[1] 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 copper altar.
Verse 1 Expanded Bible Comments
| 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. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| "He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice" | |
| Who is it that "Cried.. with a loud voice?" | God. |
| What does that mean? | Made a Divine Proclamation. It also means that those who answered were being obedient to God's call. |
| Was this message for anyone? | No. It was only for Ezekiel. He cried in mine ears.those "who had charge over the city." |
| "Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near" | |
| What city? | Nominal spiritual Jerusalem, i.e., the ecclesiastical portion of Christendom. |
| Please note: We are not at this point attempting to identify who it is that is being spoken of here. Rather we wish to understand what this means. Later (vs 5) we will consider who it is that fits the description of "them that have charge over the city." | |
| What does it mean to "have charge over the city?" | The word "charge" is Strong's H6485 H6486 We get a better sense of its meaning when we look at its usage. In the first seven verses where this word is found (occurring 8 times in total) it is translated: "oversight, custody, office, visitation, officers, reckoning and offices." (Num. 3:32,36; Num. 4:16; Num. 16:29; 2Ki. 11:18; 1Ch. 23:11; 1Ch. 24:3.) There is always authority or responsibility associated with its useage.פּקדּה peqûddâh pek-ood-daw' Feminine passive participle of H6485; visitation (in many senses, chiefly official): - account, (that have the) charge, custody, that which . . . laid up, numbers, office (-r), ordering, oversight, + prison, reckoning, visitation. |
| Who is to "cause them.. to draw near?" | While it is God who is speaking, it is His instruction given to Ezekiel (the earthly representative of "the son of man," Pastor Russell.) Yet another reminder that the message of Present Truth, while delivered to us by Pastor Russell, was really from God. |
| Draw near to what or whom? | It does not say in this verse. We will discover where when we get consider the next verse. |
| "even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand." | |
| What is this "destroying weapon." | Again, we have not yet been told. However, by looking ahead and noting the results, it is easy enough to determine that this "destroying weapon" is "the Present Truth." – 2 Pet. 1:12 |
| What is the significance of them having this weapon in their hands? | Hands are symbolic of activity, strength, etc. In other words, these men are prepared for the battle. |
Verse 2 Expanded Bible Comments
| 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 copper altar. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| "And behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north." | |
| Note: we will be discussing the identity of the six men later in the chapter. | |
| What is the significance of their being six men? | The number six is normally connected to fallen man. Our suggestion is that this indicates these six men are in an earthly condition, i.e., these are not spirit beings. |
| Where is "the higher gate, which lieth toward the north?" | That would be the gate which (in Ezekiel's temple) leads from the outer to the inner court. The inner court seems to correspond well to the court of the Tabernacle and as such pictures the condition of justification. |
| What is the significance of it being "toward the north?" | The north is associated with God and His government. Psa. 48:2; Isa. 14:13; Psa. 75:6 |
| Why did the six men come?, i.e., what drew them? | God's command in verse 1: "Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near.." |
| Every man a slaughter weapon in his hand | |
| Is this "slaughter weapon" different from the "destroying weapon" of verse 1? | Yes and no. In both verses 1 and 2 the word "weapon" simply means an apparatus or instrument. The word preceeding it determines what kind of instrument it is. In verse 1 it is a Strong's H4892 an instrument (weapon) of destruction. In verse 2 it is Strong's H4660, an instrument (weapon) of slaughter. Please note that this slaughter weapon contains another element that is not apparent in the Standard translation of "slaughter" weapon.
