patience and forbearance; for He would bear with their sin no longer, for in a very little while; the time of vengeance was coming upon them, and an utter consumption would be made of them (Lam.4:18).  
The end is come upon the four corners of the earth . . . or land; for not the end of whole world is meant (Mat.24:3); only the land of Judea and the destruction of it is what is meant; upon the
four corners of it (Rev.7:1). This punishment was just going to be inflicted on them; for this prophecy was in the sixth year of King Zedekiah; and in the ninth year of his reign Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem; and in the eleventh year took it (2 Kings 25:1).

*****Judgment was to come upon that land, and it would include the people of the land. The land of Israel and the nation Israel are always considered together in the Word of God. A new element is added to Ezekiel's prophecy in this message . . . this is now the prophecy of the final destruction of the land and of Jerusalem. The final deportation will take place, and the city will be destroyed.

Ezekiel 7:3 Now is the end come upon thee, and I will send mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense upon thee all thine abominations. (KJV)

Now is the end come upon thee . . . this is repeated to confirm it, and for the sake of applying it to the people of Israel, but now it is said in order to arouse them, and hopefully make them respond.
And I will send mine anger upon thee . . . God’s anger  was the symbol of the punishment of their sins.
And I will judge thee according to thy ways . . . punish, pass sentence and execute it, as their evil ways and practices deserved.
And I will recompense . . . or put upon them, reward them, repay them; give unto them the wages of their iniquities (Rom.6:23), or lay all the guilt and all the punishment of all thy sins upon them.
Upon thee all thine abominations . . . cause them to bear the burden the just punishment of their abominable evils; and this punishment would be more than they would be able to bear, although it would NOT be more than they deserved.

*****The message in verses 1-3 is in the form of Hebrew poetry. The Word of the LORD GOD came to the prophet, saying, I shall judge you according to your ways. The punishment I will bring on you will fit your crime.
We need to ask ourselves a question: Am I a TRUE Christian, or a hypocrite? http://www.godcannotlie.org/true_children_of_god.htm
http://hisservants.org/a_1_hypocrisy_runs_wild.htm
http://hisservants.org/hard_mat.23.13-30_h_s.htm
http://www.judgmentcoming.org/j_c_books_me_a_pharisee.html
Dear one, the end of all things is at hand; and Jerusalem's last end was a type of the end of the world (Mat.24:3). If only people would realize that the end of all things as we know it, is at hand, and that they could see that the end of time is very near, and the end of our own time and days much nearer, that they may secure a happy place at the end of the days!
Daniel 12:2  And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (KJV)
Matthew 25:31-33 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. (KJV)
Matthew 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (KJV)  

THE DAY OF THE LORD IS AT HAND! BEWARE!!! Are YOU ready?
Isaiah 13:6 Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.  (KJV)
Joel 1:15  Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come. (KJV)
Joel 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; (KJV)
Zephaniah 1:7 Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests. (KJV)
Matthew 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (KJV)
Matthew 4:17  From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (KJV)
Matthew 10:7  And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. (KJV)
Luke 21:31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. (KJV)
In Ezekiel 7:3, the end comes upon the four corners of the land. The ruin of it shall be final, no part of the land would escape; not even the most remote places. Such will the destruction of the world be; all these things shall be dissolved, and such will the destruction of sinners be; NOT one will avoid it. May our prayer be that the wickedness of the wicked might come to an end, before their wickedness brings them to an end!

Ezekiel 7:4 And mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity: but I will recompense thy ways upon thee, and thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee: and ye shall know that I am the LORD. (KJV)

And mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity . . . even though the punishment will be heavy, and the weeping will be great (5:11), I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy them (Jer.13:14). Although the LORD GOD is merciful and gracious, there comes a time when He will NOT spare the guilty (Ex.34:7). He will NOT have pity, but will execute a promised and deserved punishment for the glory of the Law and the possible reformation of the offenders. (5:11; 7:9; 8:18; 9:10; 24:13). The LORD’S mercy and grace are intended to make us aware of our sin and repent, and know that He is indeed the LORD. The LORD GOD is merciful and gracious, but He has a breaking point when His Holy and righteous wrath steps in! (Ex.34:6; 2 Chron.30:9; Neh.9:17; Ps.103:8; 116:5; Jonah 4:2). BEWARE!!!
I will recompense thy ways upon thee . . . see verse 3. James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (KJV)
Dear one, eternal death (the second death) truly is the valid result of persistent sin. The worst thing that can happen to a person or a nation is to have their immoral and wicked ways fall upon them and their abominations bring forth their natural fruit. When a nation which has sown to the wind begins to reap the whirlwind (Hos.8:7), it also begins to think that maybe there is a GOD.
And thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee . . . NOT taken away, NOT atoned for and certainly NOT repented of. The Targum is, and the punishment of thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee.
And ye shall know that I am the LORD . . . this phrase is found 32 times in the Old Testament, 25 of these are in the Book of Ezekiel. It is to the LORD GOD that vengeance belongs (Isa.63:4; Rom.12:19); for it is this awesome GOD who takes notice of sinful actions against Him, and punishes them.

*****Ezekiel clearly tells this rebellious people (2:3, 5, 7-8; 3:26-27), that God will NOT spare them, nor will they be able to plead for pity . . . for judgment was coming. When hypocrites hear that He is merciful and long-suffering, (Num.14:18; Ps.103:8; 145:8) they grab hold of this and try to build for themselves a foolish and inflexible confidence. But the LORD GOD here clearly states that His pity (compassion, mercy, kindness) would not be accessible to the wicked, who never stop driving it far from them.
Dear one, we must consider this carefully because it is quite natural to be made drunk with false hope when we hear that God is merciful and gracious. Sinners may indeed go to Him, and may call upon Him, and plead for His mercy, but because hypocrites fail to do this, they thus become worse, as they pile up their sin (Isa.30:1; Rom.2:5; 2 Tim.3:13).
So when the prophet says, his eye will not spare, neither would he pity them, he means that the wicked and ungodly men must NOT think the LORD’S mercy was prepared for them  . . . against that which they had beforehand firmly shut the door. The prophet rebukes their wickedness so sharply, because they denied that the LORD was GOD as often as they withdrew their confidence from the teaching of the holy man.

