Church Order: Preaching and Pastoral Ministry

Will It Happen Again?

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Church Government

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2016-12-18

Synopsis: In this sermon, Pastor John Weaver examines Ezekiel 9, where God commands the destruction of Jerusalem due to rampant idolatry and apostasy. He draws parallels between the sins of ancient Judah and modern America, warning that God's immutable nature means His judgments against sin remain unchanged. The message emphasizes that judgment begins at the house of God, and only those who mourn over sin are marked for mercy. Weaver calls for repentance, lest the same destruction befall the nation again.

[John Weaver] All right, let's open our Bibles to the book of Ezekiel chapter nine. Ezekiel chapter nine. The title of the message is, will it happen again? We're going to read all 11 verses. If the Lord will give me grace through these sinuses to get through this message, I will be happy. So notice Ezekiel nine verse one. He cried also at mine ears with a loud voice saying, cause them to have charge over the city to draw near.

[John Weaver] Every man with this destroying weapon in his hand. Behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which life toward the north and every man, a slaughter weapon in his hand. And one man among them was clothed with linen. The other writers in corn by side. And they went in and stood by the brazen altar. And the glory of the God of Israel was going up from the cherub.

[John Weaver] whereupon he was to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's ink worn by his side. And the Lord said to him, go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. And to the others, he said in mine hearing, go you after him though through the city and smite, let not your eyes spare neither have pity. slay utterly old and young, both maids and little children and women, but come not near any man upon whom is the mark and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house. And he said unto them, defile the house and fill the courts with the slain. Go you forth. And they went forth and slew in the city. And it came to pass while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face and cried and said, ah, Lord God, will thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem.

[John Weaver] Then he said unto me, the iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness. For they say, the Lord hath forsaken the earth, and the Lord seeth not. And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recommend their way upon their head. And behold, a man clothed with the linen, which had the incord by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me.

[John Weaver] One of the afflictions of the elderly, sinus. Thank you. It has been said that lightning does not strike twice in the same place. Of course, that is untrue. Lightning will strike as often as is necessary in the same place. As long as the Lord God sends it. And as long as the Lord God wills it, it'll strike a hundred times. If he so sends it, there are many other related.

[John Weaver] judgments that you and I think about. There are some states that have certain areas through them that are known as Tornado Alley. There are other states that have problems with hurricanes and earthquakes. If one survives some of these weather-related judgments, such as some of these cities that have been destroyed in Kansas and Arkansas, one of the questions that enters everyone's mind is, Will it happen again? In fact, we could ask that question in regard to all of God's judgments. And if we grasp the truth of God's immutability, we really do not need to ask that question. God does not change and neither do his judgments against sin and rebellion. He is the same infinite, immutable and Holy God. And as righteous judgments are just and Holy.

[John Weaver] and they do not cease. Circumstances surrounding the judgments may differ, but the outcome and the results of the judgments are the same. In Ezekiel chapter 9, God reveals to Ezekiel that he intends to destroy Judah and Jerusalem along with the wicked in those areas. If you look at verse 1, And I haven't coughed all morning. He cried also in my ears with a loud voice saying, cause them that have charged over the city to draw near even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand. Now, verse one is extremely informative. He cried with a loud or with a great voice, the loud or the great voice demonstrates the greatness of his indignation.

[John Weaver] and the vehemence of his wrath, which was stirred up against the sins of the people. Thus, he is calling together the messengers of death and destruction. Those that have charge over the city in this context would refer either to angels or the Chaldeans in whose hands he's delivered the city. I want you to notice something about verse one. He said, cause them to have charge over the city to draw near.

[John Weaver] every man with its destroying weapon in his hand. And behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lie toward the north.

[John Weaver] Now this command he issues from the temple court where the temple was the place because the temple was the place where God revealed himself to his people, both by mercy and judgment. Now, let me tell you, the brazen altar was where the sacrifices were offered. The wicked had refused God's substitutional sacrifice for sin, and now they are going to be the sacrifice for their sins. There is a principle that is clearly enunciated in scripture, and that is this. You must either have a substitute for your sins, a substitutional sacrifice, or you must pay the penalty yourself. Now, since wicked Judah and Jerusalem had rejected God's sacrifice, they now became the sacrifice to God's righteous judgment. Let me point out the fact that when God's righteous judgment strikes, there is no room for mercy.

[John Weaver] Joab is an excellent illustration for this. Joab, you remember, was David's captain. He was also a murderer. He murdered two men in cold blood. When it came time for Joab to die, Joab ran into the tabernacle and grabbed hold of the horns on the altar. Let me read it to you. Don't have to turn there, but 1 Kings chapter 2, verses 28 through 31. Then tidings came to Joab, for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he had not turned after Absalom. And Joab fled into the tabernacle of the Lord and called hold of the horns of the altar. And it was told King Solomon that Joab was fled into the tabernacle of the Lord, and behold, he is by the altar.

[John Weaver] Then Solomon sent Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, saying, go, fall upon him. Benaiah came into the tabernacle of the Lord and said to him, thus saith the king, come forth. And he said, nay, but I will die here. And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, thus said Joab. And thus he answered me. And the king said to him, do as he said. Fall upon him and bury him.

[John Weaver] that thou mayest take away the innocent blood, which you have shed for me and the house of my father. So Joab was in the tabernacle holding onto the horns of the brazen altar, but no mercy was shown to him. So when God's judgment comes, it is not a time for mercy. It is a time for judgment and sacrifice.

[John Weaver] Now look in verse two. Ezekiel chapter 9, and behold, six men which came from the way of the higher gate which lie toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand. And one man among them was clothed with linen and with a rider's inkhorn by his side, and they went and stood beside the brazen altar. Now, the question has to be asked, who were these six men that were armed with their destroying weapons in their hands. I might point out that there are two varying views concerning exactly who these individuals really were. There are some scholars who point out that these six individuals were representatives of the Babylonian army whom God had ordained to destroy Judah and Jerusalem. One of those men is Adam Clark. Let me read to you what Adam says. By those six men with destroying weapons, the Chaldeans are represented who had received commission to destroy the city.

[John Weaver] And when the North is mentioned in such cases, Chaldean and the Chaldean armies are generally intended. There appears to have been six men with a sort of slaughter bill and one man with an ink horn. These may represent the seven counselors of the Eastern monarchs, who always saw the king's face and knew all the secrets of the government. One of them was that minister who had the Office of Reporting Concerning Criminals, who carried the Book of Death and the Book of Life into the presence of the king. Where the names were entered of the criminals who were destined to suffer and of those who were either considered as innocent or recommended to mercy, those are the former in the Book of Death, those in the latter in the Book of Life. This person with the ink horn might be termed in our phrase, the recorder. So Adam Clark is saying that these six men then were representatives of the Babylonians.

[John Weaver] Interestingly, there's a passage in scripture that lists six princes of Nebuchadnezzar that sat in the gate. Let me just read it. Jeremiah 39 verse three. And all the princes of the King of Babylon came in and sat in the middle gate, even Nergar-Shel-Rezor, Shamgar-Nebo, Sar-Shechem, Rab-Soros, Nergar-Shel-Rezor, and Rab-Bag, with all the residue of the princes of the King of Babylon. So six are particularly mentioned. So here is Adam Clark saying these six men are representatives of the Babylonian army. Now, there are other commentators and other scholars who say no, that these six men are six angels.

[John Weaver] And I probably agree with this interpretation. When you consider that one angel in one night with one stroke of the sword killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers, I don't imagine six angels would have too much problem with Judah and Jerusalem. But here's what Matthew Henry says, and listen carefully. because he's going to present the position that these six men are angels. He says, there are those that have charge of the city destroyed, not the Chaldean armies.

[John Weaver] They're to be indeed employed in this work, but they are not the visitors. They're only the servants or the tools. God's angels have received a charge now to lay the city waste, which they had long had a charge to protect and to watch over. They are at hand as destroying angels. as ministers of wrath for every man has his destroying weapon in his hand and the angel that kept the way of the tree of life with a flaming sword or as the angel that did so.

[John Weaver] Now notice what Henry goes on to say. They went in and stood beside the brazen altar on which the sacrifices want to be offered an atonement made. When they acted as destroyers, they acted as sacrificers, not from any personal revenge or ill will, but with a pure and sincere regard to the glory of God. For to his justice, all they slew were offered up as victims. They stood by the altar as it were to protect and vindicate that and plead its righteous cause and avenge the horrid profanation of it at the altar.

[John Weaver] They were to receive their commission to destroy, to intimate that the iniquity of Jerusalem, like that of Eli's house was not to be purged by sacrifice. Well, certainly Henry is right. In this sense of the word, because either one will offer an acceptable sacrifice to God as God demands, or one will become the sacrifice to his righteous wrath and judgment. The Bible says in Psalm 118 in verse 27, God is the Lord, which has shown us light. Bind the sacrifice with cords, even to the horns of the altar. So here then are six angels in all probability that have come from God with a bill of destruction against Judah and Jerusalem.

[John Weaver] Now you have to ask yourself this question. Why did God deal so horrendously with Judah and Jerusalem? Well, Jeremiah states it like this in Lamentations 4 and verse 5. He says, for the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom that was overthrown in a moment and no hand stayed on her. So Jeremiah says the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem were greater than the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Certainly, the greatness of their sins and the greatness of their responsibility demonstrated the greatness of their culpability and therefore demanded a greater punishment. Now, you have to remember that Judah and Jerusalem not only had the law of God, they had the tabernacle of God, they had the worship of God, Later they had the temple of God.

