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RETURN TO SYLLABUS
EZEKIEL 35 AND 36
LESSON #30
PETRA, THE SUPERNATURAL REFUGE FOR HIS PEOPLE
v MEMORY VERSE: PSALMS 17:7
v IN THESE TWO CHAPTERS OF EZEKIEL, GOD BEGINS TODISCUSS THE RESTORATION OF ISRAEL. HE WILL BRING HIS PEOPLE BACK TO THE PROMISED LAND.
Ø HOWEVER, BEFORE THE RESTORATION OF ISRAEL,GOD MUST FIRST JUDGE EDOM FOR THEIR SINS, AND HE MUST FIRST FORGIVE HIS PEOPLE OF THEIRSINS.
v EZEKIEL SAID IN EZE 25 THAT GOD WOULD JUDGE EDOM.NOW HE REPEATS THE JUDGMENT ON EDOM. WHY?
Ø WE WILL DISCOVER IN THIS LESSON THAT THEPROPHECIES ABOUT EDOM, ISRAELS HATED ENEMY, REACH FARTHER IN TIME THAN JUST EZEKIELSDAY.
§ EDOM REPRESENTS ALL NATIONSTHAT OPPOSE ISRAEL.
v BACKGROUND REVIEW:
Ø REMEMBER THAT EDOM MEANS = RED,AND IS ANOTHER NAME FOR ESAU. ESAU SOLD HIS BIRTHRIGHT TO HIS BROTHER JACOB FOR A POT OFRED STEW. THE DESCENDENTS OF ESAU SETTLED IN THE RED HILLS TO THE SOUTHEAST OF ISRAEL.
§ EZE 35 SAYS THAT EDOM WILLBE RED WITH BLOOD.
Ø GOD GAVE THESE PEOPLE THIS LAND IN DEU 2:1-7.THIS LAND IS NOW PART OF THE NATION OF JORDAN.
§ HOWEVER, THE EDOMITES WERENOT SATISFIED WITH THE LAND GOD GAVE THEM. THEY WANTED THE PROMISED LAND FOR THEMSELVES.THEREFORE, WHEN JERUSALEM WAS ATTACKED, THE EDOMITES ENCOURAGED THE BABYLONIANS AND EVENWENT TO LOOT THE CITY FOR THEMSELVES. (EZE 35:5)
v READ EZE 35:1-15 THE JUDGMENT OF EDOM
Ø MT. SEIR (2)
§ MT. SEIR IS ANOTHER NAMEFOR EDOM AND SPECIFICALLY THE CITY OF PETRA LOCATED IN THE RED MOUNTAINS, SOUTHEAST OFISRAEL.
Ø HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE CITY OF PETRA:
§ PETRA WAS A NABATAEAN CITY.THE NABATAEAN KINGDOM CONTROLLED THE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA FROM DAMASCUS, SYRIA TO SINAI,EGYPT FROM ABOUT 312 BC TO 106 AD. PETRA WAS THE CAPITAL OF THIS KINGDOM DURING THE TIMEJESUS WALKED ON EARTH. THESE PEOPLE WERE A NOMADIC ARAB TRIBE THAT CONTROLLED THE TRADEROUTES FROM THE ORIENT TO THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA.
§ THE NABATAEAN CONTROL OFTHE TRADE ROUTES WAS NOT ALWAYS DONE IN A PEACEFUL WAY. THEY ATTACKED CARAVANS THAT FAILEDTO PAY THEM PROTECTION MONEY AND LOOTED CARAVANS THAT DID NOT PAY A HIGH TOLL FEES.
§ THE CITY OF PETRA WAS ANIDEAL FORTRESS FOR THESE CLANDESTINE RAIDS ON CARAVANS. THE CITY IS LOCATED 50 MILES SOUTHOF THE DEAD SEA IN A DESOLATE AREA OF MOUNTAINS AND GORGES. THERE IS ONLY ONE NARROW WAYTO ENTER INTO THE CITY AND THAT IS THROUGH A VERY NARROW GORGE. THEY CARVED THE BUILDINGSOF THE CITY OUT OF THE RED ROCK OF THE MOUNTAINS.