Ezekiel 7:5 Thus saith the Lord GOD; An evil, an only evil, behold, is come. (KJV)

Thus saith the Lord GOD . . . there would be a stop, because what follows would be something awful and terrible.  
An evil, an only evil, behold, is come . . . this means an evil without precedent or parallel, meaning the destruction of the city and Temple; which, although just one, was such a one as was never known before nor was there any like it after. The Targum is, evil after evil, lo, it cometh;

*****SIN is an evil, an only evil, an evil that has NO good whatsoever; it is the worst of evils. But here, this is spoken of the evil of trouble; it is an evil, one evil, and that one shall be enough to affect and complete the ruin of the nation; there need not be more to do what it was sent for, because this one shall make it an utter end, affliction needs not rise up a second time (Nah.1:9).

Ezekiel 7:6 An end is come, the end is come: it watcheth for thee; behold, it is come. (KJV)

An end is come, the end is come . . . these words, often repeated (2, 3, 6), show the eagerness and concern of the prophet's mind; the speed and quickness destruction was making; and the great absurdity of the people, which required such a frequent repeating.
It watcheth for thee . . meaning their wickedness did not slumber, but was wide awake, and waited until the time was up, which was just at hand, for it to take place (2 Pet.2:3).
Behold, it is come . . . either the end, or rather the evil before mentioned; it was just at the door; it means the certainty of it, and its near approach.

***** The Day of the Lord is a day of tumult, NOT a day of joyful shouting on the mountains. The Day of the Lord is envisioned as a time when God would suddenly appear and kill all of the enemies of Israel and turn the whole world over to them. Amos did his best to dispel that false view (Amos 5:18), but the idea persisted until the times of Ezekiel. What the prophet says here is that the day of the Lord will be filled, NOT with joyful shouting of the harvesters, but with the screams of terror from the triumph of their enemies. The true picture of that day is given in: Revelation 6:14-17 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15  And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16  And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17  For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? (KJV)
2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (KJV)
http://www.godcannotlie.org/book_of_isaiah_ch.13.htm
http://www.godcannotlie.org/book_of_joel_ch.2.htm
http://www.godcannotlie.org/amos_ch5.htm
http://www.godcannotlie.org/rev_ch6.htm

Ezekiel 7:7 The morning is come unto thee, O thou that dwellest in the land: the time is come, the day of trouble is near, and not the sounding again of the mountains. (KJV)

The morning is come upon thee, O thou that dwellest in the land . . . early ruin was on its way, upon the inhabitants of Judea, which before is said to be awake (verse 6), and for them to watch; and now the morning has come, the evil (verse 5) hastened to them.
The time is come . . . the appointed time of Jerusalem's ruin, the time of her visitation;
The day of trouble . . . day in Hebrew is thought to have its name from commotion and noise that is made in it. A troublesome and tumultuous day is here foretold, such as that in Isaiah 22:5, Zephaniah 1:14-17.
Is near . . . either of the Chaldean army, its chariots and horses, and of their armor; or of the howling and lamentation of the Jews.
And not the sounding again of the mountains . . . not an empty sound, not an echo . . . but a worse matter that shall do more than beat the air. There shall be no fleeing or escaping to the tops of the mountains.

*****The hostile troops are advancing! The people shall hear an unrestrained noise that did not come from festivals upon the mountains; nor from the joy of harvestmen, or those who tread the wine-press. It is the noise of those by whom the people and their country were to fall. The noise was not the echo of sound, or reflected sound, or re-echoing from the mountains, but that of the horror of war.

Ezekiel 7:8 Now will I shortly pour out my fury upon thee, and accomplish mine anger upon thee: and I will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense thee for all thine abominations. (KJV)

Now will I shortly pour out my fury upon thee . . . God’s fury was near at hand, which the LORD would bring down His judgments upon this rebellious people; since it was some time in the sixth year of King Jehoiachin's captivity that this prophecy was delivered; and it was in the ninth year that Nebuchadnezzar came up against Jerusalem; so that it was only about three years before God would begin to pour out His fury on them. Pour out my fury . . .  God’s wrath shall not be poured out as water from a cloud at mighty distance, but like the breaking out of the sea on the neighboring villages, which swallows up houses, cattle, and men without remedy (Eze.5:13; 7:3).
And accomplish mine anger upon thee . . . not only send it, but stay to finish it, until He had spent all His fury upon them that He threatened, receiving what their sins deserved.
And I will judge thee according to thy ways, and I will recompense thee for all thine abominations . . . this is repeated from verse 3, to confirm it, and to show that it would without doubt come to pass, and that nothing would prevent it.

*****The Israelites would be assured that the LORD GOD did not threaten just for the sake of scaring them, but because the carrying out of His wrath was prepared. Now, says he, I will shortly pour out my indignation  . . . where He had before said the day was at hand . . . for GOD had formerly executed His vengeance against the Israelites, but not completely. This completion of God’s wrath prevails as far as their ultimate destruction. Ezekiel now explains: I will judge thee according to thy ways, and I will put upon thee all thine abominations (verses 3, 8)

Ezekiel 7:9 And mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: I will recompense thee according to thy ways and thine abominations that are in the midst of thee; and ye shall know that I am the LORD that smiteth. (KJV)

And mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity . . . see 5:11; this verse is the same as verse 4, only instead of I will recompense thy ways upon thee, here it is,
I will recompense thee according to thy ways upon thee and thine abominations that are in the midst of thee . . . of which both have the same sense, showing the equity and justice of the divine proceedings: and to the clause, it is added,  
And ye shall know that I am the LORD that smiteth . . . with the rod of His righteous anger, He inflicts punishment for sin. The Targum says, I am the LORD that bringeth upon you a smiting,
or the blow; the sense is, that when it came, they would know that it was the LORD'S doing.

*****This is a tremendous Passage of Scripture which very few think about today . . . it is totally unknown to multitudes of church members. Many will say that that belongs back in the Old Testament . . . NOT in today’s modern times. How wrong they are!  Ezekiel tells the people what the LORD GOD told him to tell them: I will NOT spare you nor show any pity. I am going to punish you for the disgusting abominations you have done, so that you will know that I am the LORD and that I am the One who punishes you.
Ezekiel's language is mild compared to the Book of Revelation and to the words of the LORD JESUS CHRIST in Matthew Chapter 25. Ezekiel's words here are very tranquil compared to many Passages in the New Testament. Dear one, The GOD of the New Testament is the exact same Person as the GOD of the Old Testament, and He will punish sin in ALL ages.
 Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. (KJV)  
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (KJV)  
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (KJV)  

Does God judge in today’s world? YES, He does! There is NO doubt whatsoever! Just because He does not lower the boom on you immediately does NOT mean that He will forget the wicked and abominable things you do. Dear one . . . He keeps records on everyone (Dan.7:10; Rev.20:11-15). Unless your name is in the book of life (Phil.4:3; Rev.3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12; 21:27), your eternal destination is the lake of fire (Rev.20:15).
Please consider what the Bible says, because GOD shall indeed judge all sinners:
Psalm 97:3 A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about. (KJV)  
Psalm 50:22 Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver. (KJV)  
Isaiah 66:15 For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. (KJV)  
Daniel 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. (KJV)  
Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (KJV)  
Luke 12:4-5 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. (KJV)  
2 Cor. 5:11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. (KJV)
2 Thes.1:8-9 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; (KJV)  
Hebrews 10:26-27 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. (KJV)  
Hebrews 10:30-31         For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (KJV)
Hebrews 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire. (KJV)  

Ezekiel's message was not popular in his day, nor is it today, but it is TRUTH. BEWARE!

