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Expanded Comments | Additional Comments |
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| 1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, |
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The Word of the LORD – This is important. We need always remember that none of what was presented by the 7th messenger was of his own invention. It was all from our Heavenly Father.
Came unto me – To the seventh messenger. |
| 2 Son of man, set thy face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them,
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Son of man – Pastor Russell. - See Son of Man
Set thy face towards – Be firmly focused, determined to carry out my instructions. Compare Eze. 3:8.
Br. Perry suggested B356. This comment from the Pastor concerns the "Times of the Gentiles" of Luke 21:24. Compare Lev. 26:18,21,24,28.
The first use of this phrase is Gen. 31:21 where Jacob fled from Laban and "set his face toward the mount Gilead." That is where Laban caught up with him 7 days later. This showed Jacob's determination to get to where he "set his face."
In Leviticus it is always God who uses this expression and it is against those who disobey Him. The result is always that they will be cut him off from among the people or they will be destroyed by his enemies. Lev. 17:10; 20:3, 5, 6; 26:17
The mountains of Israel – The kingdoms of Christendom (the ten toes of the image - Dan. 2:41-45,) that unholy mixture of church and state (as represented by the clay and the iron respectively.) ** Note especially vs 43 to see how clearly this is shown by the phrase "they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men."
Prophecy against them – The Harvest Message was against Christendom and it was for the saints. |
| 3 And say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys; Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places. |
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Ye mountains of Israel – You subservient kingdoms of Christendom. (The individual kingdoms which are not as "great" as so-called Christendom as a whole.)
Hear the word of the Lord GOD – Pay attention to what God has decreed!
The following quote from "The Guns of August" by Barbara Tuchman (page 313) seems appropriate here: "There was an aura about 1914 that caused those who sensed it to shiver for mankind."
Thus saith the Lord GOD to – God is declaring His judgment against the mountains (kingdoms) of Israel (Christendom) but this judgment cascades down to include all under their control (and, supposedly, under their protection.)
The mountains – The kingdoms that comprise Christendom.
The hills – Those less "majestic" forms of government. Nah. 1:5; Amos 9:13 - R1162:3; D528:5; R1415:4; R5575:14; R5990:2
The rivers – The waters that fed Babylon, Christendom. Waters are the support system of Christendom, primarily the people. Rev. 17:15
Q30:1 - "The turning away of the waters of the mystic Euphrates from the antitypical Babylon, or from the mystical Babylon, would signify the turning of the people away."
The valleys – Those dwelling under the protection of these mountains - kingdoms. These would seem to correspond to "those who dwell on the earth" in Revelation.
Num. 24:4-6 - Applied by God to Israel as a planted valley.
Behold I, even I will – Watch, pay attention to what the Lord God is about to do to "that rebellious house."
Bring a sword upon you – The sword has always been a symbol for weapons of death and destruction. In this case it refers both to the man-made weapons of war and the sword of Truth used as the primary weapon.
I will destroy your high places – It is God who is doing the destruction. High places refers to places of worship (usually of false Gods.) Who today worships the false god of church and state? |
| 4 And your altars shall be desolate, and your images shall be broken: and I will cast down your slain men before your idols. |
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Your altars – An altar is where a sacrifice is offered, burned, etc.
These are not the altars where the true saints sacrifice but are "your altars," the altars of "the mountains of Israel," - of the kingdoms of Christendom. Heb. 13:10
Shall be desolate – Desolate is Strong's 8074
We have seen Ezekiel use this word earlier (3:15; 4:17) where it meant "astonished or amazed."
This would then seem to be saying that the places of worship (those in the churches) would become amazed at what has been revealed about what they thought they knew. "We were safe and secure in these comfortable teachings. Now we see they are not really the Truth and we do not know what to do."
Your images – Physical representation of a false god. These could be the images associated with the Catholic church, the church cathedrals of the various denominations, etc.
