The End Is Coming

I do not consider myself a doom and gloom preacher, but I do believe what God’s Word says. Ezekiel prophesied the end is coming and destruction will accompany it.

Although the prophecy in Ezekiel 7 points to Israel, Old Testament prophecies often hold dual meanings. The coming of the end will affect not only Israel but the rest of the world as well.

Ezekiel gave us a clue that the coming of the end of time will impact everyone. He did that by starting the following verse with an all-inclusive phrase.

Not one person whose life is twisted by sin will ever recover. Ezekiel 7:13

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Before discussing what the prophet wrote in this chapter, let’s establish when it will happen. Jesus will come for the church, followed by seven years of tribulation.

The first half of the tribulation will begin with the rise of the Antichrist. He will solve many of the world’s problems as the global leader. But in the second half, he will come against Israel.

He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. 2 Thessalonians 2:4

Daniel also prophesied about this lawless one who will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people. Ezekiel 7 begins by speaking about this end-time event.

The end is here! Wherever you look— east, west, north, or south— your land is finished. Ezekiel 7:2

The coming end spoken about by the prophet consists of the second three and a half years. For that period of time, the earth will experience the wrath of God like never before.

Ezekiel: “For all your detestable sins.”

Ezekiel repeated this phrase four times, “for all your detestable sins.” He said each of them in response to the Israelites’ sinful ways.

No hope remains, for I will unleash my anger against you. I will call you to account for all your detestable sins. Ezekiel 7:3
I will turn my eyes away and show no pity. I will repay you for all your detestable sins. Then you will know that I am the Lord. Ezekiel 7:4
Soon I will pour out my fury on you and unleash my anger against you. I will call you to account for all your detestable sins. Ezekiel 7:8
I will turn my eyes away and show no pity. I will repay you for all your detestable sins. Then you will know that it is I, the Lord, who is striking the blow. Ezekiel 7:9

The rich history of the Israelites began with God’s promise to Abraham. But his descendants repeatedly distanced themselves from God by worshiping other gods.

Also, every person on the earth at that time had something in common, including the nation of Israel. They had all rejected Christ, thus subjecting themselves to the wrath of God.

This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Disaster after disaster is coming your way! The end has come. It has finally arrived. Your final doom is waiting! Ezekiel 7:5-6

Some will receive Christ as their Savior at a significant cost during the tribulation. They will suffer great persecution before losing their lives.

And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. Revelation 20:4

The Extension of God’s Grace

The Lord extended His grace and compassion to His chosen people through the centuries. But they kept turning their backs on Him.

He even sent His only Son, Jesus, to walk among them. Jesus healed many and delivered others possessed by demons. Yet they snubbed Him and had Him put to death.

Like a two-minute warning in football, God will extend a three and a half year warning for the Israelites.

Instead of His love, mercy, and grace, the Lord will pour His out wrath. They will no longer feel secure, and the things they hold in high value will become worthless.

They will throw their money in the streets, tossing it out like worthless trash. Their silver and gold won’t save them on that day of the Lord’s anger. It will neither satisfy nor feed them, for their greed can only trip them up. Ezekiel 7:19

The world will team up together to come against the children of God. Terror and trembling will overcome them. They will look for peace but not find it.

Before the final whistle, for Israel, it seemed like the clock was coming to an end. For over three years, they had suffered God’s wrath and deception by the devil.

In the final seconds, just before their annihilation, God showered them with a spirit of grace. At that point, instead of the end coming, they recognized their Messiah, whom they pierced.

And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. Zechariah 12:10

The End Centers Around Israel Coming to Jesus

You might think that the tribulation centers around Israel. It does. The rapture removed the church (those who have accepted) altogether.

People can get saved during the tribulation if they reject the mark of the beast and accept Jesus. Think about it, though: No one can buy anything without that mark, food, medication, etc.

Without the mark, they couldn’t pay for housing, and they’d become homeless. If a person didn’t take the mark of the beast, they would either be on the run or imprisoned and then killed.

The choice comes down to the mark or death. If people won’t accept Him today, what makes you think they would accept Him then? The time of grace will end with the coming tribulation.

Lord, thank you for making a way out from the sin that twists around our lives. To that end, we look forward to Christ’s coming for the church.

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