[John Weaver] I want you to look with me in Ezekiel chapter eight, and let me show you that which provoked the Lord so horribly. And let me just say, before we look at Ezekiel chapter eight, that we do not want to mimic these provocations. Unhappily, I do believe this, and I am afraid of this. I believe that most professing Christians. are engaging in the exact same provocations that Judah and Jerusalem engaged in.

[John Weaver] And if we continue to do so, the question has to be asked, will it happen again? And then you asked me what will happen again? And my answer is hold on, wait and see. So let's look in Ezekiel chapter eight. and see that which provoked to the Lord to destroy Judah and Jerusalem. Let's read the first five verses. And it came to pass in the sixth year and in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house and the elders of Judah sat before me that the hand of the Lord God fell upon me.

[John Weaver] Then I beheld an oil 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 the brightness as the color of Amber. And he put forth the form of a hand, and took me by the lock of mine head. And the Spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heavens, and brought me into the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north.

[John Weaver] Where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoked a jealousy? And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain. 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 the northward at the gate of the altar, this image of jealousy at the entry." Now, God states that there at the gate was the seat of the idol. We do not know exactly what idol this was. It could have been an image of Baal, which, of course, Manasseh had put in the temple, could also have been an image of Mars or Tammuz or Adonis. We're not told exactly what that image was or what that altar was. What we are told is that it was an image of jealousy. And the participle is added, provoking to jealousy. So whatever this was, it was in plain absolute view of everyone.

[John Weaver] So the reality that is being presented here is that the entire country was given over to idolatry. They had apostatized and they had left the true worship of Jehovah. And the idol was located at the door of the inner gate for everyone to see. They were unashamed in their sin And they're rebellion. So the very first thing we have is open idolatry, open apostasy, but it gets worse.

[John Weaver] Let's look in verse seven, beginning verse seven. Well, let's read verse six. He said, therefore to me, son of man, see is thou what they do. Even the great abominations at the house of Israel committed the year that I should go far off from my sanctuary, but turn the yet again and now shall see greater abominations.

[John Weaver] Now, the open idol was bad enough, but now here's something greater. And he brought me to the door of the court, and when I looked, behold, a hole in the wall. Then he said unto me, son, a man digged down the wall, and when I digged in the wall, behold, a door. And he said unto me, go in and behold the wicked abominations they do here. So I went in and saw, and behold, every form of creeping things, an abominable beast, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed upon the wall round about and there stood before them 70 men of the ancients of the house of Israel and in the midst of them stood and Jason I am the son of Shaphan and every man is sensor in his hand and the thick cloud of incense went up then said he unto me son of man has thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark every man in the chambers of his imagery but they

[John Weaver] said for they say the Lord seetheth not The Lord hath forsaken the earth." Now, God says, look, open apostasy is bad. But I'm going to show you something even greater. Adam Clark comments on this passage when he sees all of these things that are painted on the wall. For instance, look in verse 10. He says, then I went in and saw and behold every form of creeping things and abominable beast and all the isles of the house of Israel portrayed upon the wall roundabout. Now listen to this.

[John Weaver] And when I read this, I want you to remember what it looks like in the tombs of the Pharaohs. Listen carefully. He says it is very likely that these images portrayed on the wall were the objects of Egyptian adoration. The ox, the ape, the dog, the crocodile, the Ibis, the Scarabeus or the beetle and various other things. It appears that these were privately worshipped by the Sanhedrin or Jewish council consisting of 70 or 72 persons, six chosen out of every tribe as representatives of the people. The images were portrayed upon the wall as we find those ancient idols are on the walls of the tombs of the kings and nobles of Egypt.

[John Weaver] So here you have this open idol and open apostasy. And now you have everyone worshiping basically the leaders openly. I'm going to say openly, but actually secretly all of the abominations of Egypt.

[John Weaver] Now look at verse 12. This is exceedingly important. Then said he unto me, son of man, has thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark?

[John Weaver] Now we're talking about the leaders. We're talking about the elders, every man in the chambers of his imagery. For they say the Lord, see if that's not the Lord of the forsaken, the earth. What is every man doing in the chambers of his imagery? You remember the word image comes from imagination. So here's what is happening. A hole was dug into the wall and that a door was discovered and that door then led to the chambers of a man's imagery. That is, it led to what he actually held in his mind and in his heart. So these leaders of Israel were not willing to do that, which they were not willing to do that openly, which they were willing to do. secretly.

[John Weaver] In other words, their profession did not match their lives. Let me put it like this. They were first rate hypocrites. They professed one thing, that is that they were the people of God, but they lived a totally different thing. They were different in private than what they were in public. Does that ring a bell? Does that make you think of our modern-day politicians? Because the hypocrisy of our modern-day politicians is exposed here as well. Do you realize that practically all politicians, with the exception of the Muslims and the Jews, are professing Christians?

[John Weaver] And yet the truth of the matter is they work against the very faith they profess to believe. They pass laws that are absolutely contrary to God and His words, And they eagerly do so and then have the audacity to defend their actions based upon humanistic rationale. So it was with the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem. We must come to the realization that as a man thinks in his heart, how he acts and how he conducts his business in reality is what he is. As Proverbs 23 in verse 7 says, as a man thinking in his heart, so is he. And our Lord said it very plainly in Matthew 7 verse 20, wherever by their fruits, you shall know them. So our Lord says, here is this open apostasy.

[John Weaver] Here is the seat of the idol, but here is what everyone is really doing in the chambers of their imagination. Words, their thoughts are absolutely contrary to me. They profess one thing. but they're acting entirely different.

[John Weaver] Now I want you to note, our Lord lists even a greater abomination in verses 13 and 14. Watch. He said also unto me, turn yet again and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do. 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. Ah, I do not want to get into all of this absolutely pagan worship.

[John Weaver] But there is certainly an application here. I want to just give you two brief quotes by two commentators. The first one is Matthew Poole and the second one is Albert Barnes. And they're going to be talking about the worship of Tammuz. Listen carefully. I think Matthew Poole hits the nail on the head really he says this there sat women now listen to this next statement contrary to the law were they come hither led by their blindest because the vilest and most impudent superstition and waiting that is expressed by city sitting ready to commit most lewd

[John Weaver] wickedness as part of their obscene and beastly rights weeping This is only the part which is specified of their irreligious religion commemorating with tears and infamously lustful and unclean whoremonger or virginary of Venus snatched from her by an unhappy wound of a boar said that sometime this weeping implies all the beastly rights of that idol. So actually what you're talking about here the worship of Tammuz it's not only sex worship prostitution everything. But listen further.

[John Weaver] Albert Barnes says it like this. This was a revival of nature worship under another form. The death of Adonis, who was snatched from her, symbolized by the suspension of the productive powers of nature, which were in due time revived. Accordingly, the time of this festival was at the summer solstice. When in the east nature seems to wither and die under the scorching heat of the sun, to burst forth again into life in the due season. At the same time, there was a connection between this and the sun worship in that the decline of the sun and the decline of nature might be likened, like represented by the death of Adonis. The excitement attended upon these extravagances of alternate whaling and exaltation were in complete accordance with the character of nature worship, which for this reason was so popular in the East, especially with women, and led by inevitable consequences to unbridled license and excess.

[John Weaver] Such was, in Ezekiel's day, one of the most detestable forms of idolatry. So here were women then who were sitting where they were not even supposed to be sitting. They were there where they were not even supposed to be, because this particular place was reserved for the rulers and the princes. And they were there weeping for this stupid idol or this nature worship. I want you to contrast Ezra and Daniel. Ezra and Daniel wept for the national sins of their people. Here these women were weeping for that idol or for what the idol represented.

[John Weaver] Do you realize We have exactly the same thing today. You say, brother Weaver, I've never heard of anyone today. Worshiping Tamas. Well, you have to remember that this is an aspect of nature. Worship. Do you realize in environmentalism today, a baby Eagle is worth far more than a human baby. You can murder a human baby, but you better not touch a baby Eagle. or you'll spend 40 years in prison. It's just that simple. Environmentalism. Think about trees, Mother Earth, and nature. In environmentalism, all of these are accorded a higher worship than the one true and the living God. I've actually seen a bumper sticker that said, Trees have feelings too.

[John Weaver] You talk about a tree hugger? I saw one sign I really liked. It said, there's nothing wrong with hugging a tree, as long as you're getting to your deer stand. Well, that's a little different than environmentalism, that is for sure. But just to demonstrate this point, where nature is accorded a higher position than God himself. Just recently within the last several months, and I did not record her name, but there was one leading feminist who was pregnant with a male child and she had her baby murdered, aborted, And here is what she said.

[John Weaver] I was not going to bring another monster into the world. She was a feminist. And if it was a man, it was a monster. That same woman probably would cry at a baby beached whale and shed great tears because a baby whale is dying. And yet there's no tears for an aborted baby. Paganism always exalts nature and ignores the God of nature. It's strange as well as an abominable thing that many will choose to serve an idol with tears. When they refuse to serve the one true and the living God with joy and gladness of heart.

[John Weaver] Now look at Ezekiel eight in verse 16. Here's the final abomination notice. 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 20 men with their backs toward the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the East. And they worship the sun toward the East. Wow. Now, wait a minute.

