Prepare these questions for Sunday, December 8, 2013.
This portion of Ezekiel includes messages against other nations (like Tyre and Egypt) and then hopeful messages about Israel's restoration. Chapters 38 and 39 include a message about "Magog" and "Gog" which may refer to Babylon and it's leader, but since these names are also referred to in the book of Revelation (20:7-8) they most likely also symbolize all the enemies of God. Chapters 40 through 48 describe the design and glory of the rebuilt temple and city. This last message was to emphasize the disobedience of the Israelites during Ezekiel's time while also pointing to a future time when all people will acknowledge the authority of God.
1. Chapters 25 through 32 detail terrible fates for the nations surrounding Israel and its people. The messages give various reasons for God's anger with these nations, but every passage includes the phrase "then they will know that I am the Lord." Ezekiel was saying that God would use the circumstances of these nations to get their attention and prove His authority. What circumstances in your own life has God used to get your attention?
2. Ezekiel has several visions that prophesy the restoration of Israel in various ways-the valley of the dry bones in chapter 37 is one of the most famous. How would the use of such vivid imagery be helpful to the Israelites at that time and still to us today?
3. The prophesy against Gog and Magog is detailed and pretty gross (lots of eating of flesh and drinking of blood). Why would this vision include scenes of such complete destruction?What does it mean in verse 39:29 that God will "pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel"?
4. The last several chapters describe the design for the rebuilt temple and it's surrounding lands. Why would this be relevant to the Israelites of that time? What significance does the name of the city (v. 48:35) have?
This portion of Ezekiel includes messages against other nations (like Tyre and Egypt) and then hopeful messages about Israel's restoration. Chapters 38 and 39 include a message about "Magog" and "Gog" which may refer to Babylon and it's leader, but since these names are also referred to in the book of Revelation (20:7-8) they most likely also symbolize all the enemies of God. Chapters 40 through 48 describe the design and glory of the rebuilt temple and city. This last message was to emphasize the disobedience of the Israelites during Ezekiel's time while also pointing to a future time when all people will acknowledge the authority of God.
1. Chapters 25 through 32 detail terrible fates for the nations surrounding Israel and its people. The messages give various reasons for God's anger with these nations, but every passage includes the phrase "then they will know that I am the Lord." Ezekiel was saying that God would use the circumstances of these nations to get their attention and prove His authority. What circumstances in your own life has God used to get your attention?
2. Ezekiel has several visions that prophesy the restoration of Israel in various ways-the valley of the dry bones in chapter 37 is one of the most famous. How would the use of such vivid imagery be helpful to the Israelites at that time and still to us today?
3. The prophesy against Gog and Magog is detailed and pretty gross (lots of eating of flesh and drinking of blood). Why would this vision include scenes of such complete destruction?What does it mean in verse 39:29 that God will "pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel"?
4. The last several chapters describe the design for the rebuilt temple and it's surrounding lands. Why would this be relevant to the Israelites of that time? What significance does the name of the city (v. 48:35) have?
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