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RETURN TO SYLLABUS
EZEKIEL 31 AND 32
LESSON #27
HOW THE MIGHTY FALL!
v MEMORY VERSE: REVELATION20:15
v CHAPTERS 31 AND 32 END THE SECTION OF THE BOOK ABOUT THEJUDGMENT ON THE NATIONS AROUND ISRAEL. WE HAVE DISCUSSED GODS JUDGMENT ON EGYPT INCHAPTERS 29 AND 30. GOD GIVES MORE SPACE IN THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL TO THIS JUDGMENT ON EGYPTTHAN HE DOES TO ANY OF THE OTHER NATIONS. WHY?
Ø YOU WILL REMEMBER THAT THE ISRAELITES SPENT SEVERAL HUNDREDYEARS IN EGYPT IN BONDAGE TO A PAGAN EMPIRE IN THE BOOK OF EXODUS. WHEN GOD DELIVERED THEISRAELITES FROM EGYPT UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MOSES, THE NATION OF EGYPT CONTINUED TOEXIST IN ALL ITS GLORY. GOD DID NOT JUDGE THE NATION AT THAT TIME.
§ THEREFORE, THE JUDGMENT ON EGYPT IS LONG OVERDUE. BECAUSE OF THE LONGSUFFERING MERCY OF GOD, WEWAITED.
v READ EZE 31:1-9 THEGLORY OF EGYPT
Ø GOD SEES THESE LARGE EMPIRES AS TREES IN A FOREST. ASSYRIA WASA TALL POWERFUL TREE, BUT IT FELL TO THE BABYLONIAN EMPIRE.
Ø EGYPT HAD ALSO BEEN A TALL TREE FOR OVER 2,000 YEARS. IT HADACHIEVED GREAT POWER, GREAT WEALTH, GREAT PRESTIGE, AND GREAT INFLUENCE IN THE WORLD. FOR2,000 YEARS, NO OTHER NATION OR KINGDOM COULD APPROACH ITS POWER. AS LONG AS EGYPTIANSCOULD REMEMBER, THEIR NATION HAD EXISTED AS A WORLD POWER.
§ IF YOU HAD TOLD THE EGYPTIANS IN EZEKIELS DAY THAT THENATION WOULD FALL, THE EGYPTIANS WOULD HAVE LAUGHED AT YOU.
§ IF YOU HAD TOLD THE EGYPTIANS THAT THEIR NATION WOULD BE ATHIRD-RATE NATION LIVING IN POVERTY, THEY WOULD HAVE CALLED YOU A FALSE PROPHET AND KILLEDYOU.
Ø IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT EZEKIEL TELLS US ABOUT EGYPT IN THESE TWOCHAPTERS IS BEYOND BELIEF.
v READ EZE 31:10-14 THE PARABLE OF THE TREE
Ø WHO IS THE ONE WHO HAS LIFTED HIMSELFUP AMONG THE BRANCHES? (10)
§ IT IS PHARAOH HOPHRA OF EGYPT WHO IS SOFILLED WITH PRIDE THAT HE THINKS EGYPT WILL LAST FOREVER.
· THE EGYPTIAN PHARAOHS ALSOBELIEVED THAT THEY WERE GODS. THAT IS WHY THEY SPENT SO MUCH TIME AND MONEY PREPARINGGREAT TOMBS (THE PYRAMIDS). THEY BELIEVED THAT THESE PHARAOH GODS WOULD LIVE FOREVER IN ANAFTERLIFE SURROUNDED BY ALL THE WEALTH OF THEIR KINGDOM.
Ø WHO IS THE MIGHTY ONE OF THEHEATHEN? (11)
§ IT IS KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR OF BABYLON.KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR WAS JUST AS FULL OF PRIDE AS PHARAOH HOPHRA, BUT GOD WOULD USENEBUCHADNEZZAR AS A TOOL TO CUT DOWN EGYPT. NEBUCHADNEZZARS PUNISHMENT WOULD COMELATER.
