King James Bible Study – [Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.]
Date: Friday, September 08, 2023
Chapters: EZEKIEL 37-39
Study: Words of Life or Death to the Soul
Hello My Brother/Sister/Friend,
As I was reading the chapters for today, this Gospel Hymn came to mind, Wonderful Words of life, it is not very long, but are words that lead to life, [Sing them over again to me, Wonderful words of life; Let me more of their beauty see, Wonderful words of life. Words of life and beauty, Teach me faith and duty. Beautiful words, wonderful words, Wonderful words of life. Beautiful words, wonderful words, Wonderful words of life. Christ, the blessed one, gives to all, Wonderful words of life. Sinner, list to the loving call, Wonderful words of life. All so freely given, Wooing us to heaven. Beautiful words, wonderful words, Wonderful words of life. Beautiful words, wonderful words, Wonderful words of life. Sweetly echo the gospel call, Wonderful words of life. Offer pardon and peace to all, Wonderful words of life. Jesus, only Savior, Sanctify forever. Beautiful words, wonderful words, Wonderful words of life. Beautiful words, wonderful words, Wonderful words of life.]
Our soul is sanctified forever though our faith in Christ alone, [John 17:16-21 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. 20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.]
I am not going to lie, but Ezekiel is not one of my favorite books to read from the Bible because there is just so much to take in about all the judgments. Anyone with a heart has to feel some sorrow over what is going to happen to the earth that the world is trying so desperately to save. However, one of my favorite chapters from the Bible is Ezekiel 37, and as we continue in the reading of Ezekiel, God, gives Ezekiel the incredible vision of what I believe will be what the resurrection of Christ’s saints is going to look like. God, takes Ezekiel to a valley full of human bones.
[Ezekiel 37:1-6 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, 2 And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. 3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest. 4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. 5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.]
[Son of man, can these bones live?] First of all, we need to have faith that there is life after the death before God will even consider giving us eternal life, [Hebrews 11:1,6 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.]
[I will cause breath to enter into you,] Second, we need to consider that when we are born we are basically a bag of bones as our soul does not have life in it yet. Now, we do have the spirit of life in us, but since the fall of man God, took His Spirit from us. This always reminds me of when God breathed life into Adam, [Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.]
[and put breath in you, and ye shall live;] Third, we need to understand that it was sin that caused the death of the soul, but through our faith in the Gospel of Christ by the grace of God alone, we are given life, [Galatians 2:16-17 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. 17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.]
We can believe all we want that Jesus died on the cross, but if we do not believe that He resurrected, or even that we too will be resurrected, then we will not be saved. And I tell you what, when you fully and sincerely accept Christ as Your Saviour, you literally feel His Spirit come into Your soul. Watch what happens as Ezekiel speaks the words of life to the dry bones.
[Ezekiel 37:7-10 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. 8 And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. 9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.]
[and the bones came together, bone to his bone.] Keep in mind that this is Jesus that God is speaking to at this point, the second He spoke to them, not only did the bones find their place, they were given new joints and flesh. This is what Jesus does for all of us and what we have to look forward to, a new glorified body, and one that is immortal, [1 Corinthians 15:52-54 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.]
Now, I just need to complete the passage because it so incredible and brings me to tears every time I read it. God, tells us who this great army is, [Ezekiel 37:11-14 Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. 12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, 14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.]
[these bones are the whole house of Israel:] This great army is the whole house of Israel, not just believers of the Israelites, but Gentiles as well. God, will save the soul of the most vilest as long as they believe that Christ is the one who saves them, but He will not save one soul that rejects His Son, [Matthew 10:32-34 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.]
There is an honest to God, good reason why Jesus sends a sword before He sends peace. He does this to separate those who confess Christ from those who deny Christ, including those who only appear to be His, [Matthew 10:34-36 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.]
Although Israel is a divided nation right now, it will reunite with other Christians. Through an illustration of a stick, God, reveals when Israel will be divided no more, [Ezekiel 37:16-19 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions: 17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. 18 And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these? 19 Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.]
[neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all:] You see, while we may all be a creation of God, we are not all from the family of God, He only accepts those into His family that not only believe in Him, but receive Him. There will come a day when God will gather all His children, what we call that the midnight cry, and He will also restore Israel as a whole.
[Matthew 25:6,8-13 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.]
Every soul that receives Christ is in the hand of Christ, He takes a hold of them with His mighty hand, and nothing and no one can pluck them from from it. We become one nation under God, and will no longer be labeled as a Jew or Gentile, but rather, a people of God. This is the everlasting covenant that God Himself makes with every person who comes to Him through His Son, of whom will also reign over us. Through Ezekiel, God goes on to describe the day that His Son will be king.
[Ezekiel 37:24-28 And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. 25 And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever. 26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. 27 My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 28 And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.]
[and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.] Of course, we know that this is Jesus Christ Himself, and he will be King over all His people. It is with very good reason that we ought to look to Jesus, and proclaim Him as our King, He gave His life for us, and since He is God in the flesh, only He has the keys of death and hell, [Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.]
[when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.] There is nothing more gut wrenching to the wicked than to see someone find Christ and turn their lives around. While we who are faithful are literally transforming before their eyes, enjoying the peace and joy that comes through Christ, even in the midst of our troubles, they are bitter and miserable. That is not even possible if we are not living through Christ, [1 Timothy 1:15-17 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.]
