Page 61 - Heavenly Signs by Mel Gable

59

Israel’s day of doom - Ezekiel 7:1–27
The time has come for God’s judgment on Israel (7:2-3). She is to be punished for her idolatries and disgusting practices
(7:4). The day of doom approaches, when revelries will be plunged into chaos (7:6-7). Just as a rod grows buds, so Israel’s pride
has developed; her violence has become full-fledged wickedness (7:10-11).

God’s weapons of judgment will be war, famine and plague (7:15). Those who escape will go into mourning (7:18); their
money will be useless (7:19) and the women’s ornaments will be snatched by strangers (7:20). God will even allow pagan
invaders to trample his holy temple (7:22). Prophet, priest and king will all fall silent in the face of the disaster that God will
80
bring upon them (7:25–27).

Daniel tells us that this is a time where many will be purged and refined. He also states those who have insight
will understand that this event relates to God’s judgment. But, none of the wicked will understand and that the
wicked will continue to act wickedly. It is perhaps due to the fact that this fourth judgment seems to affect only
the heavens and not the earth.

Daniel 12:10 “Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of
the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand.”
81
Daniel describing the End-Times in Daniel 12 makes the same statement of “purified and refined.” The Prophet
Zechariah describes the reason why this refinement must occur and as well as the scattering of His sheep. Who
are His scattered sheep and when did this occur?

Zechariah 13:7 “Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd,

And against the man, My Associate,”
Declares the LORD of hosts.
“Strike the Shepherd that the sheep may be scattered;
And I will turn My hand against the little ones.”
82

We know that the shepherd is Christ. Christ quotes this scripture during the Last Supper or Lord’s Supper.

Mark 14:27 “And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, because it is written, I WILL STRIKE DOWN
THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP SHALL BE SCATTERED.”
83
It was the Jewish people who crucified Christ on the cross using the Roman law and Roman soldiers to do the
deed. God’s sheep that have been scattered are the people of Israel. They didn’t accept Christ as the Messiah.
Although Old Testament prophecy in Micah 5:2 and Isaiah 9:6, disclose Christ would be born in Bethlehem and
be a ruler over Israel. John in his vision in Revelation makes the statement that the woman, which is Israel, has a
place prepared by God during the End Times.

Revelation 12:6 “Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so
that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.”
84

80 Knowles, A. (2001). The Bible guide (1st Augsburg books ed.) (326). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg.

81 New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Da 12:10). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

82 New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Zec 13:7). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

83 New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Mk 14:27). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

84 New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Re 12:6). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.