Ezekiel 7:10 Behold the day, behold, it is come: the morning is gone forth; the rod hath blossomed, pride hath budded. (KJV)

Behold the day, behold, it is come . . . meaning the day of trouble and distress, which was said to be near in verse 7.  Behold the day . . . the same words are repeated in order to alarm this idol-sick people . . . see, the day is come!
The morning is gone forth . . .  is finally here (7:7); it will wait no longer. The rod that is to chastise you hath blossomed; it is ready.
The rod hath blossomed, pride hath budded . . . both these phrases can be understood of Nebuchadnezzar, for he was the rod, with which the LORD GOD smote His people, as the Assyrian monarch is called the rod of GOD’S anger . . . the LORD would send him against a hypocritical nation, and against the people of His wrath will I give him a charge (Isa.10:5). The Targum is, a ruler hath budded, a wicked one hath appeared.  Pride hath budded  . . . their contempt, disrespect, stubbornness and daring opposition to Almighty GOD had brought forth more than enough bad fruits to set afire GOD’S Holy wrath.

*****The rod is Nebuchadnezzar, and he had blossomed, and his pride had budded. He would be the instrument of GOD’S vengeance (Isa.10:5; Jer.51:20). The rod blossoming implies that the LORD GOD does not move impulsively, but in successive steps. Pride refers to the disrespect of the Babylonian conqueror (Jer.50:31-32). The rod cannot refer, as some thought, to be the tribe of Judah, for it evidently refers to the one being smite (7:9), as the instrument of smiting.
Nebuchadnezzar and his army, the rod of GOD’S anger; flourish for they are strong and heavy, and will last long in their strength to break Israel. Pride had budded in the king; and as he flourished in strength, he exceeded in pride and arrogance.

The rod sprouting (as the word should be translated), implies that GOD does NOT move rashly, but in well-organized steps. He has planted the instrument of His vengeance, and leaves them to grow until they are ripe for carrying out His purpose. Pride refers to the disrespect of the Babylonian conqueror (Jer.50:31-32). All those who despised GOD'S threats would reap the whirlwind of His Holy wrath! There is a lesson here for today’s world as well!

Ezekiel 7:11 Violence is risen up into a rod of wickedness: none of them shall remain, nor of their multitude, nor of any of theirs: neither shall there be wailing for them. (KJV)

Violence is risen up into a rod of wickedness . . . some understand this to be the Chaldeans, who came with great violence against the Jews, and were a rod in the hand of the LORD, to scourge them for their wickedness; and this seems to be the sense of the Targum, spoilers are risen up to visit the wicked  . . . but the violence, oppression and rapine (violent seizure of property), of the Jews are meant, and mentioned as the cause of their punishment; for they oppressed the poor and needy and the widow and the fatherless among them . . . so the LORD GOD allowed the king of Babylon, a wicked prince, to come and chastise them.
None of them shall remain, nor of their multitude, nor of any of theirs . . . the Chaldean army did not come of themselves, but because GOD sent them! The Jews would either die in the siege with the famine and pestilence, or be put to death by the sword, or be carried into captivity.
Neither shall there be wailing for them . . . the destruction would be so over-all, that there would be but few left to mourn; and those that were left would be struck with such an astonishment at the calamity, that they would not be capable of mourning; or with such a dread of the enemy, that there would be no place for mourning over their dead friends and relatives (Jer.16:4-7; 25:33).  

*****Their own violence (verse 22; Jer.6:7) had become the rod with which they are scourged. This refers to a little-known historic fact. The history of that era shows that when Jerusalem was quiet and peaceful, Egypt and Babylon hurled their armies at each other, along the Palestinian and Syrian highways, without paying any attention to Israel’s capital hidden in the hills; but when Jerusalem became proud, boastful and aggressive, and took sides with either party, then her own warlike spirit brought upon her quickly a scourge of punishment. The general sense points to the complete destruction of the national pride and the carrying away of the repulsive population of Jerusalem. Violence always produces more and more wickedness. Nothing of theirs will remain, their pride, their wealth, their splendor and their glory would all be GONE!

Ezekiel 7:12 The time is come, the day draweth near: let not the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn: for wrath is upon all the multitude thereof. (KJV)

The time is come, the day draweth near . . . according to the Targum, the time of the recompence of iniquities, and the day of punishment of sins; of the sins of the Jews, by the Chaldean army, which no doubt is true; but it seems mainly to refer to what follows: and the sense is, a really bad time was coming.
Let not the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn . . . it is now the state of public affairs that they who through want had been forced to sell their inheritance, should not mourn because of this, because the enemy would soon deprive him of it. And they who had bought it should not rejoice at his bargain, because they shall soon lose their purchase . . . they would either fall by the sword, or be glad to flee for their life.
For wrath is upon all the multitude thereof . . . GOD’S wrath, is upon the entire Jewish nation, high and low, rich and poor, bond and free, buyer and seller; those that are in good conditions, and those that are in bad ones . . . for now they ALL were on one level, and ALL were in the same condition.

*****This stresses the futility and uselessness of all buying and selling. The whole nation of Israel is doomed to the triple disasters of sword, pestilence and famine that will leave only a tiny remnant; and that that remnant would be scattered to the winds.
Some have supposed that the reference to the buyer is made with respect to the approaching year of jubilee; but as one stated, there is no evidence in the times of Ezekiel that the year of jubilee any longer existed as a social institution. It seems what is meant was, neither the buyer or the seller will have any claim on any part of the land, because it all will belong to the Chaldeans.

