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| Chap 35 Timeline |
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Ezekiel: Chapter 35 |
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Setting Despite the shortness of this chapter and its subject, it begs the question, why this chapter is placed here in the section of Ezekiel that is concerned with her restoration as a nation and with her God. Tucked neatly in scripture, this judgment against the people who rejoiced at Israel's calamity and judgment of God by the hands of King Nebuchadnezzar has set the stage for a future event that will involve the remnant of Israel during the last half of the seven years of tribulation; her preservation during that most horrible time in mankind's history, and when her relationship will be permanent. Outline of this chapter
The prophesy against Mount Seir (Edom) As presented in this web site, on the page discussing Ezekiel chapter 34, God’s purpose is being fulfilled through the reestablishment of Israel in her land during the millennial reign of Jesus Christ. In Ezekiel 35, the scene shifts to the judgment of Mount Seir, or Edom. This region is located to the south of the Dead Sea. God had remembered the sins of Edom against the children of Israel, Ezekiel 35:3-9. One of the primary reasons for Edom's judgment was that Edom also lusted for the land of Israel as the Jews were being forced from their land when King Nebuchadnezzar sent them to Babylon in captivity, Psalm 137:7. Despite their forced abandonment of the land, they were promised by the Lord that they would return and resettle the land after 70 years of captivity in Babylon. The judgment against Mount Seir, as well as Edom, and the other countries who rejoiced over Israel's peril, were judged of God, and are listed in Jeremiah 25. These countries were compelled to drink the judgment of the Lord, and forever be removed as nations, Jeremiah 25:15-28. In the following verses in the same chapter, the Lord states that if He had judged Israel for her transgressions, which were imported from her bordering countries, then those who delighted in her destruction were to be judged, Jeremiah 25:29-38. In these passages is also the dual purpose of drawing a picture of the judgment of the Lord against all nations during the end of the tribulation as God's judgments are poured out in the trumpet and bowl judgments, Revelation 8 and Revelation 9, and Revelation 16. The book of Obadiah lists a number of the issues that God had against Edom. The first of which was their pride, which deceived them. Petra is inferred here in that the dwellings of these peoples were hewn from rock, which still exist today, but essentially abandoned except for those passing migrating through or tourists, Obadiah 3-4. Obadiah 10-15 pronounces the eternal judgment for the Edom, in that it will be as with Israel, but worse. Israel returned to her land after 70 years in Babylonian captivity, and then again after almost two millennia of worldwide dispersion of the Jews, they again exist as a country. The people of Edom no longer exist. The list of reasons for the judgment include:
All that Edom did against Israel was to be visited upon them, Obadiah 15. By itself, Ezekiel 35 would seem have minor importance to the future of Israel, but it is interesting to reexamine Ezekiel 35:9. There is an uninhabited city today to the south of the Dead Sea, called Petra. As discussed in Ezekiel 34, during and after the middle of the tribulation period when the image of the Antichrist is erected in the Jewish temple area, the Jews are told by the Lord to flee into the wilderness. Though nowhere in scripture is the city of Petra identified as the city to where the remnant will flee, it is a convenient and likely location based on the passes cited above from Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Obadiah. The city of Petra as the future evacuation point for the fleeing Jews is only given as a possibility. However, it is at least coincidental that this is given so much prominence within these set of chapters that have such prophetic significance for the end times and Israel. |
Copyright (c) 2001, 2005, 2008, J.E. Huntley. All rights reserved.