King James Bible Study – [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. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Saturday, August 29, 2026
Chapters: Ezekiel 9-12
Lesson: Ezekiel: God Leaves Jerusalem
Hello My Friend,
We have been learning that God had been giving Ezekiel these visions to reveal the true spiritual condition of Israel while he lived among the captives in Babylon. Ezekiel, believed the Holy Spirit had taken him, whether in body or in spirit, on a solemn journey back to the land of Israel, allowing him to see with his own eyes just how desolate, corrupt, and forsaken the once‑beloved nation had become. This was the land God had called His home, the place where His glory once dwelt; yet now, its abominations cried out against it. As we continue in the reading of Ezekiel God sends six men into the city.
[Ezekiel 9:1-3 He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand. 2 And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar. 3 And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer’s inkhorn by his side;]
An ink‑horn was literally a horn filled with ink, used for permanent writing. These six men were not ordinary men at all, but angels appointed to carry out God’s judgment upon the wicked in Jerusalem. Yet among them stood one distinguished from the rest, a man clothed in linen, bearing the writer’s ink-horn by his side. God, had a particular charge for him, a sacred commission that set him apart from the executioners.
[Ezekiel 9:4-6 And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. 5 And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: 6 Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.]
While the others carried instruments of destruction, the man with the ink-horn carried an instrument of preservation. Jesus Christ Himself has the task to seal those who sigh and cry for all the abominations done in the midst thereof, ensuring that the righteous would be spared when judgment fell. As Ezekiel watches these executioners moving through the city, slaying every soul who did not bear the mark, his heart broke and he cried out to God.
[Ezekiel 9:8-11 And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem? 9 Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not. 10 And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head. 11 And, behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me.]
Ezekiel, overwhelmed by the sight of judgment sweeping through the people who once belonged to God. No matter who you are, man, woman, or child, those who are of an accountable age must come to understand that they are sinners and that there is a price for sin and that price is death and hell. This is not God being cruel, it is Him being the just Judge that He is. And if a person chooses to worship a false god, then they cannot expect pity from God. Likewise, if one insists on worshiping the true God through a false religion, they place themselves outside His mercy. Now, Ezekiel, watches as this cloud rises from its throne.
[Ezekiel 10:1-4 Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne. 2 And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight. 3 Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court. 4 Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD’S glory.]
These wheels represented the churches under their ministers, pastors, guides, and teachers, each one turning according to the direction of the Spirit, yet accountable for the stewardship entrusted to them. The hot coals scattered over Jerusalem were a solemn foreshadowing of the day when Christ will return. The fire Ezekiel saw was a preview of that final purging, a reminder that God will not forever tolerate the corruption of His Gospel. Ezekiel, goes on to describe what he saw, and suddenly he realizes that the radiant being before him was the same living creature he had seen at the beginning of his visions.
[Ezekiel 10:15-19 And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar. 16 And when the cherubims went, the wheels went by them: and when the cherubims lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also turned not from beside them. 17 When they stood, these stood; and when they were lifted up, these lifted up themselves also: for the Spirit of the living creature was in them. 18 Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims. 19 And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD’S house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.]
The glory, the wheels, the wings, the fire, it was all the same heavenly manifestation that first appeared by the river Chebar. What Ezekiel was seeing was actually the Trinity of God in His three persons all at once, even if it was only God’s hand that he saw as it lifted him up. It definitely must have been a sight to see the cherubims removing themselves from the place they where seated. They were the defenders of the Ark of the covenant and sat beside the mercy seat, and only statues, but came to life that instant. God, was proving that His Spirit is the only one who can give live to a dead soul, [John 5:24-25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.]
At this point, most of the people of Judah were carried a way into Babylon, there was only a remnant and if we recall from Jeremiah, it was probably around the time that he was arrested, just as Nebuchadnezzar had put Zedekiah in charge. Ezekiel, was about to see first hand the anger of God toward those who reject Him. God, actually sent him over to a group of men to let them know that He knows what they are doing.