Ezekiel 7:13 For the seller shall not return to that which is sold, although they were yet alive: for the vision is touching the whole multitude thereof, which shall not return; neither shall any strengthen himself in the iniquity of his life. (KJV)

For the seller shall not return to that which is sold . . . according to the law in Lev.25:13, when a man had sold his possession, he returned to it again, if alive, in the year of jubilee;
Although they were yet alive . . . even though what they had sold is in being, and in good condition; and although they that have sold them are in the land of the living, they, not being in their own land, can possess it.  
For the vision is touching the whole multitude thereof . . . the prophecy of the destruction of the Jews is general (over-all), and respects the entire body of the people; men of all ranks and degrees, the buyer and the seller, the rich and the poor.
Which shall not return . . . the prophecy shall be fully accomplished; although some do not think this refers to the prophecy, but to the people, who did NOT return by repentance; in this sense it is taken by some; and so the Targum, for the prophets prophesied to the whole multitude of them to return by repentance, and they returned not:
Neither shall any strengthen himself in the iniquity of his life . . . they could NOT secure themselves from danger by their unrighteous wealth, their ill-gotten goods; or think to escape by their daring, wicked irreverence, and cruel course of life, continued in without repentance.

*****The seller could not return to that which is sold, even though they were still alive: for the prophecy touches the whole of Israel, which would not return; neither shall any strengthen himself in the iniquity of his life. There is no hardening of one's self in iniquity that will benefit against the LORD’S threat of punishment. What God thus provided for by the institution of the jubilee, and which is now to cease through the nation's iniquity, let none think to bring it about by his iniquity.

Ezekiel 7:14 They have blown the trumpet, even to make all ready; but none goeth to the battle: for my wrath is upon all the multitude thereof. (KJV)

They have blown the trumpet . . .  meaning the Jews, when they finally understood that the enemy was approaching, they blew the trumpet, to give the inhabitants of their several cities and towns warning of it; that they might gather together, provide themselves with armor, and put themselves in a posture of defense, or go forth to meet the enemy, and stop his progress. Blow the trumpet was an alarm of war. 
Even to make all ready . . . persons fit for the war and all warlike provisions was necessary in case of invasions, but in their case, it was a vain attempt. There is not a man going to the war, for all are reluctant in this danger. They have blown the trumpet . . . but it did not collect soldiers. . . . but, see the effect of it:
But none goeth to the battle . . . none had courage to face the enemy.
For my wrath is upon all the multitude thereof . . . the intention of God was to destroy them all by one way or another; so there was not a heart among them that was given courage to defend themselves, or oppose the enemy. My wrath is the displeasure of GOD which takes away their caution and courage, that these men of strength sleep, and none finds his hands or weapons (Isa.29:14).

***** They have blown the trumpet, to call their soldiers together, and to get them moving and encourage those whom they have gotten together, and thus they think to make all ready; but all is in vain; NONE enlist themselves, for they do not have courage to face the enemy. If God be  against us, even though the greatest be for us, all is in vain for no one can be for us to do us any good. On the other hand . . . one with God is the majority! How I love that! . . . The trumpet would indeed sound; but it would not be for a year of jubilee, but for the onset of a devastating war. The people, absolutely powerless because of their guilt and iniquities would not be able to answer the call to defend the city.

Ezekiel 7:15 The sword is without, and the pestilence and the famine within: he that is in the field shall die with the sword; and he that is in the city, famine and pestilence shall devour him. (KJV)

The sword is without . . . outside the city, the enemy was overwhelming; so that those that went out, in order to make their escapes fell into their hands and died by the sword.
And the pestilence and the famine within . . . inside the city, where those who thought themselves safe in their own houses, these died by pestilence and the famine.
He that is in the field shall die by the sword . . .  by the hands of the Chaldeans.
And he that is in the city, famine and pestilence shall devour him . . . and they shall die by the Hand of God.

*****The suddenness of this prophecy, and the many repetitions, show that the prophet was deeply affected by the prospect of these calamities. Dear one, such will the destruction of all sinners be; for NONE can avoid it. If only these people would realize that their wickedness must stop before it brings them to their end! Trouble is to those who refuse to repent a vile evil, for it hardens their hearts and stirs up corruptions . . . but there are those to whom trouble is sanctified by the grace of God, and to these few (Mat.7:14), is made a means of much good. The day of real trouble is near, not just a mere echo or rumor of troubles. Whatever the fruits of God's judgments are, SIN is the root of them. These judgments shall one day be universal, and God will be glorified in them all. Now is the day of the LORD'S patience and mercy, but the time of the sinner's trouble is at hand. Are you one of the FEW who has found the narrow way and are walking on it with Jesus?

The Distress of the Few Who Would Escape (7:16-22)

Ezekiel 7:16 But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity. (KJV)

But they that escape of them shall escape . . . a few would escape the sword, pestilence and famine, and flee to the mountains, where they would live a very miserable and uncomfortable life; so that this does NOT contradict the wrath of God being upon the whole multitude (7:12) as it follows:
And shall be on the mountains . . . where they shall flee when the city is broken up and taken; where they shall find no food, but live in solitude and distress.
Like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, everyone for his iniquity . . . like doves that live in valleys, or gather together there, they shall hide themselves in the holes of the rocks, on the sides of the valleys, from birds of prey, to distinguish them from wild doves, which, when they have lost their mates, make a very mournful noise, though not loud and clamorous. So the Jews that escaped, would be in such an uncomfortable condition, turned out of house and home, and deprived of their substance, that they shall weep over their fate; not in loud cries, lest they should be heard by the enemy and taken, but in secret sighs, and in a mournful tone; admitting to God, and to one another, their sins; that they now finally became aware that it was those sins which brought these calamities upon them.
So GOD'S people, the remnant according to the election of grace (Rom.11:5), who escape the general ruin sin has brought on mankind, are for the most part on the mountains, in an afflicted and persecuted state; are like doves for their harmlessness, modesty and timid disposition; and like doves of the valleys, in a low estate, through corruption, temptation, desertion, affliction and persecution; and mourn over their own iniquity, the sin of their unbelief and many transgressions committed against a GOD of love, contrary to His grace, which grieved His Holy Spirit, and dishonored His Holy Word.

*****Without a doubt some will escape and flee to the mountains, but they will be little better off; for the mountains will no longer be a place of rejoicing and reveling, of immoral sexual encounters and of throwing off restraint in the name of religion (6:4-7). Instead, they will mourn like the doves of the valley. Doves are associated with mourning because of their doleful cry (Isa.38:14; 59:11), and they dwell in the rock and make their nest in the side of the cave’s mouth (Jer. 48:28). Thus will those who escape be perched on the rocks, living in holes, away from all the joys of life, with little to hope for but eking out a living.

Ezekiel 7:17 All hands shall be feeble, and all knees shall be weak as water. (KJV)

All hands shall be feeble . . . no strength in them to hold weapons of war to defend themselves, or fight the enemy; no heart nor courage to go and meet him; and afraid even to lift up their voice in mourning, lest they would be heard, pursued and taken.
And all knees shall be weak as water . . . tremble and knock one against the other, for fear of the enemy; or shall flow with water, as the Targum; either with sweat or urine, which are sometimes both caused by fear. All knees shall be weak as water is often the natural effect of extreme fear or terror.