H4660
Here we note that this "destroying" weapon is also "a weapon of breaking in pieces." We will see later how this information helps in identifying the six men.מפּץ mappâts map-pawts' From H5310; a smiting to pieces: - slaughter. |
| and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side | |
| When it says "one man among them" is it saying that the "one man" is one of the six men, or that this is one additional man? | CEV says "A seventh man.." ERV says "One of the men.." All of the other translations we checked keep it neutral by simply saying "one man among them" or "one man in their midst." Our thought is that the one man, while in their midst, is separate from the six. More on this later. |
| What is indicated by the fact that the one man had "a writer's inkhorn by his side?" | Clearly this "one man" was a writer of some notariety. It would also seem to suggest that this man's writings were either very well known or that he wrote a great deal. |
| How does this help us to identify this "one man?" | Since our time setting is at the end of the Gospel Age, we look for a writer (either an individual or a group) whose writings are both large in scale and also well-known. In addition these writings need to be of great impact. This makes it easy for Bible Students to identify this as referring to Pastor Russell. Please see Ezekiel Chapter 9 booklet. |
| Note: There are two questions regarding "was clothed with linen." Please answer the first without getting into the second question. | |
| What is implied by "was clothed with linen?" | In scripture we find the following were described as wearing linen: The Priests: Exo. 28:42-43; Exo. 39:27-29; Lev. 6:10; Lev. 16:4,23,32; 1 Sam. 22:18 Samuel: 1 Sam. 2:18 King David: 2 Sam. 6:14; 1 Chron. 15:27 In other words "linen" was worn by priests, a prophet (Samuel) and a king (David.) |
| Is this "one man .. clothed with linen" referring to a class of men or to a specific "one man?" – Please give scriptural evidence in support of your answer. | The following scriptures all refer to the man clothed in linen and they all indicate the work of one man. Eze. 9:2,3; Eze. 10:2,6,7; Dan. 10:5; Dan. 12:6,7 |
| and they went in, and stood beside the brazen (copper) altar. | |
| What is pictured by the brazen altar? | Christ's ransom sacrifice. It also pictures faith in that sacrifice. |
| What does it mean to stand beside the brazen altar? | These are saying "we support the ransom." |
| Who is it that thus stands? | The six men plus the man clothed in linen who had the writer's inkhorn. |
[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; [4] 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. [7] And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city. [8] 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?
Verse 3 Expanded Bible Comments
| 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; | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. | |
| What is "the glory of the God of Israel?" | The Truth. That which reveals God's character and Plan. |
| Where was this glory located before it moved? | Upon the cherub. The cherubim were on the ark of the covenant in the Most Holy, in the (nominal) temple. |
| What does that picture? | That God's spirit, the power of spirit begettal, the Truth, before it moved, was (still) in the nominal temple (Babylon, Christendom.) |
| What direction did the glory of God first move? | It "was gone up from the cherub.." This may be suggestive of the raising of the sleeping saints. |
| Where did this glory move to? | "To the threshold of the house." The threshold is at the entrance of the house. |
| Why did this glory move? – (Consider previous chapter) | Because of all the wicked abominations being done there (in the false church systems.) |
| What does this movement of God's glory picture? | God's Spirit left Babylon (Christendom.) That explains why the call to "come out of her my people" went out in 1878. Rev. 18:4 |
| When the Glory moved, what direction (north, south, east, west) did it go? | From the cherub (on the ark of the covenant which was in the Most Holy) to the threshold or entrance is moving eastward. |
| Is there a connection in this picture with the first usage in the Bible of cherub (Strong's H3742), if so, what? | See Gen. 3:24. – God sent Adam out of the garden. He then "placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims (Strong's H3742,)" to keep him out. "God forced the man to leave the garden. Then he put Cherub angels and a sword of fire at the entrance to the garden to protect it. The sword flashed around and around, guarding the way to the tree of life." – ERV When Adam was cast out of the garden of Eden a cherub was placed at the entrance (on the east) to keep anyone from getting back in. The same is depicted here. God has moved His Spirit out of the nominal temple and is blocking the way to Him, i.e., no one can enter into relationship with Him by going into the nominal temple. That way of access is now closed. |
| And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side | |
