[1] And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me. [2] Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber. [3] And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy. [4] And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain.
Verse 1 Expanded Bible Comments Additional Comments Expanded And Additional Comments
| And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Suggested Answer |
| The sixth year of what? | |
| Why so specific about the sixth month and the fifth day of the month? | |
| Who is "I?" | Ezekiel, picturing Pastor Russell as the representative of returned "The Son of Man." |
| What does it mean "I sat in mine house?" | At the minimum this seems to say that he was NOT sitting in their house, i.e., he was NOT a part of Christendom. |
| Who are the elders of Judah? | As the nation of Israel was split into Judah and Israel (also called Ephraim,) so too was Christendom's religious element split into two, i.e., Catholic and Protestant. Judah refers to the Protestant element. The Lord often uses a part as representing the whole. Here the Protestant clergy of Christendom** are represented by "the elders" of Judah. ** The expanded version version of Christendom, i.e., including the nominal churches in America as opposed to those who were actually part of "Christ's Kingdom" (falsely so called,) that union of the worldly church united with the Kings of the earth. |
| What does it mean "the hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me?" Wasn't the Lord's hand already upon him? | Laying on of hands indicates approval, God's choice. |
Verse 2 Expanded Bible Comments Additional Comments Expanded And Additional Comments
| Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Suggested Answer |
| Who is "I" being spoken of here? | Pastor Russell. |
| Did he see fire? | No. He saw "the appearance" of fire. |
| Why is the meaning of "from the appearance of his loins even downward" mean? | This is looking down towards earth. |
| What was it that he saw "from .. his loins.. downward" and what is its significance? | What he saw was the appearance of fire. The significance seems to be that, among the Lord's people, those who look at the world will recognize the fire of anarchy. |
| What did he see looking upward and what is its significance? | When we lift our eyes upward (toward heaven) we see the brightness of our Lord, the one who is really in control. |
| What was its color and what does this convey to us? | Please see Additional Comments for 1:4. Since amber looks similar to polished gold it makes us think of things Divine: Divine nature, Divine promises, etc. |
Verse 3 Expanded Bible Comments Additional Comments Expanded And Additional Comments
| And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Suggested Answer |
| Why "the form of an hand?" Have we seen this elsewhere in Scripture? | Dan. 5:5 |
| What is meant by "a lock of mine head?" | |
| How was he taken? | He was taken by the hand of God in the spirit. |
| What is meant by taken "between the earth and the heaven?" | To the spirit-begotten condition, i.e., plane m on the chart of the ages. |
| Was he taken to Jerusalem? (Read carefully.) | He was taken to a point where he could (intellectually and spiritually) see what was really going on in Christendom (Jerusalem.) |
| What is "the door of the inner gate?" | temple_drawings The door would be the entrance. |
| Where was this door looking? | To the north. The north is associated with God and His government. Psa. 48:2; Isa. 14:13 |
| What was found there? | "The image of jealousy." Our thought is this may refer to the image of the beast. Why did the (so-called) Protestants set up this image of the beast (Evangelical Alliance)? It was, at least in part, because they wanted to have the same "authority" as the beast (Papal system,) thus the "image of jealousy." |
Verse 4 Expanded Bible Comments Additional Comments Expanded And Additional Comments
| And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Suggested Answer |
| What was there? | The Glory of the God of Israel. |
| What does that mean? | The revealed Plan of God. |
| According to what vision? | The one he saw in the plain, i.e., chapter 3 and chapter 1. |
[5] Then said he unto me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the way toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold northward at the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry. [6] He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations.