[John Weaver] Maybe you didn't hear that. Look at verse 16 again. And he brought me to the inner court. of the Lord's house, the inner court. May I remind you that no one but the priests could enter into the inner court. And it's interesting that he said there were about five and 20 men. May I ask you, do you remember how many courses of priests there were? 24 and the high priest was over each one. And each of the orders, each of the courses had a priest over there. So here then you have all 25 of the Lord's priests worshiping the sun.

[John Weaver] They had their backs toward the West by the way, God's altar was in the West. So they were then worshiping the sun. May I point out that the worship of the sun and other heavenly bodies was part of the earliest idolatries and condemned repeatedly in scripture. Let me show you. Let's go in your Bibles. Holy Ezekiel chapter eight, but go in your Bibles very quickly. to the book of Deuteronomy 17. And then we're going to Job 31, Deuteronomy 17. And notice if you would please beginning there with verse two, Deuteronomy 17 and verse two.

[John Weaver] Look what the Bible says. Deuteronomy 17, verse two. If there be any found among you with any of the gates which the Lord thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the Lord thy God, in transgressing his covenant, hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded. And it be told thee, and thou hast heard it and inquired diligently, and behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel. Then shall thou bring forth that man and that woman which have committed that wicked thing under thy gates. Even that man or that woman, thou shalt stone them with stones till they die. Worshipping of the sun and the moon.

[John Weaver] And if you will look in the book of Job chapter 31, Job is talking about the very fact that he's suffering. And of course, Job is holding on to his righteousness. And he's saying that he had not done anything to deserve the judgment he was facing. And this is one of the things he mentions Job chapter 31, beginning there verse 26. He says, if I beheld the sun when it shined or the moon walking in brightness, and my heart had been secretly enticed, or my mouth has kissed my hand, this also were iniquity to be punished by the judge, for I should have denied the God that is above. Notice he's talking about the worship of the sun and the worship of the moon. He said, if I've done this, then I have denied the God who is above. Now I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Ezekiel chapter 22.

[John Weaver] Let me just show you. I don't know if you have been thinking with me, but as we read through Ezekiel chapter eight, you will find that the. People were involved and engaged in idolatry. You'll also find that the princes were engaged in idolatry. The priests were engaged into idolatry. In fact, the truth is, idolatry had pretty well swept over the entire area. Very few had not bowed to some idol. Notice Ezekiel chapter 22, beginning there in verse 25.

[John Weaver] God says, There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey. They devoured souls. They have taken the treasure and precious things. They have made her many widows in the midst thereof. Her prophets are no good. Her priests have violated my law and have profaned mine holy things. They have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither they show difference between the unclean and the clean. and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profane among them. Now the priests are guilty. Verse 27, her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey to shed blood and destroy souls to get dishonest gain.

[John Weaver] And her prophets are mentioned again, have dobbed them with untempered mortar, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying thus saith the Lord God, when the Lord hath not spoken, here it is, the people of the land have used oppression, and exercise robbery and evicts the poor and the needy, yet they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully." So God lists the prophets, the priests, the princes, and the people.

[John Weaver] Everyone is totally consumed with apostasy and idolatry. Now, I want you to go back to Ezekiel chapter 8. I want you to see God's attitude toward this apostasy this turning from Him and His law. Verses 17 and 18. Here it is. Ezekiel 8 verse 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?

[John Weaver] For they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger, lo, they put the branch to their nose. Therefore will I also deal in fury, mine eyes shall not spare, neither will I have pity, and though they cry in my ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them. Wow.

[John Weaver] Now I want you to watch. We've now arrived at chapter nine. At chapter nine, verse one, God calls for men with the destroying weapons in their hand. When you get to Ezekiel chapter nine, let me say it like this. Judgment has come. Full judgment has come. God graciously and mercifully marked the few who side and cried for the abominations of the country. Look in verses three and four and the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the chair of where upon he was.

[John Weaver] to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the rider's ink worn by his side. And the Lord said unto him, go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations to be done in the midst thereof. So God said, I want you to go over there and pick out all of those who are upset with all of this apostasy and idolatry and wickedness and corruption. Put a mark on their heads. After these are marked.

[John Weaver] The awesome and terrifying destruction begins. Look in verse five. And to the others, he said in my hearing, go you after him through the city and smite. Let not your eyes spare. Neither have you pity. Slay utterly old and young, both maids and little children and women, but come not near any man upon whom is the mark, and begin at my sanctuary. Then they begin at the ancient men which were before the house.

[John Weaver] Yeah, that is those elders watched. And it came to pass when they were slaying them, and I was left, that was verse eight, verse seven, and he said unto them, Defile the house and fill the courts with the slain. That is those wicked priests. Go ye forth. And they went forth and slew in the city.

[John Weaver] Now, the interesting thing is. God says, I want you to slay everybody who doesn't have the mark. Look at look at verse five again. And to the others, he said in mind here and go, you have to come through the city and smite. Let not your eyes spare. Neither have you pity. There's no mercy shown slay utterly old and young. Notice both maids and little children and women, but come not near any man upon whom is my mark. Now, although there was no mercy to be shown, there are no pity to be given. God is saying the time for repentance and forgiveness is past. The only thing that remains now is judgment.

[John Weaver] Now there is one question here that is clearly answered for us. You never have to guess. Here's the question that is answered. Where did this judgment begin? Well, look at verse six. Slay utterly old and young, both maids and little children and women, but come not near any man upon whom is the mark and begin at my sanctuary. Have a question. Does that passage ring a bell for you?

[John Weaver] Hold Ezekiel nine, but turn in your Bibles to first Peter chapter four. First Peter chapter four. And let's read their verses 17 and 18. First Peter four, 17 and 18. Look what Peter says. For the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God. And if it first began in us. What shall the envy of them that obey not the gospel of God. And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly in the center appear? Now, wait a minute, wait a minute for the time has come. The judgment must begin at the house of God. And if it began with us, what shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God.

[John Weaver] Now watch what he said. And if the righteous scarcely be saved. Go back in your Bibles to Ezekiel chapter nine and look at verse eight. What did Ezekiel say? And it came to pass while they were slaying them and I was left. I fell on my face. I got news for you. If God graciously spared me, I'd be falling on my face as well. But that's what he's saying. Judgment now must begin at the house of God. And if the righteous scarcely be saved, what are the world's going to happen to the wicked in the ungodly?

[John Weaver] I want you to pause and contemplate a very serious thought. Here it is as a professing Christian people. And as a professing Christian nation, we have apostatized from the truth. In this nation, we seek an easy religion and a superficial salvation. We want to be saved from the penalty of our sins while we enjoy revel in and glory in our sins. We wish to be entertained and coddled and comforted and pampered. We have no desire as a nation to be biblical, to be obedient, holy, or righteous. We as a nation have become unjust, unrighteous, unholy in every sphere of life and in our government.

[John Weaver] Listen, we have forsaken God and his word socially. economically, ecclesiastically, governmentally, and individually. We're in rebellion and disobedience up to our eyeballs. We're committing the same sins that Judah and Jerusalem committed. So my question is, will it happen again? You say, wait a minute, brother Weaver, hang on. I'm not worshiping the son. I'm not falling down to some idol before some idol. I'm not worshiping Tammuz. Really? You're not an idolater.

[John Weaver] I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Colossians chapter three. By the way, I hope you understand. You cannot violate any of the 10 commandments Until you have violated the first commandment, thou shall have no other gods before me. Hmm. Think about this. Look in Colossians chapter three, verse five and verse six. Watch carefully mortified. Therefore your members, which are upon the earth fornication and cleanliness inordinate affection. Evil concupiscence. Are you watching?

[John Weaver] And covetousness, which is idolatry for which things sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience. Now, did you notice he said, and covetousness, which is idolatry and covetousness, which is idolatry. When we place our desires, lusts, and love upon things other than the Lord, it is idolatry. When we place material possessions ahead of the worship and obedience to God, it is idolatry. Are you listening? When we refuse to order our thoughts in accord and in agreement with the word of God, it is idolatry. When we place ourselves, our wants, and our wills ahead of God and His Word and His truth, it is idolatry.

[John Weaver] We may not bow down to a physical idol, but we oftentimes submit and bow down to the idol of self. We want what we want. We want to please ourselves. We want to satisfy and gratify our flesh. We want that which we want and we want it no matter what it does not matter. Whether it flies in the face of God's word. Do you realize all adultery is idolatry? All theft is idolatry. All murder is idolatry. Any violation of God's law is idolatry because you cannot disobey God without first enthroning yourself. You make self an idol. Such is idolatry. It's that abominable thing which God hates.

[John Weaver] So that's why I ask this question. Since we're committing exactly the same sins. that Judah and Jerusalem committed. Will it happen again? Will God send his destroyers upon us? Will our society, our nation and our people be destroyed? You must remember that God is immutable. He does not change and neither do his judgments. We have to learn the truth of Hebrews 10 in verse 31. It's a fearful thing to fall in the hands of a living God. It's even more fearful. When that living God is angry with you. I think the question that I ask is a very legitimate one in light of our apostasy. Will it happen again? Will it happen again? Let me make some applications and I want you to think. With me, please. First of all, if you will understand Ezekiel nine in verse one, you understand this, that God has ministers of wrath at his call and at his disposal. And those ministers are always within his call and they come with invisible powers by whom he accomplishes his purposes.

