Ezekiel 36: A Bible Commentary By Charles R. Sabo

Ezekiel:?A Bible Commentary

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???????????????????????????????????????? ???Chapter 36

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The first seven verses of chapter 36 consist of a declaration to the mountains of Israel, reminding them of their enduring the evil pagan practices of the heathen, who took the vacant land that wasn’t theirs to take. Chapter 35 announced the judgment of the heathen who have always sought out God’s people to destroy them. After the review of the judgment against the heathen, the Lord proclaimed the restoration of the land surrounding Jerusalem in 36:8-15. The Lord then proclaimed why Israel was removed from their land within 36:17-19, and that they profaned God’s Holy name while scattered in the world over the eighteen-hundred years away from the land in 36:20-21. In 36:22, the Lord declared that the things that He will accomplish in the land of Israel upon His return will be to glorify His own Holy name, which Israel did profane from their unbelief in their Messiah.

The Lord had Ezekiel preach the New Covenant over Israel (36:25-28), when He will return and pour out His Spirit of grace upon them (Zech. 12:10). They will see their Messiah (Jesus Christ) rescue them from their attackers (see commentary 35:4), and mourn for Him. The cleansing of Israel’s iniquities will be completed, and they will be given their inheritance of the land and have Gentiles serve under them. The world will be supernaturally changed over a thirty-day preparation period (Dan. 12:11) for the Millennial Kingdom (36:34-38).

Ezekiel 36:1 Also, you son of man, prophesy unto the mountains of Israel, and say, “You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord:” After the focus in chapter 35 on Mount Seir, the Lord turns Ezekiel towards the mountains of Israel to prophesy unto ('ēl) them. As we read further in this chapter, the Lord has brought a prophecy of the future blessings upon the land, when He will bring Israel back to the land of Israel. From what is said in 36:15, this was not towards the land after the first destruction of Judah and Jerusalem, but the second one in A.D. 70.

?Ezekiel 36:2 Thus says the Lord God; “Because the enemy has said against you, Aha, even the ancient high places are ours in possession:” From what was accused of the people of Mount Seir from their entire history, the Lord had made additional accusations within 36:2-3 towards them. This presents the first half of the reason (because) for the Lord’s declaration within 36:8-15 that will bless the entire land (with the mountains) of Israel. You will notice that the mountains were to listen, meanwhile he addressed the mountains, hills, streams and valleys.

?Though the “high places” were on a mountain (or hilltop) crowned with an altar, one or two standing stones, a wooden pillar, as well as a clump of evergreen trees (Jer. 3:2-9), the valleys and streams were also used.

?5 Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clefts of the rocks?

6 Among the smooth stones of the stream is your portion; they, they are your lot: even to them have you poured a drink offering, you have offered a meat offering. Should I receive comfort in these? (Is. 57:5-6)

The Lord God knew their hearts, but also heard their words, as the enemies of Israel lusted for the vacant mountains of Israel with all of its ancient high places.

Ezekiel 36:3 Therefore prophesy and say, “Thus says the Lord God; ‘Because they have made you desolate, and swallowed you up on every side, that you might be a possession unto the residue of the heathen, and you are taken up in the lips of talkers, and are an infamy of the people:’” The accusation continues here (36:2-3). The pronoun “they” refers back to “the enemies” from the previous verse. From what had already been addressed within chapter 35, the enemies have been consistently from Mount Seir over the past 3+ millenniums. These enemies partook in making the land of Israel desolate over two separate destructions of Judah (Judea) and Jerusalem (see commentary 35:4-5). They rode into Jerusalem in 606 B.C., 598 B.C., 587 B.C. with Babylon (2 Kgs. 24:2), and the A.D. 70 Idumeans with the Romans. Their goal was to make the mountains of Israel to be a possession unto the leftover residue of heathen of that surrounding area (swallowed you up on every side). That may not have been the ultimate goal for the Babylonians (nor the Romans), but these heathen had their own one-track mind, which was free worship of their idols in the high places of Israel. The lips of these heathen (talkers) took up the mountains of Israel with their own words, while they spoke infamy (diba = defamation) of the people of Israel.

Ezekiel 36:4 Therefore, you mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God; “Thus says the Lord God to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, to the desolate wastes, and to the cities that are forsaken, which became a prey and derision to the residue of the heathen that are round about;” The Lord God continued to address the mountains of Israel, along with the hills, rivers, valleys, desolate wastes (burned down cities), and the cities left forsaken (forgotten = vacant); they had become prey (baz = spoils) and derision (la?a? = mocking) to the heathen that surrounded the land of Israel. The Arameans (later known as Syrians), Lebanese, Philistines, Egyptians, Arabians, Mount Seir, Ammonites and Moabites (now Jordanians), are all being referred to as the heathen that were round about. The word of the Lord is then spoken within 36:5-7, as the Lord reviewed what He had already declared in judgment to be done to Mount Seir (land of Idumea) within chapter 35; these heathen, spoken of here, may be included in that military marching through the land of Idumea within the future day of the Lord (see commentary 35:4). ?The actual promise to the mountains (land) of Israel begins within 36:8 on through 36:15 of his coming blessings.