[Ezekiel 11:1-5 Moreover the Spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto the east gate of the LORD’S house, which looketh eastward: and behold at the door of the gate five and twenty men; among whom I saw Jaazaniah the son of Azur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people. 2 Then said he unto me, Son of man, these are the men that devise mischief, and give wicked counsel in this city: 3 Which say, It is not near; let us build houses: this city is the caldron, and we be the flesh. 4 Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man. 5 And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak; Thus saith the LORD; Thus have ye said, O house of Israel: for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them.]
These fools thought they could rebuild the city by their own strength and somehow keep the Chaldeans from overtaking them, encouraged the people to ignore the judgment God had already declared. But God was calling them out, exposing their false confidence, their pride, and their refusal to submit to His Word.
[Ezekiel 11:10-13 Ye shall fall by the sword; I will judge you in the border of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. 11 This city shall not be your caldron, neither shall ye be the flesh in the midst thereof; but I will judge you in the border of Israel: 12 And ye shall know that I am the LORD: for ye have not walked in my statutes, neither executed my judgments, but have done after the manners of the heathen that are round about you. 13 And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then fell I down upon my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel?]
No sooner had Ezekiel finished speaking than Pelatiah fell down dead. The judgment of God was not delayed, nor was it symbolic, Ezekiel watched it unfold before his very eyes. The shock of it drove him immediately to his knees, and with a trembling voice he cried out to God, fearing that this was the end of Israel altogether. When God responded He declared that although judgment must fall upon the rebellious, He still has a remnant.
[Ezekiel 11:15-17 Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel wholly, are they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get you far from the LORD: unto us is this land given in possession. 16 Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come. 17 Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.]
We must realize that while God is merciful, waiting for the very last soul to receive His Son, there does come a time when that mercy will reach its appointed end. His long-suffering is great, but it is not endless. I cannot count the times I have grown angry or cried out to God with “Why!” only to be gently reminded of what He has already carried me through. Every trial, every valley, every season of confusion has been met with His faithfulness. As much as I long for a simpler life, I know that if Jesus is not in the picture, then it is no life at all. Peace without Him is an illusion; rest without Him is temporary; hope without Him is empty, [I Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.]
The day will come when all of God’s people will suffer no more. We will be gathered together, united as one nation under God, one people redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. And in this moment God begins to speak of that day, of restoration, of gathering, of a new heart and a new spirit placed within His people, [Ezekiel 11:19-21 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new Spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: 20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. 21 But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord GOD.]
We can think of this as one great community of God’s people coming together to cleanse the earth of the sludge that has covered it for generations. Every idol, house of immorality, corrupt church, and system that promotes sin will be removed. I know I will be glad for that day. Even the small burdens of life, like worrying over what foods I can eat, will fade away. In the presence of Christ, everything broken will be made whole. On the other hand, those who reject God will be left to the consequences of their own abominations, and ultimately hell. We must understand that this is their choice. Even those who were led astray by false doctrine. Jesus, said it this way, [Revelation 21:7-8 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.]
God offers mercy, truth, and salvation freely; but He does not force anyone to receive it. The tragedy of hell is not that God sends people there, but that they choose darkness over the light of His Son. Every soul that rejects Christ does so by its own will, turning away from the only refuge that could save them. And once again, the glory of God appears, but this time it does not rest within the city. It hovers over a mountain.
[Ezekiel 11:22-25 Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above. 23 And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city. 24 Afterwards the Spirit took me up, and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to them of the captivity. So the vision that I had seen went up from me. 25 Then I spake unto them of the captivity all the things that the LORD had shewed me.]
The same glory that once dwelt between the cherubims, the same brightness that filled the Temple, now rises and settles upon the mountain east of Jerusalem. I believe that this is the saddest moment in all the Old Testament history. When God hovered over that mountain, I am sure that it grieved Him dearly. I do not know how many people actually believed Ezekiel when he told the people what he saw, but God cannot be blamed for their refusal to accept the truth. Now, God sends Ezekiel to the prince with a message to be prepared for the day that the Chaldeans come for them.