| What is the significance of this man having "the writer's inknorn?" | This man clearly made considerable use of writing. |
| What is the identity of "the man clothed with linen?" | Pastor Russell. |
| How do we arrive at this conclusion? | Ezekiel 9; R5998 |
| Who called to him? | Jesus, acting as the right arm of Jehovah. |
| Considering our context, when did he call the man clothed in linen? | After God's Spirit had left the temple. |
| What does this imply? | That the special work given to this man was needed because God's Spirit had left the temple, the nominal system. |
Verse 4 Expanded Bible Comments
| 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. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem | |
| What does a city mean in Bible Symbology? | "A city is a symbol of a government, kingdom or dominion." – A295:2 |
| Which city is he told to go through and what is the significance of that city? | Jerusalem. The capital city of Israel. This city was the heart of Israel where the Temple was located. It was the city which God said He would put His name. 1 Kings 11:36; 2 Kings 23:27; Dan. 9:16,18 Jerusalem represents God's Kingdom. In this case the city has become corrupt. It therefore represents Christendom (Christ's Kingdom – falsely so-called – the union of church and state in Europe, with the emphasis on the religious element.) |
| Why is the text worded this way: "Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem?" Why not simply say it one way ("the city") or the other("Jerusalem")? | Suggestion: It was because the Lord was making it clear, i.e., "leave no doubt" that this was not only the city (government) but this is also the city which carried his name (2 Kings 21:4,7; 2 Chron. 6:6.) Since both his name and his words (the bible) were there, so were his people. As to what is pictured by Jerusalem please see R5295:3. |
| Sr. Ginger had a question. Here in 9:3 we are suggesting that Jerusalem pictures Christendom. Earlier (chapter 4?) the suggestion was made that there were the two parts of nominal spiritual Jerusalem, catholic and protestant. – So which is correct? | Having looked again at chapters 4 and 5, I was unable to find any such reference. Jerusalem was there discussed as picturing Christendom. |
| What does it mean to "Go through the midst of the city?" | It does not mean to return to nominal Spiritual Jerusalem. Rather it means he is to get the message of Present Truth out to all who have "ears to hear." *Note: the word "midst" in this verse is Strong's H8432, the same as "among" in verse 2. |
| 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. | |
| What does it mean to "set a mark?" | The word "mark" is Strong's H8420 H8420 Consider how much this makes sense. It is this man who has a writer's inkhorn who is going to write or place a signature upon others.תּו tâv tawv From H8427; a mark; by implication a signature: - desire, mark. |
| Why upon the foreheads? | The forehead is the intellect. To mark, sign or seal in the forehead is to give intellectual understanding. Compare with Rev. 7:1-4 and Rev. 14:1. |
| Where are those who are being marked? | They are (in this context) still within the city, within nominal Spiritual Jerusalem (Christendom.) |
| What is their attitude about being in the city? | They are disgusted by what is going on. They sigh and cry "for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof." |
| Why do they have this attitude? | This describes a group that is desirous of being close to the Lord (Jerusalem is where the temple was located) but knows that things are not right. |
| Why is the command to mark just these men? | Because they are the ones in the right condition of heart. Present Truth designed to be a great blessing for those who are the LORD's people and it is also to be the Standard by which their loyalty will be proven. Matt. 13:11 |
| Who gave this command? | The Lord. |
| Who was to do the marking? | "The man clothed in linen with the writer's inkhorn," i.e., Pastor Russell. |
Verse 5 Expanded Bible Comments
| 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: | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| And to the others he said in mine hearing | |
| Who are "the others?" – (Here we are after initial thoughts. We will be able to more positively identify them when we consider verse 6.) | These are the six men of verse 2. Remember that these are the ones who responded to the call for "them that charge over the city to draw near." Those who have a responsible charge or office over the city we understand to be the saints. Jerusalem is supposed to be the true city of God but it has been taken over by the world ("let both grow together.") But now the time of Harvest has come and with it comes the call to "come out of her my people." (Rev. 18:4) |
| Who spoke to "the others?" | The LORD (Jehovah) God. – vs. 4-5 |