§ THE NABATAEANS WERE SKILLEDENGINEERS. THEY BUILT A BRILLIANT IRRIGATION SYSTEM WITH RESERVOIRS, IRRIGATION CHANNELS,AND FLOOD BASINS TO PRESERVE THE SMALL RAINFALL IN THIS DESERT AREA.
Ø THE FULFILLMENTS OF THE PROPHECIES ABOUT EDOMAND PETRA:
§ YOU CAN IDENTIFY THE CITYOF PETRA IN SCRIPTURE BY VARIOUS NAMES:
· IN SCRIPTURE THIS CITY IS CALLED:MT. SEIR, MT. HOR, SELA, OR EDOMS STRONG CITY.
§ THE FIRST FULFILLMENT OFEZEKIELS PROPHECY:
· WHEN THE BABYLONIANS ATTACKEDJERUSALEM IN 586 BC, MANY OF THE ISRAELITES FLED TO EDOM. INSTEAD OF HELPING THEIR BLOODBROTHERS, THE EDOMITES BETRAYED THE ISRAELITES AND TURNED THEM OVER TO THE BABYLONIANS.
§ THE SECOND FULFILLMENT OFEZEKIELS PROPHECY AND THE FIRST FULFILLMENT OF JESUS PROPHECY:
· READ MAT 24:16-21
¨ JESUS PROPHESIED THAT A DAY WILL COME WHENTHE JEWS WILL FLEE FROM JERUSALEM.
Ø THIS HAPPENED IN 70 AD WHEN THE ROMANSATTACKED JERUSALEM AND DESTROYED THE TEMPLE. MANY OF THE PEOPLE FLED TO EDOM.
· THEREFORE, 70 AD IS THE SECONDFULFILLMENT OF EZEKIELS PROPHECY. HOWEVER, WE HAVE LEARNED THAT WHEN ANOTHER PROPHET REPEATS THE PROPHECY, THERE WILL BEANOTHER 2 FULFILLMENTS.
¨ 70 AD IS, THEREFORE, THE FIRST FULFILLMENT OFJESUS PROPHECY.
§ THE SECOND FULFILLMENT OFJESUS PROPHECY:
· READ REV 12:6
¨ IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD, THE JEWS WILLTHINK THAT THE ANTI-CHRIST IS THEIR MESSIAH. HOWEVER, AT THE MIDDLE OF THE TRIBULATIONPERIOD, THE ANTI-CHRIST WILL TURN AGAINST THEM AND PERSECUTE THEM. THEY WILL FLEE TO THECITY OF PETRA TO AVOID THIS PERSECUTION. THIS TIME GOD WILL SUPERNATURALLY PROTECT THEMFROM THE ANTI-CHRIST AND HIDE THEM IN PETRA.
Ø DAN 11:41 TELLS US THAT PARTS OF JORDAN(EDOM, MOAB, AND AMMON) WILL ESCAPE FROM THE HANDS OF THE ANTI-CHRIST EVEN THOUGH HE WILLCONTROL ALL OTHER COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD.
· WE SEE GODS SENSE OF IRONYHERE IN THIS FINAL FULFILLMENT.
¨ ALL THROUGH HISTORY, THE EDOMITES ALWAYSFAILED TO GIVE REFUGE TO THE ISRAELITES.
Ø HOWEVER, IT IS IN PETRA THAT GOD WILLULTIMATELY HIDE AND PROTECT HIS PEOPLE.
v SUMMARY:
Ø GOD WILL OPPOSE AND JUDGE ALL NATIONS THATOPPOSE GOD, GODS PEOPLE, AND GODS PLAN. EDOM IS THE EXAMPLE.
v READ EZE 36:1-15 THE RESTORATION OF THE ISRAELITES AND THE LAND
Ø WE HAVE DISCOVERED IN OUR STUDY OF THE OLDTESTAMENT THAT GOD IDENTIFIES HIS PEOPLE WITH THE LAND OF ISRAEL. THE TWO GO TOGETHER.WHEN THE ISRAELITES WERE OUTSIDE OF THE LAND, THEY WERE OUTSIDE OF GODS WILL.
