In the fifth year of his captivity god called the young priest to prophesy to a rebellious nation, impudent and stubborn. The book of ezekiel is found in the old testament of the bible. Ezekiel, perhaps more than any other biblical prophet, wanted to know godand god revealed himself to this prophet in mysterious and mighty ways. Ezekiels prophetic ministry lasted from 593 bc to 571 bc. If anyone asks whether the vision is lucid, i confess its obscurity, and that i can scarcely understand it. Verses 414 the visions of god which ezekiel here saw were very glorious, and had more particulars than those which other prophets saw.
The first section of ezekiel, which is all of chapter one, presents a vision of the appearance of the glory of the lord. The book of ezekiel is one of the major prophetic books in the old testament and had more influence on revelation than any other book. Summary of the book of ezekiel the story of the bible. Mar 17, 2016 the book of ezekiel is one of the major prophets in the old testament. Well, we know from his book that daniel was acquainted with the prophecies of jeremiah. It reveals how god is manifested, how god moves, and how god administrates his government through the four living creatures. The prophet ezekiel the vision of the valley of dry bones ezekiel 37 ezekiel was carried away captive to babylon at the age of twentyfive one of 10,000 captives. Remember, the designation major or minor simply refers to the length of the book, not its.
A series of studies in the old testament book of ezekiel st albans. At first glance, ezekiel seems a little eccentric and difficult to get close to, but he is worth the time and effort to get to know. This is important to remember when discerning the meaning of this great vision. John in the book of revelation in appendix iv of this lesson. Remember, the designation major or minor simply refers to the length of the book, not its importance. Ezekiel s prophetic ministry lasted from 593 bc to 571 bc see ez 29. Next to the book of revelation, ezekiel s probably the weirdest and most dramatic book of the hebrew bible. According to the book itself, it records six visions of the prophet ezekiel, exiled in babylon, during the 22 years from 593 to 571 bc, although it is the product of a long and complex history and does not necessarily preserve the very. Ezekiel 1 ezekiels inaugural vision in my bible gateway. The prophet describes massive visions of gods spiritual forces in. Book of ezekiel read, study bible verses online bible study tools.
Among the exiles in babylon, ezekiel shows that israel. Ezekiel s mission to the judean exiles in babylon was to prepare them for the greatest crisis in the history of yahwehs covenant people. It was authored by ezekiel who was set as a watchman to the house of israel. Ezekiel s in babylon, having been exiled there after the first siege of judah by the babylonians. The prophet ezekiel was commissioned to be a watchman sounding the warning for the early waves of exiles in babylon 3. The book is filled with many visions and allegories and the prophets strange actions and behavior. He was called to preach a message of coming judgment to the rebellious children of israel, on the occasion of the lords delivery of the nation into. The prophet ezekiel is the author of the book of ezekiel. Ezekiel with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. This summary of the book of ezekiel provides information about the title. Many of the divine visions that ezekiel shares are relevant to gods plans for reconstructing the present. Throughout the book the phrase that is repeated over and over again is, that you may. The book of ezekiel is the third of the books of the major prophets, coming after the books of isaiah and jeremiah in the christian canon.
In this tensession lifeguide bible study, you will catch something of the awesomeness of god. It combines farout visions, judgments of violent destruction and death, and predictions of peace and consolation into a spicy prophetic gumbo. What exactly does ezekiel s wheel within a wheel vision mean. This is important to remember when discerning the meaning of this. Ezekiel among the captivesnow it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as i was among. And nowhere in the bible are gods initiative and control expressed more clearly and pervasively than in the book of ezekiel. The prophet describes massive visions of gods spiritual forces in action behind the scenes and blueprints for the future. The problem was the people didnt want to hear his warning 2. Ezekiels in babylon, having been exiled there after.
From the first chapter, which graphically describes the overwhelming invasion of the divine presence into ezekiel s world, to the last phrase of ezekiel s vision the lord is there the book sounds and echoes gods. Writing from a firstperson perspective, ezekiel recorded the visions and revelations he received from the lord. You can also mail in a donation to verity baptist church 320 harris ave, suite a. Apr 22, 2018 the first reason to study ezekiel is that it will help you see yourself, and especially your sin, more clearly. The prophet ezekiel was commissioned to be a watchman sounding the warning for the.
The book of ezekiel he will be strengthened of god. It combines farout visions, judgments of violent destruction and death, and predictions of peace. The book of ezekiel can seem vague and confusing for some readers, but with careful observation it. Because of this, for many christians, ezekiel is too strange and the book too complex and bizarre to. The prophets wrote over a period of 250300 years, spanning the decline, the exile, and the return of the children of israel. Ezekiel, perhaps more than any other biblical prophet, wanted to know godand. The overall theme of the prophecy of ezekiel is the glory of god. Ezekiel study guide for growing christians ministries. To possess the prophets mind with very great, and high, and honourable thoughts of that god by whom he was commissioned and for whom he was employed. Though the book of ezekiel for example is filled with complex visions and an elaborate plan for a new temple some believe it is the plan for a third temple which will be a harbinger of the second. The visions, and the book, are structured around three themes. Not only does the book present a striking picture of the resurrection and restoration of gods people ezekiel 37, it.
