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EZEKIEL 29 AND 30
LESSON #26
THE DECEPTIONS OF THE GREAT DRAGON OF WORLDLINESS
v MEMORY VERSE: ISAIAH 30:1
v READ EZE 29:1-5 THE PROPHECY AGAINST THE GREAT DRAGON OF EGYPT
Ø REMEMBER THAT IN ALL SCRIPTURE, THENATION OF EGYPT IS A SYMBOL OF WORLDLINESS.
§ WE HAVE DISCUSSED HOW THE ISRAELITES OFTHE OLD TESTAMENT ALWAYS TOOK REFUGE IN EGYPT IN TIMES OF FAMINE. EGYPT WAS THE GREATESTAND MOST ADVANCED NATION ON EARTH AT THAT TIME. THEY POSSESSED GREAT WEALTH FROM AROUNDTHE WORLD.
§ KING SOLOMON MARRIED AN EGYPTIANPRINCESS AND HAD MANY BUSINESS DEALS WITH EGYPT.
Ø THE GREAT DRAGON MENTIONED IN VERSE 3IS THE PHARAOH OF EGYPT. EZEKIEL DOES NOT GIVE US THE NAME OF THIS PARTICULAR PHARAOH.HOWEVER, JEREMIAH TELLS US, AND RECORDS CONFIRM IT, THAT HIS NAME WAS PHARAOH HOPHRA(APRIES) (589 BC 570 BC). (JER 44:30)
§ PHARAOH HOPHRA DEFEATED AND KILLED KINGJOSIAH OF JUDAH AT MEGIDDO (609 BC).
· MEGIDDO IS THE LOCATION OF THE BATTLEOF ARMAGEDDON.
§ THE HEBREW WORD EZEKIEL USED FOR THEGREAT DRAGON IS A PLAY ON WORDS WITH A DOUBLE MEANING:
· THE WORD CAN MEAN ANYTHING FROM A SNAKETO A GREAT MONSTER, AND IS MOST LIKELY A CROCODILE FROM THE NILE RIVER.
¨ THE EGYPTIANS WORSHIPPED THOUSANDS OFGODS IN THE FORM OF THE ANIMALS IN AND AROUND THE NILE RIVER.
Ø REMEMBER MOSES PLAGUES ON EGYPTJUST BEFORE THE EXODUS OF THE ISRAELITES? THOSE PLAGUES WERE CURSES ON THE THINGS THAT THEEGYPTIANS WORSHIPPED AS GODS.
· THE WORD CAN MEAN A GREAT MONSTER WHICHTHE ISRAELITES CALLED, THE MONSTER OF CHAOS.
¨ THE GREAT DRAGON IN REV 12:3-9 ISIDENTIFIED AS SATAN. SATAN IS THE POWER BEHIND THE SPIRIT OF WORLDLINESS. THE BIBLE CALLSHIM, THE GOD OF THIS WORLD. (2COR 4:4)
Ø REMEMBER THAT SATANS GREAT SINWAS PRIDE, AND HE IS THE POWER BEHIND THE KINGDOM OF EGYPT.
§ NOTICE THE PRIDE IN EZE 29:3, 9.
§ THE KINGS OF JUDAH: JEHOIAKIM,JEHOIACHIN (JECONIAH), AND ZEDEKIAH, TURNED TO PHARAOH HOPHRA FOR HELP WHEN THEBABYLONIANS ATTACKED JERUSALEM.
· IT WAS BECAUSE OF EGYPTS PROMISEDHELP, THAT THE KINGS OF JUDAH REBELLED AGAINST BABYLON.
v READ EZE 29:6-11 JUDGMENT ON THE WEAKNESS OF THE STAFF OF REEDS
Ø WHAT SINS DOES GOD MENTION THAT CAUSEEGYPT TO DESERVE JUDGMENT? (6-7, 9)
§ THE EGYPTIAN PHARAOH PROMISED TO HELPJUDAH BUT THE EGYPTIANS FAILED TO PROVIDE ENOUGH HELP TO DEFEAT NEBUCHADNEZZAR.
· THE DESCRIPTIVE PHRASE USED HERE IS,A STAFF OF REEDS.
¨ A STAFF WAS A STRONG STICK ON WHICH APERSON COULD LEAN WHILE WALKING. IT WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO SUPPORT A PERSONS WEIGHT,AND IT WOULD NOT BREAK.
¨ A REED IS A PLANT WITH A HOLLOW, WOODYSTEM THAT GROWS BESIDE THE NILE RIVER.