While the physical may be indicated we think it is more direct to consider just what an image is. It is a representation of the likeness of something, in this case, the likeness of spiritual beings, i.e., God, Jesus, holy angels, etc. - In all of these the nominal church has the wrong "image" of God's character. They have Him as a God of Vengeance and one who is almost devoid of mercy. The Scriptures show that He is a God of Great Mercy, Love, as well as of vengeance. "And they magnify his vengeance with a zeal he will not own."
Shall be broken down – This likely refers to both the literal and the symbolic. Many in Europe were literally broken down (remember the images we have all seen of the bombed out ruins from World War II.) Faith in these (both literal images as well as their mental "image" of heavenly things) as having the power to save or protect was greatly shaken by The Great War parts I and II.
I will – Familiar theme, no matter what the means, it is God who is bringing this about.
Cast down – They must have, at one time, been in an elevated place in order to be cast "down." In vs. 3 we were just told that God said "I will destroy your high places."
Your slain – see Additional comments for Isa. 34:3.
Before your idols – In front of, i.e., in plain sight of your false gods. |
| 5 And I will lay the dead carcases of the children of Israel before their idols; and I will scatter your bones round about your altars. |
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I will – It is God who is doing all this.
Lay the dead carcases – This phrase, in Hebrew (H5414 H853 H6297,) only occurs in one other place, i.e., Lev. 26:30. This is where God is telling the children of Israel what He will do if they walk contrary to Him, including punishing them seven times for their sins - the Times of the Gentiles. - Lev. 26:28
This of course indicates that these have been slain.
Of the children of Israel – Literally the natural descendants (children) of Jacob (Israel.) Symbolically the children of (supposedly) spiritual Israel, i.e., the children of so-called Christendom.
Before their idols – That which they worshipped. This likely includes their false doctrines, medallions, statues, priests, etc.
Please see Mini-Study on idols, images, altars.
I will – Once again it is the Lord who is doing this.
Scatter your bones – Not leaving the dead bodies alone, even the bones, the structure of their belief system, i.e., that which they hope for (Eze. 37:1-14), are scattered. This seems to be another way of saying that this Day of the Lord "shall leave them neither root nor branch." Mal. 4:1
Round about your altars – Places of worship – churches, cathedrals, etc. This is where the devotees of Christendom "sacrifice." |
| 6 In all your dwellingplaces the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be desolate; that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, and your idols may be broken and cease, and your images may be cut down, and your works may be abolished. |
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In all your dwellingplaces – Not just any place but "all your dwellingplaces," i.e., the dwellingplaces of "the children of Israel," the children of so-called Christendom. This, again, sounds like the same group of "earth-dwellers" found in the book of Revelation.
The cities – Governments. R3570
Shall be laid waste – Destroyed. We still use this phrase to indicate an army (or leader of a military force) "laid waste" to a place, city or country.
From dictionary.com "lay waste - to devastate; destroy; ruin: Forest fires lay waste thousands of acres yearly."
This gives us a clue as to both how and why this takes place. They are destroyed, laid waste, because they lack the "living water" that comes from the understanding of God's Word.
The high places – Places exaltation and praise from the standpoint of fallen men. These too are places of worship but likely refers more to Popes, leading Bishops, etc.
Shall be desolate – Strong's 3456 - "lie waste."
That your altars – Same as the end of vs. 5 - Places of worship – churches, cathedrals, etc.
May be laid waste – Strong's 2717 (defined above.)
Made desolate – Strong's 816.
Your idols may be broken – Their idols which they worshipped (mostly false doctrines) are broken down by the Truth.
And cease – Stop having such a binding hold on people.
Your images – Please see Additional Comments for vs. 4.
May be cut down – Cut off, destroyed.
Your works may be abolished – Their works have been abolished because none believe any more that this is Christ's Kingdom. They can no longer claim to be "working" under God's authority. |
| 7 And the slain shall fall in the midst of you, and ye shall know that I am the LORD. |
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The slain – see Additional comments for Isa. 34:3.