[John Weaver] It should be noted that those who make God their enemy also make his messengers their enemy. It does not bode well for those who fight against God, nor does it bode well for those who fight against his messengers. Instead of fighting, we need repentance. I want you to listen to me very carefully. I just said that we have fallen into the same trap that Israel fell into. I want you to turn in your Bibles to Ezekiel 33, Ezekiel 33. Very interesting passage.

[John Weaver] Most of, you know, That our founding fathers were Christian. The few who were not Christians were deeply influenced by the Christian faith. Do you know what Israel did? Israel depended on upon the fact that we have Abraham and our father. Well, Abraham was the friend of God. I mean, doesn't that give us something we could sit back and say, well, look at the faith of our founding fathers.

[John Weaver] And I got news for you. Even Benjamin Franklin, who's accounted a deist. If you read his writings, he has far more theology. and expresses a far greater faith than most professing Christians today. It was Benjamin Franklin who called for prayer at the constitutional convention. I mean, the very fact that he said that if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without your heavenly father, how much less can a nation arise without it?

[John Weaver] Obviously he believed in God's sovereignty. He may not have been a Christian, but the point I'm trying to make is. Those who were not Christians were deeply influenced by the Christian faith. And by the way, Benjamin Franklin and George Whitfield were friends and Franklin always went to hear Whitfield preach. It was Franklin who did the figuring and figured out that approximately 25,000 people could hear Whitfield preach without any type of amplification or megaphones.

[John Weaver] I want to show you look in Ezekiel chapter 33. Let's begin reading verse 24. We're depending on our founding fathers, just like Israel depended upon Abraham. Notice Ezekiel chapter 33, beginning there. Verse 24 son of man, they didn't have it. Those wastes of the land of Israel speak saying Abraham was one and he inherited the land, but we're many. The land has given us for inheritance. It's ours.

[John Weaver] Wherefore saying to them, now watch the set, the Lord God, you eat with the blood and lift up your eyes towards your idols and shed blood. And shall you possess the land? You stand upon your sword. You work abomination. You defile everyone. His neighbor's wife. And shall you possess the land? Say thou thus into them. Thus said the Lord God, as I live, surely they, that they're in the waste shall fall by the sword.

[John Weaver] And him that is in the open field will I give to the beast to be devoured and they in the forts and in the cave shall die the pestilence for I will lay the land most desolate and the pump of her strength shall cease and the mountain miserable shall be desolate that none pass through it. Wow. I didn't help them to be the descendants of Abraham. Didn't help them to be the friend of the friend of God. And it won't help us to know that we had a godly foundation. We've spent it.

[John Weaver] Thirdly, I want you to look back in Ezekiel chapter eight. Here's the third application. Watch this. There comes a time when God will not hear cries for mercy. That is a frightening truth. And yet it is clearly revealed. We need to look no further than Ezekiel eight in verse 18. I could multiply verses, but look what God says in Ezekiel eight in verse 18. Therefore will I also deal in fury. Mine. I shall not spare.

[John Weaver] Neither will I have pity. And though they cry in my ears with a loud voice yet, will I not hear them? Look in Ezekiel nine and verse 10. And as for me also, mine eyes shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head. The truth of the matter is this. If one does not seek the Lord in a state of mercy and grace, if one does not hear God in the time of mercy and grace. God will not hear him in the time of judgment. You know what Isaiah 55 verses 6 and 7 state? The Bible says, seek ye the Lord while he may be found.

[John Weaver] Call ye upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return to the Lord. And he will have abundant mercy upon him. And to our God, for he will abundantly pardon him. So God said, If you seek me while I may be found, and if you turn from your wicked ways and you obey me, there's mercy. But if you do not turn from your wicked ways and you do not seek me in a time of grace and mercy and the time of judgment, I will not hear you. Will it happen again? God said.

[John Weaver] and Ezekiel nine begin at my sanctuary. He said in first Peter four, the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God. And let me tell you something, folks. If the righteous scarcely be saved, or as Job said, if we make it by the skin of our teeth, if God spares us in his mercy, what in the world will the end of the ungodly and the wicked be? I can assure you, I don't want to be with the wicked and the ungodly and find out. I want to be like Ezekiel. When I find out that I was spared, I want to fall on my face and say, thank you, father. Thank you for grace and mercy. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to thee. We thank you for your word. We thank you for your truth and Lord help us Lord to consider and seriously consider the state of our nation and to order our lives accordingly, that we, like Ezekiel, may be spared if and when it happens again.

[John Weaver] Give us grace to serve thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. In thy name we pray. Amen.

Will It Happen Again?

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	ZWU51y5UVVw
Subject	Church Government
Course	Church Order: Preaching and Pastoral Ministry
Genre	Sermon
Date	2016-12-18
Dictation Name
Book	Book 039: Church Order and Worship - Volume 1 — Chapter 25
Source Timed Segments	80

Formatted Transcript

Opening

All right, let's open our Bibles to the book of Ezekiel chapter 9. Ezekiel chapter 9. The title of the message is, "Will It Happen Again?" We're going to read all 11 verses. If the Lord will give me grace through these sinuses to get through this message, I will be happy. So notice Ezekiel 9 verse 1.

Scripture Reading — Ezekiel 9:1-11

"He cried also at mine ears with a loud voice saying, Cause them to have charge over the city to draw near." "Every man with this destroying weapon in his hand. Behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north and every man, a slaughter weapon in his hand. And one man among them was clothed with linen. The other writers inkhorn by side. And they went in and stood by the brazen altar. And the glory of the God of Israel was going up from the cherub." "Whereupon he was to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side. And the Lord said to him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. And to the others, he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city and smite, let not your eyes spare neither have pity. Slay utterly old and young, both maids and little children and women, but come not near any man upon whom is the mark and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house. And he said unto them, Defile the house and fill the courts with the slain. Go ye forth. And they went forth and slew in the city. And it came to pass while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face and cried and said, Ah, Lord God, wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem." "Then he said unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness. For they say, The Lord hath forsaken the earth, and the Lord seeth not. And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head. And behold, a man clothed with the linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me."

One of the afflictions of the elderly, sinus. Thank you. It has been said that lightning does not strike twice in the same place. Of course, that is untrue. Lightning will strike as often as is necessary in the same place. As long as the Lord God sends it. And as long as the Lord God wills it, it'll strike a hundred times. If he so sends it, there are many other related judgments that you and I think about.

Introduction: The Question of Repeated Judgment

Weaver introduces the theme by questioning whether God's judgments, like lightning or natural disasters, can strike again, emphasizing God's immutability in judgment.

There are some states that have certain areas through them that are known as Tornado Alley. There are other states that have problems with hurricanes and earthquakes. If one survives some of these weather-related judgments, such as some of these cities that have been destroyed in Kansas and Arkansas, one of the questions that enters everyone's mind is, "Will it happen again?" In fact, we could ask that question in regard to all of God's judgments. And if we grasp the truth of God's immutability, we really do not need to ask that question. God does not change and neither do his judgments against sin and rebellion. He is the same infinite, immutable and holy God. And his righteous judgments are just and holy.

And they do not cease. Circumstances surrounding the judgments may differ, but the outcome and the results of the judgments are the same. In Ezekiel chapter 9, God reveals to Ezekiel that he intends to destroy Judah and Jerusalem along with the wicked in those areas. If you look at verse 1, and I haven't coughed all morning. "He cried also in my ears with a loud voice saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand." Now, verse 1 is extremely informative. He cried with a loud or with a great voice, the loud or the great voice demonstrates the greatness of his indignation.

The Command to Destroy Jerusalem (Ezekiel 9:1-2)

God calls for destroyers with weapons, representing either angels or the Babylonian army, to execute judgment on the city.

And the vehemence of his wrath, which was stirred up against the sins of the people. Thus, he is calling together the messengers of death and destruction. Those that have charge over the city in this context would refer either to angels or the Chaldeans in whose hands he's delivered the city. I want you to notice something about verse 1. He said, "Cause them to have charge over the city to draw near." "Every man with its destroying weapon in his hand. And behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north."

Now this command he issues from the temple court where the temple was the place because the temple was the place where God revealed himself to his people, both by mercy and judgment. Now, let me tell you, the brazen altar was where the sacrifices were offered. The wicked had refused God's substitutional sacrifice for sin, and now they are going to be the sacrifice for their sins. There is a principle that is clearly enunciated in scripture, and that is this. You must either have a substitute for your sins, a substitutional sacrifice, or you must pay the penalty yourself. Now, since wicked Judah and Jerusalem had rejected God's sacrifice, they now became the sacrifice to God's righteous judgment. Let me point out the fact that when God's righteous judgment strikes, there is no room for mercy.

No Mercy at the Altar: The Principle of Substitution

Those who reject God's substitutionary sacrifice become the sacrifice themselves; Joab's death at the altar illustrates that judgment leaves no room for mercy.

Joab is an excellent illustration for this. Joab, you remember, was David's captain. He was also a murderer. He murdered two men in cold blood. When it came time for Joab to die, Joab ran into the tabernacle and grabbed hold of the horns on the altar. Let me read it to you. Don't have to turn there, but 1 Kings chapter 2, verses 28 through 31. "Then tidings came to Joab, for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he had not turned after Absalom. And Joab fled into the tabernacle of the Lord and caught hold of the horns of the altar. And it was told King Solomon that Joab was fled into the tabernacle of the Lord, and behold, he is by the altar."

"Then Solomon sent Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him. Benaiah came into the tabernacle of the Lord and said to him, Thus saith the king, Come forth. And he said, Nay, but I will die here. And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Joab. And thus he answered me. And the king said to him, Do as he said. Fall upon him and bury him."