Ezekiel 36:5 Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the heathen, and against all Idumea, which have appointed my land into their possession with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey (spoil).” The Lord reminded the mountains of Israel that He had already declared the judgment. This judgment is to come upon the residue (remnant) of heathen, which included all of the land of Idumea (Ezek. 35:2-9). Notice that the Lord God had declared that He spoke in the fire of His jealousy…hint hint…He will burn them for eternity in His lake of fire-burning pitch and brimstone (see commentary 35:4). His jealousy is felt concerning the attack of His adversaries against His children of Israel, as a Father feels for His children. They had been attacking Israel continuously over the previous 3+ millenniums, in order to take God’s land away from His children (Israel); they had joy in their hearts every time they were victorious over Israel throughout history, so that they could take spoils of the land and claim it for their own possession. Despiteful = ??'ā? = contemptuous.

Ezekiel 36:6 Prophesy therefore concerning the land of Israel, and say unto the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, Thus says the Lord God; “Behold, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my fury, because you have borne the shame of the heathen:” The translators chose an inaccurate interpretation of the Hebrew verb “nā?ā',” which is to be interpreted in a Qal perfect form. The land of Israel did not give birth to the shame of the heathen, because the heathen had shamed themselves already in their own land. The proper Qal definition for the Hebrew Qal verb “nā?ā'” should be “endured.” The mountains of Israel, and the hills, rivers, and valleys were being addressed by the Lord God in jealousy and fury, because they had endured the shame of the heathen. We must remember that the Lord was not cursing the land of Israel, but declaring a prophecy of blessings.

The shame of the heathen has been declared within the previous verse (have appointed my land into their possession with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey (spoil). They have coveted the land of Israel for nearly three and one-half millenniums, and jumped at their desires with violence against Israel.

Ezekiel 36:7 Therefore, thus says the Lord?God: “I have lifted up my hand, surely the heathen that are about you, they shall bear their shame.” The bearing of their shame is yet in the future, as we have found within 35:2-9, when the Lord will destroy an uncountable number of military advancing through the land of Idumea; their blood will melt the mountains of Seir, which will create a lake of blood; this blood will turn to pitch, while the dust of their past dead will become the brimstone (heat incubator) for the fire burning pitch. Their blood will become the burning pitch that will remain as the lake of fire for all of eternity.

I have heard a rumor from the Lord, and an ambassador is sent unto the heathen, saying, Gather you together, and come against her, and rise up to the battle. (Jer. 49:14)?

With what is being proclaimed here, we can conclude that the remaining heathen round about the land of Israel, will all advance southward through the mountains of Seir into Bozrah in the land of Idumea of modern-day Jordan (see commentary on 35:4). This will be the recompense (repayment in judgment) for their wickedness in desiring the death of the people of Israel. “As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbor cities thereof, says the Lord, no man shall abide there, neither shall a son of man dwell in it.” (Jer. 49:18)

Ezekiel 36:8 But you, Oh Mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel; for they are at hand to come. This is not the chronology of the events being disclosed, but the insertion of the reasoning already discussed within chapter 35. This destruction of Mount Seir is not to occur until the last day of the Seventieth Week of Daniel 9:24-27. After spending verses 36:2-7 condemning the heathen for their evil that they have done to Israel and their land, the Lord God then began to focus on the rebirth of the strength of the land of Israel. The land lost its strength back in the last years before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. It had been weak for over eighteen hundred years, which was about forty years before God manifested the rebirth of the nation called Israel (May 14, 1948). Chapter 36:1 began by God commanding Ezekiel to prophesy to the mountains of Israel, then spent six verses speaking of the judgment against the heathen that had been attempting to occupy the land of Israel after each time Israel had been scattered. Verse 36:8 then begins the prophecy of the return of the remnant of Israel, who had been scattered throughout the world.

The Lord first promised to the mountains, that they will shoot forth branches, which means that the strength of the mountains will return, and will begin to grow trees, which will shoot forth branches. As the trees grow their branches, for the first time in over eighteen hundred years, they would yield fruit; this fruit was (is) to be consumed by the returning remnant of Israel coming back to the land to be that reborn nation. (yield your fruit to my people of Israel; for they are at hand to come.) After twenty-four hundred years, this prophecy had been fulfilled.

Ezekiel 36:9 For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn unto you, and you shall be tilled and sown: This verse is still addressing the mountains and hills, but also all the land was to be strengthened to be tilled and sown for growing food for the people of Israel. Below is a photo representing the land during the weakened eighteen hundred years, which was taken before 1899 A.D on the shore of the Sea of Galilee in Israel.