¨ THEREFORE, THE DESCRIPTION OF EGYPT ISTHAT IT APPEARS TO BE STRONG OUTWARDLY, WHEN, IN FACT, THERE WAS NO INNER SUBSTANCE ONWHICH TO DEPEND.
Ø THERE WAS A PROVERB AT THE TIME THATSAID EGYPT WAS A POOR ALLY ON WHICH TO LEAN. (2KI 18:20-21) THERE WAS A WARNING THAT IFYOU LEANED ON EGYPT, THE STAFF WOULD BREAK AND PIERCE YOUR HAND.
Ø WHAT WILL BE THE EFFECTS OF GODSJUDGMENT ON EGYPT? (9)
§ EGYPT WILL BE DESOLATE AND WASTE.
· THIS PROPHECY HAS NEVER BEEN COMPLETELYFULFILLED.
¨ FIRST FULFILLMENT:
Ø BABYLON DESTROYED EGYPT 16 YEARS AFTEREZEKIEL GAVE THIS MESSAGE. (568-567 BC) HOWEVER, EGYPT WAS NEVER TOTALLY DESOLATE ANDWASTE.
¨ SECOND FULFILLMENT:
Ø IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD, THEANTI-CHRIST WILL DESTROY EGYPT BECAUSE THEY SEEK TO DECEIVE HIM. THEN THE ANTI-CHRIST WILLUSE EGYPT AS A PENAL COLONY FOR THE JEWS WHO OPPOSE HIM. (ISA 19:18 DEU 28:64-68)
v READ EZE 29:12-16 THE 40 YEAR JUDGMENT
Ø GOD SCATTERED THE EGYPTIANS WHEN THEBABYLONIANS ATTACKED. MANY WERE TAKEN CAPTIVE TO BABYLON. THEIR CAPTIVITY LASTED 40 YEARS.
§ WHEN THE EGYPTIANS RETURN ED TO THEIRLAND, THE NATION NEVER REGAINED ITS PREVIOUS WEALTH, POWER, OR PRESTIGE. IN FACT, TODAY ITIS ONE OF THE WEAKEST AND POOREST NATIONS OF THE WORLD.
v READ EZE 29:17-20 THE DEFEAT OF EGYPT BY BABYLON
Ø FOR 13 YEARS, NEBUCHADNEZZAR TRIED TODEFEAT THE CITY OF TYRE AND COULD NOT COMPLETE IT. FINALLY, THE CITY SURRENDERED, BUT ONLYAFTER THE PEOPLE HAD SHIPPED THEIR WEALTH TO OTHER CITIES IN THE PHOENICIAN EMPIRE. EGYPTHELPED THEM RELOCATE THEIR WEALTH.
§ NEBUCHADNEZZAR WAS DISAPPOINTED AT SOGREAT AN EFFORT FOR SO LITTLE GAIN. HIS ARMY WAS TIRED OF WAR. THEIR HEADS WERE WORNSMOOTH FROM WEARING HELMETS. THEIR SHOULDERS WERE BRUISED BY WEARING ARMOR. (18)NEBUCHADNEZZAR THEN TURNED TO EGYPT TO MAKE UP FOR THE LOST WEALTH.
· NEBUCHADNEZZAR USED THE WEALTH OF EGYPTTO PAY HIS SOLDIERS. (19)
v READ EZE 29:21 THE FUTURE RESTORATION
Ø GOD PROMISES TO RESTORE ISRAEL TO FULLSTRENGTH (HORN) AT THE SAME TIME THAT EGYPT IS RESTORED AS A NATION.
§ THE FUTURE FULFILLMENT IS IN THATDAY.
· THIS IS A PROPHETIC PHRASE THAT RELATESTO THE FUTURE WHEN JESUS CHRIST RETURN S TO EARTH.
¨ HE WILL RESTORE ISRAEL TO FULL STRENGTHIN HIS MILLENNIAL REIGN ON EARTH. EGYPT WILL ALSO BE RESTORED AS A NATION IN THEMILLENNIUM.
v READ EZE 30:1-8 THE GREAT STORM OF JUDGMENT IN THE DAY OF THE LORD
Ø EZEKIEL SEES THE COMING JUDGMENT ONEGYPT AS A STORM THAT WILL SPREAD BEYOND EGYPT. HE ALSO USES THE PROPHETIC PHRASE, DAYOF THE LORD, WHICH WE DISCUSSED IN EZE 13.