All these people trying to stop the planet from being destroyed by controlling the population, getting rid of coal and fuel, removing cows, or shooting chemicals up at the sun to cool it, have zero faith in God, and will have a huge awakening. Gog and Magog, these two places are only mentioned in God’s Word twice, and if you are a regular reader, then you would know that they have something to do with the return of Christ and Armageddon. Through Ezekiel, God first foretells of Gog, who knew the warnings, but were not prepared.
[Ezekiel 38:2-4,7-8 Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: 4 And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: 7 Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them. 8 After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.]
[Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself,] Salvation, is not about a free pass to live the way we want, and then enjoy eternal life, it comes with price. I do not mean that we need to buy it or work to keep it, I mean that since we will not face hell, this is our hell if we remain in sin without an ounce of repentance. Besides that, we need to be prepared for when that trumpet is blown because He will come as a thief in the night, [1 Thessalonians 5:3-6 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.]
Many see a reference to the northern European powers headed by Russia in the last days to wage a great war, and this is why. Mesheck (Moscow), and Tubal (Zobolsk), is thought to be the place where the future battle of Armageddon will take place, this is when His people will be brought to safety.
[Ezekiel 38:9-10,15-16 Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. 10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: 15 And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: 16 And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.]
[when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog,] God, will not be mocked and He will get vengeance upon every wicked person who defiled His name, took it in vain, led His people astray, and for what they have done to His people. God, goes on to describe that in His jealousy He will destroy the very earth that they worshiped.
[Ezekiel 38:19-22 For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; 20 So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. 21 And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man’s sword shall be against his brother. 22 And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.]
[great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.] We are told by the worlds view of God not to scare people with tales of hail, fire, and brimstone, but these are no tales, it is the honest to God truth. When Christ returns He is not going to be the meek and mild man that He was the first time, He is coming back with a vengeance and all will know that He is the powerful and Almighty God, [2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 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;]
It just occurred to me with all the trouble going on in Russian just how close we are to the tribulation. Jesus, might have warned us about the diseases, wars, storms, and violence that will take place prior to His return, but no amount of warning can truly prepare us for what is to come. We do not know when Christ will return, but we can be prepared, and it would be wise that His people be ready for that day. Through Ezekiel, God foretells what will happen to Magog, and when all will know who Christ is.
[Ezekiel 39:1-6 Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: 2 And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel: 3 And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand. 4 Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. 5 Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD. 6 And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD.]
[and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles:] The Lord will make the most careless and hardened transgressors know His holy name, either by his righteous anger, or by the riches of his mercy and grace. The weapons formed against Zion shall not prosper. Though this prophecy is to be fulfilled in the latter days, it is certain. Some terrible judgment will destroy the countries that the army of Gog about the same time that Magog will be destroyed. Then we come to the incredible prophecy of the valley of Hamongog.
[Ezekiel 39:7,11-13,17 So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. 11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the noses of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call it The valley of Hamongog. 12 And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land. 13 Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown the day that I shall be glorified, saith the Lord GOD. 17 And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; Speak unto every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood.]
[and they shall call it The valley of Hamongog.] The would be located east of the Dead Sea, between Petra and Egypt. Hamongog, means the multitude of God, and they would be buried publicly so that those traveling on the high road could observe God’s judgments. The fear of God will always lead to one of two paths, it will draw them to Him or further away, but those who are drawn to Him will escape these judgments, [2 Timothy 1:7-8 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;]
Perhaps one of the most controversial and often misunderstood topics of God’s Word is the resurrection. The word resurrection means; [a rising again, to return from the grave]. Every person who has died in the flesh will be resurrected to stand before Christ for judgment. During this time Israel will finally acknowledge Him as the Messiah they had been waiting for, and many will come to Him.
[Ezekiel 39:23-26,29 And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword. 24 According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them. 25 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name; 26 After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid. 29 Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.]
[for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel,] The pouring out of the Spirit is a pledge that God’s favor will continue upon His people, and He will hide his face no more from them. Only those who know Jesus Christ as their Saviour have God’s Spirit upon them, He indwells in them through the Holy Spirit, and He is our Comforter until Jesus does return and everyone will see His face, [John 16:6-8 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:]
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, Thank You for taking my place on the cross, and for giving me victory over death when You resurrected three days later. It is because of Your resurrection that we have hope of our own, when our bodies will be clothed our new glorified bodies. Praise God! We will no longer be acquainted with sickness, sorrow, pain, or sin, and the temptation to sin will not even exist and neither will our adversary, the devil. What anticipation this builds when we see You face to face in our glorified bodies. Lord, Keep us faithful and looking unto You until the day of Your return, let us walk with You daily and be transformed into Your image as we allow You to cleanse us piece by piece. I ask this in Your name, Jesus, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/ready-to-follow-jesus/
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Missed A Message: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Visit I’m Following Jesus: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/welcome/
Read Today’s Bible Reading: http://kingjamesbible.imfollowingjesus.com/
I’m Following Jesus On Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/readytofollowJesus/
Copyright © 2023 I’m Following Jesus, All rights reserved.