Shall fall – The question is NOT "who shall fall," but "who shall be able to stand?" Rev. 6:13-17 (esp. vs 17)
In the midst of you – "You" is the party being addressed, in this case it is "Ye mountains of Israel" - vs. 3, i.e., "you" kingdoms of Christendom.
The midst is Strong's 8432:
While recognizing that the word "midst" does mean "in the midst or middle," yet we note its root being "to sever" which brings to mind the thought that not only were these slain to fall within Christendom but it also may be indicating that this would take place at the time when "the great city [Christendom] was divided [severed] into three parts" - Rev. 16:19.
Ye shall know that I am the LORD – This they discovered, at least in part, by the incredible destruction brought about by "The Great War" which destroyed "Christ's Kingdom" - Christendom, falsely so-called. They will fully realize it when the very last bits of its crumbled remains are gone. |
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| 8 Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries. |
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Yet will I – Once again, it is God who is doing all this.
Leave a remnant – This reminds us that not everything is destroyed all at once. Even after the "mountains of Israel," the kingdoms that comprised Christendom have been destroyed (both as mountains [kingdoms] and as the "destroying mountain" [Christendom] Jer. 51:25, yet there will still be some stragglers remaining who do not understand what has taken place.
In looking into "a remnant" we find that Pastor Russell used this phrase in speaking about the Little Flock, "a remnant" from the nominal Jewish house at the first advent, or "a remnant" from the nominal Christian house at the second advent. While his primary application was clearly to the Little Flock, he seems to also include those who would eventually become members of the Great Company as well. - We did find one reference (R4796) where he applied this to the Jews when the mediatorial phase of the kingdom is set up.
Please note Paul's description of "a remnant" in Rom. 11:2-5, and especially note the Expanded Bible Comments for Verse 5.
Br. J.C. Sunderlin also describes the remnant in Aug. 1883. R518
That ye may have some that shall escape the sword – In this case it is the kingdoms (mountains) of Christendom that will have some (this "remnant") that escape her destruction.
Among the nations – Among the Gentiles. Please see Eze. 5:5.
When ye shall be scattered through the countries – The word for countries is Strong's H776 (see Eze. 5:5) which means "lands." In this case it may refer not only (as in 5:5) to countries outside of Christendom, but it may refer also to the lands which comprised Christendom. Since it is speaking of a remnant escaping the destruction of Christendom, the lands of Christendom will at that time no longer be Christendom. Indeed we know that no people on earth today believe that anything in the territory once held by Christendom is actually "Christ's Kingdom." |
| 9 And they that escape of you shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, which hath departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols: and they shall loathe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations. |
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They that escape – This "remnant" mentioned in verse 8.
The word escape (Strong's H6412) carries the thought of "refugee" or "fugitive."
Of you – Of the mountains (kingdoms) of Christendom.
Shall remember me – They will think about their relation to the Lord (and perhaps to re-evaluate it.)
Among the nations – Among the Gentiles. Please see Eze. 5:5.
Wither they shall be carried captives – We need to remember here that this is likely not a physical carrying away but rather being carried away with other teachings and held captive by them. Teachings like Darwinism, socialism, etc. – We should note that this does not exclude many of those within Christendom's boundaries eventually being carried away captive into the Russia (which expanded its influence under the title "Soviet Union,") who had adopted as their official policy: "There is no God."
Because I am broken with their whorish heart – JPS - "How that I have been anguished with their straying heart…" This makes a lot more sense. Their heart had been yearning after the false arrangement of church and state as being "Christ's Kingdom" – thus straying from God.
Which hath departed from me – Turned from the true God.
With their eyes – By desiring improper things. Matt. 5:28.
Go a whoring – Desiring that unholy union of spiritual with worldly attitudes.
In this we need to remember that the true church was to remain separate from earthly governments, as a chaste virgin. The church nominal found the offer made by the Kings of earth to be their paramour (314 A.D.) too great an advantage not to accept. By thus uniting with the state she earned the description here given her. The Lord held the execution of His judgment against her because of the true saints still within her, but when the time came, she was judged along with her Gentile partners when their lease of power was up.
