DAY 11: 31-Days Journey in Faith through the Book of Ezekiel

Iniquity in the House of the Lord:

God had gone into detail with Ezekiel, to make him fully understand why He judged Jerusalem and Judah. He gave over-abundant proof that they were guilty of the worst kind of sin. This cry is against Israel, and specifically, Judah and Jerusalem. The way of the higher gate to the north has to do with God. "Linen" symbolizes the righteousness of Christ. The "brazen altar" is the altar of judgment. This writer's inkhorn has the power (horn), to mark and save the repentant.

The glory of God departs before the destruction of the city and temple. The gradual departure of God from His temple is depicted in stages: the glory resides in the temple’s Most Holy Place, between the wings of the cherubs on each side of the Ark of the covenant over the mercy seat, then leaves to the front door, later to the East gate by the outer wall, and finally to the Mount of Olives to the East, having fully departed. The glory will return in the future kingdom of Messiah.

It is God who knows who is to be marked, and who is not. God knows the heart of man. He, also, knows whose names are written in the book of life. Just as the Hebrews in Egypt, whose doors were covered with the blood of the lamb, were saved, God will separate the judgment here. This is last minute instructions from God.

God will mark His remnant here. These are that remnant who has not bowed their knee to these false gods. They are saddened by the things going on. They love God and Him alone. They have not been involved in this sensuous worship of false gods. They are very similar to the 144,000 that are sealed in Revelation.

Revelation 7:2-4 "And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea," "Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads." "And I heard the number of them which were sealed: [and there were] sealed a hundred [and] forty [and] four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel."

True worshippers of God, who despised idolatry, would be protected. The rest would be destroyed. This seems cruel, but it is really God wiping out those unfaithful. The children were killed also, so the next generation would not worship false gods. This was a beginning again, as God did with Noah and his family. The ancient men before the houses had been involved in this worship of false gods also. Judgment begins at the house of God. This was no exception. 1 Peter 4:17 "For the time [is come] that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if [it] first [begin] at us, what shall the end [be] of them that obey not the gospel of God?"

This man clothed in linen is like all other beings upon the earth, and in heaven, and under the earth in that he is subject to God.