Verse 5 Expanded Bible Comments Additional Comments Expanded And Additional Comments
| Then said he unto me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the way toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold northward at the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Suggested Answer |
| What is indicated by "lift up thine eyes?" | Closely examine this, but do it from the heavenly standpoint (lifting up your eyes.) |
| To where was he to look? | Not exactly to "the north," but "the way toward the north." – Remember our Lord's words: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6 |
| What does that picture? | Christendom claimed to be "the gateway to God" (just as did ancient Babylon.) This says to examine her claims, put them to the test and see if they are telling the truth or not. Jesus said He is the way. Christendom says "Not so. We are the way to the Father." |
| What is pictured by: the gate? the altar? the image of jealousy? |
Gate: Entrance. Altar: Place of sacrifice. Image of jealousy: Christendom painted a completely false image of God and told the people that this is where they were to worship. – Exo. 20:5. – See also Isa. 42:8; 48:11 Compare this thought with the foundation doctrine of the Catholic Church – the Trinity. |
| Where was this image? | "At the gate of the altar." – It was at the entrance to the place of Sacrifice. |
Verse 6 Expanded Bible Comments Additional Comments Expanded And Additional Comments
| He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Suggested Answer |
| Do you see what they do? – Is there any message here for the saints now? | The world has a saying: "Actions speak louder than words." The heathen recognized this in the 1890's when they said to the "Christian(?)" leaders – "You are not as good as your book." D97:1 |
| What are the "great abominations?" | Both the horrible doctrines and practices of Christendom. |
| Who commits these abominations? | Christendom, so-called "Christ's Kingdom." |
| What is the result of them committing these? | It causes God to "go far off from" His temple. |
| What is pictured by "my sanctuary?" | The place of worship. The true church which is to be "the meeting place between God and man." – "To us the Scriptures Clearly Teach" |
| What is meant by God going "far off from" his sanctuary? | It would, at the minimum, indicate the removal of His Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, from that system. – James 1:18 |
| Is there a conflict with this statement and Heb. 13:5? – explain. | No. The promise is given to the True Church, not to Satan's counterfeit. |
| What would be "greater abominations?" | |
[7] And he brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold a hole in the wall. [8] Then said he unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold a door. [9] And he said unto me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here. [10] So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed upon the wall round about. [11] And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up. [12] Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth. [13] He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do. [14] Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD'S house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz. [15] Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these.
Verse 7 Expanded Bible Comments Additional Comments Expanded And Additional Comments
| And he brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold a hole in the wall. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Suggested Answer |
| Where was Ezekiel brought? | To the door of the (outer?) court, i.e., the entrance into the tentatively justified condition. |
| How did he get there? | The LORD brought him. |
| What did he see? | A hole in the wall. |
| What does this picture? | Walls picture protection. There is a hole, something missing, in Christendom's protection. |
Verse 8 Expanded Bible Comments Additional Comments Expanded And Additional Comments
| Then said he unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold a door. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Suggested Answer |
| What does it mean for him to dig in the wall? | Dig (investigate) deeply into the cause of there being a gap in Christendom's protection. |
| Did he do as he was commanded to do? | Yes. Eze. 9:11 |
| What did he discover? | A door. |
| What does that picture? | A door is an entrance. Christendom, Babylon said "We are the doorway (gateway) to God." By way of contrast read what Jesus said in John 14:6. |
Verse 9 Expanded Bible Comments Additional Comments Expanded And Additional Comments
| And he said unto me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Suggested Answer |
| When God told the son of man to "Go in," did He mean to join with Babylon? If yes, please explain. If no, please explain. |
Of course not. This was simply a way of telling him to look into what they were doing. |
| What was he supposed to do? | Observe the "wicked abominations" done there. |
Verse 10 Expanded Bible Comments Additional Comments Expanded And Additional Comments
| So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed upon the wall round about. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Suggested Answer |
| "I went in.." Doesn't this indicate that he joined their organization? | No. This is another way of saying he examined the situation. |
| What did he see? | "Every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed upon the wall round about." |
| What is meant by these symbols – creeping things, beasts, idols, walls? | Creeping things – The suggestion was made that this may refer to the continual "creeping" of the false doctrines. Once a false doctrine is accepted it lays the foundation for another to be built upon it, and another, etc. Beasts – Beastly governments Idols – Items of false worship Walls – Protection. see Expanded Bible Topics – Walls |
Verse 11 Expanded Bible Comments Additional Comments Expanded And Additional Comments
| And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Suggested Answer |