*****Their hands which should hold the instruments of protection, the weapons of war, the tools of working, shall not be able to work, nor fight in the battle, nor to work for their bread, or carry away their things on which they might exist. All those knees, which bowed to their beloved idols (6:3-5), shall now fall under the punishments of idolatry, shall be neither strong to stand in battle, or to flee from the drawn sword: and this weakness was on all of them.

Ezekiel 7:18 They shall also gird themselves with sackcloth, and horror shall cover them; and shame shall be upon all faces, and baldness upon all their heads. (KJV)

They shall also gird themselves with sackcloth . . . sackcloth is a symbol of mourning (Gen.37:34; Isa.15:3; Jer.48:37; Amos 8:10)
And horror shall cover them . . . either the horror of a guilty conscience, or the perpetual dread and terror of the enemy.
And shame shall be upon all faces . . . because of their sins and transgressions, which they shall now admit; and because of their desolate condition, their sins had brought them into.
And baldness upon all their heads . . . they would pluck of the hair off their heads in their distress. Baldness as a token of mourning for the dead was forbidden the Jews (Deut. 14:1). Shame and horror: (Gen. 15:12; Job 21:6; Psalms 35:26; 55:4-5; Jer.3:25; Rev.6:15-17).

*****They would be deprived of all the strength of body and mind (verse 17). All their hands will be weak; they will not be able to fight or defend themselves . . . all their knees shall be weak as water, so that they will not be able to run or even stand their ground. It is absolute stupidity for a strong man to glory in his strength, for God can weaken it in a moment! The nation as a whole shall be deprived of all their hopes and shall abandon themselves to despair (verse 18). There shall be NOTHING to bolster their spirits; their characteristics shall show that all their prospects are dreadful, so they shall gird themselves with sackcloth, as having no hope to ever wear better clothing. Horror shall cover them, and shame and baldness, all these being expressions of a desperate sorrow (Isa.17:10-11). Those that will not be kept from sin by fear and shame of it, shall by fear and shame be punished for it.  BEWARE!!!

Ezekiel 7:19 They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity. (KJV)

They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed . . . as being of no use to them to preserve them from famine and pestilence, and as being a burden or hindrance to them in their flight from the enemy. One commentator thinks that this may mean their idols of silver and gold, which shall now be held in contempt by them, and cast away, when they find that their idols cannot save them from ruin (Isa.2:20).  
Their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD . . . their silver and gold, nor their worthless idols can deliver them from temporal judgments nor from wrath of God that is to come (Pro.10:2).
They shall not satisfy their souls, nor fill their bowels . . . gold and silver cannot satisfy hunger pangs, nor fill the hungry belly. These words show that the famine would be so great, that bread could not be gotten for any amount of money; so their gold and silver would be of no benefit to them. Because it is the stumbling block of their iniquity . . . what was the occasion of their iniquity? Silver and gold . . .  covetousness, which is idolatry (Col.3:5), at which they stumbled and fell head-first into sin, and so too . . . into punishment for it. They loved riches, and placed in the possession of them their supreme happiness . . as so many do in today’s world. But . . . now they find a pound of gold is not worth an ounce of bread. There is certainly a lesson for us here! WHAT are all those wealthy, wicked people going to buy in Hell? IT will NOT be comfort and peace, for all the gold in the world cannot buy ONE tiny moment of peace in the eternal agony of Hell.

*****These Jews shall have no benefit from their wealth and riches. Those that were reduced to this distress were those who had had abundance of silver and gold. They thought their wealth would be their strength, that with it they could bribe enemies and buy friends, that it would be the ransom of their lives, that they would never want bread as long as they had money, and that money would be the answer to all things . . . they were wrong, and so are people today who think like this!  
There are many today whose wealth is their trap and ruin. Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (KJV) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  http://www.godcannotlie.org/matthew_ch16.html
To gain the world is to lose your soul because it makes you proud, secure, covetous and oppressive. BEWARE!!!
 
Their silver and gold could NOT protect them from the judgments of God. Silver and gold would NOT be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD; they would NOT compensate for His justice, or turn away His wrath, nor screen them from the judgments He is bringing upon them.
Dear one, there is a day of wrath coming, when it will be clear that men's wealth is totally unable to deliver them or do them any service. What good will silver and gold do when in Hell, the rich man could NOT obtain even a drop of water to cool his tongue?  (Lk.16:24).

Ezekiel 7:20 As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty: but they made the images of their abominations and of their detestable things therein: therefore have I set it far from them. (KJV)

As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty . . . the gold, silver, jewels, riches and treasure which the LORD gave to these people, they made a bad use of; and instead of contributing to the support of His worship and interest, and of giving liberally to the poor, they converted it to their own pride and luxury. One interprets this of the Temple, which was a beautiful structure, and adorned with gifts, and set for glory, majesty and excellency by the LORD; and where the LORD GOD Himself dwelt.
This is a difficult verse which could read: And the beauty of His ornament, they turned to pride, making images of their abominable idols and detestable things, therefore I have made it an impurity to them. Their gold, they formed into idols (Eze.16:17; Hosea 2:8; 8:4), and considered the one worshipped (Baal) as divine (Jer.7:9; 11:13, 17; 19:5; 23:13, 27; 32:29).
But they made the images of their abominations and of their detestable things therein . . . meaning the Holy Temple; where having made their idols of gold, they placed them in the Holy House of the LORD GOD! Jeremiah 7:30  For the children of Judah have done evil in my sight, saith the LORD: they have set their abominations in the house which is called by my name, to pollute it. (KJV) . . . It is NO wonder that the LORD GOD was furious with these people.
Therefore have I set it far from them . . . their beautiful Temple, that being destroyed, and they being carried away captive into a strange land, far from that.

*****It was a great honor that GOD had given to those people, in setting up His Temple among them. The beauty of his ornament was that Holy and beautiful Temple, where they and their fathers praised God (Isa.64:11), which was beautiful because it was Holy. It was called the beauty of holiness (1 Chron.16:29; 2 Chron.20:21; Ps.29:2; 96:9), because holiness is the beauty of its ornament; but it was also adorned with gold and gifts. Everything was done to make it magnificent, that it might help to make the people of Israel all the more recognized among their neighbors. The LORD GOD built His Sanctuary like high palaces (Ps.78:69). It was a glorious high throne from the beginning (Jer.17:12).
But . . . it was here in that beautiful place that great dishonor was done to their GOD in profaning His Sanctuary, by making abominable images of their false gods, which they set up in rivalry with Almighty GOD, in the Temple. Those idols were abominations and detestable things to God, which should have been to them as well. These blasphemous, damnable things were set up in GOD'S Holy Temple, which a greater insult could not have been put upon Him; therefore, it is here threatened that they would be deprived of the Temple, and it would no more be a comfort to them. They would not only be kept at a distance from the Temple, but the Temple itself would be utterly destroyed. Dear one, God's ordinances and the privileges of a profession of religion, will rightly be taken away from those that despise and profane them.