"That thou mayest take away the innocent blood, which you have shed for me and the house of my father." So Joab was in the tabernacle holding onto the horns of the brazen altar, but no mercy was shown to him. So when God's judgment comes, it is not a time for mercy. It is a time for judgment and sacrifice.

The Identity of the Six Men and the Man with the Inkhorn

Weaver discusses two views: the six men as Babylonian princes or as angels, and the man with the inkhorn as a recorder marking the faithful.

Now look in verse 2. Ezekiel chapter 9, "And behold, six men which came from the way of the higher gate which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand. And one man among them was clothed with linen and with a writer's inkhorn by his side, and they went and stood beside the brazen altar." Now, the question has to be asked, who were these six men that were armed with their destroying weapons in their hands. I might point out that there are two varying views concerning exactly who these individuals really were. There are some scholars who point out that these six individuals were representatives of the Babylonian army whom God had ordained to destroy Judah and Jerusalem. One of those men is Adam Clarke. Let me read to you what Adam says. By those six men with destroying weapons, the Chaldeans are represented who had received commission to destroy the city.

And when the North is mentioned in such cases, Chaldean and the Chaldean armies are generally intended. There appears to have been six men with a sort of slaughter bill and one man with an inkhorn. These may represent the seven counselors of the Eastern monarchs, who always saw the king's face and knew all the secrets of the government. One of them was that minister who had the Office of Reporting Concerning Criminals, who carried the Book of Death and the Book of Life into the presence of the king. Where the names were entered of the criminals who were destined to suffer and of those who were either considered as innocent or recommended to mercy, those are the former in the Book of Death, those in the latter in the Book of Life. This person with the inkhorn might be termed in our phrase, the recorder. So Adam Clarke is saying that these six men then were representatives of the Babylonians.

Interestingly, there's a passage in scripture that lists six princes of Nebuchadnezzar that sat in the gate. Let me just read it. Jeremiah 39 verse 3.

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 39:3

"And all the princes of the King of Babylon came in and sat in the middle gate, even Nergal-Sharezer, Samgar-Nebo, Sarsechim, Rab-Saris, Nergal-Sharezer, and Rab-Mag, with all the residue of the princes of the King of Babylon."

So six are particularly mentioned. So here is Adam Clarke saying these six men are representatives of the Babylonian army. Now, there are other commentators and other scholars who say no, that these six men are six angels. And I probably agree with this interpretation. When you consider that one angel in one night with one stroke of the sword killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers, I don't imagine six angels would have too much problem with Judah and Jerusalem. But here's what Matthew Henry says, and listen carefully. Because he's going to present the position that these six men are angels. He says, "There are those that have charge of the city destroyed, not the Chaldean armies."

"They're to be indeed employed in this work, but they are not the visitors. They're only the servants or the tools. God's angels have received a charge now to lay the city waste, which they had long had a charge to protect and to watch over. They are at hand as destroying angels. As ministers of wrath for every man has his destroying weapon in his hand and the angel that kept the way of the tree of life with a flaming sword or as the angel that did so."

Now notice what Henry goes on to say. "They went in and stood beside the brazen altar on which the sacrifices want to be offered an atonement made. When they acted as destroyers, they acted as sacrificers, not from any personal revenge or ill will, but with a pure and sincere regard to the glory of God. For to his justice, all they slew were offered up as victims. They stood by the altar as it were to protect and vindicate that and plead its righteous cause and avenge the horrid profanation of it at the altar." "They were to receive their commission to destroy, to intimate that the iniquity of Jerusalem, like that of Eli's house was not to be purged by sacrifice." Well, certainly Henry is right. In this sense of the word, because either one will offer an acceptable sacrifice to God as God demands, or one will become the sacrifice to his righteous wrath and judgment. The Bible says in Psalm 118 in verse 27,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 118:27

"God is the Lord, which has shown us light. Bind the sacrifice with cords, even to the horns of the altar."

So here then are six angels in all probability that have come from God with a bill of destruction against Judah and Jerusalem.

The Sins That Provoked Judgment (Ezekiel 8)

A detailed look at the abominations in Jerusalem: open idolatry, secret idolatry among leaders, weeping for Tammuz, and sun worship by priests.

And if we continue to do so, the question has to be asked, will it happen again? And then you asked me what will happen again? And my answer is hold on, wait and see. So let's look in Ezekiel chapter 8. And see that which provoked to the Lord to destroy Judah and Jerusalem. Let's read the first five verses.

Scripture Reading — Ezekiel 8:1-18

"And it came to pass in the sixth year and in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house and the elders of Judah sat before me that the hand of the Lord God fell upon me."

"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 the brightness as the color of amber. And he put forth the form of a hand, and took me by the lock of mine head. And the Spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heavens, and brought me into 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 provoked a jealousy? And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain. 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 the northward at the gate of the altar, this image of jealousy at the entry." Now, God states that there at the gate was the seat of the idol. We do not know exactly what idol this was. It could have been an image of Baal, which, of course, Manasseh had put in the temple, could also have been an image of Mars or Tammuz or Adonis. We're not told exactly what that image was or what that altar was. What we are told is that it was an image of jealousy. And the participle is added, provoking to jealousy. So whatever this was, it was in plain absolute view of everyone.

So the reality that is being presented here is that the entire country was given over to idolatry. They had apostatized and they had left the true worship of Jehovah. And the idol was located at the door of the inner gate for everyone to see. They were unashamed in their sin and their rebellion. So the very first thing we have is open idolatry, open apostasy, but it gets worse. Let's look in verse 7, beginning verse 7. Well, let's read verse 6. "He said, therefore to me, Son of man, seest thou what they do. Even the great abominations at the house of Israel committed the year that I should go far off from my sanctuary, but turn thee yet again and thou shalt see greater abominations."

Now, the open idol was bad enough, but now here's something greater. "And he brought me to the door of the court, and when I looked, behold, a hole in the wall. Then he said unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall, and when I had digged in the wall, behold, a door. And he said unto me, Go in and behold the wicked abominations they do here. So I went in and saw, and behold, every form of creeping things, an abominable beast, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed upon the wall round about and there stood before them 70 men of the ancients of the house of Israel and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan and every man his censer in his hand and the thick cloud of incense went up 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 but they"

"said for they say the Lord seeth not The Lord hath forsaken the earth." Now, God says, look, open apostasy is bad. But I'm going to show you something even greater. Adam Clarke comments on this passage when he sees all of these things that are painted on the wall. For instance, look in verse 10. He says, "Then I went in and saw and behold every form of creeping things and abominable beast and all the idols of the house of Israel portrayed upon the wall roundabout." Now listen to this. And when I read this, I want you to remember what it looks like in the tombs of the Pharaohs. Listen carefully. He says it is very likely that these images portrayed on the wall were the objects of Egyptian adoration. The ox, the ape, the dog, the crocodile, the Ibis, the Scarabeus or the beetle and various other things. It appears that these were privately worshipped by the Sanhedrin or Jewish council consisting of 70 or 72 persons, six chosen out of every tribe as representatives of the people. The images were portrayed upon the wall as we find those ancient idols are on the walls of the tombs of the kings and nobles of Egypt.

So here you have this open idol and open apostasy. And now you have everyone worshiping basically the leaders openly. I'm going to say openly, but actually secretly all of the abominations of Egypt. Now look at verse 12. This is exceedingly important. "Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark?"

Now we're talking about the leaders. We're talking about the elders, every man in the chambers of his imagery. "For they say the Lord seeth not; the Lord hath forsaken the earth." What is every man doing in the chambers of his imagery? You remember the word image comes from imagination. So here's what is happening. A hole was dug into the wall and that a door was discovered and that door then led to the chambers of a man's imagery. That is, it led to what he actually held in his mind and in his heart. So these leaders of Israel were not willing to do that which they were not willing to do that openly, which they were willing to do secretly.

In other words, their profession did not match their lives. Let me put it like this. They were first rate hypocrites. They professed one thing, that is that they were the people of God, but they lived a totally different thing. They were different in private than what they were in public. Does that ring a bell? Does that make you think of our modern-day politicians? Because the hypocrisy of our modern-day politicians is exposed here as well. Do you realize that practically all politicians, with the exception of the Muslims and the Jews, are professing Christians?

And yet the truth of the matter is they work against the very faith they profess to believe. They pass laws that are absolutely contrary to God and His words, And they eagerly do so and then have the audacity to defend their actions based upon humanistic rationale. So it was with the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem. We must come to the realization that as a man thinks in his heart, how he acts and how he conducts his business in reality is what he is. As Proverbs 23 in verse 7 says, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." And our Lord said it very plainly in Matthew 7 verse 20, "Wherefore by their fruits, ye shall know them." So our Lord says, here is this open apostasy. Here is the seat of the idol, but here is what everyone is really doing in the chambers of their imagination. Words, their thoughts are absolutely contrary to me. They profess one thing. But they're acting entirely different.

Now I want you to note, our Lord lists even a greater abomination in verses 13 and 14. Watch. "He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do. 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." Ah, I do not want to get into all of this absolutely pagan worship.

