EZEKIEL 4 AND THE DAILY SACRIFICE

In Ezekiel chapter four, God gives a series of instructions to the prophet designed to illustrate a point. This prophecy has not been understood, largely because readers have failed to follow the instructions. I therefore, ask our readers to follow the instructions as they read and the meaning will become clear.

First, clear a space somewhere and portray a likeness of Jerusalem. You could draw this or use some symbol, such as a piece of tile or wood placed upon your table. Then surround the city with an army, again by symbols or drawings, laying siege to the city and making war against it. See the point that the city is in a state of conflict, surrounded by enemies, trying to take the city, while the persons inside are trying to defend the city. As you besiege the city, take an iron plate and place it between the city and the besiegers. What does this do? It protects the city. It comes between the city and it's enemies. The iron pictures defense and protection provided to the city by an outside source.

Now Ezekiel is told to lie on his left side for 390 days (190 LXX) and bear the iniquity of Israel. Then he is to lie on his right side and bear the iniquity of Judah for 40 days. He is not to move until the days of siege are completed Ezek 4:8. These days are to signify years in actual fulfillment, verse six.

To bear iniquity means to; take away, pardon, forgive or overlook that iniquity. This prophecy shows that God will bless Judah with protection and blessing for forty years. And that He will do the same for Israel for 390 (190 LXX) years. It is interesting to note that Israel went into captivity about 150 years before Judah anciently, so that Judah enjoyed an extra 150 years of blessings in those days. That extra 150 years plus the 40 years equals the 190 that the LXX gives to Israel, making the total period of time the same for both peoples. The fall of Samaria and Jerusalem were not 150 years apart, but the final removal of the people was. In fact Jerusalem was taken several times and the deportations of both Israel and Judah occurred in several waves. However since God revealed to Hosea that both Israel and Judah shall fall together at the end Hos 5:5, the argument over the time for Israel is not so important and we shall now concentrate upon Judah.

God shall take away and pardon the sin of Judah, blessing her for forty years. Then he shall withdraw those blessings and for the overspreading of abominations shall desolate the city Dan 9:27 allowing it to fall and driving the people out Ezek 4:13. Forcing them to eat any unclean thing to stay alive Ezek 4:9-17. This unclean food IS NOT necessarily eaten by the people during the siege. but IT IS eaten after the siege when the people are taken captive Ezek 4:13. Ezekiel is required to eat like this during his demonstration, to show the people what will hapen when the siege is over.

This prophecy shows Judah being besieged and surrounded by enemies but pardoned, blessed and protected by God for forty years, after which He must correct them for their overspreading sin.

For years now, church leaders have focused on various difficulties and disasters, claiming that the Anglo Saxon and Jewish peoples were under a curse for their disobedience of God. This has earned them a reputation as doomsayers, for anyone with eyes to see, knows that these people, despite occasional setbacks, have been the recipients of the greatest blessings from God in the history of any peoples on earth. Since the early 1800's for the ten tribes and since 1967 for Judah, God has poured out unimaginable blessings on our peoples, making us the richest people in history. In return, we have squandered those blessings, polluting our land, often even denying the very existence of the God who gave those blessings and breaking His commandments. We blaspheme continually, profane the sabbath, pollute our bodies and murder our children. We squander the bounty we have been given and then go to war to steal the possessions of others. And then we say; look at the great nation that we have built. Yes God has kept His promises to Abraham and blessed us in spite of our sins, but we are now a rotten fruit, ready to fall from the tree. Our fall is at hand, our correction is imminent, our blessings will shortly be withdrawn. God will no longer bear our sins or put up with our wickedness. The incredible blessing of the daily sacrifice, the enduring of our sins by Christ will soon stop and we shall face the consequences of our conduct.

This year is the fortieth anniversary of the taking of Jerusalem by Judah. After the June war the UN met to pass a chapter seven resolution demanding their immediate withdrawal, the US was moved to intervene exercising it's veto power and the resolution was considerably watered down, stating that Judah should withdraw when a peace agreement had been achieved. The so called; land for peace proposition. This fall will mark forty years since the Jewish state came under this kind of protection. Will the abomination be set up and the daily stopped in the near future?

THE DAILY SACRIFICE

The daily sacrifice was offered each evening and morning and demonstrates Christ working twenty four hours a day, bearing the sins of the WHOLE NATION, thereby creating the conditions to allow for God's blessings on them. As Israel and Judah were in continual rebellion, this bearing of sin was eventually halted and those nations were punished with removal from the land and captivity. In these latter days Christ again began to pardon, bearing the sins of Israel and Judah. Not because of any covenant He had with them but because of His promises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses. God keeps His word and He has kept His promises to bless the descendants of Abraham and Isaac, in spite of their sins. He will also KEEP HIS PROMISE TO CORRECT THEM.

IN CONCLUSION: Like ALL sacrifices the CONTINUAL DAILY BURNT OFFERING was a physical ritual reflecting a SPIRITUAL REALITY. As individual sacrifices pictured Jesus Christ's ATONEMENT for REPENTANT SINNERS, the daily sacrifice pictured the work of Christ on behalf of the WHOLE NATION. As INDIVIDUAL SACRIFICES picture Christ bearing an individual's sins, the DAILY, pictures Him bearing the sins of the WHOLE NATION.

The daily bearing of sins will be stopped, ending the spiritual daily sacrifice Dan 9:27, thus removing the restraints placed upon the mystery of iniquity 2 Thes 2:7-8 and allowing the abomination to be set up Dan 12:11. This abomination will call for a new order in Europe Rev 13:11-14 which will give rise to the beast emperor, who will make war and occupy Jerusalem for forty two months Rev 13:5.