by Paul Apple | Dec 19, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: ISRAEL’S POSSESSION OF HER INHERITANCE IN THE PROMISED LAND ALLOWS HER TO ENJOY THE ABIDING PRESENCE OF GOD INTRODUCTION: Lamar Cooper: Ezekiel saw five elements of the new kingdom that revealed the restoration would be permanent. – First, the new...
by Paul Apple | Dec 18, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE LIFE-GIVING WATER FLOWING FROM THE TEMPLE BECOMES A POWERFUL RIVER INTRODUCTION: Lamar Cooper: The view taken here is that Ezekiel 47:1–48:35 is neither wholly symbolic nor wholly literal. The best approach, considering the apocalyptic character of the...
by Paul Apple | Dec 17, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE HOLINESS OF GOD, THE SANCTITY OF WORSHIP AND THE PROTECTION OF LAND OWNERSHIP GOVERNED BY SPECIFIC REGULATIONS INTRODUCTION: Feinberg: The emphasis here is unmistakably on the Sabbath and the new moon, which alone should indicate the Jewish setting of...
by Paul Apple | Dec 17, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: WORSHIP IN THE MILLENNIAL ERA REQUIRES: – SECURING THE SANCTITY OF THE SANCTUARY – STOPPING THE FORMER PRACTICE OF GREED AND EXPLOITATION BY THE CORRUPT LEADERS IN FAVOR OF FAIR BUSINESS DEALINGS – SUPPORTING THE PRINCE IN HIS ROLE OF...
by Paul Apple | Dec 16, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE PRIVILEGE OF ACCESS TO GOD MUST BE TIGHTLY CONTROLLED BY DIVINE STANDARDS OF HOLINESS INTRODUCTION: Iain Duguid: Following on the description of the return of the glory of the Lord to fill the central space of the temple, Ezekiel 44 continues the process...
by Paul Apple | Dec 15, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: AT THE HEART OF WORSHIP, GOD DEMANDS ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICE FOR SIN INTRODUCTION: MacArthur: Exact offerings, in language just as definitive as the literal descriptions in Moses’ day, are also just as literal here. They are of a memorial nature; they are not...
by Paul Apple | Dec 14, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE SHEKINAH GLORY OF THE LORD’S MAGNIFICENT PRESENCE RETURNS TO THE NEW MILLENNIAL TEMPLE TO REIGN IN HOLINESS INTRODUCTION: This is one of the most dramatic sections in the prophecy of Ezekiel. The exiles in Babylon would have been tremendously encouraged...
by Paul Apple | Dec 13, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: WORSHIP MATTERS TO THE LORD AS SEEN IN HIS PRECISE DESIGN OF THE RESTORED TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM IN THE LAST DAYS INTRODUCTION: Lamar Cooper: H. Parunak has noted a chiastic structure to chaps. 40–42, centering around the description of the inner court. After...
by Paul Apple | Dec 11, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: YAHWEH GLORIFIES HIS NAME BY HIS SOVEREIGN CONTROL AND COVENANT PROTECTION OF ISRAEL AGAINST THE INVADING CONFEDERACY OF NATIONS LED BY GOG IN THE END TIMES INTRODUCTION: These two chapters form a cohesive unit detailing the end-times invasion of Israel led...
by Paul Apple | Dec 9, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD WILL POWERFULLY WORK THROUGH REVIVAL AND REUNIFICATION TO ACCOMPLISH HIS ULTIMATE KINGDOM AGENDA FOR HIS ELECT NATION ISRAEL INTRODUCTION: Ezekiel interprets a powerful vision and a symbolic act to portray the important themes of revival and...
by Paul Apple | Dec 7, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE VINDICATION OF GOD’S REPUTATION MOTIVATES THE GRACIOUS RESTORATION OF HIS WAYWARD ELECT NATION INTRODUCTION: This passage beautifully unfolds the process and amazing benefits of restoration for the nation of Israel. But the emphasis throughout is on...
by Paul Apple | Dec 5, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE RESTORATION OF YAHWEH’S LAND REQUIRES FIRST RENDERING EDOM DESOLATE FOR HER TREATMENT OF ISRAEL INTRODUCTION: These two sections (chap. 35 and chap. 36:1-15) are mirror-images of one another. They are paired in such a way as to highlight the contrasts....
by Paul Apple | Dec 3, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: RESTORATION REQUIRES REPLACING SELFISH FORMER SHEPHERDS WITH THE MESSIANIC SHEPHERD-KING = THE NEW DAVID INTRODUCTION: Lamar Cooper: Chapter 34 comprises figurative messages to the leaders of Israel as shepherds (vv. 1–16) and to the people as sheep (vv....
by Paul Apple | Dec 2, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: REJECTION OF GOD’S PROPHETIC WORD CONFIRMS BOTH THE REMNANT IN JUDAH AND THE EXILES IN BABYLON ON THEIR PATH TO CONTINUED DIVINE JUDGMENT INTRODUCTION: Ezekiel prepares to deliver six messages related to Israel’s ultimate restoration to the Promised Land....
by Paul Apple | Nov 30, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: ISRAEL MUST RESPOND IN REPENTANCE TO EZEKIEL’S WARNINGS AS A FAITHFUL WATCHMAN APPOINTED BY GOD INTRODUCTION: In this transitional chapter moving from God’s judgments against the nations to His plan of restoration and hope for His covenant people, we find a...
by Paul Apple | Nov 29, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: DESCENT INTO SHEOL ELIMINATES ALL BOASTING FOR EGYPT AS SHE IS NO BETTER OFF THAN ANY NATION THAT WAS JUDGED FOR VIOLENCE INTRODUCTION: The judgment oracles directed against the powerhouse nation of Egypt trace her demise all the way down to the humiliating...
by Paul Apple | Nov 28, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD PROMISES TO UTTERLY DESTROY PHARAOH AND EGYPT INTRODUCTION: Two final laments in chapter 32 conclude the prophetic judgment uttered against Egypt. In the first lament (vv. 1-16) the focus begins on the demise of Egypt’s leader (vv. 1-10); and then in vv....
by Paul Apple | Nov 27, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: IF THE POWERFUL NATION OF ASSYRIA CAN SUFFER SUCH A HUMILIATING DEMISE, HOW MUCH MORE THE ARROGANT NATION OF EGYPT INTRODUCTION: This allegory of the felling of the mighty tree recounts the demise of powerful Assyria in order to apply its message to arrogant...
by Paul Apple | Nov 25, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: ULTIMATE SUCCESS OR FAILURE COMES FROM THE ARM OF THE LORD — BREAKING THE ARMS OF PHARAOH AND STRENGTHENING THE ARMS OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR INTRODUCTION: The world powers of Egypt (under the leadership of Pharaoh) and Babylon (under the leadership of...
by Paul Apple | Nov 25, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE COMING JUDGMENT ON EGYPT PREFIGURES THE ESCHATOLOGICAL DAY OF THE LORD AND IMPACTS EGYPT’S ALLIES INTRODUCTION: The fate of Egypt was revealed in chapter 29. Now this prophecy continues as Ezekiel makes the association with the Day of the Lord to show...