Ezekiel 7:21 And I will give it into the hands of the strangers for a prey, and to the wicked of the earth for a spoil; and they shall pollute it. (KJV)

And I will give it into the hands of the strangers for a prey . . . the Babylonians, who lived in a foreign country, and were strangers to the nation of Israel; the people and the Temple was allowed by the LORD to fall into their hands as a prey; who spoiled it of all its riches and glory, and carried away the vessels of gold, of silver, and of brass, and other valuable things (Jer. 52:17-23).  
And to the wicked of the earth for a spoil . . . the description of these men, strangers by their distance of place, and the worst of men on earth, by their proud, cruel and fierce disposition.
And they shall pollute it . . . by entering into the Holy Temple and spoiling it, by pillaging and burning it. Pollute it means to enter, spoil, tear down and use the Temple as a vile place, and make no difference between it and other places. Some think this speaks of the rich gold idols which the Jews considered most holy, and on which they laid out their treasure, and which now the Chaldeans would plunder and pollute.

*****Some think that verses 20 and 21 refer to the people, not the Temple. I personally think that the prophet speaks of the people and the Temple, for both shall be under the judgment of Almighty GOD. The conclusion of it is, that GOD’S wrath would be terrible since He had borne the iniquities of these people for so long. So, it seems that the wicked and those abandoned by GOD are His tormentors, and are directed by His will and His Hand. Since it is so, it seems that GOD exercises His judgments by means of them, that He appears without blame with regard to them; but that they are rightly condemned, because either their own avarice, ambition or other lusts destroy them.
The Chaldeans, who are strangers, and therefore have no worship for the Temple, who are the wicked of the earth, and therefore have a hatred to it, shall have it for a prey and for a spoil; all the ornaments and treasures of it shall fall into their hands, who will make no difference between that and other plunder. This was grief to the TRUE saints in Zion, who complained of nothing as much as of what the enemy wickedly did in the sanctuary (Ps.74:3); but it was plain fact, that it was the punishment of the sinners in Zion, who, by profaning the Temple with strange gods, provoked God to allow it to be profaned by strange nations, and to turn His Face away from those that did it. The soldiers would do as they will; entering into the holy of holies (Ex.26:33; 2 Chron.3:8; Dan.9:24; Heb.9:3), as robbers; stripping it and polluting it; for the LORD GOD’S defense of it had departed, with all its glory (Eze.10:18).

Ezekiel 7:22 My face will I turn also from them, and they shall pollute my secret place: for the robbers shall enter into it, and defile it. (KJV)

My face will I turn also from them . . . the LORD GOD would deny them His Presence, and withdraw His protection from them; show them NO favor, afford them NO help and relief in their distress, when they cry unto him; so the Targum, I will cause my Shechinah to remove from them. Shekinah means God’s Presence.
And they shall pollute my secret place . . . the holy of holies, by going into it, which none but the high priest was allowed to do, and he just once a year (Ex.30:10; Lev.16:34). Robbers shall enter and defile the holy of holies, the place of God’s manifested Presence (Shekinah), entrance into which was denied even to the Levites and priests and was permitted only to the high priest, and only once a year on the day of atonement (Lev.23:27-28; 25:9).
For the robbers shall enter into it, and defile it . . . as did the king of Babylon and his army; and afterwards, in the second Temple, Antiochus, Pompey, and Titus Vespasian. The Chaldeans shall not only destroy the city; but they shall enter the Temple, deface it, plunder it and burn it to the ground.

*****This is an overwhelming description of the judgment of God, but if you want to read something even more astonishing and which still lies ahead for the world, read Revelation Chapters 18 & 19, which describe the destruction of commercial Babylon. It speaks of a coming day in which men trust in big business and the stock market and depend on the success of Fifth Avenue. It is a day in which men in elegant suits make business successful, and the corrupt government assures that everything in life will be all right . . . BUT . . . it was NOT all right, and it did NOT save them. When they needed deliverance, wealth could NOT deliver them.

Sooner or later, sin will cause sorrow; and those who refuse to repent of their sin, shall rightly be left to suffer in it. There are many whose wealth is their snare and ruin; and the gaining the world is the losing of their souls. Riches shall NOT profit anyone in the day of GOD’S wrath. The wealth of this world does NOT have any answers for the desires of the soul, nor can it be any satisfaction to it in the coming day of distress, the Great Tribulation Period!

As to the beginning of this verse, there is no vagueness whatsoever, for God pronounces that the Jews would be miserable, because he would turn his face from them! As long as God chose to look upon them, their safety was certain, so that there was no fear of danger . . . BUT . . . when He turned away from them, these rebellious ones were exposed to all kinds of calamities. The meaning is, God had spared the Jews for a long time, had them hidden, as it were, under his wings (Ps.91:4), and the land was as a hiding place, so hidden that they felt no hurt from foreign enemies . . . but when they brought their abominable idols into His Holy Temple, He turned His Face from them, which gave free and easy access to their enemies, so that they might break through, and then profane and confuse all things.

The Captivity (7:23-27)

Ezekiel 7:23 Make a chain: for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence. (KJV)

Make a chain . . . chain is a symbol of the captivity (Jer.27:2). Make a chain to bind them; not the robbers, the Chaldeans, but the Jews; in order either to bring them to the bar to be tried for capital crimes hereafter mentioned, or to be led bound in chains into captivity. Make thee bonds  . . . as they had bound the land, for it is full of bloody crimes (22:2), slaying their children as offerings to Baal (Isa.57:5; Jer.7:31; 19:4-7; 32:35; Eze.16:20-21; 20:26, 31; 23:37, 39) . . . so too, shall they be chained themselves. It was customary to lead captives away in a row, with a chain passed from the neck of one to the neck of another. The message is clear! It means get the chains ready, the surviving citizens of Judah are to be deported to Babylon!      
One interprets it to mean that the Jews should be dragged before God's tribunal, to be tried as criminals in chains. The next words seem to favor this.
For the land is full of bloody crimes . . . or capital crimes, such as are deserving of death, particularly murder, or shedding of innocent blood; so the Targum interprets it of sins of murder.
And the city is full of violence . . . rapine (violent seizure of someone's property), oppression and injury done to the poor, the widow, and the fatherless; meaning the city of Jerusalem, where the great court of law was, and where justice should have been administered.