· REMEMBER DANIEL DESCRIBEDNEBUCHADNEZZAR AS THE HEAD OF GOLD, MORE WEALTHY AND POWERFUL, ABOVE ALLKINGDOMS. (DAN 2)
v READ EZE 31:15-18 THE TREE FALLS
Ø BABYLON ATTACKED AND DEFEATED EGYPT IN568 567 BC AS IT HAD ALL THE OTHER NATIONS. BEFORE IT.
Ø EZEKIEL SAYS THAT PHARAOH HOPHRA ISKILLED. ALL THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD WATCH IN AMAZEMENT AS THE GREATEST KINGDOM IN HISTORYFALLS TO BABYLON. EZEKIEL SAYS THE SOUND OF HIS FALL IS HEARD IN ALL NATIONS.
§ IF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN IN A FOREST WHENA LARGE TREE FALLS, THE WHOLE EARTH SHAKES. THIS IS THE IDEA THAT EZEKIEL PRESENTS HERE.
§ PHARAOH HOPHRA GOES TO SHEOL. (15)
· THE HEBREW WORD, SHEOL(USED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT) AND THE GREEK WORD, HADES (USED IN THE NEWTESTAMENT) REFER TO THE PLACE WHERE THE DEAD WAIT FOR THE FINAL RESURRECTION AND JUDGMENT.
· IT IS NECESSARY THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHATHAPPENS TO PEOPLE WHEN THEY DIE.
¨ IN THE OLD TESTAMENT AGE, ALL PEOPLE WHO DIED, BOTH BELIEVERSAND NON-BELIEVERS, WENT TO SHEOL. (LUK 16:19-31)
Ø SHEOL WAS DIVIDED INTO 2PARTS:
§ ABRAHAMS BOSOM WASTHE PART FOR BELIEVERS WAITING FOR THE RESURRECTION TO ETERNAL LIFE.
§ TORMENT WAS THE PART FORNON-BELIEVERS WAITING FOR THE RESURRECTION TO ETERNAL DEATH AND PUNISHMENT.
¨ IN THIS NEW TESTAMENT AGE, ALL NON-BELIEVERS WHO DIE GO TO THETORMENT PART OF SHEOL AND WAIT FOR THE FINAL RESURRECTION AND FINAL JUDGMENTBEFORE THE GREAT WHITE THRONE OF GOD. (REV 20:11-14)
Ø ALL BELIEVERS WHO DIE DO NOT GO TOSHEOL. THEY GO TO BE WITH THE LORD IN PARADISE.
§ THE CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION OFJESUS CHRIST CHANGED THE STATUS OF THE DEAD. THIS IS WHY THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESITUATION OF THE BELIEVING DEAD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT AGE AND THE BELIEVING DEAD IN THE NEWTESTAMENT AGE.
· BETWEEN THE TIME OF THE CRUCIFIXION ANDTHE RESURRECTION, JESUS TOOK THE SOULS IN ABRAHAMS BOSOM AND MOVED THEM TO A NEWPLACE IN HEAVEN CALLED, PARADISE. (LUK 23:13)
· PHARAOH HOPHRA IS IN THE TORMENT SIDEOF SHEOL. HE SEES ALL THE OTHER GREAT RULERS IN HISTORY WHO DIED BEFORE HIM. THEY ARE ALLAMAZED TO FIND THEMSELVES IN TORMENT, TOO. (18)
¨ THE TREES OF EDEN (18) =ALL THE RULERS OF THE WORLD WHO DO NOT KNOW THE LORD (UNCIRCUMCISED).
