The Best Commentary On The Bible Is The Bible Itself The Reflections Newsletter Monday, June 22, 2009 Editor's Note:              We invite you to view the CSM website.                                   http://www.creationscienceministries.org **In This Issue**   Welcome to the Reflections Newsletter from Reflect His Glory.  RHG is a co-ministry with Creation Science Ministries.  Feel free to send this to your relatives and friends. A Quick Look At Ezekiel What Does the Bible Say About...? A Quick Look At Ezekiel With all that is going on in the Middle East it is difficult to understand what is happening without first studying the remarkable prophecies found in the book of Ezekiel. Ezekiel was among the captives with King Jehoiachin in the second of three deportations under King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.  Ezekiel mentions Daniel three times, who had been in Babylon nine years before Ezekiel arrived.  Like Jeremiah, Ezekiel ministered to a nation experiencing judgment for their sins.  In his captivity, he lived at the River Chebar, which was the great ship canal branching off from the Euphrates above Babylon and turning through Nippur to the Tigris.  This was the primary settlement location of the Jewish captives. Ezekiel was born in approximately 627 B.C. and lived in a time of distress and moral decline. At first, his messages were not well received, but did ultimately result in the nation being purged of idolatrous practices.  Ezekiel’s wife died during his ministry, and he was forbidden to mourn her. We also learn that God intended Ezekiel’s life to be a series of signs to Israel.  Because of this he does all kinds of strange things.  He shuts himself up in his home.  He binds himself.  He is struck dumb.  In a formal ritual, he was to lie on his right and his left sides for a total of 430 days.  He ate bread that was prepared in an unclean manner.  He shaved his head and beard, which was considered a shame in his particular calling. Throughout the book, his main theme was the sovereignty and glory of God.  This is good for us, because we can get so focused on God’s grace that we tend to forget there is also a governing role of God, and that His glory requires justice. Ezekiel was very direct.  He carefully vindicated God’s justice throughout the book, although he deals more in symbol and allegory than any other Old Testament prophet. He is probably the greatest mystic of the Old Testament.  He was well suited for the calling God gave him, which included a remarkable vision of God's Throne in Chapter 1.  This dramatic vision of God never left him.  It is not just introduced in the first chapter; it is referenced all the way through. The Prophet of the ‘Regathering’ The famed vision of the Valley of the Dry Bones in Chapters 36 and 37 is, without a doubt, the monumental Biblical fulfillment of the 20th century.  Beginning in the last half of the 19th century, the regathering that culminated in the establishment of the State of Israel is one of the most irrefutable evidences that we are on threshold of God's climax for the nations mentioned throughout the Bible, and remarkably detailed in the writings of Ezekiel. The final chapters, 40-48, peak with a remarkably detailed description of the Millennial Temple to be rebuilt.  Ezekiel was uniquely qualified for this role due to his priestly background.  He was the son of Buzi, who was also a priest.  It is interesting that even though he never served as a priest, he apparently so influenced later worship that today he is called, by some, "The Father of Judaism."  From Numbers 4:3 we know that Kohathites, one of the divisions of the tribe of Levi, had to be 30 years old before they could begin service as priests.  However, when Ezekiel became 30, he was deported in approximately the eightieth year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar.  The Temple which Ezekiel describes, to this date, has never been built.  Most scholars regard it as the details for the Temple which will be established during the Millennium on Planet Earth. Between the regathering of the nation in Chapters 36 and 37, and the Millennium Temple described in Chapters 40-48, there is a climactic event that intervenes.  This event is the invasion of Gog and Magog, described in Chapters 38 and 39.  These two chapters are among the most famous prophetic passages in the Bible.  For a variety of reasons, the identity of "Magog" as the people of Russia seems well established. What Does the Bible Say About...?       In this section of the Reflections Newsletter we answer questions that have been asked.  If you have a question that you would like ask, and do not mind having it printed in the newsletter, (your name will not be mentioned), feel free to send your question in an email to me at biblequestions@reflecthisglory.org.  Of course, you may call me anytime by phone at 801.302-1111. The question for this issue is, "Jesus said He beheld Satan falling from Heaven.  Was He referring to the events in Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14, or to that in Revelation 12?  And doesn't Satan still have access to Heaven anyway?" Jesus made this statement in Luke 10:18 in the past tense.  So He was most likely referring to the original rebellion of Lucifer as recorded in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28.  Although some of the events in Revelation 12 occurred in the past, including Lucifer's original rebellion, found in verses 3-4, and the birth of Christ Jesus in verse 5, the war in Heaven that results in Satan's final casting out, is yet in the future, and will occur during the tribulation. Although Satan was originally cast out of Heaven as an inhabitant in the above referenced Old Testament passages, it is still true that he has access to Heaven, according to Job 1:6 and 2:1, and Revelation 12:10.  But in Revelation 12 even that is ended, as Satan's 'Passport and Visa' in Heaven are revoked forever, and he is cast down to Earth.  Notice the language that is used in these verses: "And there was war in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not, neither was there place found any more in heaven.  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."  Revelation 12:7-9 KJV ER We can see that this event is future, because "neither was there place found any more in heaven" indicates that prior to this, they did have such access, but this is no longer the case.  Satan is also spoken of as he "who deceives the whole world."  He did not have the opportunity to do this prior to his original eviction from Heaven, as there was not yet a populated world to deceive. This event will occur at a future time.  Some scholars put this time at the mid-point of the Tribulation.  Other scholars put this time at the Last Day.  In either case, Satan will remain on Earth until the end of Tribulation.  In the interim, he has, and will, make life miserable for those of us who are believers and followers of Christ Jesus.  At the end of the Tribulation, When Christ Jesus returns at His Glorious Appearing, Satan will be placed in the bottomless pit (Revelation 20:1-3).  He will be loosed for a little season at the end of the Millennium, lead an unsuccessful final rebellion against God, and then be cast into the Lake of Fire, where he will remain forever (Revelation 20:7-10).   **MEMORY VERSE OF THE MONTH** And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore. Ezekiel 37:28  KJV ER We solicit your prayers and support of this ministry. God Bless. 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