The wisdom of the Lord God manifested the strengthening of the land during the beginning of the twentieth century A.D., which strengthened more and more as Israel began to return to their land. Below is a photo taken of the shores of the Sea of Galilee after 1950, with Israel as a new nation. ?

????? Ezekiel 36:10 And I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, even all of it: and the cities shall be inhabited, and the wastes shall be built: Pictures tell the story, as the people had heard of the homeland strengthening and other Jews returning, more and more migrated back to the land of Israel.

? ??The cities shall be inhabited, and the wastes shall be built.

???????Ezekiel 36:11 And I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bring fruit: and I will settle you after your old estates, and will do better unto you than at your beginnings: and you shall know that I am the Lord. The fruit of man and beast can best be explained in a spiritual sense, as the beasts will provide fruitful food resources, while men will be fruitful and multiply, while fruitfully laboring in their economic growth.

The promise that the Lord God had made within this verse is partially fulfilled, while the population, estate construction, and economic growth is still on the up rise, even in the modern day. This promise will continue to occur even after the Second Coming of Jesus the Messiah, and on into the Millennial Kingdom of Christ (will do better unto you than at your beginnings). While the world recognizes this transformation within the land of Israel, they shall know that it was the Lord who proclaimed it, and is being fulfilled before their eyes.

Ezekiel 36:12 Yea, I will cause men to walk upon you, even my people Israel; and they shall possess you, and you shall be their inheritance, and you shall no more henceforth bereave them of men. During this time in history, as well as in the current day, the migration of Israel continues. From only hundreds of Jews in the land before the twentieth century, to as many as 6.5 million Jews in the land of the current day, which is 30% of the world population of Israel (60% in the USA). The Lord declared to the mountains of Israel that they will be an inheritance to His remnant of people and will possess, while not being removed by men anymore. The Hebrew verb “?ā?ōl” was translated as “bereave,” which should be understood to mean “make childless.” The land was so weak and brutal to its inhabitants for over eighteen hundred years, which chased people from this deserted wasteland. The Lord has promised the land and mountains of Israel to never do this to her again.

Ezekiel 36:13 Thus says the Lord God: “Because they say unto you, you land devoured up men, and have bereaved your nations:” This quote, declared by the Lord, is an incomplete sentence and should have a comma (,) instead of a colon (:) at the end of this verse. This is the reason for the promise made in the following verse, which is connected to this, makes it a complete sentence. The Lord used the pronoun “they” without any reference to a noun, as the world commonly does when someone declares “they say.” We must conclude this pronoun “they” to be those that had been chased from the land, because of its harsh desert-like conditions. The ones who had not been devoured by the land (over the past eighteen hundred years) most likely removed themselves from the land, therefore the land succeeded in bereaving (making childless) itself of people of other nations.

Ezekiel 36:14 Therefore you shall devour men no more, neither bereave your nations anymore, says the Lord God. Though the Muslim world will not admit it, since Israel has been back in their land, the strength of the land of the surrounding nations has improved greatly as well. This verse is the completion of the incomplete statement in the previous verse. Verse 36:13 quoted a declaration by the Lord God by opening up with a condition that was the reason for what He had stated here in this verse.

The reputation of the desolate Holy Land was that it devoured up men, and caused a bereaving of the nations around it. Because it had been accomplished for over eighteen hundred years, the Lord had declared that the Holy Land will be strengthened and no longer devour men, nor chase away (bereave) the nations. This was all declared, so that the land would be strengthened in preparation for the return of the house of Israel (Jacob).

Ezekiel 36:15 Neither will I cause men to hear in you the shame of the heathen any more, neither shall you bear the reproach of the people any more, neither shall you cause your nations to fall any more, says the Lord God. This promise, to the land of Israel from the Lord God, has not yet been fulfilled. Even with the return of Israel into the land, and the strengthening of the land complete, there is still the shame of the heathen being heard in the land of Israel. It will not be as this promise declares, until Messiah Jesus returns and sits on His throne in Jerusalem; only then will the shame of the heathen (36:6) be removed completely from the land (Zech. 14:16-21).

As in 36:6, the contextually correct Qal definition for the Hebrew Qal imperfect verb “nā?ā'” should be “endure, and not “bear.” The land cannot bear the reproach of the people, but endure it. God promised that the land would never endure the reproach of the people anymore; this has not happened as of yet until Messiah Jesus returns and sits on His throne in Jerusalem.