¨ DEATH EQUALIZES THE MIGHTY AND THEWEAK. A PERSON MAY SUCCESSFULLY LIVE A LIFE OF PRIDE, POWER, AND DOMINATION ON THIS EARTH,BUT ONCE HE IS DEAD, HE IS NO DIFFERENT THAN ALL OTHER NON-BELIEVERS WHO EVER LIVED. (MAT23:11-12)
Ø THEREFORE, THERE IS ONLY ONE DECISIONIN LIFE THAT WILL MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE AFTER DEATH. THAT IS THE DECISION TO RECEIVE JESUSCHRIST AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR. (JOH 16:8-9)
v READ EZE 32:1-10 THE LAMENT FOR PHARAOH
Ø A LAMENT IS A FUNERAL SERVICE. EZEKIELWRITES A FUNERAL SERVICE FOR PHARAOH HOPHRA WHILE THIS WORLDLY LEADER IS STILL ALIVE.
§ IN FACT, EZEKIEL SAYS THAT THIS LEADERIS LIKE A CROCODILE STIRRING UP THE WATER AND MAKING IT MUDDY.
· IN OTHER WORDS HIS INTERNATIONALPOLITICS WERE CAUSING CHAOS AMONG THE WORLDS NATIONS.
§ THE WORDS OF PHARAOHS DESTRUCTIONREMIND US OF THE PLAGUES OF THE BOOK OF EXODUS.
· NOTICE IN VERSE 6 THE VAST EXTENSION OFBLOOD.
¨ IN EXO 7:19 ALL THE WATER IN THECOUNTRY WAS TURNED TO BLOOD.
· NOTICE IN VERSES 7-8 THE DARKNESS OVERTHE NATION OF EGYPT.
¨ IN EXO 10:21-22 THE NINTH PLAGUE WAS APLAGUE OF DARKNESS.
· THESE TWO PLAGUES WILL BE REPEATED INTHE TRIBULATION PERIOD. (REV 8:7 8 REV11:6 REV 14:20 REV 6:12 REV 8:12 REV 9:2)
v READ EZE 32:11-16 THE DOUBLE FULFILLMENT OF CHAPTER 32
Ø THE SWORD OF THE KING OF BABYLONWILL COME UPON THEE. (11)
§ IN THE FIRST FULFILLMENT, THIS KING OFBABYLON IS NEBUCHADNEZZAR WHO COMES TO DESTROY EGYPT.
§ HOWEVER, THERE IS A SECOND FULFILLMENT.THE KING OF BABYLON IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD IS THE ANTI-CHRIST.
Ø IN OUR LAST LESSON WE DISCUSSED HOWEGYPT WOULD DECEIVE THE NATIONS AROUND THE TIME OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD. BECAUSE OF THISDECEPTION, THE ANTI-CHRIST WILL DESTROY AND CONTROL THE LAND OF EGYPT.
§ READ DAN 11:40-43
· THIS PASSAGE IN THE BOOK OF DANIELTALKS ABOUT HOW TWO WORLD LEADERS DECEIVE AND OPPOSE THE ANTI-CHRIST. ONE IS THE KING FROMTHE NORTH = RUSSIA. THE OTHER IS THE KING FROM THE SOUTH = EGYPT.
¨ IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN WORLD PEACE BYFULFILLING HIS OBLIGATION IN THE PEACE TREATY THAT HE WILL SIGN AT THE BEGINNING OF THETRIBULATION PERIOD, THE ANTI-CHRIST WILL ATTACK THESE TWO NATIONS BECAUSE THEY WILL UPSETTHE WORLD BALANCE AND THREATEN WORLD PEACE. (WE WILL STUDY THE DETAILS OF THIS DECEPTIONAND WAR IN EZE 38 AND 39).
v READ EZE 32:17-32 THE DESCENT OF EGYPT INTO SHEOL
Ø THE LEADER OF EGYPT IS IN THE TORMENTSIDE OF SHEOL. (18)
§ IN CHAPTER 31, THIS WAS PHARAOH HOPHRAIN THE FIRST FULFILLMENT OF THIS PROPHECY.
§ IN CHAPTER 32, THIS IS THE LEADER OFEGYPT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD, WHICH IS THE SECOND FULFILLMENT.
