relationships (Ezekiel 9:1-11) The Faithful Relationship That Guarantees

(Ezekiel 9:1-11)  

Then He cried out in my presence with a loud voice, saying, “Come forward, you executioners of the city, each with his weapon of destruction in his hand.” 2 And behold, six men came from the direction of the upper gate which faces north, each with his smashing weapon in his hand; and among them was one man clothed in linen with a scribe’s kit at his waist. And they came in and stood beside the bronze altar.

3 Then the glory of the God of Israel ascended from the cherub on which it had been, to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed in linen at whose waist was the scribe’s kit. 4 And the Lord said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and make a mark on the foreheads of the people who groan and sigh over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst.” 5 But to the others He said in my presence, “Go through the city after him and strike; do not let your eye have pity and do not spare. 6 Utterly kill old men, young men, female virgins, little children, and women, but do not touch any person on whom is the mark; and you shall start from My sanctuary.” So they started with the elders who were before the temple. 7 He also said to them, “Defile the temple and fill the courtyards with the dead. Go out!” So they went out and struck and killed the people in the city. 8 And as they were striking the people and I alone was left, I fell on my face and cried out, saying, “Oh, Lord God! Are You going to destroy the entire remnant of Israel by pouring out Your wrath on Jerusalem?”

9 Then He said to me, “The guilt of the house of Israel and Judah is very, very great, and the land is filled with blood, and the city is full of perversion; for they say, ‘The Lord has abandoned the land, and the Lord does not see!’ 10 But as for Me, My eye will have no pity nor will I spare, but I will bring their conduct upon their heads.”

11 Then behold, the man clothed in linen, at whose waist was the scribe’s kit, reported, saying, “I have done just as You have commanded me.”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Here is a prophesy of what will happen during the Tribulation.  A remnant of Israel (144,000 Jews) will be sealed so that the nation is guaranteed to have all twelve tribes represented when entering the millennial kingdom in order to fulfill all their covenants with the Lord.  There will be more people and Israelites becoming believers during that time, but these 144,000 will not only be guaranteed to make it through, they will be helping to spread the gospel message during that time.

Just as the Lord spared the lives of the Israelites during the Passover, which required their obedient faith in putting the lamb's blood on their doorframes, obedient faith in the Lord will be required to survive the Tribulation.  And the Jews will see the signs of Jesus' second coming (the judgements of  the Tribulation), and as a nation, will see and believe that Jesus was and is their Messiah!

God desires that all come to know Him.  No one can work their way into heaven.  Our salvation only requires us to humbly repent of our sins and ask the Lord Jesus into our hearts and have a personal relationship with Him.  When we put our faith in the Lamb of God, His blood covers us.  At the same time, as a Christ-follower, we receive several guarantees:  

We are able to live "in obedience", because we are sealed with the Holy Spirit, and we are covered by the Lord's righteousness, forever.  

We are spared from God's wrath to come (the Tribulation) because of His promises in scripture like:  1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, and 2 Thessalonians 2.  

We are also spared God's wrath at the White Throne Judgment, which is judgment for sins committed, because He has forgiven us of all sins, past, present and future, and chooses to not remember them.  Therefore, at the Bema Seat, we will only be judged and rewarded for our good deeds done in His righteousness.  

As well, we are guaranteed eternal life with Him in heaven, because, as our faithful and perfect heavenly Father, He will never disown His children!

(John 10:27-30)  My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

(Romans 8:35-39) Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or trouble, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 Just as it is written:  

     “For Your sake we are killed all day long;
     We were regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.