| What is the setting for this verse, i.e., exactly where is Ezekiel pictured as being when he sees this – and what does that picture? | Ezekiel (Pastor Russell) had dug into (investigated) the hole (the gap, missing protection) in the wall (protection from the civil power of Christendom) in the (nominal) temple (the ecclesiastical portion of Christendom.) – Ezekiels_Temple_1 |
| What does it normally mean to stand before a group of men? | Either you are speaking to, teaching them or you are being judged by them. |
| Who are the seventy men? | The real clue here is they were "of the ancients of the house of Israel." This would indicate the Sanhedrin. Since the setting for this vision is not in ancient Israel, this would indicate the latter day equivalent of the Sanhedrin, i.e., the religious leaders of Ecclesiasticism. |
| Who is Jaazaniah? | Please see Additional Comments. |
| Is there any significance to him standing "in the midst of them?" | It would seem he is their leader or the most prominent of them. |
| What is indicated by "every man his censer in his hand?" | It was not just the one (Jaazaniah) who did this. It was the 70. It would appear that these were also offering "strange fire" to the Lord. |
| What happened next? | "A thick cloud of incense went up." |
| What does that picture? | That the religious leaders were offering up "strange fire" (false concepts and doctrines) leading their flocks to believing terrible things about God. |
Verse 12 Expanded Bible Comments Additional Comments Expanded And Additional Comments
| Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Suggested Answer |
| Who are "the ancients of the house of Israel?" | The latter day equivalent of the Sanhedrin, i.e., the religious leaders of Ecclesiasticism. |
| What were they doing? | Offering "strange fire" as indicated by the previous verse. |
| Where were they doing it? | In the dark. |
| What is meant by "the chambers of his imagery?" | They were surrounded by all the false gods of nominal spiritual Israel. |
| What was their reasoning? | "The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth." See Additional Comments |
Verse 13 Expanded Bible Comments Additional Comments Expanded And Additional Comments
| He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Suggested Answer |
| What does it mean "Turn thee yet again?" | Examine still further. |
| What could be greater abominations than he has already seen?" | It may be that what makes the abominations greater is that it is done during the time when the light is getting so much brighter making their responsibility that much greater. |
Verse 14 Expanded Bible Comments Additional Comments Expanded And Additional Comments
| Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD'S house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Suggested Answer |
| Where was Ezekiel brought? | "To the door of the gate of the LORD's house." |
| How did he get there? | God brought him there. |
| What does that picture? | Brother Russell was guided by God to look into the condition of Christendom, especially its claim to be the way to God. |
| What does the direction indicate? | North is where God's throne is described as being. Christendom claimed to be the promised Kingdom of God. |
| What did he find there? | Women sitting and weeping for Tammuz. |
| What is pictured by women? | A woman is symbolic of a church. R2280:4; R5002; R5406; F264; F270:2 |
| Is there any significance to them sitting? | They are ../not progressing – A25:2 |
| Why were they weeping? | They were weeping for Tammuz. – Consider next question. |
| Who was Tammuz and what does this all picture? | Please see Additional Comments. |
Verse 15 Expanded Bible Comments Additional Comments Expanded And Additional Comments
| Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Suggested Answer |
| What "greater abominations?" | Please see vs. 13. |
[16] And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east. [17] Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose. [18] Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.
Verse 16 Expanded Bible Comments Additional Comments Expanded And Additional Comments
| And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Suggested Answer |
| "He brought me.." Who is He? Who is me? | He is God. Me is the 7th Messenger. |
| Where was he brought and what does this signify? | To "the inner court of the LORD'S house." This signifies the condition of Justification. |
| Where do we find "the door of the temple of the LORD?" (Both in the literal picture in Ezekiel's temple, and in its symbolic meaning?) | "Between the porch and the altar." |
| What is pictured by the porch? | Suggestion: This seems to match up well with the Ante-Chamber in the Great Pyramid. As you enter the Ante-Chamber the ceiling above is granite, but not the floor, and you come face to face with the granite leaf (the Divine will.) – see C350:2-C351:1 |
| What is pictured by the altar? | T22:1 – This is where the life-giving (and sustaining) organs, with the fat (zeal) for Sin-offering is consumed. |
| Who are the 25 men? – Why 25? | The twenty-five men could have reference to the 24 Elders (Topic: Twenty Four Elders) where the 24 prophets plus the pope. The thought here is that these mis-use the prophetic word under the direction of the pope. |
| Why 25 men? | Twenty-four priests and One high-priest. |
| Their backs are toward the temple. What does this mean? | Because they have indeed "turned their backs" on the LORD and his true Temple – "Which temple ye are." (1 Cor. 3:17) |
| What is meant by "their faces toward the east?" | It means they are facing in the opposite direction from the temple and thus facing away from God. Completely turning their backs on the Lord, the true church, and the Divine Plan – especially the doctrine of the Ransom. |
| What is the symbolic meaning of worshiping the sun? | Please see Additional Comments. |
Verse 17 Expanded Bible Comments Additional Comments Expanded And Additional Comments
| Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Suggested Answer |
| Who is speaking and to whom is he speaking? | God is speaking to the "son of man" who here pictures Pastor Russell as the earthly "messenger" of our Returned Lord Jesus at His second advent. |
| What is implied by the question "is it a light thing?" | ISV: "Is it an insignificant thing..?" Clearly this is not a light thing but it is great importance that they are in such defiance of God. |
