(Eze 1:1-3) Surprisingly God’s presence is seen in the place of exile – by Chebar canal, in land of Chaldeans, there – not just Jerusalem.
(Eze 1:4f) God’s presence is described in midst of a thunderstorm riding a chariot made of cherubim and similar to Revelation 4-5.
(Eze 1:28) Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.
(Eze 2:2) The Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.
(Eze 2:10f) Ezekiel to eat a scroll that is sweet and bitter with words of judgment written on both sides. C.f. Revelation 10:8-11
(Eze 3:8f) Ezekiel to be made as stubborn in his speaking as his hearers in their sin.
(Eze 3:16f) Ezekiel is appointed a watchman but he is also made dumb, speaking only when God gives him a message to speak.
(Eze 4:1f) Ezekiel to act out the siege of Jerusalem. Israel will eat unclean food in exile, that is, they will become as though Gentiles.
(Eze 5:1f) Ezekiel acts out the judgment using his hair – burning it, throwing it to the wind – although some strands preserved.
(Eze 5:11) Israel’s chief sin is defiling the temple, place of God’s presence.
(Eze 6) Israel to be devoted to destruction like the Canaanites should have been.
(Eze 7) Judgments of sword, famine and disease c.f. Revelation’s seals.
(Eze 8) At the temple is an idol of jealousy, engravings of unclean animals, women praying to Tammuz, men turning backs on God to face sun.
(Eze 9:4) A mark on foreheads of the faithful to preserve them from God’s judgments c.f. Revelation 7.
(Eze 10) God’s presence moves from within the temple to the threshold and then to the east gate of the courtyard – God is about to leave.
(Eze 11:16) For those in exile already God has been a sanctuary/temple for them in exile even though he has abandoned Jerusalem.
(Eze 11:19) God will give the remnant a new heart and spirit that is inclined to obedience. He will be their God and they his people.
(Eze 11:23) God’s presence leaves the temple courtyard, the city and rests on the Mount of Olives before ascending to heaven – abandoned.
(Eze 12) Ezekiel acts out the part of a refugee fleeing into exile to illustrate that Jerusalem will fall to the Babylonians.
(Eze 13) The false prophets and prophetesses are like people strengthening a wall with whitewash. God will deliver his people from them.
(Eze 14:12f) Noah, Daniel and Job despite their own personal righteousness would not be able to save Israel from impending judgment.
(Eze 15:2) Israel is as useful as the wood content of a vine.
(Eze 16:8) God spread the corner of his garment over Israel – he married her by covenant.
(Eze 16:9f) Israel was a woman bathed, washed, anointed, clothed, adorned, fed and given perfect beauty by Yahweh.
(Eze 16:15f) Israel whored, lusted and committed adultery – high places, sacrifices, detestable practices, treaties with nations.
(Eze 16:60,63) God will establish an everlasting covenant and atone for Israel’s sin.
(Eze 17:22-23) The vine that is the kingdom of Israel will be uprooted but God will plant a cedar twig on Mt Zion that will rule the nations
(Eze 18:4,32) God says that the soul who sins shall die unless they repent. He has no pleasure in the death of anyone, so turn, and live.
(Eze 19:13-14) The royal line of David appears to be extinct – a plant in the wilderness that has been burnt.
(Eze 20:9,14,22,44) God’s dealings with his people is based on his concern for the glory of his name rather than their sin.
(Eze 20) Israel’s sin is highlighted in terms of temple observances – sacrifices and Sabbath keeping – significant in 40-48.
(Eze 20:33f) God will gather his people from exile, judge, bring into covenant, remove sin and restore his people.
(Eze 21:21-22) God controls the actions of a foreign king who acts based on consulting an animal’s liver for guidance from his idols.
(Eze 21:27) David’s house a ruin until he comes, the one to whom judgment belongs, to him God will give the kingship.
(Eze 22:26) Priests have profaned my holy things, made no distinction between holy/common, clean/unclean, disregarded Sabbaths. C.f. 40-48
(Eze 23) whore, breasts pressed, bosoms handled, poured lust on, uncovered nakedness, members like donkeys, issue like horses
(Eze 23:35) Because you have forgotten me and cast me behind your back, you must bear the consequences of your lewdness.
(Eze 23:38) They have defiled my sanctuary and profaned my Sabbaths. c.f. 40-48.
(Eze 24:18) Ezekiel’s wife dies and he doesn’t display mourning to indicate that the exiles will not mourn over Jerusalem’s fall.
(Eze 25) God judges Ammon, Moab, Edom and Philistia with being made desolate because of the way they treated Judah.
(Eze 26:19) Tyre will be judged by having the deep waters brought over her.
(Eze 26-27) Judgment on Tyre is similar to Revelation 18 on Babylon.
