Ezekiel 48, King James Version
Chuck Smith on Ezekiel 48
Verse by verse, taught on Sunday nights: the C2000 series, 1979 to 1985. Permission granted by The Word For Today.
Chapter introduction
Now the Lord gives him the borders of the land from Damascus on the north and down to the south and to the east and so forth, and then the tribes are divided into the land. And the northern most part of the land is given to the tribe of Dan. South of him would be Asher, and then Naphtali, then Manasseh, then Ephraim, and then Reuben, and then Judah. And then in the area of Judah, of course, you have this area for the priests and the temple and this new holy city that will be created during that period and then this portion is set aside perpetually for the Lord and for the priests, not to be sold.
And then the residue of this acreage in there will be for the prince, and then south from there you have the tribe of Benjamin, further south Simeon, and then Issachar, Zebulun and Gad, as you're moving down into the area of the Sinai. So that whole area, of course, will be green and lush and tillable. Then is when the prophecy will be fulfilled, the desert will blossom as a rose, there will be springs in the deserts and streams in dry places and all. And the land restored and the world restored, really, by the power of the Lord.
Now, the city is going to have twelve gates, and the gates will be named after the tribes of the children of Israel. So the three gates on the north will be for Reuben, Judah, and Levi. On the east the gates will be named for Joseph, Benjamin, and Dan. On the south the gates will be named Simeon, Issachar, and Zebulun. And on the west: Gad, Asher, and Naphtali.
Verse 35
And it was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, [Jehovah Shama] The Lord is there (48:35).
The city of the Lord. And thus it gets that beautiful name, Jehovah Shama, The Lord is there.
So, as I have shared with you, I'm glad we're through with this portion of Ezekiel. I do not, again, pretend to have a thorough, full understanding of these things. In this area I know in part, and I prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part will be done away with. But until the Lord brings us a more complete understanding... and I don't see why He needs to at this time.
Why should He give me a clear understanding of this now? When it's really for Israel, not for me anyhow. And the time isn't yet. It is yet a future time in the Kingdom Age. It isn't necessary that I understand this part of it fully right now. I'm sure that one day I will, when I see the whole thing, I walk through the city, and I walk through the gates and all, and I look over the whole thing, I say, "Wow, yeah." Well, I'll go back to Ezekiel, man, that wasn't bad what the guy did. It's pretty good for a description of it. And I'll understand it more fully then, though right now I'm still sort of foggy on the whole thing.
But when we get into Daniel, then we'll cook. Because Daniel speaks of the things that we are seeing coming to pass now in the world around us. And God has given to us a better understanding, because these are the things that relate to us and to our times when we get into Daniel. Up unto through chapter 39 they related to us and our times. Can see those clearly. But then as we get into the future, it isn't time yet that we should know these things and thus God hasn't revealed them.
That's why you hear people who are seeking to argue against the pre-Tribulation rapture theory. They say it is not a theory that was a part of the historic church doctrine. It's something that has come along more recently. And because it was not taught in historic church doctrine they sort of reject it as having any true authority. But to me that is not a substantial argument at all. For there are, first of all, things that have been taught in historic church doctrine that I disagree with entirely. Origin taught baptismal regeneration. Origin taught the baptism of infants. I don't think the Bible teaches either. But it was a part and is a part of historic church doctrine. Therefore there is historic church doctrine which isn't biblical.
Secondly, why should God reveal the things of the rapture of the church to Martin Luther when it wasn't going to happen in his time? Even as we don't understand fully these things in Ezekiel, because they're not for our time. And it isn't necessary that God make them clear to us. Because they are things for a yet future time for a different people.
So because the rapture is for our time even as God told Daniel when he was seeking understanding of the prophecies that he was writing, the Lord said, "Seal them up. They are for the time of the end. For at that time knowledge will be increased." In Psalm when it was writing concerning the future, he said, and the re-gathering of Israel and all, he said, "These things are written for a generation to come." I'm not writing you these things for those that are living now, these are written for a generation to come. So God has written things that are especially for us and now that we are living in that day there is a clearer understanding.
