Should This Matter?

We don’t see it too often anymore – the man on the side of the road holding the sign saying “judgement is coming” or “repent now while you can”. This picture is still portrayed in movies as either an ominous omen or a crazy notion. I would argue, however, that we need more of these signs. We need to be reminded more often of the fact that judgement IS coming. The time for repentance is now!

In my Bible study, I have come to Ezekiel 4. In this chapter, we see God require Ezekiel to act out His prophecy. He is to provide to the people a visible illustration of what is to come. I am sure many people walked by and ignored Ezekiel as he acted strangely. Perhaps they even viewed him as many would the man on the side of the road holding the warning sign about the end of the world. However, the wise would see. The one open to God would stop and try to understand.

Ezekiel is prophesying before the final siege of Jerusalem. His ministry is specifically to the Jewish captives held in Babylon as Ezekiel was a captive himself. It is likely that at this time, many of the Jewish captives were being swayed by false prophets who promised a quick return home to Jerusalem from captivity in Babylon as Jeremiah also encountered this false prophets as well. But, God sets the record straight. Through Ezekiel in this passage, He emphasizes that judgment against Jerusalem is set. It is not just the Babylonian army that is against Jerusalem, but God Himself!

Basically, God tells Ezekiel to draw Jerusalem on a clay tablet. He is to then set up a siege around this picture of Jerusalem complete with battering rams and encampments. After that, he is to take an “iron pan” (iron utensil) and set it between himself and the city. He is then directed to lay on the left side for 390 days and the right side for 40 days with each day representing a year of iniquity for Israel and Judah respectively. He is to set his face toward Jerusalem and uncover his arm as he does so.

Basically, Ezekiel is illustrating the upcoming siege of Jerusalem – the final siege when Jerusalem falls to Babylon. We come to find out that this siege is particularly horrific as was promised by God on multiple occasions through the ministry of another prophet, Jeremiah. Many, young and old, die either by the sword or through famine/pestilence.

The aspect of this prophecy I would like to focus on, however, is found in verses 7-8.

Ezekiel 4:7-8 (KJV)

7 Therefore thou shalt set thy face toward the siege of Jerusalem, and thine arm shall be uncovered, and thou shalt prophesy against it.

8 And, behold, I will lay bands upon thee, and thou shalt not turn thee from one side to another, till thou hast ended the days of thy siege.

Ezekiel is representing God in this picture. He is laying with his face toward Jerusalem and his arm uncovered. He is also separated from Jerusalem by an iron tool. Here we see the wrath of God pointed at His own people. We see that God’s arm, His strength and power, is aimed against Jerusalem. He has separated Himself from them. In addition, this judgement is set. Ezekiel is bound in place so that he cannot turn from the city. Of course, the fact that Ezekiel is directed to “bear the iniquity” of Israel and Judah presents another picture of Christ which I will not go into here.

It is a scary thought, right? That judgement is inevitable. It seems harsh.

A careful study of Jeremiah confirms the finality of the judgement proclaimed on Jerusalem. On multiple occasions, God emphasizes that the judgement on Jerusalem for the sins of Judah is unavoidable (Jeremiah 17:16-34, 8:1-22, 11:14-15, 13:21-27, 15:1-4, 19:1-2, 25:15-29, etc). The people of Judah had finally reached the point of no return. God would not change His mind.

Now understand this. The people of Judah were given numerous opportunities to repent. God warned them over and over again about the coming punishment and how to avoid it. It was actually simple: REPENT and OBEY! However, the people would not do so.

Sometimes these historical Old Testament passages seem a world away to us. We tisk-tisk the Israelites for this constant sin and then move on preferring to focus on easier Biblical truths or doctrines. But the fact is, this historical passage has a HUGE message for us too! Judgement comes for ALL of us in the end. It is inevitable for us too! Like the Jewish people, we too can ignore God’s pleas for repentance. We can ignore the message of Jesus Christ. We too can pass the point of no return.

It is easy to get comfortable because it seems like judgement is either far away or will never actually come. But this is a lie from Satan. Satan wants us to deny future judgement. Why? He wants to remove accountability. If we are never held accountable for anything, why do we need Christ? Peter addresses this apathetic lazy attitude that so many Christians today have.

2 Peter 3:3-10 (KJV)

3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

God gave the pre-flood people 120 days to repent. He gave Israel 390 years and Judah 40 years to repent. They didn’t. Then they faced judgement. The flood came. Babylon came. In our eyes, it took a long time. Yet, in God’s eyes, the time was just a drop in the bucket. God’s perspective is different than ours.

Christ has warned us that He will return to judge the world. We don’t know when, but we do know for certain it will happen. The length of time before His return may be long from now or short, but it WILL occur!

Why does God wait so long to return? Because He is long suffering waiting for all of us to repent and come to Him. In His great mercy, He provides us with the opportunity to escape His wrath. Most people will look at this long suffering and use it to say that Christ’s return will never happen. Many Christians will lose sight of Christ’s return.

We must live our lives in the reality that Christ will return and He may do so at any time. We must live ready for that! Judgement is set. It is already pre-determined. To deny this is to condemn our souls! Be ready. Repent now.