| Who is pictured by "the house of Judah?" | Judah was the Royal tribe. The tribe of Judah often pictures the nominal Protestant church. – R2360 ; R2401 |
| "They commit.." Who is "they?" | It is difficult to verify from the various translations if this is done to the house of Judah or by the house of Judah. If the Standard Version is correct then it would seem that this is being done by the 25 men to the house of Judah. |
| What abominations are referred to this time? | Turning their backs to the temple; worshipping the sun-god, etc. (vs. 16) |
| Of what significance is the location where these abominations are committed? | The location is "here," i.e., "the inner court of the LORD'S house.. at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar." This is right at the point where one makes a consecration to serve the Lord. In other words, these are presenting themselves as being those who have consecrated themselves to the Lord's service, as the true church. |
"They have filled the land with violence." | |
| What "land" is here being spoken of? | The territory of Christendom (basically Europe.) |
| How did they fill it with violence? | They have, by attempting to hold on to their fraudulently obtained power and positions, aided in setting up the environment which leads to violence. To state the matter differently, these have attempted to raise again the three unclean spirits like frogs (divine right of kings, clergy and people's responsibility to adhere to these as being from God. (Rev. 16:13-14) It is these which gather the nations to armageddon. |
"and have returned to provoke me to anger" | |
| Who is it who has "returned?" | To return is to go back to a place you have previously been. The religious leaders of the nominal church had been in their position throughout the Gospel Age. Now that the Harvest has come they were presented with the opportunity to join with Pastor Russell (see vs. 1) in presenting the Present Truth and in being used of the now reigning King. But they, instead of recognizing the change, attempted to go back (return) to that position of favor (from which they had been cast off in 1878.) |
| If they have "returned" from where did they return? | See answer to previous question. |
| Was it really their purpose "to provoke me to anger?" | Apparently not. Remember that these say "The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth." Please see Additional Comments for verse 12. |
"They have put the branch to their nose." | |
| What is meant by "They put the branch to their nose." | The word "branch" is Strong's H2156. The first usage is in Num. 13:23 where, when they first came to the promised land, Israel's spies came to Hebron "and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff." – The point here is that this seems to be referring to a grapevine, i.e., the "vine of the earth," the false vine of church and state, Christendom. |
Verse 18 Expanded Bible Comments Additional Comments Expanded And Additional Comments
| Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Suggested Answer |
| What does God say He will do? | Deal in fury, not spare, no pity, will not hear their cries. |
| Why does He take this action? | Therefore – Because of all described previously in this chapter. |
| What does it mean for God to "deal in fury?" | Please see Additional Comments. |
| What is meant by "Mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity? | Please see Additional Comments Eze. 7:4. |
| Did they ever "cry with a loud voice" for God to hear them?" | From website "Knights of the Holy Eucharist" – even though twisted to their ideas we find an admission of what took place when the Pope appealed to heaven for an end to the fighting of WWI. As the World War raged on, Pope Benedict XV wrote a plea for peace in a letter dated May 5, 1917:
Our earnestly pleading voice, invoking the end of the vast conflict, the suicide of civilized Europe, was then and has remained ever since unheard. Indeed, it seemed that the dark tide of hatred grew higher and wider among the belligerent nations, and drew other countries into its frightful sweep, multiplying ruin and massacre. Nevertheless Our confidence was not lessened .... Since all graces which the Author of all good deigns to grant to the poor children of Adam, by a loving design of His Divine Providence are dispensed through the hands of the most holy Virgin, we wish that the petition of Her most afflicted children, more than ever in this terrible hour, may turn with lively confidence to the august Mother of God. He then asked that the invocation Queen of Peace, pray for us, be permanently added to the Litany of Loreto. Then, confidently placing the peace of the world in Her hands, the Pope made another appeal: To Mary, then, who is the Mother of Mercy and omnipotent by grace, let loving and devout appeal go up from every corner of the earth – from noble temples and tiniest chapels, from royal palaces and mansions of the rich as from the poorest hut – from blood-drenched plains and seas. Let it bear to Her the anguished cry of mothers and wives, the wailing of innocent little ones, the sighs of every generous heart: that Her most tender and benign solicitude may be moved and the peace we ask for be obtained for our agitated world. From Tekton Ministries website: "The first public speech Pope Benedict XV gave after the Conclave which elected him as Pius X’s successor on 3 September, marked the start of his mission to end hostilities, convincing the great powers to resolve pending questions through dialogue and negotiation. This was the spirit of his first four public wartime speeches. On 8 September 1914 Benedict XV “repeated his predecessor’s call to people to pray for an end to the war,” urging powers to put down their weapons. But his calls fell on deaf ears. He made another attempt at moral persuasion on 1 November 1914 with the “Ad Beatissimi” encyclical. In it, Benedict XV denounced the general cultural barbarization of the time: “the lack of reciprocal love between men,” material well-being “becoming the only aim of human action” and the nationalistic hatred which led to paroxysm. According to the Pope this was all rooted in a culture of positivism which exalted hatred, instinct and the fight for survival."
See also R5554:33 |