| What is meant by the phrase "in mine hearing?" | Literally it meant that Ezekiel heard it. Symbollically it would seem to indicate that Pastor Russell knew that others were to follow after him in presenting the word of Truth to nominal Spiritual Jerusalem. – Please see Convention Report Sermons, 1907 page 12 "Praise and Testimony Meeting" |
| Go ye after him through the city, and smite | |
| Where are these six men to go? | Through the city – Jerusalem. |
| What are they to do there? | Smite. – Some translations render this as "kill." The word is Strong's H5221. H5221 At times it may indeed mean "kill," but not always. Consider Gen. 19:11 where the two angels who came to Lot's house "smote [H5221]" the men of Sodom with blindness.נכה nâkâh naw-kaw' A primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively): - beat, cast forth, clap, give [wounds], X go forward, X indeed, kill, make [slaughter], murderer, punish, slaughter, slay (-er, -ing), smite (-r, -ing), strike, be stricken, (give) stripes, X surely, wound. |
| Are they to go there at any time? | No. They are to follow after the man clothed in linen. Thus, they do not go through the city before the man clothed in linen does. |
| let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity | |
| What is the attitude of the six men as they perform their assigned task? | They are not to withdraw from their destructive work but are to be unwaivering. |
| From where do they get this attitude? | This was the attitude the Lord said (in 8:18) that He would take and which He repeats here. |
Verse 6 Expanded Bible Comments
| 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. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Question | Answer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| What does it mean to "slay" someone, i.e., is this "slaying" strictly literal? | While it can be literal, this is a symbolic slaying. It means to destroy one's reputation or (in this case) to destroy their beliefs, their faith in what they had been taught by the false systems. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| What does it mean to slay utterly? | Complete destruction. One might even say it will "leave them neither root nor branch." – Mal. 4:1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Who or what is pictured by "old?" | Those who are mature, well established in the errors of Babylon. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Who or what is pictured by "young?" | Those who are not yet established in the errors of Babylon. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Who or what is pictured by "maids?" | Virgins. This would refer to the spirit begotten. Since the little flock are all to be sealed (Rev. 7:3-8), this would seem to refer to the great company (who are nowhere in scripture mentioned as "sealed.") | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Who or what is pictured by "little children?" | Babes. – Matt. 24:19 – D575-D577 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Who or what is pictured by "women?" | C42 – The nominal churches. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Where else in scripture do we find this (or a similar list) being slain? | Jer. 51:20-23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In that context, who is doing the destructive work? | God is doing it through (Spiritual) Israel. – vss. 17-19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| According to Professor Strong, what is the meaning of the "slaughter weapon" these six men are using? - see vs. 2 | "Smiting to pieces." KJV margin says "a weapon of his breaking in pieces." Refer again to Jer. 51:20-23 and notice the pattern. It is God who is doing this smiting work through the saints (spiritual Israel.) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| but come not near any man upon whom is the mark | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Who is it that the six men are NOT to slay? | Those who have the mark (signature) in their foreheads (intellects.) Compare Rev. 7:1-8. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| and begin at my sanctuary. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Why were they to begin at "my sanctuary?" What does that mean? | God's sanctuary was the place where God was to dwell, His house or temple. Exo. 25:8 What this means is that the slaying begins in the nominal house, i.e., in Christendom. Eze. 5:11; 8:6 |
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| Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| What is the significance of where these "ancient men" were located? | They were "before the house (temple.)" They should have been in the temple and they should have been doing God's will. Instead they were doing "abominations." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Who are the "ancient men?" | These are the seventy mentioned in Eze. 8:11-12, the second advent parallel of the Sanhedrin, i.e., the religious leaders of Mystic Babylon. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Why did the six men first slay "the ancient men?" | Because these religious leaders had so corrupted the doctrines of the Bible, which tell us God's true character, as to cause Him to "go far off from my sanctuary." Eze. 8:6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Who are the six men? | The saints who are still in the flesh during Br. Russell's day. This is the same group that is mentioned in Rev. 15:6 – R498:1. |