The nations. Including Israel, were devoured by famines for over eighteen hundred years (between 30 A.D. and 1900 A.D.), when the land had lost its strength to grow food, and support livestock (Deut. 28:15-19, 38-40; Joel 1:17-18). The land of Israel is now fully strengthened and does support life, and never will devour the people anymore; this has been fulfilled, and will never will be unstrengthen by the Lord God anymore (36:13-14). (cause your nations to fall anymore)

Ezekiel 36:16 Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, The English translators have mistranslated the Hebrew verb “hāya” as a Qal perfect verb, when the manuscript is actually inflected as a Qal imperfect verb; this should be an ongoing action, which would be a continuation of God’s word immediately after verse 36:15. The conjunction “moreover” was added to this, when it was not called for in the original manuscript; wrongfully using the past perfect tense insinuates this came anywhere from immediately after 36:15, to as many as sixteen years later! The proper translation of this verse should say: “The word of the Lord continued unto me, saying,” which means that there was very little time elapsed between 36:15 and 36:16. As was disclosed in Ezekiel 33:21, this word of God came to Ezekiel in the twelfth year of the captivity of King Jehoiachin and Ezekiel at the Chebar River. It was the fifth day of the month of Tevet; this would be Tevet 5, 586 B.C.

Ezekiel 36:17 Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings: their way was before me as the uncleanness of a removed woman. This is true in both cases, between the pagans of Israel before the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem in 587 B.C., and the rejection of God’s Messiah and destruction of Judea and Jerusalem in 70 A.D. In the 70 A.D. defiling of their way and doing, it was described in Ezekiel 34, as well as Zechariah 11, as the shepherds lied to the flock of God (Israel). Their ways and doings put Jesus the Messiah on the Roman cross and killed His mortal body. The translators badly translated the Hebrew noun “nida” with “removed,” when the context calls for the other definition being “menstruous.” The unbelief in God in 587 B.C. carried the same weight of judgment as in 70 A.D. and their unbelief in their own Messiah. It was as an unclean thing, as a when a woman is menstruous. (Lev. 15:19-33)

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as menstration rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Is. 64:6)

?They have lived in their curse of Judgment (Is. 65:11-14), and have faced uncountable incidents of persecution and death through the last two millenniums. While the people of Israel have returned back to their land, the land has flourished along with the Jewish people living in Israel. The Lord has been preparing them for His Second Coming.

Ezekiel 36:18 Wherefore, I poured my fury upon them for the blood that they had shed upon the land, and for their idols wherewith they had polluted it: This is, basically, an explanation as to why the Lord had cursed the land of Israel and removed the people; He poured out His fury upon the people of Israel in the destructions of their land and cities (722 B.C, 587 B.C. 70 A.D.).

The Jews of the first century A.D. were not bowing down to idols, because they would have been stoned to death; they were, however, putting their wealth and power above God and His sent Messiah; this is still idolatry to God, because anything that is put higher than Him is an abomination unto Him (Matt. 22:37, Luke 10:27). Therefore, the pagan Israelites of 587 B.C. worshipped idols, as well as the scribes, Pharisees, and government magistrates of the first century A.D.

And the word of the?Lord?came unto me, saying, “Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?” (Ezek. 14:2-3)

We need to keep in mind that the words from the Lord (Ezek. 14:2-3) were spoken to Ezekiel from the Holy Spirit, therefore the elders of Israel could not hear Him. These words here in verse 14:2-3 were spoken to Ezekiel only.

The Lord knew the hearts of these men and what was important to them (idols), and then they approached Ezekiel with concerns, but were motivated by their own stumbling blocks. A stumbling block here refers to the things, other than the Lord, which were more important to them than the Lord. It could have been: their own life, their sons, their position within the community, their desire to get back to Jerusalem to get their own land back, etc. Whatever it was, if it had more importance than God and His kingdom, it was an idol and a stumbling block leading to their own iniquity. (for their idols wherewith they had polluted it) The idolatry and murder were committed on the land and polluted it in the eyes of the Lord God. ?

You eat the fat, and you clothe yourselves with the wool, you kill them that are fed: but you feed not the flock. (Ezek. 34:3)

?The Lord Jesus scolded these shepherds of Israel in person, yet they still moved towards their destruction after being warned. They lived the high life full of fat of riches and clothed in wool; they loved to be called Rabbi Rabbi, sit in the uppermost rooms at feasts, and take the chief seats in the synagogues (Matt. 23:5-7). They fed themselves the word of God, yet they did not feed the Lord’s flock. (the blood that they had shed upon the land)

Ezekiel 36:19 And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them. The Lord scattered the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 B.C. by the Assyrians (2 Kgs. 18:9-11), scattered Judah and Jerusalem by the Babylonians in Av 9 587 B.C. (2 Kgs. 25:8-11), and scattered of Judea and Jerusalem by the Romans on Av 9, 70 A.D.

The scattering (dispersed through the countries) of Israel in 70 A.D. went on for over eighteen hundred years; at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem, the people had been guilty of rejecting their Messiah, and had suffered God’s judgment over the entire time that have been scattered; this curse of Isaiah 65:11-14 is still ongoing. Though God defends the land of Israel for His people of the twenty-first century, they still face the same persecution worldwide until the return of Jesus the Messiah (34:28-29).

