Ezekiel and the Time of the End
Ezekiel 9 will be literally fulfilled in the last days.
Study the 9th chapter of Ezekiel. These words will be literally fulfilled; yet the time is passing, and the people are asleep. They refuse to humble their souls and to be converted. Not a great while longer will the Lord bear with the people who have such great and important truths revealed to them, but who refuse to bring these truths into their individual experience. The time is short. God is calling; will you hear? Will you receive His message? Will you be converted before it is too late? Soon, very soon, every case will be decided for eternity.
- Ellen White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 1, p. 260
Ezekiel 9 is essentially a repeat of what happened in Jerusalem (AD 70).
The focus of this article is on the spiritual fulfillment in the last days.
1 He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.
The men with the destroying weapons are angels.
2 And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar.
The angel with the "writer's inkhorn" is most likely Gabriel.
In the last days everybody will either keep the Sabbath (Seal of God), or the Sunday (Mark of the beast). If you keep the Sabbath, it is a sign that you worship God. If you keep the Sunday, it is a sign that you worship satan.
The Seal of God is sometimes also defined as:
Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
- 2 Timothy 2:19 (KJV)
The angels here are not the same as the seven angels from the book of Revelation. Mainly because the angels here are holding slaughter weapons, whereas the seven angels from the book of Revelation are holding vials. You can also argue that the number of angels is different.
Ezekiel is only describing a more specific part of the seven plagues, e.g. most likely the fifth or sixth plague.
3 And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side;
4 And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
The forehead is where all the decisions are made (the frontal lobe specifically).
Those that "sigh and cry" (for their sins) are the 144,000.
Destruction does not begin until the ones that "sigh and cry" are sealed/marked.
Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
- Revelation 7:3-4 (KJV)
John heard about the sealing, but Ezekiel saw it.
This sealing of the servants of God is the same that was shown to Ezekiel.
- Ellen White, Testimonials p. 445
The sealing spoken of here happens at the close of probation (just before destruction).
What is the seal of the living God, which is placed in the foreheads of His people? It is a mark which angels, but not human eyes, can read; for the destroying angel must see this mark of redemption.
- Ellen White, Letter 126, 1898
5 And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:
6 Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.
Basically everyone dies. No exceptions.
Judgment begins at the house of God (sanctuary). Mainly because God's people should know better.
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
- 1 Peter 4:17 (KJV)
The phrase "ancient men" can also be translated as elders (or leaders).
The leaders that did not warn God's people (the church) are called "dumb dogs".
His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.
- Isaiah 56:10-12 (KJV)
Their followers will turn on them, because they didn't tell them about God's Law (the Ten Commandments).
All unite in heaping their bitterest condemnation upon the ministers. Unfaithful pastors have prophesied smooth things; they have led their hearers to make void the law of God and to persecute those who would keep it holy. Now, in their despair, these teachers confess before the world their work of deception. The multitudes are filled with fury. "We are lost!" they cry, "and you are the cause of our ruin"; and they turn upon the false shepherds. The very ones that once admired them most, will pronounce the most dreadful curses upon them. The very hands that once crowned them with laurels, will be raised for their destruction. The swords which were to slay God's people, are now employed to destroy their enemies.
- Ellen White, The Great Controversy, p. 655/656
7 And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.
8 And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord God! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?
9 Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The Lord hath forsaken the earth, and the Lord seeth not.
The iniquity is so bad, that God has decided to put an end to it.
Even the churches are just lukewarm.
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
- Revelation 3:16 (KJV)
10 And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head.
11 And, behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me.