§ HOWEVER, WHEN THE PEOPLEWERE IN THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY, THEY WERE NOT THERE BY CHOICE. GOD HAD PUNISHED THEM FORSIN.
Ø THEREFORE, DOES THAT MEAN THE ISRAELITES NOLONGER OWN THE PROMISED LAND THAT GOD GAVE TO ABRAHAM?
§ YES AND NO. TECHNICALLYSPEAKING, THE ISRAELITES NEVER OWNED THE PROMISED LAND. ALL THE LAND BELONGS TO GOD. HECREATED IT. HE GAVE THE PROMISED LAND TO ABRAHAM AND HIS DESCENDANTS TO BE GOOD STEWARDSOF THE LAND. WHEN THEY WERE NOT GOOD STEWARDS OF THE PROMISED LAND AND DEFILED IT WITHIDOLS, HE CAST THEM OUT TO BABYLON. THE ISRAELITE POSSESSION AND ENJOYMENT OF THE PROMISEDLAND DEPENDED ON THEIR FAITH AND OBEDIENCE TO GOD.
Ø BECAUSE GOD STILL IDENTIFIES HIS PEOPLE, THEJEWS, WITH THE PROMISED LAND, HE PROMISES HIS PEOPLE THAT HE WILL RETURN THEM TO THE LAND.
§ GODS PEOPLE AND THEPOSSESSION OF THE LAND IS WHAT IS CALLED TODAY, ZIONISM. IT IS A CONCEPT THATOTHER NATIONS OF THE WORLD DO NOT UNDERSTAND OR ACCEPT. THIS UNIQUE TIE IS BOTH BIBLICALAND SPIRITUAL.
v READ EZE 36:16-38 THE REGENERATION OF GODS PEOPLE
Ø ISRAELITES FORGOT THAT THE LAND BELONGS TOGOD. IN THEIR PRIDE, THEY SAID IT WAS THEIRS. (LEV 25:23)
§ READ LEV 18:25
· GODSAID THAT IF THEY VIOLATED THE LAND, HE WOULD VOMIT THEM OUT OF IT.
¨ THEY DEFILED THE LAND BY PRACTICING IDOLATRY
¨ THEY DEFILED THE LAND BY OFFERING THEIR OWNCHILDREN AS A SACRIFICE TO IDOLS. (12-14)
¨ THEY DEFILED THE LAND BY SHEDDING INNOCENTBLOOD.
¨ THEY DEFILED THE LAND BY PROFANING GODSNAME AMONG THE GENTILES. (20-23)
Ø THE ISRAELITES WERE TO BE A LIGHT TO THEGENTILES AND AN EXAMPLE. (ISA 42:6 ISA 49:6)
§ GODS PROMISES TO HISPEOPLE:
· HE WILL CLEANSE HIS PEOPLE FROMTHEIR SINS.
· HE WILL GIVE THEM A NEW HEART(26), SO THEY WILL HATE THEIR SINS (31-32).
· HE WILL GIVE THEM THE INDWELLINGHOLY SPIRIT.
· HE WILL GAIN THEM AS HIS PEOPLE,SO THEY WILL HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM.
· HE WILL CAUSE THE LAND TOPROSPER.
· HE WILL CAUSE THEIR POPULATION TOMULTIPLY BECAUSE OF THE HIGH DEATH RATE FROM THEIR ENEMIES. (37-38)
Ø WHAT IS GODS PURPOSE FOR JUDGMENT ONISRAELS ENEMIES AND THE RESTORATION OF ISRAEL? (22-23)
§ GOD PUNISHES THE ENEMIES OFISRAEL TO SANCTIFY AND GLORIFY HIS OWN NAME.
§ GOD WILL RESTORE HIS PEOPLETO THE PROMISED LAND IN THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM OF JESUS CHRIST TO SANCTIFY AND GLORIFY HISOWN NAME.
· EVERYTHING GOD DOES IS FOR HISGLORY:
¨ HE PROVES THAT HE IS RIGHTEOUS AND HOLY.