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Verse 7 Expanded Bible Comments
| And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. | |
| Who is "he" and who is "them?" | He is Jehovah God. Them refers to the six men, i.e., the saints. |
| What "house?" | The temple, nominal spiritual Israel. |
| How could they "defile" this house? | Defile is Strong's H2930 H2930 The places where this is used in connection with "house" (Strong's H1004) include Lev. 14:34, 36 where the priest is checking to see if "the plague of leprosy" is in the house "that all that is in the house should not be made unclean (H2930)." In 2 Chron. 36:14; Jer. 7:30; 32:34 the house is defiled (or polluted) because of the abominations done there.טמא ṭâmê' taw-may' A primitive root; to be foul, especially in a ceremonial or moral sense (contaminated): - defile (self), pollute (self), be (make, make self, pronounce) unclean, X utterly. The thought here is not that the saints are defiling or polluting the house but rather that by presenting and holding forth Present Truth, that action is making manifest the pollution that was already there. They (or rather the Truth they present) shows the abominations in Christendom for what they are. Thus Christendom is plagued by the presentation of the Truth by the saints. |
| Who are "the slain?" | Those who have had their faith "broken in pieces." These have either become infidels or at least have serious reason to question their faith. In particular these have had their belief in the "Divine Right of Kings" and "Clergy" shattered. Today no one believes that the church-state systems of Europe constitute "Christ's Kingdom (Christendom.)" |
| Why "fill the courts with the slain?" | The courts here would picture the court condition, i.e., the tentatively justified. In Volume 1 Br. Russell tells us the majority of the nominal church are on plane N, in a (tentatively) justified condition. (A236:1) As it is this group that is slain, the appropriateness of showing them slain in the court becomes apparent. Jer. 25:33 |
| And they went forth, and slew in the city. | |
| Who is "they?" | The "six men," the living saints. |
| What did "they" do? | They went "forth," not backward, into the city (Christendom) and slew the beliefs of reasoning people. Specifically, we think, the belief that this was "Christ's Kingdom (Christendom.)" |
| Where did they do it? | In the city of Jerusalem (i.e., in Christendom.) |
Verse 8 Expanded Bible Comments
| 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? | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left | |
| What does the phrase "And it came to pass" indicate? | That time passes, i.e., this did not happen in a quick moment but rather it took years to complete. |
| Please explain "I was left." | |
| What took place during the time when "I was left?" | The "six men" were slaying (breaking in pieces) those symbolic groups mentioned in verse 6. |
| Who is "I?" | I is Ezekiel. But it appears that even though this usually identifies Pastor Russell (being referred to as "the son of man") we suggest that here it may be referring to the John class, the saints still in the flesh during the time of our Lord's second advent. |
| that I fell upon my face, and cried | |
| What does it mean when someone falls upon their face? | They are acknowledging the one before whom they fall down as being their superior. It indicates an attitude of worship or great respect. Josh. 5:13,14 (Joshua worshipped the angel of the LORD); 2 Sam. 14:22 (Joab falls down before King David); Dan. 2:46 (Nebuchadnezzar worshipped Daniel); Dan. 8:16,17 (Daniel falls down before the angel Gabriel) |
| and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem? | |
| Who is he calling upon? | The LORD God. |
| What is he questioning? | Will God destroy all the remaining seed (remnant, justified) in this process of Christendom's destruction. The word for "remnant" is H7611 H7611 First usage is Gen. 45:7 where Joseph tells his brethren that God sent him to save their posterity.שׁארית she'êrı̂yth sheh-ay-reeth' From H7604; a remainder or residual (surviving, final) portion: - that had escaped, be left, posterity, remain (-der), remnant, residue, rest. |
| Does this indicate he was doubting God? | Not at all, rather this may refer to the attitude of God's people expressed in Jer. 51:8,9. |
| Who is "the residue of Israel?" | Ezekiel Chapter 9 booklet – Destroy the Residue? - The residue or remnant in Paul's day was the spirit begotten. (Rom. 11:2-5) This would seem to apply here as well. |
| What is "thy fury?" | The wrath of God, the seven last plagues. Rev. 15:1 |
| Who was receiving that fury? | Nominal spiritual Jerusalem, i.e., Christendom. |
[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.