But there is certainly an application here. I want to just give you two brief quotes by two commentators. The first one is Matthew Poole and the second one is Albert Barnes. And they're going to be talking about the worship of Tammuz. Listen carefully. I think Matthew Poole hits the nail on the head really he says this "there sat women" now listen to this next statement "contrary to the law were they come hither led by their blindest because the vilest and most impudent superstition and waiting that is expressed by city sitting ready to commit most lewd" "wickedness as part of their obscene and beastly rights weeping This is only the part which is specified of their irreligious religion commemorating with tears and infamously lustful and unclean whoremonger or virginary of Venus snatched from her by an unhappy wound of a boar said that sometime this weeping implies all the beastly rights of that idol." So actually what you're talking about here the worship of Tammuz it's not only sex worship prostitution everything. But listen further.

Albert Barnes says it like this. "This was a revival of nature worship under another form. The death of Adonis, who was snatched from her, symbolized by the suspension of the productive powers of nature, which were in due time revived. Accordingly, the time of this festival was at the summer solstice. When in the east nature seems to wither and die under the scorching heat of the sun, to burst forth again into life in the due season. At the same time, there was a connection between this and the sun worship in that the decline of the sun and the decline of nature might be likened, like represented by the death of Adonis. The excitement attended upon these extravagances of alternate wailing and exaltation were in complete accordance with the character of nature worship, which for this reason was so popular in the East, especially with women, and led by inevitable consequences to unbridled license and excess."

"Such was, in Ezekiel's day, one of the most detestable forms of idolatry." So here were women then who were sitting where they were not even supposed to be sitting. They were there where they were not even supposed to be, because this particular place was reserved for the rulers and the princes. And they were there weeping for this stupid idol or this nature worship. I want you to contrast Ezra and Daniel. Ezra and Daniel wept for the national sins of their people. Here these women were weeping for that idol or for what the idol represented. Do you realize We have exactly the same thing today. You say, brother Weaver, I've never heard of anyone today. Worshiping Tammuz. Well, you have to remember that this is an aspect of nature worship. Do you realize in environmentalism today, a baby Eagle is worth far more than a human baby. You can murder a human baby, but you better not touch a baby Eagle. Or you'll spend 40 years in prison. It's just that simple. Environmentalism. Think about trees, Mother Earth, and nature. In environmentalism, all of these are accorded a higher worship than the one true and the living God. I've actually seen a bumper sticker that said, "Trees have feelings too."

You talk about a tree hugger? I saw one sign I really liked. It said, "There's nothing wrong with hugging a tree, as long as you're getting to your deer stand." Well, that's a little different than environmentalism, that is for sure. But just to demonstrate this point, where nature is accorded a higher position than God himself. Just recently within the last several months, and I did not record her name, but there was one leading feminist who was pregnant with a male child and she had her baby murdered, aborted, And here is what she said. "I was not going to bring another monster into the world." She was a feminist. And if it was a man, it was a monster. That same woman probably would cry at a baby beached whale and shed great tears because a baby whale is dying. And yet there's no tears for an aborted baby. Paganism always exalts nature and ignores the God of nature. It's strange as well as an abominable thing that many will choose to serve an idol with tears. When they refuse to serve the one true and the living God with joy and gladness of heart.

Now look at Ezekiel 8 in verse 16. Here's the final abomination notice.

Scripture Reading — Ezekiel 8:1-18

"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 20 men with their backs toward the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the East. And they worship the sun toward the East."

Wow. Now, wait a minute. Maybe you didn't hear that. Look at verse 16 again.

Scripture Reading — Ezekiel 8:1-18

"And he brought me to the inner court of the Lord's house,"

the inner court. May I remind you that no one but the priests could enter into the inner court. And it's interesting that he said there were about five and 20 men. May I ask you, do you remember how many courses of priests there were? 24 and the high priest was over each one. And each of the orders, each of the courses had a priest over there. So here then you have all 25 of the Lord's priests worshiping the sun.

The Marking of the Faithful and the Slaughter (Ezekiel 9:3-7)

God commands a mark on those who sigh over sin, then orders the destruction of all others, beginning at the sanctuary.

"To the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side. And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations to be done in the midst thereof." So God said, I want you to go over there and pick out all of those who are upset with all of this apostasy and idolatry and wickedness and corruption. Put a mark on their heads. After these are marked. The awesome and terrifying destruction begins. Look in verse 5. "And to the others, he said in my hearing, Go ye after him through the city and smite. Let not your eyes spare. Neither have you pity. Slay utterly old and young, both maids and little children and women, but come not near any man upon whom is the mark, and begin at my sanctuary. Then they begin at the ancient men which were before the house."

Yeah, that is those elders watched. And it came to pass when they were slaying them, and I was left, that was verse 8, verse 7, "and he said unto them, Defile the house and fill the courts with the slain." That is those wicked priests. "Go ye forth. And they went forth and slew in the city."

Now, the interesting thing is. God says, I want you to slay everybody who doesn't have the mark. Look at look at verse 5 again. "And to the others, he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city and smite. Let not your eyes spare. Neither have you pity." There's no mercy shown "slay utterly old and young. Notice both maids and little children and women, but come not near any man upon whom is my mark." Now, although there was no mercy to be shown, there are no pity to be given. God is saying the time for repentance and forgiveness is past. The only thing that remains now is judgment.

Judgment Begins at the House of God (1 Peter 4:17-18)

Weaver connects Ezekiel 9:6 with 1 Peter 4:17, stressing that judgment starts with God's people, and if the righteous are scarcely saved, the wicked face a terrible end.

Hold Ezekiel 9, but turn in your Bibles to 1 Peter chapter 4. 1 Peter chapter 4. And let's read there verses 17 and 18. 1 Peter 4, 17 and 18. Look what Peter says. "For the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God. And if it first began in us. What shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God. And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?" Now, wait a minute, wait a minute "for the time has come. The judgment must begin at the house of God. And if it began with us, what shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God."

Now watch what he said. "And if the righteous scarcely be saved." Go back in your Bibles to Ezekiel chapter 9 and look at verse 8. What did Ezekiel say? "And it came to pass while they were slaying them and I was left. I fell on my face." I got news for you. If God graciously spared me, I'd be falling on my face as well. But that's what he's saying. Judgment now must begin at the house of God. And if the righteous scarcely be saved, what are the world's going to happen to the wicked in the ungodly?

Modern America's Parallel Sins

Weaver argues that America has apostatized like Judah, committing idolatry through covetousness, self-worship, and rejection of God's law.

I want you to pause and contemplate a very serious thought. Here it is as a professing Christian people. And as a professing Christian nation, we have apostatized from the truth. In this nation, we seek an easy religion and a superficial salvation. We want to be saved from the penalty of our sins while we enjoy revel in and glory in our sins. We wish to be entertained and coddled and comforted and pampered. We have no desire as a nation to be biblical, to be obedient, holy, or righteous. We as a nation have become unjust, unrighteous, unholy in every sphere of life and in our government.

Listen, we have forsaken God and his word socially. Economically, ecclesiastically, governmentally, and individually. We're in rebellion and disobedience up to our eyeballs. We're committing the same sins that Judah and Jerusalem committed. So my question is, will it happen again? You say, wait a minute, brother Weaver, hang on. I'm not worshiping the sun. I'm not falling down to some idol before some idol. I'm not worshiping Tammuz. Really? You're not an idolater.

I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Colossians chapter 3. By the way, I hope you understand. You cannot violate any of the 10 commandments Until you have violated the first commandment, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Hmm. Think about this. Look in Colossians chapter 3, verse 5 and verse 6. Watch carefully "Mortify therefore your members, which are upon the earth fornication and uncleanness inordinate affection. Evil concupiscence." Are you watching?

"And covetousness, which is idolatry for which things sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience." Now, did you notice he said, "and covetousness, which is idolatry" and covetousness, which is idolatry. When we place our desires, lusts, and love upon things other than the Lord, it is idolatry. When we place material possessions ahead of the worship and obedience to God, it is idolatry. Are you listening? When we refuse to order our thoughts in accord and in agreement with the word of God, it is idolatry. When we place ourselves, our wants, and our wills ahead of God and His Word and His truth, it is idolatry. We may not bow down to a physical idol, but we oftentimes submit and bow down to the idol of self. We want what we want. We want to please ourselves. We want to satisfy and gratify our flesh. We want that which we want and we want it no matter what it does not matter. Whether it flies in the face of God's word. Do you realize all adultery is idolatry? All theft is idolatry. All murder is idolatry. Any violation of God's law is idolatry because you cannot disobey God without first enthroning yourself. You make self an idol. Such is idolatry. It's that abominable thing which God hates.

Applications: God's Wrath, False Security, and the Need for Repentance

God has ministers of wrath ready; relying on a godly heritage is futile; there comes a time when God will not hear cries for mercy, so repentance must be urgent.

So that's why I ask this question. Since we're committing exactly the same sins that Judah and Jerusalem committed. Will it happen again? Will God send his destroyers upon us? Will our society, our nation and our people be destroyed? You must remember that God is immutable. He does not change and neither do his judgments. We have to learn the truth of Hebrews 10 in verse 31.

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 10:31

"It's a fearful thing to fall in the hands of a living God."

It's even more fearful. When that living God is angry with you. I think the question that I ask is a very legitimate one in light of our apostasy. Will it happen again? Will it happen again? Let me make some applications and I want you to think. With me, please. First of all, if you will understand Ezekiel 9 in verse 1, you understand this, that God has ministers of wrath at his call and at his disposal. And those ministers are always within his call and they come with invisible powers by whom he accomplishes his purposes.

