The book of Ezekiel follows the prophet during Israel’s Babylonian captivity, where God called him to speak to a rebellious nation under judgment. Its 48 chapters unfold in four great movements: God’s judgment upon Israel, His judgment upon the Gentile nations, the restoration and regathering of Israel, and the coming millennial reign of Jesus Christ. Throughout the book, Christ is revealed as the Son of man, while Ezekiel’s extraordinary visions open a prophetic window into the Tribulation, the Second Coming, and the restoration of God’s kingdom on earth. From the departure of God’s glory to its triumphant return, Ezekiel reveals that God’s judgment has a purpose and that His promises to Israel will ultimately be fulfilled.

 In this study, we are choosing several chapters of Ezekiel to introduce a deeper prophetic theme that runs beneath the book: the controversy of Zion and the doctrine of “of old.” While Ezekiel records God’s historical dealings with Israel and Jerusalem, key words and prophetic patterns reach farther back to things that were “of old,” revealing a spiritual conflict that began in the heavenly Zion and later played itself out upon the earth. Through these selected chapters, we will trace glimpses of that ancient controversy—rebellion, judgment, the preservation of a remnant, and the continuing conflict over God’s city, people, and kingdom. Our purpose is to give the Bible student a flavor of this doctrinal dimension of Ezekiel and the keys needed to begin recognizing the same controversy throughout Scripture.

(Class in Progress)

Chapter

Aug. 9, Ezekiel 8