It was 3:30 Saturday morning when the Lord woke me up with this scripture found in the book of Ezekiel Chapter 8 verse 8
“Then said he unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold a door.”
Now I know this scripture. I have heard at least one sermon about this passage in my lifetime and likely more but yesterday morning when the Lord put this scripture in my heart there was something different about it to me than just the surface significance that you see in the passage. I want to read it to you in full context and then I will share what the Lord expanded in my heart to understand:
Ezekiel 8
1 And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord God fell there upon me.
2 Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber.
3 And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.
*** I want to pause here for a second and remind everyone that at the time of this vision not only is Ezekiel not in Jerusalem, he is in Babylon in exile. He had been carried away when King Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem and took away most of the Jews into captivity. King Nebuchadnezzar also destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem. This means that Ezekiel in seeing into the future. God has placed in him Jerusalem in the courts and gates and doors of a future Temple and he is showing him what will take place and what God will do about it. We will see a little later in the book of Ezekiel, chapters 40-48 that God shows him in great detail the temple that will be rebuilt and it has not happened yet to this day. Yes the temple has been rebuilt 2 more times after Ezekiel but neither temple was built in accordance to what God showed Ezekiel. This temple that will be rebuilt is often referred to as the 4th Temple and I believe that it is the Temple that Jesus talks about in Matthew 24
Matthew 24:15-22
King James Version
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
Daniel 9:27
King James Version
27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
**The 1st point of the message today. God showed his prophets a temple that will be rebuilt in Jerusalem to fulfil events of end time prophecy.
4 And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain. The "Plain" (Valley): The phrase "the vision that I saw in the plain" refers to Ezekiel's earlier vision in chapter 1, which included the famous imagery of the four living creatures and wheels, symbolizing God's presence and omnipresence.
Glorified Appearance (Visions of Christ in Heaven):
- Revelation 1:13-16: John sees Jesus in His glorified form, noting His head and hair were white as wool and snow, His eyes like a flame of fire, and His countenance like the sun shining in its strength.
- Revelation 1:15 & Daniel 10:6: His feet are described as being like polished, burnished, or fine bronze that burned in a furnace.
- Revelation 1:16 & Daniel 10:6: His voice is compared to the sound of many waters.
5 Then said he unto me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the way toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold northward at the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry.
In Ezekiel's Vision of the New Temple
- Symbolic Entry and Exit:
Ezekiel's vision details a specific North Gate within the temple complex where worshippers were to enter by the North Gate and exit by the South Gate, and vice-versa, during feasts to prevent return by the same way.
- Place of Sacrifice:
This North Gate also served as the location where sacrifices were prepared, killed, and washed before being offered to God.
- Divine Dwelling and Judgment:
The North is often symbolic of God's permanent dwelling or throne from which His glory descends. The North Gate was a point of entry to the inner court, a place of greater sanctity and proximity to God, and thus represented God's holiness confronting human sinfulness.
6 He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations.
***Point #2: We worship and sacrifice to the things we focus on and invest our time, energy and passion.
It was at this north gate that the people were suppose to sacrifice to the Lord God but they had setup their own idols and God was jealous.
"You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me".
"For you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God".
"For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God".
"the LORD your God in your midst is a jealous God—lest the anger of the LORD your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth".
7 And he brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold a hole in the wall.
8 Then said he unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold a door.
*** I want to tell you that yesterday morning I saw it so clearly that Jesus was telling Ezekiel to dig in the wall and to find a door. As soon as I heard this scripture I heard the words of Jesus in John 10:9-16 where he says “I am the door”
John 10:9-16
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
**The 1st point of the message today. God showed his prophets a temple that will be rebuilt in Jerusalem to fulfil events of end time prophecy.
***Point #2: We worship and sacrifice to the things we focus on and invest our time, energy and passion.
***Point #3 of the message: It does not matter what kind of sin, abomination or deception you find yourself in today, Jesus is the door for your freedom!
9 And he said unto me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here.
10 So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, pourtrayed upon the wall round about.
11 And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up.
12 Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, the Lord seeth us not; the Lord hath forsaken the earth.
***The door you think you are hiding behind from God is Jesus. He said I will never leave you and never forsake you. David wrote in Psalms
Psalm 139:7-12
King James Version
7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
Cont in Ezk 8:13
13 He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do.
14 Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the Lord's house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.
Who was Tammuz? The Mesopotamian deity, Tammuz, or Dumuzid, is often considered a fertility god associated with the annual cycle of seasons. He is most recognized by his epithet, the Shepherd (Sipad or Dumuzi Sipad).
He [Tammuz] appears to have been a god of the spring, and the myth regarding him told of his early death and of the descent of Istar, his bride, into the underworld in search of him.
Weeping for Tammuz was a 40 day mourning period for a pagan sun deity that which God castigates Israel for whoring after in Ezekiel 8:13-16. Today this period of mourning is called Lent.
15 Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these.
***Point #4 of the Message today: Be careful what holidays and religious activities you celebrate.
Colossians 2:16
- What it says:
"Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink or with regard to a festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ".
- Context:
The Apostle Paul is teaching that believers in the church at Colossae should not allow anyone to condemn them for their dietary choices or their observance or non-observance of the Old Testament festivals and holy days, which were observed by some Jewish believers at the time.
Galatians 4:10
- What it says: "You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!".
- Context: Paul is rebuking the Galatian believers, who were trying to add the observance of Jewish customs and festivals to their faith in Christ. He calls these practices "weak and beggarly elements," implying they are not necessary for spiritual growth or salvation.
We are going into a season of celebrations feast and holidays. It is important that we seek the Holy Spirit and make sure we are not doing anything to grieve his presence.
16 And he brought me into the inner court of the Lord's house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.
The inner court of the LORD's House, also known as the Temple, was a highly sacred area reserved for priests and Levites, located between the outer court and the inner sanctuary (Holy Place). It was a place of worship, ritual, and sacrifice, featuring the altar of burnt offering and other sacred elements. Access was restricted to authorized personnel, symbolizing a separation between the common people and God's holiness.
17 Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose.
18 Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.
***Point #5 We can physically be in the most holy place and have our backs to God. We must keep our spiritual face and eyes on Jesus.
Isaiah 29:13
13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
Ezekiel 33:31
31 And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
Matthew 15:7–9
7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
I want to you see verse 16 of Ezekiel 8 again: And he brought me into the inner court of the Lord's house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.
**Backs to the temple, faces toward the east.
In closing I want to take you to a new testament parallel passage of scriptures. Turn with me to James 4.
James 4
King James Version
1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
**The 1st point of the message today. God showed his prophets a temple that will be rebuilt in Jerusalem to fulfil events of end time prophecy.
***Point #2: We worship and sacrifice to the things we focus on and invest our time, energy and passion.
***Point #3 of the message: It does not matter what kind of sin, abomination or deception you find yourself in today, Jesus is the door for your freedom!
***Point #4 of the Message today: Be careful what holidays and religious activities you celebrate.
***Point #5 We can physically be in the most holy place and have our backs to God. We must keep our spiritual face and eyes on Jesus.