Table of Contents
End Time Proof
Now IN the End-Time
The Ten Virgins
The Spiritual Temple
The Man of Sin
Final Eras of the Church
Desolation of the Temple
The End-Time Elijah- Fulfilled
Unveiling the Book of Revelation
Clarifying the Seals of Revelation
First Five Seals Opened
The Sixth Seal of Revelation
The Opening of the 7th Seal
A Time for Two Witnesses
The Revelation of God's Plan for Mankind
Introduction (Plan of God)
The 7th Day Sabbath
Passover
Unleavened Bread
Pentecost
Trumpets
Atonement
Feast of Tabernacles
Last Great Day
Desolation of the Temple (Ezekiel 5)
Ezekiel 5 is a profound proof that we are living in the end-time. The events in this chapter are dual because they include end-time fulfillment for both the Church of God and the present-day nations of Israel. Ezekiel 5 is going to be fulfilled in a physical way on the nations that make up modern-day Israel. They have almost been completely fulfilled on a spiritual plane within the Church- the spiritual Israel of God.
And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barber's razor, and cause it to pass upon thine head and upon thy beard: then take thee balances to weigh, and divide the hair. Thou shalt burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled: and thou shalt take a third part, and smite about it with a knife: and a third part thou shalt scatter in the wind; and I will draw out a sword after them. (Ezekiel 5:1-2).
These verses speak of a prophetic time in the future- far beyond the days of Ezekiel. We have always understood these verses to be prophetic, referring to the nations of Israel in the end-time. But what we have not always understood is that these events would also happen to the spiritual Israel of God- the Church.
Ezekiel prophesied about a time when there would be such great destruction upon Israel that one-third would be destroyed almost immediately in the days when this tribulation begins, and another third would be destroyed over the following few months. Through this traumatic time, the last third would be scattered as a result of this devastation, but that is not the end of the tribulation because the last part of verse 2 makes it clear that a sword of destruction will come upon this last third as well.
These words are truly sobering. Such destruction never came upon physical Israel. This kind of destruction didn't come upon Israel even when they were taken into captivity in the early 700s B.C. Although Ezekiel's prophecies were directed to Israel and not to Judah, he didn't even write these prophecies for more than 250 years after Israel had been taken captive. They were written for a time far into the future, toward the end of the age, prior to the coming of the Kingdom of God to this earth.
We are rapidly approaching the time when these prophecies will be fulfilled in a very devastating way upon this world. This time of great physical tribulation could begin within a few months from the time of this booklet is published. That is just how close these events are to actually occurring. That is how sobering these times should be to us! Yet sadly, there will be many who will not be able to read these words until this time has indeed come!
The Church has understood that these prophecies were rapidly approaching their fulfillment upon the modern-day nations of Israel, but what it failed to understand is that they were also going to be fulfilled upon the modern-day Israel of God- the Church of God.
Our very history testifies and is witness to the truth that this prophecy has almost been completely fulfilled upon the Church. That is why this area of scripture stands out as irrefutable proof that we are in the end-time. We know, or at least we should know, where the Church of God is today. Our recent history cries out about this truth, and it agrees with what God said would happen to us in the end-time. Our recent history and what we are currently living through agree perfectly with the word of God concerning what he said about the Church at the end-time. All these areas of proof that we are covering are witness of the true Church of God at the end of the age.
Prophecy Being Fulfilled
Ezekiel 5 is approaching complete fulfillment upon the Church. If everyone within the environs of the Church would be truthful, then all would agree that the Church has been scattered. We should also be able to agree that incredible devastation has already taken a great toll upon the Church, and that everyone should be able to acknowledge that we have been living through times of great tribulation upon the Church. We have always known that great physical tribulation would come upon the modern-day nations of Israel, but great spiritual tribulation has already come upon the spiritual Israel of God- the Church of God.
When Mr. Joe Tkach, Sr. gave a sermon in December of 1994 that was a complete doctrinal reversal, he unleashed the greatest destructive power ever thrust upon the Church. Almost immediately, about a third of the Church simply gave up and quit. Within the next few months, another third had either turned back to the false beliefs of traditional Christianity or simply compromised with the word of God by passively submitting to the rule and administration of a new false system (which isn't really new at all). Although some of these people claim they did not compromise, they continued to give support and tithes to this new destructive power that was working to destroy the Church. Certainly their allegiance to God was no longer genuine and undefiled.
With two-thirds having fallen, one-third yet remained that was scattered in many directions. But, as the second verse of Ezekiel 5 explains, these people who are scattered do not have it made simply because they escaped initial destruction. God said that He would draw a sword after them. The spiritual fulfillment of this sword should be obvious, even as it is stated in Ephesians 6:17 "...and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:"
The greatest challenge to the scattered Church has been the trial and testing upon brethren as to whether they would be faithful stewards to the truths that God restored to the Church during Philadelphia through Mr. Armstrong.
There has been attack upon attack against the word of God- the truths of God that have been restored to the present-day Church. The test is whether we will repent of our own ways- lethargy, complacency, and pride. The abomination of desolation that has been working to destroy the Church is the very power that works to dilute and change the word of God- the truths restored.
