(7) Ezekiel 24-48

Ezekiel is perhaps one of the most complete prophetic outlines, since it covers almost every point of the summary.

The first 23 chapters contain God's testimonies against the Jews in general for their sin and idolatry. Chapters 22 and 23 summarize, in a complete way, the situation of total corruption in which they found themselves before God; both their prophets and their priests, king, princes and people. As a consequence, in chapter 24 God brought judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem through the armies of Nebuchadnezzar that came down from the north, and destroyed the city and burned the temple. In chapters 25 to 28 his armies spread through the countries around Israel, plundering them as well. Ammon, Moab, Edom, the Philistines, Tyre and Sidon, all shared the same judgment as Nebuchadnezzar invaded the land. And in chapters 29 and 30 he went on to Egypt and destroyed them, as well as their allies. Although, I repeat, all these battles had their historical fulfillment in the time of Nebuchadnezzar, they were recorded in the Scriptures by virtue of their value as a type. Chapters 24 to 30, therefore, are another prefiguration of the military campaigns of the King of the North cited in point No. 2.

Chapter 31 shows the judgment of the Assyrians, if not in a complete way, at least in their first attack. This would be point No. 5.

Chapter 32 is a lamentation for all those who reached such a point and who will fall in battle. Judgment is a work strange to God (Isa. 28:17). He takes no pleasure in it; on the contrary, He laments that it has to be done.

Chapters 33 to 37 show the restoration of Israel and their reestablishment in the land. A remnant of Jews in Israel will heed God's warnings (33:1-20), and will be spared -- typified in the one who escapes from Jerusalem when it is struck (Ezek. 33:21-29). The shepherds of Israel (the false leaders of the evil government of the Antichrist established in the land) will be removed and replaced by the true Shepherd of Israel -- Christ (Ezek. 34). Chapter 36 contains the Lord's promise to restore the land after its desolation (vv. 1-20), and to restore the people to it (vv. 21-38). The ten tribes are then seen as being revived, returning to their own land and uniting with the two tribes (Jews) under the reign of Christ (Ezek. 37). Chapters 33 to 37, therefore, describe the interval between the destruction of the King of the North and of Russia.

Chapters 38 and 39 present the attack of Gog (Russia) on the newly regathered tribes of Israel. This is point No. 6.

Chapter 39:9,10 refers to Israel plundering its enemies. This is point No. 7.

In chapters 40 to 48 the Millennium begins with the building of the temple and the division of the land of Israel among the twelve tribes.

The judgment of Babylon (figuratively the judgment of the West) is not mentioned in Ezekiel. Its absence is notable. The obvious reason is that Ezekiel was a captive in Babylon and it was not for him, who had to submit to the captivity (Jer. 29), to speak against the governmental powers that were invested with authority. Thus, Ezekiel remained silent regarding the judgment of Babylon. Daniel in Babylon also did not refer to its judgment (except in a veiled way) until the exact night when it was judged (Dan. 5).