Ezekiel 36:20 And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the?Lord, and are gone forth out of his land. The Lord God is not pleased about their false witness to the nations of the world over the past eighteen hundred years, because if their God was happy with them, they would not be scattered and persecuted. They have denied their Messiah in front of the whole world, which is a bad witness of Messiah. God’s Holy name is important to Him for the purpose of drawing people to Him. The scattered unbelieving house of Israel is a bad witness of God’s Holy name and His words; When the Messiah is denied to the world by His own people, and they call themselves the people of the Lord, His Holy name is profaned by them.

Ezekiel 36:21?But I had pity for my holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, wherever they went. The Lord is serious about His Holy name, because that Holy name is what God uses to draw new believers to Him. If it is profaned, then a person would not be able to trust His words; His Holy name is His reputation, by which all know how good and bad reputations work among the people of the Earth. ?

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that takes His name in vain. (Ex. 20:6)

Neither shall you profane?my?Holy?name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the?Lord?which hallows you, (Lev. 22:32)??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Jesus the Messiah had ministered to the masses on the Sermon of the Mount with evangelism depending on the good works of His disciples, in order to glorify the name of God our Father. Evangelism of God’s word depends totally upon the goodness and holiness of God’s reputation, which then is correlated with His Holy name.

13?You are the salt of the Earth, but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

14?You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

15?Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it gives light unto all that are in the house.

16?Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matt: 5:13-16)

???????????From what has been disclosed within 36:20-21, wherever Israel was while scattered among the nations, they profaned His Holy name by denying His Son, who is Messiah Jesus. The people in the world had heard of the Jews continuous persecution over the past eighteen hundred years, all while they worshipped the God of Jacob (Israel). The confusing thing, to these people in the world, is why would God’s people of Israel deny His Messiah? Would that not make Him angry? Is Jesus really the Messiah, if His people deny Him? These questions have been asked for nearly two Millenniums, all while God’s Holy name is profaned by Israel (wherever they went). In spite of the false witness of Israel, the New Covenant called Christianity still manifests.

Ezekiel 36:22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, thus says the Lord God: “I do not this for your sakes, Oh house of Israel, but for my Holy name's sake, which you have profaned among the heathen, wherever you went. The Lord God stated here that the miracle of the strengthening of the land of Israel, and the drawing back of the people of Israel to the land, is being done for His own Holy name’s sake. They feel blessed by the Lord God for bringing them back to their land, but they still are not right with Him, because they still profane His Holy name among the heathen. In the current age, 70% of the house of Israel are still scattered around the world, while 60% are living comfortably in the United States, with a majority of them still denying His Messiah and profaning His Holy name among the heathen because of that reason.

Ezekiel 36:23 And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which you have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, says the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. The translators chose the English verb “sanctify” for the Hebrew Piel perfect verb “qā?a?.” The choice of “sanctified” is adequate, but not exactly what Ezekiel had written. The definition for “sanctified” is: “to set apart.” In the Piel perfect definition is: “to set apart as sacred, to observe as holy,” which would be much more specific. This first sentence should start by saying: “And I will sanctify my great name as sacred.”

The Lord has set His name apart as sacred among His Christians throughout the world. Christians lift up God’s Holy name as sacred, and spread the good news of salvation to the heathen of the world; the first declaration by the Lord God is still occurring in the world in the twenty-first century, in spite of the profaning of His Holy name by non-believing Israel. (which you have profaned in the midst of them) The second sentence has yet to be fulfilled, because the Lord has yet to sanctify His great name in Israel, because they still deny His Messiah (Son). When Jesus the Messiah comes back, He will deliver them from the attack of their long-time enemies. (see commentary in 35:2-9). When they are rescued by Jesus the Messiah, with His vesture dipped in blood (Is. 63:1-6), they will mourn for Him as one mourns for a first-born Son (Zech. 12:10). The saved remnant of Israel will sanctify Jesus the Messiah’s name as sacred, as a good witness to those still left alive on Earth. (when I shall be sanctified as Holy in you before their eyes)

And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God. (Zech. 13:9)

Ezekiel 36:24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. God prophesied this to reveal that after nearly two millenniums of denying their Messiah, He drew the people of Jacob back into their land, to glorify His Holy name. He has glorified His Holy name, yet Israel still denies their Messiah to the current day in the twenty-first century A.D. Yes, there has been a remnant of Israel, through the last two millenniums, that have not denied Jesus the Messiah; these are referred to as “messianic Jews.” God has always removed the blinders from the eyes of His remnant in time to be His witnesses, before they had passed on into history.

As I have researched online (easy to find), there are approximately 30% of the world's population of Jews now living in the land of Israel; the United States of America is collapsing, while holding onto approximately 60% of the world’s population of Jews; the other 10% are scattered through the rest of the world. Jews in the United States live very comfortably and financially within the USA, and find it less risky than moving back to the land of Israel; when the United States of America collapses as a country, then they may be motivated enough to cross the Earth over to the land awaiting them. (I will take you from among the heathen)

Ezekiel 36:25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. Here, we can read of the promise of delivering the Jews from their idolatry, which really is their prioritizing their material world over the Lord God of their father, Jacob. Putting material things above God is still idolatry in the eyes of the Lord. The Hebrew verb “zāraq” also means “throw, toss.” ?