§ THEN EZEKIEL TELLS US ABOUT THE OTHERWORLD LEADERS WHO ARE THERE IN TORMENT.
· ASSHUR (22) = ASSYRIA = TODAY, SYRIA
· ELAM (24) = A WARLIKE NATION EAST OFBABYLON AND PART OF THE PERSIAN EMPIRE = TODAY, IRAN.
· MESHECH AND TUBAL (26) = TODAY, EASTERN AND CENTRAL TURKEY
· EDOM (29) = TODAY, JORDAN
· ALL THE PRINCES OF THE NORTH, THE SIDONIANS (30) = PHOENICIAN EMPIRE = TODAY,LEBANON.
§ WE WILL LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE NATIONSAND THEIR ROLE IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD IN EZE 38 AND 39.
v APPLICATION:
Ø WE HAVE SEEN EZEKIEL DEAL WITH NATIONALWORLD LEADERS WHO ARE NOT BELIEVERS. HOWEVER, THE SAME CONDITION EXISTS FOR ANYNON-BELIEVER NO MATTER WHAT POSITION HE HOLDS IN THIS WORLD.
Ø DEATH IS THE GREAT DIVIDER:
§ IT DIVIDES TIME BETWEEN THIS LIFE ANDTHE NEXT LIFE.
§ IT DIVIDES OPPORTUNITY BETWEEN A CHANCETO CHOOSE ONES ETERNAL DESTINATION AND THE LOSS OF OPPORTUNITY WHERE THERE IS NOLONGER A CHOICE.
§ IT DIVIDES AND SEPARATES MANKIND INTOTWO GROUPS, THE SAVED AND THE UNSAVED.
Ø IN THIS NEW TESTAMENT AGE, WHATSPECIFICALLY HAPPENS WHEN A BELIEVER DIES?
§ THE BODY DECAYS AND BECOMES DUST IN THEGRAVE. (GEN 3:19)
· YOU WILL RECEIVE A NEW BODY AT THERAPTURE OF THE CHURCH. (1COR 15:20-23 1THE4:15-18)
§ THE SPIRIT OF MAN AND THE SOUL GO TO BEWITH THE LORD IN PARADISE.
· YOUR SPIRIT CONTAINS THE HOLY SPIRITWHO INDWELT YOU WHEN YOU WERE BORN AGAIN.
· YOUR SOUL CONTAINS ALL THE PARTS OFYOUR UNIQUE PERSONALITY THOSE CHARACTERISTICS THAT MAKE YOU WHO YOU ARE.
HOMEWORK
EZEKIEL 33
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORKANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FOR CORRECTION.
v APPLICATION OF EZE 31 AND 32
Ø IF YOU HAVE NEVER MADE A PERSONALDECISION TO INVITE JESUS CHRIST INTO YOUR HEART TO BE YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR, TODAY IS THEDAY OF SALVATION.
§ IN PRAYER YOU CAN REPENT OF YOUR SINS,GIVE YOUR LIFE TO CHRIST, AND INVITE HIM INTO YOUR HEART TO BE YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR.
Ø IF YOU ARE ALREADY A BELIEVER IN JESUSCHRIST, MAKE A LIST HERE OF NON-BELIEVERS THAT GOD PLACES ON YOUR HEART. THEN PRAY EVERYDAY THIS WEEK FOR THE SALVATION OF THOSE PEOPLE ON YOUR LIST.
v PREPARATION FOR EZE 33
Ø READ EZE 33:1-20 EZEKIEL IS CONFIRMED AS A TRUE PROPHET OF GOD
§ WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE TRUE VALUE OFBIBLE PROPHECY?
§ WHAT IS GODS CRITERIA FORJUDGMENT?
Ø READ EZE 33:21-33
§ WHAT IS A PEOPLES RESPONSIBILITYTO THE WORD OF GOD?
v MEMORY VERSE: JAMES 1:22