It records seven visions of the prophet ezekiel, exiled in babylon, during the 22 years from 593 to 571 bc. Study the book of ezekiel, and your life will be transformed. Ezekiel in the picture study bible the book of ezekiel with. I think ezekiel saw it better than any of the other prophets. The book records the prophesies and visions of ezekiel. On the fifth of the monthit was the fifth year of the exile of king jehoiachin the word of the lord came to ezekiel the priest, the son of buzi, by the kebar river in the land of the babylonians. Ezekiel among the captivesnow it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as i was among the captives by the river chebar, that the heavens were opened and i saw visions of god. It is probably the most ignored book in the old testament. Ezekiel looked beyond the sufferings of christ to the glory that should follow. The book of ezekiel is narrative history, prophetic and apocalyptic in genre and even contains parables. So prior to the study it is best to have heard the sermon and read the relevant chapters. The book of ezekiel takes its title from the priest of the same name, son to a man. The book of ezekiel is the third of the books of the major prophets, coming after the books.
This book is basically about the destruction and exile of judah and the promise of its eventual restoration by god. Ezekiel makes the other prophets seem almost tame by comparison, with his mysterious four. It records seven visions of the prophet ezekiel, exiled in babylon. Ezekiel saw these visions on the 5th day of the 4th month. He was called to preach a message of coming judgment to the rebellious children of israel, on the occasion of the lords delivery of the nation into enslavement under the babylonians. There are only two old testament scriptures that directly reference this strange heavenly vision of a wheel within a wheel observed by the prophet ezekiel. The book of ezekiel is one of the major prophets in the old testament. Aug 31, 2018 to make a donation to vbc, click here. Most of the book of ezekiel contains prophecies that were given before the final fall of jerusalem to the babylonians. See the chart on the parallels between ezekiel s visions and the visions of st. The visions ezekiel received when god called him to his prophetic ministry are some of the most vivid and dramatic images in sacred scripture. A series of studies in the old testament book of ezekiel.
The prophet ezekiel had a most unenviable assignment. The prophet, fondly called son of man, was really a man of the spirit. In other words, it was as if ezekiel could see beyond the skies. Ezekiel witnessed marvelous things in his prophetic visions even as he lived through terrible things on earth. Many of the divine visions that ezekiel shares are relevant to gods plans for reconstructing the present world and restoring his people to our former days in the garden of eden. Ezekiel s visions came mostly from being lifted by the spirit. The book of ezekiel opens and concludes with visions of the glory of god. Book of ezekiel overview insight for living ministries. At first glance, ezekiel seems a little eccentric, but getting to know him is worth the effort. The first reason to study ezekiel is that it will help you see yourself, and especially your sin, more clearly.
The most unusual thing about ezekiel unlike jeremiah, and to a lesser extent isaiah and most of the minor. Jeremiah, ezekiel, and daniel were all prophets, but each had a particular and peculiar. The book of ezekiel is poorly understood and the results are that many people have been led to believe things about ezekiel that have nothing to do with the intended meaning. Knowing god is the basic theme of the book of ezekiel. The appearance of the wheels and their workmanship was the color of beryl, and the four of them had the same.
Unfortunately, the level of bible knowledge of his difficult book often doesnt go too much deeper. Ezekiel was a fascinating man who wrote a wonderful book filled with strange and powerful visions. What exactly does ezekiels wheel within a wheel vision mean. Though the book of ezekiel for example is filled with complex visions and an elaborate plan for a new temple some believe it is the plan for a third temple which will be a harbinger of the second coming, as we study through the book in jensen we completely lose the feeling that it is wholly esoteric, and begin to appropriate its prophetic. A comprehensive versebyverse exploration of the bible participant book, large print genesis to revelation series linda b. Ezekiel chapters 1 to 24 free bible commentary in easy english. The book of ezekiel is the third of the latter prophets in the tanakh and one of the major prophetic books in the old testament, following isaiah and jeremiah. Next to the book of revelation, ezekiels probably the weirdest and most dramatic book of the hebrew bible. Because of this, for many christians, ezekiel is too strange and the book too complex and bizarre to deserve serious attention. He engages in startling symbolic activities to teach gods people. As peter said of the prophets, they saw the sufferings and they saw the glory that would follow 1 pet. Many of the divine visions that ezekiel shares are. The book begins with the initial date of his divine calling.
According to the book itself, it records six visions of the prophet ezekiel. The book of ezekiel can seem vague and confusing for some readers, but with careful observation it contains key details god wants us to know about. Study guide for ezekiel 1 by david guzik blue letter bible. The book of ezekiel introduction to the book of ezekiel in the bible. Thirty was the age when priests commenced their office, so it was a. There are only two old testament scriptures that directly reference this strange heavenly vision of a wheel within a wheel. Meaning of ezekiels wheel within wheel bible study. Watch our overview video on the first part of the book of ezekiel, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The book of ezekiel pronounces judgment on both israel and surrounding nations, but it also provides a vision of the future millennial kingdom that complements and adds to the vision of other old and new testament texts. Ezekiel uses visions, prophecies, parables, signs and symbols to proclaim and dramatize the message of god to his exiled people. Encounter divine dreams and visions in the book of ezekiel.
Ezekiels inaugural vision in my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while i was among the exiles by the kebar river, the heavens were opened and i saw visions of god. The departure of the glory of the lord from israel is one of the basic disclosures of this prophetic book, so ezekiel traces it very carefully in its different stages cf. According to the book itself, it records six visions. Verses 23 king jehoiachin was still the proper king. In contrast to various other prophets ezekiel has not been criticised as much. See the chart on the parallels between ezekiels visions and the visions of st. Study scripture verses and use highlighting, underlining, and take notes in the bible. But similar to isaiahs vision, ezekiels vision reveals the character of god.
192 1230 577 1008 648 1150 1372 1277 912 636 156 1427 417 484 319 2 830 1160 347 25 985 104 1330 605 1111 840 1447 1207 349 66 244 1008 651 1161 735 57 963 1387 1199 1100 1015 749