[Ezekiel 12:2-4,6 Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house. 3 Therefore, thou son of man, prepare thee stuff for removing, and remove by day in their sight; and thou shalt remove from thy place to another place in their sight: it may be they will consider, though they be a rebellious house. 4 Then shalt thou bring forth thy stuff by day in their sight, as stuff for removing: and thou shalt go forth at even in their sight, as they that go forth into captivity. 6 In their sight shalt thou bear it upon thy shoulders, and carry it forth in the twilight: thou shalt cover thy face, that thou see not the ground: for I have set thee for a sign unto the house of Israel.]
By preparing for removal and breaking through the wall of his house at evening, Ezekiel, was being shown a living illustration of what king Zedekiah and his men were attempting. They were trying to escape their captivity under cover of darkness, slipping through the walls of Jerusalem as though they could outrun the judgment of God. But Zedekiah would learn that no one can flee from the consequences God has decreed. God, then goes on to describe Zedekiah’s fate.
[Ezekiel 12:8-11,13-14 And in the morning came the word of the LORD unto me, saying, 9 Son of man, hath not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said unto thee, What doest thou? 10 Say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; This burden concerneth the prince in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel that are among them. 11 Say, I am your sign: like as I have done, so shall it be done unto them: they shall remove and go into captivity. 13 My net also will I spread upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare: and I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; yet shall he not see it, though he shall die there. 14 And I will scatter toward every wind all that are about him to help him, and all his bands; and I will draw out the sword after them.]
The king who thought he could escape would be captured. The eyes that refused to see the truth would be taken out. The man who rejected God’s warnings would be carried to Babylon, not as a free ruler, but as a prisoner. This is referring to when Zedekiah rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, [II Kings 25:6-7 So they took the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment upon him. 7 And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon.]
However, there is a deeper message here, God, sending His Son to the Jews to warn them against their false religions, [Luke 13:25-27 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.]
The Jews reject Christ under the false belief that the Messiah has not yet come, and many religions reject Him because His holiness exposes their sin. Those who turn away from Christ will not be prepared when their last day arrives. And when His Light descends in glory, they will behold Him, but they will lose Him forever. Now, God sends a message to assure the people that all these predictions will be accomplished very shortly and will not be prolonged.
[Ezekiel 12:18-20 Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy water with trembling and with carefulness; 19 And say unto the people of the land, Thus saith the Lord GOD of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and of the land of Israel; They shall eat their bread with carefulness, and drink their water with astonishment, that her land may be desolate from all that is therein, because of the violence of all them that dwell therein. 20 And the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall be desolate; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.]
The time for delay is over. The warnings spoken through His prophets will stand; the judgments declared will unfold exactly as He has said. God’s Word will not return void. What He has promised in mercy He will fulfill, and what He has spoken in judgment He will surely bring to pass.
[Ezekiel 12:25-28 For I am the LORD: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord GOD. 26 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 27 Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off. 28 Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; There shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord GOD.]
Everything comes to pass just as God says. He may take His time with some things, but He always follows through. The day will come when Jesus will return, and the judgment of the entire earth will no longer be prolonged. And just in case anyone wonders whether the glory of the LORD still rests in a cloud somewhere upon the earth, the answer is yes, but not as it once did. He now dwells in every saved, born‑again Christian. The same glory that hovered over the mountain in Ezekiel’s day now abides within the hearts of His people, [John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; Whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Any day, any hour even, You could decide that You have had enough, and will no longer prolong the judgment of the earth. Any second we could hear the trumpets sounding off that Jesus is returning, and all who are His will be raptured out of this place to safety while we await our new dwelling place in His Kingdom. Lord, lead us and guide us, prepare us and make us ready for that day, let us not get deceived by the world or be ashamed to tell the truth to them. Put Your hedge of protection around us as things get worse, and let us be the examples that You need us to be to bring others to Your Son before He returns. I pray this in Your name, Jesus, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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