§ REMEMBER THAT THE DAY OF THE LORDIS A PERIOD OF TIME THAT BEGINS WITH GRADUALLY INCREASING DARKNESS, A TERRIBLE JUDGMENT,AND THEN THE BEGINNING OF A NEW DAY OF LIGHT.
· EZEKIEL USES THE MESSAGE ABOUT JUDGMENTON EGYPT FROM CHAPTER 29 AND EXPANDS THIS JUDGMENT TO THE HEATHEN NATIONS. (30:3)
¨ TO WHAT PERIOD OF TIME DOES HE REFER?
Ø HE REFERS TO THE TRIBULATION PERIOD OF7 YEARS JUST BEFORE JESUS CHRIST RETURN S TO THIS EARTH.
§ PREVIOUSLY WE HAVE SEEN THAT EZEKIELREFERS TO THE TRIBULATION PERIOD AS A TIME OF GREAT TRIALS AND PRESSURE UPON THE JEWS TORECEIVE JESUS CHRIST AS THEIR SAVIOR. THE PROPHET, JEREMIAH, CALLS IT, THE TIME OFJACOBS TROUBLE (JER 30:7).
§ NOW, HOWEVER, WE SEE THAT EZEKIELREFERS TO THE TRIBULATION PERIOD AS THE TIME OF THE NATIONS (HEATHEN) (3).WHAT DOES HE MEAN?
· JESUS CHRIST USED THE PHRASE TIMESOF THE GENTILES. (LUK 21:24)
¨ HE SAYS IT WILL BE A TIME WHENJERUSALEM WILL BE OVERRUN AND CONTROLLED BY GENTILE NATIONS. THIS SITUATION CONTINUESTHROUGH THE TRIBULATION PERIOD UNDER THE ANTI-CHRIST UNTIL THE FINAL BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDONWHEN CHRIST WILL FIGHT AGAINST THE NATIONS AT HIS SECOND COMING.
¨ READ REV 19:11-16,19
¨ THIS PASSAGE IS ABOUT THE BATTLE OFARMAGEDDON AND THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT BATTLE.
Ø THE MEN OF THE LAND THAT IS INLEAGUE (5)
§ DURING THE TRIBULATION PERIOD, THEANTI-CHRIST WILL USE EVERY POLITICAL SITUATION TO CONSOLIDATE WORLD POWER IN HIS HANDS.
· JUST PRIOR TO THE BEGINNING OF THETRIBULATION PERIOD OR JUST AFTER THE TRIBULATION BEGINS, THERE WILL BE A GREAT RUSSIAN WARAGAINST ISRAEL. WE WILL STUDY THIS WAR IN GREAT DETAIL IN EZE 38 AND 39.
¨ EGYPT AND OTHER SOUTHERN ARAB NATIONSWILL JOIN TOGETHER IN A LEAGUE TO FIGHT ISRAEL IN COOPERATION WITH RUSSIA. THE ANTI-CHRISTWILL PLAY THE ROLE OF WORLD NEGOTIATOR AND PEACEMAKER. HOWEVER, THE SOUTHERN BLOC OFNATIONS LED BY EGYPT WILL DECEIVE RUSSIA AND THE ANTI-CHRIST. THIS WILL CAUSE THEANTI-CHRIST TO ATTACK EGYPT AND COMPLETE EZEKIELS PROPHECY ABOUT EGYPTSDESOLATION.
v READ EZE 30:9-12 THE IDENTITY OF THE KING OF BABYLON
Ø EZE 30:10 SAYS THAT THE DESTRUCTION OFEGYPT OCCURS BY THE HAND OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR, THE KING OF BABYLON.
§ BABYLONS ATTACK ON EGYPT IS THEFIRST FULFILLMENT OF THIS PROPHECY.
§ HOWEVER, AS WE HAVE SEEN, ALL OF THISWAS NOT FULFILLED IN HISTORY. THEREFORE, WE LOOK FOR A SECOND FULFILLMENT IN THE GREATRUSSIAN WAR OF EZE 38 AND 39 ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
· THEREFORE, THE IDENTITY OF THE KINGOF BABYLON AT THAT FUTURE TIME WILL BE THE ANTI-CHRIST. NEBUCHADNEZZAR, THEREFORE,IS A PREFIGURE OF THE ANTI-CHRIST.
