Athey Creek: Audio Podcast

As the Jews are on the brink of being scattered worldwide, Ezekiel gives a prophecy concerning the future time when they would be regathered in the land and then joined to Jesus during the coming Millennial Kingdom. As we see the dry bones connect and the branches graft together in Ezekiel 37, we see Israel coming to life again in prophecy already fulfilled and still to happen.

As humans, we can find an awful lot of ways to really mess up our lives - yet there is hope of restoration for even the most broken person. As we study how God will restore the Jews in Ezekiel 36:16-38, we see how He also wants to do the same for us and how we can experience this.

The word of warning for the people to repent is the same alarm we should sound today. As we study Ezekiel 33-36:15, we learn how we can equip ourselves to be these warning watchmen by following good shepherds, listening to God's Word, and doing what it says.

While they had the external appearance of listening, the people in Ezekiel 33:31 were actually ignoring the Word of God and not heeding what it said at all. Unfortunately, many people today suffer from the same hearing but not doing problem, and we must recognize why this is dangerous and what we can do to remedy it.

It is now Egypt’s turn to hear about their impending judgement and, since Egypt is a picture of the world in the Bible, it is especially important that we take note. As we learn what will happen Egypt and why in Ezekiel 28:20-32:32 may we willingly humble ourselves and turn to God for salavation before it is too late.

Ezekiel 28:1-19 gives an account of Satan, and it is nothing like the misinformed cartoonish or even grotesque images we typically see portrayed in pop culture. As we break down this description, we see Satan for who he actually is, what he has done and is doing now, and what will ultimately become of him in the Last Days.

Ezekiel was not only called to prophesy about the dreadful fate of Israel but also to declare what would happen to the surrounding nations because of their behavior. As he continues to speak the Word of the Lord through prophecies and dramatic illustrations in Ezekiel 24-27, we also see him faced with what may be his most difficult object lesson yet.

Ezekiel 26 briefly turns aside from describing the coming destruction of Jerusalem to focus on the destruction of Tyre and the prophetic details surrounding their downfall. As we examine this prophecy, we see how it was perfectly fulfilled throughout history - once again proving the Bible is God’s perfect, inspired, and inerrant Word.

Of all the people who should have known better to not mess around with sin, it should have been the Israelites. As we read about their horrific sinful behavior and coming judgment in Ezekie

As they sat on the brink of severe punishment, God sought someone to “stand in the gap” for Israel that He might not destroy them – but He found no one. As we study Ezekiel 22:23-31, we see what God was looking for, examples of people who filled this role elsewhere in the Bible, learn how we can be those who intercede, and what will manifest in our lives if we do so.

The people of Israel have vacillated between following God and their pagan idols since they departed Egypt, and God has finally given them over to their sin and subsequent destruction. But as we study their course in Ezekiel 19-20, we learn that God’s ultimate plan is always to bring redemption and that He is merciful even to the worst sinners.

After being scattered worldwide, the Jews are now regathering in Israel – just like the Lord promised in Ezekiel 20:23, 33-37. As we study how this prophecy has been fulfilled, is currently being fulfilled, and will be fulfilled in the future, we see why it is so important and how it figures into the End Times.

Ezekiel shares a parable and refutes a proverb in Ezekiel 17-18 to show the people in Jerusalem what will happen with the coming Babylonians and why they will be held accountable for their own sins. As we study how he implores them to instead turn from their sin and live, we gather insight into repentance, righteousness through Jesus Christ, and restoration.

Tapping into one of the major themes of the Bible, Ezekiel 18:30-32 implores the people of Jerusalem to repent – that is turn away from their sins - so that they may live and not fall into ruin. As we look into the topic of repentance, we see what it means to cast away our sin and what it should look like in our lives when we do.

Ezekiel 14-16 paints a grim picture of how despite being given every opportunity to be blessed by God, the Jews reject Him in favor of idolatry and set themselves up to incur His wrath. As we study, may we learn from their example and instead be those who humble ourselves, repent from our sins and turn to God for our salvation.

Throughout Scripture we see the Lord using imagery of a vine to typify His relationship with His people. Ezekiel 15 contains one of these instances and as we study, we learn why this illustration is so powerful, what it means for us today and what our lives should look like as a result.

Ezekiel was speaking the Word of the Lord and yet the people chose to straight-up ignore him, listen to false prophets instead, or scoff at what he was saying. As we study Ezekiel 12-13, may we be those who heed the Word and take prophecy seriously - especially in the days we live.

Ezekiel receives a vision in Ezekiel 8-11 concerning the judgment that has come upon the people for rejecting God and continually living in sin. Yet even as we watch God’s glory depart in what is perhaps one of the most gut-wrenching passages in the Bible, we see how God will never truly forsake His people and that He has a plan for their future still.

God gives Ezekiel a glimpse inside the minds of the leading elders in Ezekiel 8:7-12, and the thoughts he sees in their heads are nothing short of abominable. And we cannot claim that our thoughts are any better today. However, we can arm ourselves with tools that will help us combat our wicked thoughts and steer our minds to how God would have us to think.

God gave Ezekiel some very specific – and somewhat questionable – scenarios to show the people what they could expect to happen as the Babylonians closed in, as they are killed or carted off into captivity, and then what would become of them after these things. As we look at these object lessons in Ezekiel 4-7, we see God’s desire for repentance, the certainty of His wrath, and most importantly, His grace and mercy in offering salvation to all who will call upon the name of Jesus.