We are in a great spiritual war, and we are being tried and tested as to whether we will remain faithful stewards of the treasure of the word of God that we have been given. God's spirit will make manifest our spiritual condition. A sword has indeed been drawn out after all those who are scattered. It reveals what is in each of us. "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).
Yes, prophecy has already been fulfilled concerning the magnitude of the destruction upon two-thirds of the spiritual Israel of God. This is a powerful witness that we are indeed closing in on the end of the end-time. This portion of Ezekiel 5 has already been accomplished. It is very sobering to see what is now being fulfilled upon the Church. This is current- happening now! The last third was to be scattered and a sword drawn out after them.
It is also sobering to understand that only a remnant of that last third will come through this tribulation. "Thou shalt also take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy skirts. Then take of them again, and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire; for thereof shall a fire come forth into all the house of Israel" (Ezekiel 5:3-4). This last third, having a sword drawn out after it, is to be cast into the midst of a fire. Again, the spiritual fulfillment of fire is one we understand. This time is characterized by fiery trial and testing- testing in faithfulness to the word of God- the truths God has given us. Only a remnant will come through it.
it is interesting to note the expression "...and bind them in thy skirts." The word for "skirts," as the margins of some Bibles show, is the Hebrew word for "wings." This shows a kind of protection for those who will respond to the correction of God. Repentance is required of everyone who will receive this protection. The expression "wings" should remind us of other places in scripture that reveal protection for God's people.
This description of a final third being scattered is described in other places. It reveals that only a remnant will remain from the whole, which God reveals is only a tenth of that last third.
"And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. 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." (Zechariah 13:8-9). Yes, the last third remaining will have a fiery trial to test them. And those who will zealously repent and call on God's name will be spared and protected, but not all will repent.
"And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call." (Joel 2:32). This prophecy concerns a deliverance that is both spiritual and physical for the Israel of God at the very end of the age. There will be deliverance for those who are called to be a part of Mt. Zion- the Church of God. A remnant is to be delivered. It is somewhat like a second-calling because of the condition in which we live. Without God's mercy and correction everyone would stumble and fail under this devastation. God's purpose is to call a remnant out of this last, scattered third. God is using this tribulation and scattering to help bring us to repentance. The last third is being called to repentance! Those who hear and respond will become the final remnant. Of this third, scattered and called to repentance, only a few will finally be chosen as a remnant.
"Hear ye this word which I take up against you, even a lamentation, O house of Israel. The virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise: she is forsaken upon her land; there is none to raise her up. For thus saith the Lord GOD; The city that went out by a thousand shall leave an hundred, and that which went forth by an hundred shall leave ten, to the house of Israel. For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live:" (Amos 5:1-4).
The Church is referred to as being like virgins. This prophecy speaks of a time when the Church has fallen, not to rise again to her former state in the end-time, although some have believed and still believe they are going to accomplish the latter. Of those scattered, as the expression is used of those who went out of the city by a certain number (scattered), only ten percent would remain. God shows again that the means to survival, the means to protection, and the means to becoming a part of the final remnant is to seek God. That involves repentance. The fallen virgin is the result of sin and disobedience to God.
God makes it very clear that there is a need to repent and seek Him zealously. This is exactly what the Church is directed to do during the time of Laodicea- the last era before Jesus Christ returns. This time of desolation and tribulation upon the Church is spoken of in very direct terms, especially in Ezekiel 20.
"As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you: And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD. And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant: And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD." (Ezekiel 20:33-38).
The condition of the Church over the past several years is a witness that testifies to the fact that the people have been scattered in many different directions. The scattering itself is revealing what is inside each one of us. Who will be faithful stewards of what God has given us? Our scattering reveals just how diverse the thinking truly is among brethren. So many truths have been destroyed by various individuals. We are in a very sickly, spiritually sluggish condition. But many are too proud to admit that this condition is reality. Truly we are in the time of Laodicea when brethren primarily see themselves as wealthy, unable to admit they are wretched, blind, and naked as a Church.
God makes it clear by these verses in Ezekiel 20 that He will get rid of all who continue to resist Him by refusing to repent. These are rebels choosing to remain in their sins. Those who refuse the correction of God will not "enter into the land of Israel." For those in the Church, that means they will not be a part of the first resurrection.
Yes, the witness- the true testimony of these verses in Ezekiel 20- should be plain for all of us to see. We have been scattered, and God is seeking to bring us to repentance. He has been pleading with us through the very things we have been experiencing. He will accomplish His will by bringing a full tenth through this, and that is what is meant by the tithing expression "and I w ill cause you to pass under the rod."
The scattering of the last third of the Church has already come to a close. Ezekiel 5 has nearly been completed upon the Church. We are indeed closing in on the end of the end-time spoken of in scripture. We are about to enter the worst times in all of human history when Ezekiel 5 will be fulfilled upon the physical nations of Israel in the final 3 1/2 years of great physical tribulation on this earth- then the Kingdom of God will finally be here!
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