¨ VERSE 12 SAYS THAT GOD WILL PUT THELAND OF EGYPT INTO THE HANDS OF THE ANTI-CHRIST (THE WICKED ONE) (12).
v EZE 30:13-19 THESE VERSES GIVE USDETAILS ABOUT THE JUDEMENT OF DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS UNDER THE CONTROL OF EGYPT.
v READ EZE 30:20-26 SUMMARY: GODSTOOL
Ø GOD SAYS HE WILL USE EVIL BABYLON TOBRING JUDGMENT ON EGYPT FOR THEIR SINS AGAINST HIS PEOPLE, THE ISRAELITES.
§ I HAVE BROKEN THE ARM OF PHARAOH,KING OF EGYPT. (21)
· PHARAOH HOPHRAS NAME MEANS = THEONE WITH A STRONG ARM.
¨ GOD USED THE BABYLONIANS TO BREAK HISSTRENGTH.
§ WE HAVE DISCUSSED HOW NEBUCHADNEZZARSATTACK ON EGYPT WAS THE FIRST FULFILLMENT.
§ WE HAVE DISCUSSED HOW THE ANTI-CHRISTSFUTURE ATTACK ON EGYPT REPRESENTS THE SECOND FULFILLMENT.
§ BOTH BABYLON AND THE ANTI-CHRIST AREEVIL TOOLS THAT GOD USES TO FULFILL HIS PLAN.
v APPLICATION:
Ø HOW CAN WE RELATE THESE TWO CHAPTERS TOOUR CHRISTIAN LIFE TODAY?
§ AS BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST, WE MUSTREMEMBER THAT WE ARE TO PUT OUR TRUST IN GOD AND NOT IN THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD. THIS ISTHE CHRISTIANS GREATEST TEST OF FAITH AND THE SOURCE OF SATANS GREATESTDECEPTIONS.
· WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES AROUND US BECOME SOTHREATENING, WE FEEL THE PRESSURE AND FORGET ABOUT GOD. LIKE A SINKING SWIMMER, WE GRASPEDWHATEVER WE CAN SEE NEAR US TO PREVENT OUR DROWNING. SATAN REJOICES WHEN WE GRAB ONTO THETHINGS OF THIS WORLD TO SAVE US.
¨ USUALLY WE MAKE THIS GRASPING DECISIONBASED ON FEELINGS INSTEAD OF FAITH BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING AT THE SURROUNDING CIRCUMSTANCESINSTEAD OF LOOKING AT JESUS CHRIST.
§ WHAT IS THE CHRISTIANS SOLUTION?
· READ MAR 4:19
¨ MARK TELLS US THAT THE THINGS OF THEWORLD CHOKE OUT THE WORD OF GOD. THEREFORE, THE SOLUTION FOR THE CHRISTIAN IS TO STAY INTHE WORD OF GOD. THAT IS HOW WE KEEP OUR EYES ON HIM AND NOT ON THE WORLDS SOLUTIONSOR THE WORLDS CIRCUMSTANCES.
Ø REMEMBER THAT IN THE SAME WAY THATEZEKIEL PROPHESIED THE DESTRUCTION OF EGYPT, THERE WILL ALSO OCCUR THE DESTRUCTION OF THETHINGS OF THIS WORLD. READ 2PET 3:10-13.
HOMEWORK
EZEKIEL 31 AND 32
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORKANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FOR CORRECTION.
v APPLICATION OF EZE 29 AND 30
Ø DO YOU HAVE PROBLEMS TRUSTING GOD INDIFFICULT SITUATIONS? IF YOUR ANSWER IS YES, EXPLAIN YOUR DIFFICULTIES.
Ø RE-READ THE APPLICATIONSECTION OF THE LESSON ABOVE AND THE SCRIPTURE IN 2PET 3:10-13 AND DETERMINE WHY YOU HAVEDIFFICULTY.
Ø WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU CAN DO TOINCREASE YOUR TRUST IN GOD?
Ø WHAT WILL YOU DO DIFFERENTLY THAN WHATYOU HAVE DONE IN THE PAST?
v PREPARATION FOR EZE 31 AND 32
Ø READ EZE 31:1-9 THE GLORY OF EGYPT
Ø READ EZE 31:10-14 THE PARABLE OF THE TREE
Ø READ EZE 31:15-18 THE TREE FALLS
Ø READ EZE 32 THE LAMENT FOR PHARAOH
Ø WHAT DO YOU LEARN ABOUT DEATH FROMTHESE TWO CHAPTERS?
v MEMORY VERSE: REVELATION 20:15
