Vision of Slaughter

 

    When you think about the gift of visions, what comes to mind?  Is it the cool stuff like what you see in the sci-fi action movies?  Is it the mystery person in the horror movies that always gets out of trouble?  The reality of visions are that there are two sources: God and Demonic.  Demonic will lie.  God will show you the truth, but it is probably not the truth that you want to see.    

    Sometimes we have to face hard realities.  Sometimes we need to see unpleasant things about ourselves, so that we have the opportunity to change.  Sometimes we need to be prepared for things that will not be changed.  That is the point of God's visions: communication.  Ezekiel did not ask for visions, but he got the full experience from God.

    In the vision of Jerusalem's slaughter, God called the deadly guards (executioners) to stand at a bronze altar.  There Ezekiel saw six men wearing white linen and holding writing Equipment.  God's ordered them to go into Jerusalem and place a mark on the foreheads of the grieved and those that lamented their sins.  It was the sign of deliverance (possibly like the ash cross).

    Then God ordered the executioners to killed EVERYONE without the mark without pity or compassion.  It was an execution of everyone who rejected God.  They began at God's Temple with the city officials and leaders, then spread out into the city.  The city filled with blood.  

    When Ezekiel was alone, he cried out to God.  God replied because He understood the pain it caused Ezekiel, but Ezekiel needed to understand that the sin was so great and the land had become so unjust that it had completely forsook Him.  Without God, we have no hope.  He had to wake people up.  Once it was complete the six writers returned with their report of completion.

Ezekiel 9