Lesson One

Introduction to Ezekiel Study

The Ezekiel studies authored by myself will always be exclusively published in our Newsletter and our archives, Back Issues Newsletter group, first before being posted here or anywhere else.
From Pastor Bill's Newsletter & found in our archives and discussion group for our Newsletter which is Back Issues Newsletter group.


Ezekiel Overview

Introduction to Ezekiel Study:
By Pastor Bill

Since the name of our Internet ministry is Ezekiel 37 Bible Watch Ministries
and our original web-site is Ezekiel 37 Bible Watch,
I have decided it is time for me to tackle posting a study on Ezekiel chapter 37.

However as I thought about this, I felt it would be most beneficial if we would do a brief overview of Ezekiel like one or two chapters at a time. And then once we are done studying the chapters, we will go back to Ezekiel chapter 37 and study it verse by verse.

For starters on our web-page called
"The Reason For The Name Ezekiel 37 Bible Watch For This Web-site!"
tells a little about my perspective on Ezekiel chapter 37.

From that webpage:
"To put it simply Ezekiel's vision of the 'Valley Of Dry Bones' is prophecy of Israel being restored to the promised land in Palestine in these Last Days going all the way up to the Millennium Jesus Christ's 1000 years of ruling the Earth which is when Israel will finally have true peace. Ezekiel 37 and Ezekiel's vision of the Valley of Dry Bones secondary meaning is about National Revival, Church Revival and Personal Revival."

To read more about why we used the name
Ezekiel 37 Bible Watch
for our web-site and ministry name click here.


As far covering Ezekiel 37 in detail I will do that after we are done covering each chapter briefly.

Now on to the introduction of the prophet Ezekiel:
Ezekiel was born a priest from a priestly lineage.
He was called to be a prophet though God knew the people were rebellious and would not listen.
See Ezekiel 2:4-6.
Even when no one listens, if God sent you then obey for you do not know how many seeds are planted and you have spared yourself of having their blood on your hands.
Also, God said in Ezekiel 2:5 that whether they listened or not, whether they obeyed or not that the people would know that a prophet (Ezekiel) was among them.
Do the people around you know that a Christian, a Jesus follower,
a Holy Ghost filled believer is among them?
If not, we should examine ourselves and pray to God about this.

Ezekiel's ministry and prophecies were during the early years of the 70 year of captivity.
Daniel and Ezekiel are unique in that they are the only prophets that preached from foreign soil and not Israel, Judah or Samaria.
Jonah also preached on foreign soil but he was not residing in Nineveh and he was a reluctant prophet disobeying God at first whereas Daniel and Ezekiel were living in Babylon as captives and obedient to God even though they were in captivity not for their sins but for the sin of the nation of Judah.
This shows us that sometimes the innocent and Godly do suffer when God pours out His judgment upon a disobedient nation. This is one more reason for Christians to pray for America!

Some scholars believe that since Jeremiah was older that Ezekiel may have sat under Jeremiah's ministry and teachings when Ezekiel was younger, before Ezekiel was taken to Babylon. Jeremiah and Ezekiel preached many of the same things, Jeremiah in Jerusalem and Ezekiel in exile in Babylon but that would be a separate in depth study.

Scholars also believe that since Daniel was in captivity in the Palace and Ezekiel was in exile in the country that since both were in Babylon, they could have met each other and encouraged each other in the Lord frequently.
We as Christians should like David encourage ourselves in the Lord and then encourager one another.

Ezekiel's name means
"God strengthens" or "strengthened by God".
Ezekiel 3:8-9

Now notice both Daniel and Ezekiel though in captivity, though circumstances are against them, they stand strong for God. In Ezekiel's case we see that God is faithful to bless Ezekiel that his name is not just a religious saying but God truly strengthened him!
Jesus promised that He would never leave nor forsake us.
Jesus also promised us that we would receive His Holy Spirit and power to be His witnesses. Acts 1:8
Are you believing, walking in and receiving the strength
and power of God through His Holy Spirit?

This brings me to the theme of the book of Ezekiel and his prophecies.
The theme is the Word of the Lord, the Power of the Holy Spirit and visions of God's Glory along with God's Holiness which judges sin, including not only other nations but also God's people. God is so good though because God's promises of restoration to God's people, that is Israel are the ending chapter of Ezekiel.
In fact the last words are that the name of His City will be:
"The LORD is there".


How wonderful!
To be in God's presence forever!
Truly to be in God's presence forever makes it worth it to be another Ezekiel if that is required of us.
Just that thought should strengthen us to serve God through the rest of our life into eternity.
Then on top of that our ezekiel that is our strength from God comes from God's Holy Word, from Jesus our Saviour and from the Holy Spirit our teacher, our advocate and comforter. WOW!
If only all that could be fully realized in our Spirit we would be running through troops and leaping over walls!

So be an Ezekiel today!
AMEN.