And the word of the?Lord?came unto me, saying, “Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?” (Ezek. 14:2-3)?

The allegory, within this declaration from the Lord God, should be evaluated. Israel’s filthiness is still their idolatry, but it is within their hearts as their material desires and their own prosperity. When the Lord declared that He will sprinkle clean water upon Israel, He meant that He was going to sprinkle (throw, toss) His Holy Spirit upon them. We can refer to another prophecy by Zechariah, which does explain this with a few more details. Instead of “sprinkle,” the Hebrew verb “zāraq” also means “throw, toss.” The children of Jacob (Israel) will no longer be filthy in their iniquities, but forgiven and clean in the eyes of their Judge. ?

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. (Zech. 12:10)

The Holy Spirit, full of God’s grace, will pour out onto the house of Israel; they will have witnessed the Lord God riding in on His white stallion (Is. 63:1-8), with His vesture dipped in blood. They will mourn for Him, when they will have realized that they had put Him up on the cross two thousand years before. Their tears will be filled with joy and shame, when they will actually realize that the Lord picked them to be saved from His wrath. It will be the Holy Spirit of God, who will actually save them in their belief in Christ.

37?In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, “If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink.

38?He that believes on Me, as the Scripture has said, ‘out of His belly shall flow rivers of living water.’”

39?(But this spoke He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Spirit was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (Jn. 7:37-39)

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25?Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it;

26?That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (Eph. 5:25-26)

Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. I have used this verse uncountable times in evangelism and teachings, to account for the true sovereignty of God. People do not choose to be saved from God’s judgments, but He first chooses each person, by changing their heart. A person has never sought out God at any time, until He sought them out first; King David, then later the Apostle Paul, are quoted to have said: ?

2?The?Lord?looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

3?They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that does good, no, not one. (Ps. 14:2-3)

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10?As it is written, “There is none righteous, no, not one:

11?There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God.

12?They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that does good, no, not one.” (Rom. 3:10-12)

After the fall in the Garden of Eden, Adam and his wife ran from God (Gen. 3:8), which directly connects to the above two passages provided by the Lord God. Not one person has ever sought out the Lord God in their own fallen flesh. The Holy Spirit had always worked from outside of their stony hearts. The desires of the Old Testament Saints were based on their fears of God’s judgment, while they still did possess this stony heart. Their fears drove them towards God’s acceptance, but never really possessed a “heart of flesh;” this is spiritual allegory of a corrupted heart. This would be why Israel and the world has generally sought out other gods. No one is righteous, no not one, while there is none that does good. The prophets possessed God’s Holy Spirit; therefore, they felt Him within them, but did not have this “heart of flesh.”

When the Lord will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplications, He will turn their stony heart of unbelief into a heart of flesh that believes. God’s salvation of His New Covenant of grace is just that, it is a free gift from God. Once that stony heart has been supernaturally changed into that heart of flesh, a person seeks after God and trusts in Him. God supernaturally changes the person’s chooser, which is their heart. ?

13 In whom you also trusted, after that you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that you believed, you were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, (Eph. 1:13)

17 That the GOD of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. (Eph. 1:17)?

The desire to be saved is a good start, but that desire has never saved anyone, including the house of Israel. It took miracle after miracle to cause them to trust in the God while He brought them the supernatural. In the New Covenant, it is an actual “effectual call” from God the Father, who will send His Holy Spirit to supernaturally change Israel’s hearts. The remnant of Israel will all be called in a spontaneous moment, when they shall see Jesus their Messiah delivering them from their death. “No man can come to Me, except the Father which has sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (Jn. 6:44)

Ezekiel 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my judgments, and do them. It shall be God the Father, who shall give Israel His Holy Spirit to dwell within them; this is a well-known concept among Christians of the New Covenant, yet only a small remnant of Israel has been given God’s Spirit of His grace as of yet. In the event previously mentioned (35:4), Messiah Jesus will create the everlasting lake of fire with the blood of Israel’s attackers, who will be coming to kill them. When the Lord Jesus the Messiah arrives in their secret hiding place nearby, the Father will pour out His Spirit of grace upon the saved remnant and they will believe that Jesus is not only their Messiah, but also their God. ?

17 That the GOD of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. (Eph. 1:17)

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6 And I will tread down the people in My anger, and make them drunk in My fury, and I will bring down their strength to the Earth.

7 I will mention the loving kindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD has bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which He has bestowed on them according to His mercies, and according to the multitude of His loving kindnesses.