*****The land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence . . . what a precise and exact picture of today’s world! Dear one, our land is full of bloody crimes and our cities are filled with violence! People today are not sacrificing their children to Baal, as they did in Ezekiel’s time . . . but they ARE killing their children by abortion! Do you really think there is a difference to the Almighty LORD? Murder is murder when you take a life of another, no matter how you do it! And what about the violence? It is not brought on today for exactly the same reason as it was in Ezekiel’s time . . . but violence is everywhere! Today it is Muslim extremists, racist bigotry, drug addiction which leads to violence and murder to support their habit, arguments about abortion, homosexuality, same sex marriage, etc., etc.
Isaiah 48:22 There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked. (KJV) . . . How true this is!

Ezekiel 7:24 Wherefore I will bring the worst of the heathen, and they shall possess their houses: I will also make the pomp of the strong to cease; and their holy places shall be defiled. (KJV)

Wherefore I will bring the worst of the Heathen . . . the Chaldeans were notorious for their cruelty, savageness and barbarity.
And they shall possess their houses . . . which they have built, and thought they would live and die in them, and leave them to their children for an inheritance . . . but the Chaldeans, and not their children, became their heirs, and inherited their houses and lands.
I will also make the pomp of the strong to cease . . . or the pride of the mighty ones; the noble and the rich; their wealth and substance, by which their pride and grandeur was supported, being taken away from them.
And their holy places shall be defiled . . . the Temple, in which were the holy place, the holy of holies. Their holy places shall be defiled, the sacred compartments of the Temple (Ps.68:35; Jer. 51:51). God calls it their holy places, because they had so defiled it that He regarded it no longer as His. However, as the defilement of the Temple has already been mentioned (7:20, 22), and their sacred places are introduced as a new subject, it seems better to understand this of the places dedicated to their idols. Since they defiled God's sanctuary, He will defile their self-constituted sacred places.

***** Wherefore I will bring the worst of the heathen, and they shall possess their houses. There are many today who think that God will never allow Russia or another nation to destroy America. WHY NOT? God allowed Babylon, a pagan nation, to destroy His own people. Why do people think that America will not fall? I do not know if I will see America fall, but if it does, it would not surprise me! 
It is not safe to walk the streets of America. There's violence; there's crime everywhere! Until a nation will become a law-abiding people, God CANNOT bless them, and will NOT bless them!
People do not like to read Ezekiel's message; they would rather read John Chapter 14 or Matthew Chapters 5-7.  But we must remember that the Book of Ezekiel is in the Bible too, and there are some mighty important lessons there for us IF we are wise enough to apply them to our life.

Ezekiel 7:25 Destruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none. (KJV)

Destruction cometh . . . this is another of the unusual words occurring only in this chapter. It is in general explained of the dismay and horror that always accompanies great judgments, and is forcefully described by our LORD JESUS: Luke 21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. (KJV) . . . Destruction was coming to the Temple, the city, the nation and the people. The king of Babylon, the destroyer of the Gentiles, was now on his way to the Jews (Jer.4:7).  
Aand they shall seek peace, and there shall be none . . . meaning that the Jews will try to find a way to make peace with the Chaldeans; but it will not work, and the siege would go on, until they had taken the city, put part of the people to the sword, and carried the others captive. They shall seek peace from God, but it is too late; for the Chaldees were cockatrices (serpents) that would not be charmed (Jer.8:15, 17; 12:12; 16:5). If you check out these Scriptures, you will see that Jeremiah and Ezekiel say the same thing, for they both acted and spoke by the same spirit . . . the Holy Spirit of Almighty GOD!

*****Ezekiel says that destruction cometh . . . and he now adds, there shall be no peace. This confirmation was not in vain. Since the people had followed one sin after another, God would pursue them with one judgment on top of another. Utter destruction comes upon them . . . for there shall come trouble after trouble to ruin them, and rumor after rumor to terrify them . . . like the powerful and violent waves of the sea in a terrible storm. Isaiah 48:22 There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked. (KJV) . . . How true this is! Destruction cometh . . . and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none (1 Thes.5:3).
Dear one, wicked sinners that are marked for ruin shall be prosecuted for it; for God will punish when He judges, and HE WILL JUDGE!  http://www.judgmentcoming.org/judgment_day.htm
http://www.judgmentcoming.org/judgment_day_the_great_white_throne.htm
http://www.judgmentcoming.org/j_c_hell_is_it_there.htm
http://lastdaysprophecy.org/L_D_tribulation_what.htm
http://lastdaysprophecy.org/L_D_tribulation,_why.htm
http://www.worldlychaos.org/w_c_judgment_will_god_judge_sin.1.htm

Ezekiel 7:26 Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall be upon rumour; then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients. (KJV)

Mischief shall come upon mischief . . . one calamity after another; one unhappy event, then another, as it was with Job.  The Targum is, breach upon breach shall come. Mischief  upon mischief (Deut.32:23; Jer.4:20). This is said because the Jews would think that at every decrease of suffering, that their calamities were about to stop; but instead God will add woe upon woe.
And rumour shall be upon rumour . . . reports that the Chaldean army is in such a place; and then in another place closer; and then that it is only a few miles away and will be here directly. Rumors of wars, of the advance of the enemy, and of his cruelty as well as wars themselves, are very distressing (Mat.24:6). It is happening now . . . in today’s world! IF we are wise, we will stay close to GOD by obeying Him, and stopping our sin!
Then shall they seek a vision of the prophet . . . ask him for a prophecy, to know what shall happen, and whether and when they might expect a deliverance. Seek a vision to find some way of escape their troubles (Isa.26:9). It was as Zedekiah consulted Jeremiah (Jer.37:17; 38:14).
But the law shall perish from the priest . . . whose lips should keep knowledge, and from whose mouth the law, the doctrine and interpretation of it, might be expected; but now either there would be no priests at all; or that those that were, would be ignorant and unlearned, and incapable of instructing the people. This was fulfilled: (Eze.20:1, 3; Ps. 74:9; Lam.2:9; Am.8:11; Mic.3:6). God will thus set aside their idle boast, The law shall not perish from the priest (Jer.18:18).
And counsel from the ancients . . . the ancients were the religious rulers of the people, and it is from these, that counsel is usually sought; and which is of great service in a time of distress. This would add greatly to their disaster, when there would be NO prophet to tell them what would come to pass; NO priest to instruct them; NO wise man to give them counsel.