It should be noted that those who make God their enemy also make his messengers their enemy. It does not bode well for those who fight against God, nor does it bode well for those who fight against his messengers. Instead of fighting, we need repentance. I want you to listen to me very carefully. I just said that we have fallen into the same trap that Israel fell into. I want you to turn in your Bibles to Ezekiel 33, Ezekiel 33. Very interesting passage.

Most of you know that our founding fathers were Christian. The few who were not Christians were deeply influenced by the Christian faith. Do you know what Israel did? Israel depended on upon the fact that we have Abraham and our father. Well, Abraham was the friend of God. I mean, doesn't that give us something we could sit back and say, well, look at the faith of our founding fathers. And I got news for you. Even Benjamin Franklin, who's accounted a deist. If you read his writings, he has far more theology. And expresses a far greater faith than most professing Christians today. It was Benjamin Franklin who called for prayer at the constitutional convention. I mean, the very fact that he said that if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without your heavenly father, how much less can a nation arise without it?

Obviously he believed in God's sovereignty. He may not have been a Christian, but the point I'm trying to make is. Those who were not Christians were deeply influenced by the Christian faith. And by the way, Benjamin Franklin and George Whitefield were friends and Franklin always went to hear Whitefield preach. It was Franklin who did the figuring and figured out that approximately 25,000 people could hear Whitefield preach without any type of amplification or megaphones. I want to show you look in Ezekiel chapter 33. Let's begin reading verse 24. We're depending on our founding fathers, just like Israel depended upon Abraham. Notice Ezekiel chapter 33, beginning there. Verse 24 "Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel speak saying Abraham was one and he inherited the land, but we're many. The land has given us for inheritance. It's ours."

"Wherefore saying to them, now watch the set, the Lord God, you eat with the blood and lift up your eyes towards your idols and shed blood. And shall you possess the land? You stand upon your sword. You work abomination. You defile everyone. His neighbor's wife. And shall you possess the land? Say thou thus into them. Thus said the Lord God, as I live, surely they, that they're in the waste shall fall by the sword."

Scripture Reading — Ezekiel 33:24-28

"And him that is in the open field will I give to the beast to be devoured and they in the forts and in the cave shall die the pestilence for I will lay the land most desolate and the pomp of her strength shall cease and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate that none pass through it."

Wow. It didn't help them to be the descendants of Abraham. Didn't help them to be the friend of the friend of God. And it won't help us to know that we had a godly foundation. We've spent it. Thirdly, I want you to look back in Ezekiel chapter 8. Here's the third application. Watch this. There comes a time when God will not hear cries for mercy. That is a frightening truth. And yet it is clearly revealed. We need to look no further than Ezekiel 8 in verse 18. I could multiply verses, but look what God says in Ezekiel 8 in verse 18. "Therefore will I also deal in fury. Mine eye shall not spare."

"Neither will I have pity. And though they cry in my ears with a loud voice yet, will I not hear them?" Look in Ezekiel 9 and verse 10. "And as for me also, mine eyes shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head." The truth of the matter is this. If one does not seek the Lord in a state of mercy and grace, if one does not hear God in the time of mercy and grace. God will not hear him in the time of judgment. You know what Isaiah 55 verses 6 and 7 state? The Bible says, "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found."

"Call ye upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return to the Lord. And he will have abundant mercy upon him. And to our God, for he will abundantly pardon him." So God said, If you seek me while I may be found, and if you turn from your wicked ways and you obey me, there's mercy. But if you do not turn from your wicked ways and you do not seek me in a time of grace and mercy and the time of judgment, I will not hear you. Will it happen again? God said.

Study Guide

Major Themes

God's Immutability in Judgment

Summary: God does not change, so His judgments against sin are consistent and can recur.

Evidence: God does not change and neither do his judgments against sin and rebellion. He is the same infinite, immutable and holy God. And his righteous judgments are just and holy. And they do not cease.

Idolatry as the Root Sin

Summary: All sin is ultimately idolatry, as it places self or other things above God.

Evidence: When we place our desires, lusts, and love upon things other than the Lord, it is idolatry. ... Any violation of God's law is idolatry because you cannot disobey God without first enthroning yourself.

Judgment Begins at the House of God

Summary: God's judgment starts with His own people, who bear greater responsibility.

Evidence: For the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God. And if it first began in us. What shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God.

The Mark of the Faithful Remnant

Summary: God preserves those who mourn over sin, marking them for mercy amid judgment.

Evidence: And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations to be done in the midst thereof.

The Danger of False Security

Summary: Relying on a godly heritage or past blessings does not protect from judgment if one lives in sin.

Evidence: It didn't help them to be the descendants of Abraham. Didn't help them to be the friend of the friend of God. And it won't help us to know that we had a godly foundation. We've spent it.

The Urgency of Repentance

Summary: There is a limited time to seek God's mercy; once judgment comes, He will not hear cries.

Evidence: Seek ye the Lord while he may be found. Call ye upon him while he is near. ... if you do not turn from your wicked ways and you do not seek me in a time of grace and mercy and the time of judgment, I will not hear you.

Key Arguments

God's judgments are repeatable because He is immutable.

Summary: Since God's character does not change, His response to sin remains the same, meaning past judgments can recur.

Evidence: God does not change and neither do his judgments against sin and rebellion. He is the same infinite, immutable and holy God.

Rejecting God's sacrifice makes one the sacrifice.

Summary: Those who refuse Christ's substitutionary atonement must bear the penalty of their own sin.

Evidence: The wicked had refused God's substitutional sacrifice for sin, and now they are going to be the sacrifice for their sins.

Modern America mirrors the sins of Ezekiel's Jerusalem.

Summary: The same idolatry, hypocrisy, and apostasy seen in Judah are prevalent in contemporary American society.

Evidence: We're committing the same sins that Judah and Jerusalem committed. ... we have apostatized from the truth. In this nation, we seek an easy religion and a superficial salvation.

Covetousness is a primary form of modern idolatry.

Summary: Paul equates covetousness with idolatry, and it manifests when material desires supersede God.

Evidence: And covetousness, which is idolatry for which things sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience.

Judgment begins with God's people due to their greater light.

Summary: Those who have God's revelation are held to a higher standard and face judgment first.

Evidence: For the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God. And if it first began in us. What shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God.

A godly heritage cannot shield from judgment.

Summary: Israel's reliance on Abraham did not spare them, and America's Christian founding will not spare it if it continues in sin.

Evidence: It didn't help them to be the descendants of Abraham. ... And it won't help us to know that we had a godly foundation. We've spent it.

There is a point when God refuses to hear cries for mercy.

Summary: If people reject God during the time of grace, He will not respond when judgment falls.

Evidence: Therefore will I also deal in fury. Mine eye shall not spare. Neither will I have pity. And though they cry in my ears with a loud voice yet, will I not hear them?

Scripture References

Ezekiel 9:1-11

Context: The entire chapter is read and forms the basis of the sermon, describing the vision of the six destroyers and the marking of the faithful.

1 Kings 2:28-31

Context: Joab's execution at the altar illustrates that there is no mercy at the place of sacrifice when judgment comes.

Jeremiah 39:3

Context: Lists six princes of Nebuchadnezzar, used to support the view that the six men in Ezekiel 9 could represent Babylonian leaders.

Psalm 118:27

Context: Cited to show that sacrifices were bound to the altar, contrasting with the wicked who become the sacrifice.

Lamentations 4:5

Context: Jeremiah states that Jerusalem's punishment was greater than Sodom's, emphasizing the severity of their sin.

Ezekiel 8:1-18

Context: Describes the abominations that provoked God's wrath: the image of jealousy, secret idolatry, weeping for Tammuz, and sun worship.

Proverbs 23:7

Context: Quoted to emphasize that a person's true character is revealed by their inner thoughts.

Matthew 7:20

Context: Used to support that people are known by their fruits, not just their profession.

Deuteronomy 17:2-5

Context: Commands death for those who worship the sun, moon, or stars, showing the seriousness of such idolatry.

Job 31:26-28

Context: Job denies sun or moon worship, equating it with denying God, reinforcing the sin of the priests in Ezekiel 8.

Ezekiel 22:25-29

Context: Lists the corruption of prophets, priests, princes, and people, showing widespread apostasy.

1 Peter 4:17-18

Context: Judgment begins at the house of God; if the righteous are scarcely saved, the wicked face a terrible end.

Colossians 3:5-6

Context: Covetousness is equated with idolatry, bringing God's wrath, applied to modern materialism.

Hebrews 10:31

Context: It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, underscoring the terror of judgment.

Ezekiel 33:24-28

Context: Israel's claim to the land based on Abraham is rejected because of their sins, paralleling America's reliance on its founding.

Isaiah 55:6-7

Context: Urges seeking the Lord while He may be found, promising mercy to those who forsake wickedness.

Historical References

Adam Clarke's commentary on Ezekiel 9

Context: Clarke interprets the six men as representatives of the Chaldean army, with the man in linen as a recorder.

Matthew Henry's commentary on Ezekiel 9

Context: Henry argues the six men are angels, acting as ministers of wrath and sacrificers at the altar.

Egyptian idolatry and tomb paintings

Context: Clarke notes the images on the wall in Ezekiel 8 resemble Egyptian deities, suggesting the elders secretly worshipped them.

Worship of Tammuz/Adonis

Context: Explained as a nature cult involving mourning and licentious rites, connected to sun worship and fertility.

Benjamin Franklin and the Constitutional Convention

Context: Franklin called for prayer, showing even non-Christian founders were influenced by Christian faith, used to illustrate reliance on heritage.