8 Because He said, “Surely they are My people, children that will not lie:” so He was their Savior. (Is. 63:6-8)

Once Father God’s Holy Spirit indwells a person, the person seeks out Him and desires to do the things to please Him, because all will appreciate His permanent blood sacrifice that He has accomplished for them. (and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my judgments, and do them)?

7?Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

8?So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

9?But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. (Rom. 8:7-9)

Ezekiel 36:28 And you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and you shall be my people, and I will be your God. With the events that I explained within Ezekiel 35:4 coming to pass, then after the pouring out of the Holy Spirit of God onto His saved remnant of Israel (Zech. 12:10), the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom of Christ would be soon to begin. After the events of Armageddon (Rev. 19:11-21), the Lord Jesus the Messiah will assign His immortal kings to their lands (Rev. 20:4), while He will sit upon His throne up on high in Jerusalem, He will assign each of His mortal remnant of Israel to their land that he had promised to them.

For the?Lord?will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob. (Is. 14:1)

?The borders of the land that was promised as Israel’s inheritance can be found in Joshua 13:7-33. These borders will be established by King Jesus the Lord God, when He will appoint the land to each tribe as He had specified through Joshua millenniums earlier.

And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God. (Zech. 13:9)

Ezekiel 36:29 I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you. From what we have already read within Ezekiel 36:6-10, the land was given its strength back near the beginning of the twentieth century A.D., while here the Lord implies even bigger blessing upon the land during His Millennial Kingdom. The saving from their uncleannesses will have already occurred, as we had read within 36:25-27. Once in the Millennial Kingdom of Christ, the Lord states here that He will call for the corn and increase it even further; never again will the land of Israel ever see a famine. There will be famines, unfortunately in Egypt, as well as other locations, if they fail to come to the annual Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem (Zech. 14:17-19).

Ezekiel 36:30 And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that you shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen. The Millennial Kingdom of Christ will be super-strengthened above that of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The land (by this time) had already been strengthened once in the beginning of the twentieth century, which had fulfilled Ezekiel 36:6-10. The Lord is not being redundant here, it will be super-strengthened for the one-thousand years.

The last sentence realizes that since there would be no more iniquities that would cause the Lord to curse the land, Israel will no more be disgraced (reproached) among the heathen for their punishments anymore. They will never be removed from their land because of their iniquities against God, therefore their disgrace of famines will no longer be felt.

Ezekiel 36:31 Then shall you remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations. Every born-again believer in Jesus the Messiah (Jn. 3:3) remembers their times before they were blessed by the Lord with His grace and mercy. When the Holy Spirit indwells a person, He quite often reminds the believer of their former wickedness, as well as their transformation into a “new creature” in Christ. This remembrance brings forth a gratitude for what Messiah has done for them. Each born-again person of the house of Israel will be reminded by the Lord’s Spirit within them, and thus seek to be even better out of their own gratefulness. Every Christian loathes themselves of their former wickedness, which does bring them to the feet of God in worship and praise for His divine mercy. Yes, Israel will feel this as well, when they are indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God. ?

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Cor. 5:17) ?

Ezekiel 36:32 “Not for your sakes do I this,” says the Lord?God, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, Oh house of Israel. The Lord will accomplish all that He had promised to King David (2 Sam. 17:8-17), and the other prophets; He will do it for His own Holy name, because His reputation is at stake, and He will glorify His Holy name.

Repentance is always preceded by a contrite heart, filled with guilt and shame. The Lord illustrated here that Israel will feel that guilt and shame of their denial of Him from over the past three and one-half millenniums. The mourning felt when the saved remnant sees Jesus the Messiah for the first time (Zech. 12:10), will be a contriteness that will echo throughout the one-thousand year kingdom. This is not a bad thing, to feel contriteness, because it seems to always bring someone to their knees at the feet of the Lord. This one-thousand years will be joyous, because Jesus the Messiah is the Son of GOD, and He will be right there in their midst.

Ezekiel 36:33 Thus says the Lord God; In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities, I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be built. The day of their cleansing will be the event already discussed within the 36:25-27; it will be when they feel their contriteness upon seeing the Lord deliver them from their adversaries. God the Father will have poured upon them His Holy Spirit of grace (Zech. 12:10), and they will have a changed heart of flesh (36:26). ?

25?Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it;

26?That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (Eph. 5:25-26)

This will be that last day of the seven years, when the Second Coming of Christ is to occur (see commentary in 35:4). On this first day of the Millennial Kingdom of Christ, Messiah Jesus will assign them their inheritance, which was promised in Joshua 13:6-33. There will need to be a rebuilding of the cities, which had been devastated (wastes) by the seven years of judgment. ?

For the?Lord?will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob. (Is. 14:1)?