*****When the destruction came, THEN (too late) they would seek a prophet to see if he had a vision . . . but visions would depart from the prophets, the law from the priests, and counsel from the ancients. Before the great national judgments of the LORD GOD, He would restrain the influence of His Spirit, and His Word would not be accompanied with the usual earnestness; and the wise men of the land, the politicians and celebrated statesmen, would plan foolish systems; trying to prevent it . . . while all the time, they speed up the national ruin.
2 Thes. 2:11-12 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (KJV)   http://www.godcannotlie.org/2_thes_ch2.htm  Those whom God intends to destroy, He first deceives! BEWARE!!!

Ezekiel 7:27 The king shall mourn, and the prince shall be clothed with desolation, and the hands of the people of the land shall be troubled: I will do unto them after their way, and according to their deserts will I judge them; and they shall know that I am the LORD. (KJV)

The king shall mourn, and the prince shall be clothed with desolation . . . the king and the prince are one and the same person . . . Zedekiah not being able to save himself and his people; fell into the hands of the king of Babylon, his children were slain before him; then his own eyes put out, and he bound in chains, and carried captive to Babylon (Jer.39:5-7).
And the hands of the people of the land shall be troubled . . . the people were weakened because of fear and distress; incapable of working and unable to help themselves and others; and then they found just how desperate their case was, by the mourning and anguish of their king, in whom their confidence had been placed. The people of the land is the general multitude, as distinguished from the king and the prince. The anxiety and dread saturated all ranks, from the poorest soul to the mighty king.
I will do unto them after their way . . . GOD would reward them after their way . . . because of their wicked ways.
And according to their deserts will I judge them . . . take vengeance on them, as the Targum: or, in their judgments will I judge them; with the same measure they have meted out to others shall be measured out to them (Mat.7:2), deserts is literally judgments, that is what just judgment grants to them; used to indicate the exact dispatches of God’s judgment with the legal penalties they had incurred . . . they oppressed the poor and deprived them of liberty; so they shall be oppressed and lose their liberty.
And they shall know that I am the LORD . . . He is the only LORD GOD, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, true and faithful, holy, just and good.

*****In this verse the prophet confirms that GOD’S vengeance would be so common that it would descend equally upon the highest and the lowest. He begins with the king, his sons, then he descends to his counselors, then the whole people.
Since the people had enthused and encouraged one another to sin, the LORD GOD would dash their hopes and dishearten them all, so that they would not be able to get away from the judgments of God. All ranks and degrees of men shall lie down under the load of destruction (25). The king, that should have inspired life into the people, and the prince, that should have led them to attack the enemy, shall mourn and be clothed with desolation; for their heads and hearts would fail, along with their politics and their courage. It was no wonder that the hands of the people should be troubled. All the people were weak because of fear and distress. What can men plan or do for themselves when GOD has departed from them and appears against them? All people should be humbled to the point fear and weeping when thinking about GOD’S judgment, for when God comes to judge them according to their deserts, they shall then know that He is indeed the LORD, the One and Only GOD to whom vengeance belongs. May we all be wise enough to learn for these words.

SPECIAL COMMENTS

A succession of evils always brings on GOD’S Holy wrath and then destruction!
<><><>When people are under GOD’S Divine displeasure, it is not because of one evil, but because there is a succession of evils, and a continuance of those evils! For them, mischief after mischief shall befall them. They can expect not just a few evils, but many!
<><><>The LORD GOD proceeds by degrees and steps in the severity of His judgments. He does not pour out all His wrath at one time. First, a few drops from a vial (Rev.16), the LORD hoping for repentance, then a tiny stream, but then full strength!
<><><>Wicked men in great trouble will then run to the prophets for help, whom before they hated. They would seek for a vision from the prophet now that they were suffering, but it will do no good, for the prophets were getting no visions.
<><><>They that refused to hear GOD’S servants when they were at ease, shall have NO help from them in time of their distress.
<><><>It is a dreadful evil indeed, when GOD takes away all signs of His Glorious Presence.
<><><> Truth will not be able to be found in those days, not from the prophets, priests or the ancients, because the prophets would be without vision, the law would perish from the priests, and counsel from the elders.
<><><>It is GOD alone Who gives vision, law and counsel . . . and it is HE that takes them away at His pleasure, He creates light and darkness. They shall seek vision of the prophets, and there shall be none. All will be dark. May we all pay attention to the LORD while it is still light!

Fifteen Predictions . . . Fulfilled:
#1. Make a chain (7:23), a prophecy of going into captivity.
#2. I will bring the worst of the heathen and they will possess their houses (7:24).
#3. I will also make the pomp and splendor of the strong to cease.
#4. Their holy places will be defiled.
#5. Destruction will come (7:25).
#6. They shall seek peace, and there will be none.
#7. Mischief will come upon mischief, and rumor upon rumor (7:26).
#8. Then (too late) they will seek a vision of the prophet.
#9. The law will perish from the priest.
#10. Counsel will perish from the ancients.
#11. The king will mourn (7:27).
#12. The prince will be clothed with desolation.
#13. The hands of the people of the land will be troubled.
#14. I will do to them after their way, and according to their deserts will I judge them.
#15. They will know that I am the LORD.

Book of Ezekiel

Eze.Ch.1 . . Eze.Ch.2 . . Eze.Ch.3. . Eze.Ch.4 . . Eze.Ch.5 . . . Eze.Ch.6 . . Eze.Ch.7 . . Eze.Ch.8 . . Eze.Ch.9 . . Eze.Ch.10 . . Eze.Ch.11 . . Eze.Ch.12 . . Eze.Ch.13 . . Eze.Ch.14. . Eze.Ch.15 . . Eze.Ch.16 . . Eze.Ch.17 . . Eze.Ch.18 . . Eze.Ch.19 . . Eze.Ch.20 . . Eze.Ch.21 . . Eze.Ch.22 . . Eze.Ch.23 . . Eze.Ch.24 . . Eze.Ch.25 . . Eze.Ch.26 . . Eze.27 . . Eze.28 . . Eze.29 . . Eze.30 . . Eze.31 . . Eze.32 . . Eze.33 . . Eze.34 . . Eze.35 . . Eze.36 . . Eze.37 . . Eze.38 . . Eze.39 . . Eze.40 . . Eze.41 . . Eze.42 . . Eze.43 . . Eze.44 . . Eze.45 . . . Eze.46 . . . Eze.47 . . . Eze.48 . . . Eze. Millennial Temple . . . Eze.Special Comments . . . Eze.What is Shekinah Glory? . . . Home Page

 

 

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