Verse 9 Expanded Bible Comments
| 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. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| 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 | |
| Who is "he" and who is "me?" | He – God. Me – Ezekiel picturing the church in the flesh during the harvest. |
| Why is the reference to "the house of Israel and Judah?" Why not just Israel or just Judah? | Not only is Christendom to be destroyed but eventually all of the false religious systems (including those in this country.) |
| Why does it refer to their iniquity as "exceeding great?" Why not simply say it is "great?" | Where much is given, much is required. Matt. 10:14-15 ; 11:20-24 ; D27 ; D71 ; R4988 |
| What is meant by "the land is full of blood?" | Lev. 17:11, 14; Rev. 6:9-10; Joel 3:19; Please see R2416; |
| What is meant by "the city is full of perverseness?" | The peverse doctrines and practices of Christendom, especially "The Abomination of Desolation,"* * and the "Three unclean spirits [doctrines] like frogs [Divine "right" of Kings and Clergy, plus the responsibility of the people to be obedient to this arrangement as being from God.]"* |
| for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not. | |
| "They say.." Who is "they?" | The "ancients of the house of Israel." – Eze. 8:12 |
| Are "they" correct that "The LORD hath forsaken the earth?" | In a manner of speaking, yes. But this forsaking of the symbolic earth only comes after the corruption has reached the point of Babylon being cast off (1878 – Rev. 18:2.) |
| Are "they" correct that "the LORD seeth not?" | No. 2 Chron. 16:9 ; Prov. 5:21; Zech. 4:10; Acts 15:18 |
Verse 10 Expanded Bible Comments
| And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity | |
| Who is here speaking? | God. |
| What does it mean "mine eye shall not spare?" | Eze. 7:4 |
| Does this differ from "neither will I have pity?" | It seems to indicate that God will not show restraint in the execution of His Justice upon that system. |
| but I will recompense their way upon their head. | |
| What does "recompense" mean? | Normally it means to compensate someone for actions they have taken. This may be positive (receiving wages,) but normally it is negative (as in "pay back.") In this case the the Hebrew word is not that which is normally rendered as "recompense." This is H5414. H5414 Most translations use "bring," "place," or "put" in place of "recompense." Having looked at all this it seems to make little difference as the entire tenor of this verse carries the thought of God's retributive Justice coming into play.נָתַן nâthan naw-than' A primitive root; to give, used with great latitude of application (put, make, etc.): - add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, X avenge, X be ([healed]), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit consider, count, + cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute do, X doubtless, X without fail, fasten, frame, X get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), X have, X indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), + lie, lift up, make, + O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, X pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up). + sing, + slander, strike, [sub-] mit, suffer, X surely, X take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, + weep, X willingly, + withdraw, + would (to) God, yield. |
| What was "their way?" | The ways of fallen man. – Pro. 14:12 |
| What is meant by "recompense their way upon their head?" | This may have reference to the leaders (heads) of Christendom. God has been keeping a record of all their dealings, especially their dealings with His saints. God will exact His Justice upon that SYSTEM. – Matt. 23:32-36 We should remember that they had reached the point of doing evil without remorse and their destruction is due to their own willful disobedience. |
Verse 11 Expanded Bible Comments
| 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. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| Who is "the man clothed with linen?" | Pastor Russell. |
| What is the importance of the inkhorn? | It makes removes all doubt as to the identy of this man. His writings on the Scriptures were so deep and clear and the reasonings found therein make it plain that this was no ordinary writer. Others during his time may have written a greater quantity, but none could come close to both the quality in opening up the Word of God to hungry truth-seekers. – Psa. 45:1 - and through the entire Psalm. |
| What was the report that he gave? | "I have done as thou hast commanded me." Pastor Russell knew that he did not choose this particular course but that it had been chosen for him. What he did was to give himself completely over to the doing of the Heavenly Father's will. It was God who directed Br. Russell's way. – For confirmation we suggest a review of Chapter 3 (especially from verse 4 and onward.) |
| When was this report given? | October 31, 1916. R6004 |