Ezekiel 36:34 And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by. After the devastation of the wrath of God upon the entire planet during the seven years (Dan. 9:27), there will be wastelands that will need to be tilled. The land of Israel was already strengthened (36:9-11) back to the time before Messiah Jesus’ crucifixion (before 30 A.D.). The wastelands will be worldwide, and Israel will be especially wasted (Ps. 83:9-18, Ezek. 38-39, Zech. 14:1-2). The tilling of the land will be the beginning of the preparation of the Millennial Kingdom; tilling land, building homes and businesses, and rebuilding infrastructure will all be done in this endeavor. ?

And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate setup, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. (Dan. 12:11)

Daniel 12:11 is a prophecy of the time at which the Millennial Kingdom will be rebuilt; it will be 1,290 days from the day of the Abomination of Desolation afflicted by the Antichrist at the Temple of God. Since the Abomination of Desolation will be on the first day of the second half of the seven years (Dan. 9:27), there will be 1,260 days until the last day of the seven years, which will be the Second Coming of Jesus the Messiah; this will be the 2,520th day of the seven times 360 day years (7 x 360 days). The time for the completion of the preparation for the Millennial Kingdom will be 1,290 days – 1,260 days = 30 days to prepare the kingdom. Since it should be concluded that the beginning of the seven years, and last day of the seven years are to be on the same day (seven-year anniversary), I must disclose that this day is the Feast of Atonement (Yom Kippur); this day is Tishri 10; this would make the completion of the preparation of the Millennial Kingdom to be Cheshvan 10. This will be forty-five days before the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem on Kislev 25, which is the first day of Hanukah, or the Feast of Dedication (Jn. 10:22), in which the Temple will be rededicated unto the Lord. Blessed is he that waits, and comes to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. (Dan. 12:12) The Feast of Atonement is exactly seventy-five day before the Feast of Dedication. (1,260 days + 75 days = 1,335 days)

Ezekiel 36:35 And they shall say, “This land that was desolate is become like the Garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited.” With God sitting on His throne on His Holy Mountain in Jerusalem, the land of Israel will become lush with amazing vegetation and wildlife. This will be tame wildlife, while the God of the Universe is among them. It can be nothing short of supernatural and miraculous, as would be expected by His believers, but utter amazement among the mortals of the Earth. Just thirty days earlier, the world would have been a wasteland, but with God, nothing is impossible (Matt. 19:26).?

Ezekiel 36:36 Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the?Lord?build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the?Lord?have spoken it, and I will do it. As stated in the previous verses, the Lord God will take thirty days to prepare His Millennial Kingdom (Tishri 10 to Cheshvan 10). This supernatural work, that the Lord will accomplish, will show the nonbelievers (heathen mortals) that Jesus the Messiah is the Lord. He will have manifested Garden of Eden like conditions in Israel within a thirty-day period of time.

Yes, there will be non-believers still upon the Earth; it will be God’s mercy that they survive the devastations of the seven years, as well as Armageddon. The Lord will punish the heathen who do not come up annually to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles (Tishri 15-22), therefore we can be assured that there will still be heathen that are left round about Israel. We know this, because the Lord has spoken it!

17?And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the Earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the?Lord?of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.

18?And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the?Lord?will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.

19?This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. (Zech. 14:17-19)?

Ezekiel 36:37 Thus says the Lord?God; “I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock.” The Lord will assign the saved flock of Israel (mortals) their land inheritance, during the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom (possible the first thirty-days), and also assign Gentiles (mortals) to inhabit and work the land for Israel. The captive Gentiles will be treated with honor, because the Lord is just and merciful. There will be close relationships between the house of Jacob and the Gentile servants. The God of love will be ruling over them, and this will be brought out of His love. (I will increase them with men like a flock)

For the?Lord?will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob.

2?And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place: and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the?Lord?for servants and handmaids: and they shall take them captives, whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors. (Is. 14:1-2)?

Ezekiel 36:38 As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts; so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men: and they shall know that I am the Lord. The first clause of this verse is the second half of the last clause of the previous verse. I will increase them with men like a flock, as the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts. The holiness of the house of Israel will be God’s flock ruled by their King David (34:23-24), who will serve his King, the Messiah. As Israel religiously and gratefully worships God through ceremonial worship within their (her = church) feasts, the Gentiles among them will do as Israel does (Zech. 14:16-19).

Peace will be on the entire Earth, as the immortal Bride of Christ rules over individual kingdoms, to the glory of King Jesus the Messiah, and God the Father who is in heaven.

5?And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the Earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood,

6?And has made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Rev. 1:5-6)

The Apostle Paul informed the Christians of Corinth that Christians will be judging the world, which can only be during a time when Christians will be assigned as the kings ruling under King Jesus the Messiah. The waste cities mentioned here in 36:38, will be all cities that will have been wastes throughout the Earth. These waste cities will be rebuilt and ruled by the immortal Bride of Messiah, who will teach the mortals of the world continuously about God. (and they shall know that I AM the Lord) ?

2?Do you not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

3?Know you not that we shall judge angels? How much more things that pertain to this life? (1 Cor. 6:2-3)