After their idols – False doctrines, medallions, statues, priests, etc. (see Additional Comment vs. 5)
They shall loathe themselves – Such is the attitude of all who compare themselves, even a little, to the perfect standard of Christ.
For the evils which they have committed – This seems to be saying that there would be some among those who, at least to some extent, re-examine their association with the church nominal and recognize its part in the bloody history of Europe.
In all their abominations – Primarily of Papacy's part in some of the horrors of things like the Inquisition, Bartholomew's day massacre, etc. |
| 10 And they shall know that I am the LORD, and that I have not said in vain that I would do this evil unto them. |
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They – The remnant of verse 8.
Shall – At some point future from when these other things are going on.
Know that I am the LORD – The remnant will then recognize that it is the Lord who has done this. This may have some beginning right away. Like we have all experienced when we sense that something is not quite right – even if we cannot yet "place our finger on it."
I have not said in vain – They will be forced to acknowledge that all these things are from Him.
I would do this evil unto them – From their standpoint it is an evil. |
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| 11 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Smite with thine hand, and stamp with thy foot, and say, Alas for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel! for they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence. |
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Thus saith the Lord GOD – When God gives an edict … Watch out!
Smite with thine hand, and stamp with thy foot – Like a child throwing a temper tantrum.
Say Alas for all the evil abominations – see Additional Comments at the end of vs. 9.
Of the house of Israel – The remnant are now blaming the nominal church.
They shall fall by the sword.. famine.. pestilence – This is exactly what happened to them in Eze. 5:2,12
The order here is historically accurate. In and immediately after WWI they first fell by the sword (weapons of war) then came starvation followed by the "The influenza pandemic of 1918-1919." |
| 12 He that is far off shall die of the pestilence; and he that is near shall fall by the sword; and he that remaineth and is besieged shall die by the famine: thus will I accomplish my fury upon them. |
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In Eze. 5:12 we saw one of the three groups being destroyed by pestilence and famine. Here it is "He that is far off" who dies by pestilence (plague) and he that remains is besieged by famine.
He that is far off shall die of the pestilence – Plague. One suggested thought is that that of the 1918 "war flu" being taken back by the soldiers of Christendom. These were taken, not only from within the primary territories of Christendom (mostly Europe) but also from many of the "colonies" of those nations. When WWI ended many of these soldiers took back the "pestilence" (plague) to their native lands ("far off.")
"The influenza pandemic of 1918-1919 killed more people than the Great War, known today as World War I (WWI), at somewhere between 20 and 40 million people. It has been cited as the most devastating epidemic in recorded world history. More people died of influenza in a single year than in four-years of the Black Death Bubonic Plague from 1347 to 1351." virus.stanford.edu/uda
Other sites indicate the 1918-1919 pandemic killed between 50 and 100 million people.
He that is near – Closer to the heart of Christendom's territory.
Shall fall by the sword – In literal application the sword would refer to weapons of war (WWI, WWII,) thus it would indicate falling in battle. In symbolic application it refers to falling by the Truth – which is yielded by the Lord's people.
He that remaineth – Closer to the heart of Christendom's territory, i.e., those in Europe.
And is besieged – By people asking why they would still attend such an out-dated thing as a church. Please see article "Is Europe the new Dark Continent?"
Shall die by the famine – No chance of finding spiritual food in what remains of Europe's churches.
Thus will I – The LORD.
Accomplish my fury – His wrath (same word used in Deu. 29:23). 7 last plagues .. "in them is filled up the wrath of God." Rev. 15:1
Upon them – Upon the remains of Christendom, both its false organizations and (to a lesser extent) its people. |
| 13 Then shall ye know that I am the LORD, when their slain men shall be among their idols round about their altars, upon every high hill, in all the tops of the mountains, and under every green tree, and under every thick oak, the place where they did offer sweet savour to all their idols. |
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Br. Fisher's comments on vs. 13:In the Roman and Greek churches the idols, images and ikons are literal. There are other idols in all the churches– power, prestige, social position, clerical honor, gold, worldly education, etc. As in the Tabernacle types, zealous, obedient sacrifice caused a "sweet savor" to rise to God, so the same service raises a sweet savor to the idols of Christendom. The "green trees" and "thick oaks" were favorite objects of idolatry ( Jer. 2:20; Hos. 4:13), and typed the worship of prominent preachers and other men.– Psalm 37:35. FM403
Then – When the 7 last plagues have done their work.