(Eze 28) Tyre described in terms of Eden, wisdom, precious stones, cherubim, holy mountain of God, blameless, cast out.
(Eze 28:25f) God will gather (rapture), judge nations, give promised land (new earth), give houses and vineyards (everlasting peace).
(Eze 29:3f) Egypt like a sea dragon that will be thrown into wilderness and devoured by scavengers.
(Eze 29:6-7) Egypt like a staff that when one leans on it, it breaks and pierces one’s arm pit.
(Eze 30:22,24) God will break Pharaoh’s arms and strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon. God is sovereign in such things.
(Eze 31:15) Egypt is like a tree that reached up to the heavens but now has been sent to Sheol.
(Eze 32) The nations and their armies are pictured as lying uncircumcised in the pit of Sheol despite having once brought terror.
(Eze 33:12) The wickedness of the wicked will not cause him to fall if he turns from it.
(Eze 33:22) Ezekiel stops being mute the evening before a man comes to announce the fulfilment of Ezekiel’s prophecy of Jerusalem’s fall.
(Eze 34:4) Shepherd-princes should care for the weak, sick, injured, strayed and lost.
(Eze 34:12) God will shepherd his people, gather, rescue and feed them on day of clouds and thick darkness.
(Eze 34:23) God’s servant David will be their shepherd i.e. Jesus.
(Eze 35:15) Edom to become desolate on all its mountains.
(Eze 36) The promised land will be restored to God’s people as a fruitful land. Ultimately this shadow promise is new earth.
(Eze 36:22f) God will save his people for the sake of the glory of his name.
(Eze 36:25f) God will sprinkle his people with water of cleansing, give new heart and spirit, give his Spirit to incline them to obedience.
(Eze 37:12) Ezekiel’s vision of dry bones. Graves will be opened and God’s people raised and brought into their land. Resurrection/New Earth
(Eze 37:25-27) David (Jesus) to be king, temple in their midst (God’s presence). This is to be forever not just an age!
(Eze 38:16) God is the one who brings Gog against his people. It is not simply Gog’s rebellion but God’s decreed purpose.
(Eze 38:2,15) Old Testament Gog and his regional allies in Rev 20:8 become all nations from the 4 corners of the earth.
(Eze 38:19,22) A great earthquake and Gog to be destroyed by rain, hail, fire and brimstone c.f. Armageddon & Rev 20:9
(Eze 39:17-20) Birds and scavengers to eat dead bodies. Same as Rev 19:17-18.
(Eze 39:29) I will not hide my face anymore from them, when I pour out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, declares the Lord GOD.
(Eze 40:1-2) Ezekiel and John both see the New Jerusalem from “a great mountain” with an angelic being c.f. Rev 21:10
(Eze 40) Emphasis on barriers – walls, thickness of walls, distances from temple, gates. Unlike past holiness will be respected.
(Eze 41:5,9,12) Thickness of walls emphasised again. Future will not be like past neglect of holiness.
(Eze 42:10-12,20) Emphasis on thickness and entrances. Key point “to make a separation between the holy and common.”
(Eze 43:2-5) Before glory went up from temple to Olives. Now God’s glory comes down from Mount of Olives to temple, filling the earth.
(Eze 43:8) Past described as defiling when only a thin wall separated God’s house from sinful houses of kings – but not now!
(Eze 43:11-12) Israel to be told blueprint re: entrances, exits, regulations etc so they may shame their former failure to honor holiness.
(Eze 43:16) The altar covers an area of 12×12 = 144 cubits! Similar numbers used in Rev to describe people of God as altar or New Jerusalem.
(Isa 44:5-7) Correcting past abuses of temple worship. Emphasis again on entrances and exits not admitting unclean people.
(Isa 44) The vision is intended to depict the perpetual worship of the God of heaven in the Kingdom of Christ.
(Isa 44) In Ezekiel’s vision priests, sacrifices etc. describe the future in OT shadow terms. Realty is in NT.
(Eze 45:7-9) An example of how past abuses by princes will not take place in the future.
(Eze 46) Neglected festivals and correct sacrifices will not be neglected in the future.
(Eze 47:1-5) A river of life flows from God’s throne. C.f. Rev 22:1 in the New Jerusalem.
(Eze 47:7,12) A tree of life – grows both sides of river, twelve crops of food a year and leaves are for healing C.f. Rev 22:2
(Eze 47:13f) Ezekiel’s shadow is the restored boundaries of the Promised Land. John’s greater fulfilment is the New Earth.
(Eze 47:22) Non-Israelites “shall be to you as native-born children of Israel”. In OT only a few but in NT multitudes.
(Eze 48:30f) Gates named after tribes of Israel c.f. Rev 21:12f “on gates names of tribes of Israel were inscribed”.
(Eze 48:35f) Book’s climax – “And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The LORD Is There.”