¨ HE PROVES THAT HE IS BOTH JUST AND MERCIFUL.
Ø ISRAEL WILL NOT DESERVE TO REGAIN THE LAND,BUT GOD IS MERCIFUL.
§ WHEN WILL ISRAEL REGAIN THELAND?
· THE DOUBLE FULFILLMENT:
¨ THE ISREALITES RETURN ED TO THE LAND AT THEEND OF THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY. HOWEVER, THEY WERE STILL NOT A SOVEREIGN NATION. THEY NEVER REGAINEDSOVEREIGNTY. THEN IN 70 AD THEY WERE AGAIN CAST OUT OF THE LAND. THIS TIME BECAUSE THEYREJECTED JESUS CHRIST AS THEIR MESSIAH.
¨ GOD RESTORED THEM TO THE LAND IN 1948 AD WHENISRAEL BECAME A SOVEREIGN NATION. HOWEVER, THAT EVENT DOES NOT FULFILL EZE 36. WHY?
Ø EZE 36:26-27 SAYS GOD WILL GIVE THEM A NEWHEART AND PUT HIS SPIRIT IN THEM. THIS HAS NEVER BEEN FULFILLED. ISRAEL IS STILL A SECULARNATION TODAY.
§ WHEN WILL GOD DO THIS?
· AT THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST,THE JEWS WILL ACCEPT CHRIST AS THEIR SAVIOR. GOD WILL GIVE THEM A NEW BORN AGAIN HEART ANDPUT THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THEM.
· AS JESUS CHRIST ESTABLISHES HISKINGDOM ON EARTH AFTER THE SECOND COMING, HE WILL REGATHER ALL THE JEWS BACK TO ISRAEL.
· THEN, IN THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM,HE WILL POUR HIS BLESSINGS AND ABUNDANCE ON THEM (29) TO FULFILL ALL HIS PROMISES TOABRAHAM. (35-38)
v APPLICATION:
Ø GOD PROMISES A REFUGE TO HIS PEOPLE IN TIMEOF TROUBLE. THIS IS A VERY ENCOURAGING MESSAGE FOR THE DAY IN WHICH WE LIVE.
§ HE DOES NOT PROTECT USBECAUSE WE ARE WORTHY. HE PROTECTS US TO VINDICATE HIS OWN REPUTATION AND FOR HIS OWNGLORY. HOWEVER, TWO THINGS ARE REQUIRED OF THE BELIEVER IN JESUS CHRIST:
· WE MUST TRUST GOD BY FAITH. (HEB11:6)
· WE MUST BE WALKING WITH HIM INOBEDIENCE. (EZE 36)
Ø IF YOU ARE PLAGUED BY FEAR (WHICH IS THEOPPOSITE OF FAITH), HERE ARE SOME SCRIPTURES TO REASSURE YOU OF GODS PROTECTION:
§ PSA 9:9 PSA 46:1 PSA 46:7,11 PSA57:1 PSA 59:16 PSA 62:7-8 PSA 71:7 PSA 91:2,9-10 PSA 94:22 PRO 14:26
HOMEWORK
EZEKIEL 37
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.v APPLICATIONOF EZE 35 AND 36
Ø MAKE A LIST OF YOUR GREATEST FEARS HERE.
Ø FINDA SCRIPTURE THAT APPLIES TO EACH FEAR AND WRITE THE SCRIPTURE REFERENCE NEXT TO THE FEARYOU LISTED ABOVE.
Ø WRITEOUT EACH SCRIPTURE ON A SMALL PIECE OF PAPER. PUT THESE SCIPTURE PAPERS IN VISIBLE PLACESIN YOUR HOME TO REMIND YOU OF GODS ASSURANCE.
v PREPARATIONFOR EZE 37
Ø READ EZE 37:1-14 THE SIGN OF THE VALLEY OF DRY BONES
§ WHAT DO YOU THINK THE DRYBONES REPRESENT?
Ø READ EZE 37:15-28 THE SIGN OF THE TWO STICKS
§ WHAT DO YOU THINK THE TWOSTICKS REPRESENT?
MEMORY VERSE: JOHN 11:25