Shall ye – The remnant from vs. 8.
Know that I am the LORD – "The knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea." Isa. 11:9; Hab. 2:14
When their slain men – see Additional comments for Isa. 34:3.
These are "slain" because they no longer believe the false doctrines of Christendom. R5829 – Jan. 1916
Shall be among their idols – see vs. 5.
Round about their altars – Places of worship – churches, cathedrals, etc. This is where the devotees of Christendom "sacrifice."
Upon every high hill – According to Br. Cook, Hills symbolize: "Less high, less autocratic government D551:1; R5575:3 Government less controlled, by one individual, controlled by a lesser power."
In all the tops of the mountains – The ruling houses, the royalty of the kingdoms.
Under every green tree – Every new nation. See Luke 21:29-31
Under every thick oak – This is different from a new (green) tree. This sounds like a well established tree (nation.)
The place – While this may refer to literal places (physical locations within what was Christendom) it seems more likely that this applies the same as in the Tabernacle, i.e., a place really means a condition.
Where they did offer sweet savour – We repeat Br. Fisher's comment:"As in the Tabernacle types, zealous, obedient sacrifice caused a "sweet savor" to rise to God, so the same service raises a sweet savor to the idols of Christendom."
To all their idols – The idols indicated in vs. 5. |
| 14 So will I stretch out my hand upon them, and make the land desolate, yea, more desolate than the wilderness toward Diblath, in all their habitations: and they shall know that I am the LORD. |
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Br. Fisher's comments on vs. 14:Christendom is to be made more desolate than the wilderness surrounding Palestine, wiped off the face of the earth, to make way for the New Order of things, "the world to come" ( Heb. 2:5), "wherein dwelleth righteousness."– 2 Pet. 3:13.
So will I – Jehovah.
Stretch out my hand upon them – Take the following action against them ("the mountains of Israel" – the Kingdoms of Christendom – falsely so-called.")
Make their land desolate – The 'land' here (as in vs. 8) is "ארץ 'erets" as in the 'erets Israel – the "land" of Israel.
Since this refers to physical land or territory, this would apply to the land of Christendom – mainly Europe. It is this "land" (we apply this as we did "the place" in vs. 13) that is to be made "desolate."
The word "desolate" in this verse is Strongs 8077
This is an especially appropriate word to be used here. Not only was Europe physically made a "devastation" by WWI and WWII but the remains of so-called Christendom ("the mountains of Israel) were also made an "astonishment." – We again refer to the article "Is Europe the new Dark Continent?" (published March 1, 2004) from which we quote a few excerpts as follows:
. Europe's Christian era has come to an end.
. Church attendance in most European countries is less than five percent.
. Today, many of its cathedrals are simply large museum pieces. They are artifacts of an ancient religion, and a dead faith.
. "Only three percent of the [British] public regularly attend church."
. In Brussels.. "When, as an American in Europe, you tell Europeans that you go to church on Sunday, they look at you like a museum piece, something strange."
. Near Brussels.. a Belgian Pastor.. preaches to a culture that no longer believes Christian faith is the answer to anything.
. "To Europeans, religion is the strangest and most disturbing feature about [America]."
. "It [Christianity] hasn't been a part of our life here for 40 years."
More desolate than the wilderness – Place (or condition) of isolation – a desert, without water (truth.)
In all their habitations – I.e., in all their dwellings. This seems again to point to the same class (or in this case the remnant of the class) represented by the "earth dwellers" of Revelation. – see also Rev. 18:2
They shall know that I am the LORD – When all these things have been fully accomplished. |