And though the rapture of the church might not be a part of historic church doctrine, it was sure a part of Paul's theology and when does church history begin? Paul surely taught it. But that it was lost during the history of the church, it must also be confessed that many other beautiful and glorious truths were lost during the history of the church. And really the church went through the Dark Ages and was actually a part of the cause of the Dark Ages. For the church was guilty, the historic church was guilty of suppressing scientific knowledge and understanding, because they were discovering things that were contrary to historic church doctrine. When they began to gaze through telescopes and discovered things about our universe that were contrary to historic church doctrine. The history of the church is not a glorious...
I think, you know, Steven was talking to the Sanhedrin and he rehearsed for them their history. Now these people were always boasting in their fathers. "Well, our fathers this. Our fathers that. And our fathers, our ancestors... " And they were always boasting this stuff. And Steven, man, he laid them low. He gave them their history and then he said, "Which of the prophets did your fathers not stone?" And he told them how horrible their fathers were. "Your history is pretty black, men. It's pretty dark."
Well, let me say that I feel the history of the church is very dark indeed. I have no defense for the history of the church. I'm ashamed of it. So anybody comes to me and starts talking about historic church doctrine, I'm embarrassed over what the church has done in its history. Surely it hasn't been a true representative of Jesus Christ in the world or there would be more people converted today. The church has been a great stumbling block. And it has hindered progress and development and it has suppressed men and peoples. I'm ashamed of church history. I don't try to defend it at all; I apologize for it.
But I don't have to make the same mistakes. Nor am I responsible for the mistakes that they made. Now, a lot of you kids in college, you have a problem because the professors start bringing up things which have happened in church history. They start telling about the wars and how the church has slaughtered so many people and the horrible atrocities that have been done in the name of Christ. And you're defenseless. And I found myself in university defenseless against these things. And I used to sort of hang my head. Until the Lord called me to realize, "Hey, that's not me and that's not my understanding of Christianity." To me that isn't a true representative of Christianity and I began to speak up and say, "Wait a minute. That's not really Christian. Just because they said they were Christians, just because they went by the church doesn't mean that they were truly Christians." You can get a box of Grape Nuts; it's not grapes, it's not nuts. You don't know what it is. I don't have to answer for the mistakes of the church fathers. I'll have to answer for my own mistakes. And thus, I need to be seeking the guidance of the Spirit that I don't make mistakes, you see. For I am going to answer for me. But that puts a greater responsibility upon me, because it is important that I seek God and I seek to live after the biblical injunctions. That I seek to walk after the Spirit. That I seek to be led by the Spirit. That I seek to love as Christ loved and show a better example of what the Lord intended His children to be and to do.
Now even as people have judged the church by the mistakes of the past, so they are continuing to judge the church, but you can help rectify it by living as God would have you to live and be a good example so that they can point to you and say, "Well, yes, but there is a real Christian."
You know, it's interesting when we go to Israel. We'll be talking with a group of the Jewish people over there and they'll start saying, "Well, the church this, the church that... and the Christians. Oh, the Christians, they're this, they're that, and the other." And we say, "Wait a minute. We're Christians. You know, you're talking about Christians and here we are. We're Christians, what do you mean?" "Oh no, you're not Christians. You're Calvary Chapel. You're different." And it's interesting they recognize a difference. All over they recognize the difference. They say, "You're different." They really don't know where to put us yet. They really don't understand us yet. We come on with so much love and so much concern and interest and all for them. We're just an enigma to them at the present time. I can hardly wait till we get these pastors all over there spreading love all over Israel to these people.
And incidentally, the third of December we'll be at the baptismal site on the river Jordan that Calvary Chapel purchased for Israel. We gave money to the Ministry of Tourism to put up a baptismal site and they've asked me to speak at the dedication ceremonies. And so it'll be an excellent opportunity to speak to these people and let them know why we love them, why we're interested in the land. Why we wanted a baptismal site on the Jordan River and what it's all about. And so pray for me on the third of December, because God's going to give us a good opportunity to share at this dedication.
But you are the Bible that is being read by the world today. And the opinion of Christianity is being created by what you are. Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men, that when they see your good works, they will glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). God help us that we will not be of those of which people say, "Well, if that's a Christian I don't need any of that." Let God help us to live in such a way as the salt of the earth will create a thirst in people for Jesus Christ.
God bless you and God keep you. Fill you with His Spirit and with His love. Watch over you. That we might, each of us, grow into a greater apprehension of all that God is and desires to do for us. And may above all you walk in love. In Jesus' name.