George Whitefield's preaching

Context: Franklin estimated 25,000 could hear Whitefield without amplification, demonstrating the influence of the Great Awakening.

Important Quotes

The wicked had refused God's substitutional sacrifice for sin, and now they are going to be the sacrifice for their sins.

Significance: Highlights the principle that rejecting Christ's atonement leaves one to bear their own punishment.

For the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God. And if it first began in us. What shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God.

Significance: Applies the principle from Ezekiel to the church, warning that believers face judgment first.

It didn't help them to be the descendants of Abraham. Didn't help them to be the friend of the friend of God. And it won't help us to know that we had a godly foundation. We've spent it.

Significance: Warns against false security in a Christian heritage without personal repentance.

Discussion Questions

In what ways do we see modern parallels to the idolatry described in Ezekiel 8, such as the worship of self, nature, or material possessions?

Context: Weaver argues that covetousness and self-will are forms of idolatry prevalent today.

How should the truth that 'judgment begins at the house of God' affect the way we live as Christians and as a church?

Context: The sermon stresses that God's people are held to a higher standard and face judgment first.

What does it mean to 'sigh and cry' over the abominations of our land, and how can we cultivate such a heart?

Context: The faithful in Ezekiel 9 were marked because they mourned over sin; Weaver implies this is the mark of true believers.

Why is relying on a godly heritage or past revivals insufficient to protect a nation from judgment?

Context: Weaver uses Ezekiel 33 to show that Israel's claim on Abraham did not spare them from destruction.

How do we balance the urgency of repentance with the assurance of God's mercy for those who truly seek Him?

Context: Isaiah 55 is quoted to show that God will abundantly pardon, but only while He may be found.

Applications

Examine personal and national idolatry

Summary: Believers must identify and repent of modern idolatry, such as covetousness, self-worship, and environmentalism that exalts nature above God.

Evidence: When we place our desires, lusts, and love upon things other than the Lord, it is idolatry. ... we have apostatized from the truth.

Mourn over sin

Summary: Like the marked ones in Ezekiel, Christians should grieve over the abominations in society and the church, not be indifferent.

Evidence: And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city ... and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations.

Do not presume on God's mercy

Summary: Avoid false security based on heritage or past blessings; instead, pursue personal holiness and urgent repentance.

Evidence: It didn't help them to be the descendants of Abraham. ... And it won't help us to know that we had a godly foundation. We've spent it.

Seek the Lord while He may be found

Summary: There is a limited window for repentance; believers must turn from sin now, before judgment falls and mercy is withdrawn.

Evidence: Seek ye the Lord while he may be found. Call ye upon him while he is near.

Accept Christ as the substitutionary sacrifice

Summary: To avoid becoming the sacrifice for one's own sins, one must trust in Jesus' atoning death.

Evidence: The wicked had refused God's substitutional sacrifice for sin, and now they are going to be the sacrifice for their sins.

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T18:00:38Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T10:02:32Z

Clean Transcript

Will It Happen Again?

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

All right, let's open our Bibles to the book of Ezekiel chapter 9. Ezekiel chapter 9. The title of the message is, "Will It Happen Again?" We're going to read all 11 verses. If the Lord will give me grace through these sinuses to get through this message, I will be happy. So notice Ezekiel 9 verse 1. "He cried also at mine ears with a loud voice saying, Cause them to have charge over the city to draw near."
#1 | 0:16 to 0:50 | cleaned
"Every man with this destroying weapon in his hand. Behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north and every man, a slaughter weapon in his hand. And one man among them was clothed with linen. The other writers inkhorn by side. And they went in and stood by the brazen altar. And the glory of the God of Israel was going up from the cherub."
#2 | 0:50 to 1:11 | cleaned
"Whereupon he was to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side. And the Lord said to him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. And to the others, he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city and smite, let not your eyes spare neither have pity. Slay utterly old and young, both maids and little children and women, but come not near any man upon whom is the mark and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house. And he said unto them, Defile the house and fill the courts with the slain. Go ye forth. And they went forth and slew in the city. And it came to pass while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face and cried and said, Ah, Lord God, wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem."
#3 | 1:12 to 2:15 | cleaned
"Then he said unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness. For they say, The Lord hath forsaken the earth, and the Lord seeth not. And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head. And behold, a man clothed with the linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me."
#4 | 2:16 to 2:51 | cleaned
One of the afflictions of the elderly, sinus. Thank you. It has been said that lightning does not strike twice in the same place. Of course, that is untrue. Lightning will strike as often as is necessary in the same place. As long as the Lord God sends it. And as long as the Lord God wills it, it'll strike a hundred times. If he so sends it, there are many other related judgments that you and I think about.
#5 | 3:02 to 3:41 | cleaned
There are some states that have certain areas through them that are known as Tornado Alley. There are other states that have problems with hurricanes and earthquakes. If one survives some of these weather-related judgments, such as some of these cities that have been destroyed in Kansas and Arkansas, one of the questions that enters everyone's mind is, "Will it happen again?" In fact, we could ask that question in regard to all of God's judgments. And if we grasp the truth of God's immutability, we really do not need to ask that question. God does not change and neither do his judgments against sin and rebellion. He is the same infinite, immutable and holy God. And his righteous judgments are just and holy.
#6 | 3:42 to 4:40 | cleaned
And they do not cease. Circumstances surrounding the judgments may differ, but the outcome and the results of the judgments are the same. In Ezekiel chapter 9, God reveals to Ezekiel that he intends to destroy Judah and Jerusalem along with the wicked in those areas. If you look at verse 1, and I haven't coughed all morning. "He cried also in my ears with a loud voice saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand." Now, verse 1 is extremely informative. He cried with a loud or with a great voice, the loud or the great voice demonstrates the greatness of his indignation.
#7 | 4:40 to 5:39 | cleaned
And the vehemence of his wrath, which was stirred up against the sins of the people. Thus, he is calling together the messengers of death and destruction. Those that have charge over the city in this context would refer either to angels or the Chaldeans in whose hands he's delivered the city. I want you to notice something about verse 1. He said, "Cause them to have charge over the city to draw near."
#8 | 5:40 to 6:08 | cleaned
"Every man with its destroying weapon in his hand. And behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north."
#9 | 6:09 to 6:17 | cleaned
Now this command he issues from the temple court where the temple was the place because the temple was the place where God revealed himself to his people, both by mercy and judgment. Now, let me tell you, the brazen altar was where the sacrifices were offered. The wicked had refused God's substitutional sacrifice for sin, and now they are going to be the sacrifice for their sins. There is a principle that is clearly enunciated in scripture, and that is this. You must either have a substitute for your sins, a substitutional sacrifice, or you must pay the penalty yourself. Now, since wicked Judah and Jerusalem had rejected God's sacrifice, they now became the sacrifice to God's righteous judgment. Let me point out the fact that when God's righteous judgment strikes, there is no room for mercy.
#10 | 6:17 to 7:23 | cleaned
Joab is an excellent illustration for this. Joab, you remember, was David's captain. He was also a murderer. He murdered two men in cold blood. When it came time for Joab to die, Joab ran into the tabernacle and grabbed hold of the horns on the altar. Let me read it to you. Don't have to turn there, but 1 Kings chapter 2, verses 28 through 31. "Then tidings came to Joab, for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he had not turned after Absalom. And Joab fled into the tabernacle of the Lord and caught hold of the horns of the altar. And it was told King Solomon that Joab was fled into the tabernacle of the Lord, and behold, he is by the altar."
#11 | 7:24 to 8:13 | cleaned
"Then Solomon sent Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him. Benaiah came into the tabernacle of the Lord and said to him, Thus saith the king, Come forth. And he said, Nay, but I will die here. And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Joab. And thus he answered me. And the king said to him, Do as he said. Fall upon him and bury him."
#12 | 8:14 to 8:36 | cleaned
"That thou mayest take away the innocent blood, which you have shed for me and the house of my father." So Joab was in the tabernacle holding onto the horns of the brazen altar, but no mercy was shown to him. So when God's judgment comes, it is not a time for mercy. It is a time for judgment and sacrifice.
#13 | 8:38 to 9:05 | cleaned
Now look in verse 2. Ezekiel chapter 9, "And behold, six men which came from the way of the higher gate which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand. And one man among them was clothed with linen and with a writer's inkhorn by his side, and they went and stood beside the brazen altar." Now, the question has to be asked, who were these six men that were armed with their destroying weapons in their hands. I might point out that there are two varying views concerning exactly who these individuals really were. There are some scholars who point out that these six individuals were representatives of the Babylonian army whom God had ordained to destroy Judah and Jerusalem. One of those men is Adam Clarke. Let me read to you what Adam says. By those six men with destroying weapons, the Chaldeans are represented who had received commission to destroy the city.
#14 | 9:05 to 10:16 | cleaned
And when the North is mentioned in such cases, Chaldean and the Chaldean armies are generally intended. There appears to have been six men with a sort of slaughter bill and one man with an inkhorn. These may represent the seven counselors of the Eastern monarchs, who always saw the king's face and knew all the secrets of the government. One of them was that minister who had the Office of Reporting Concerning Criminals, who carried the Book of Death and the Book of Life into the presence of the king. Where the names were entered of the criminals who were destined to suffer and of those who were either considered as innocent or recommended to mercy, those are the former in the Book of Death, those in the latter in the Book of Life. This person with the inkhorn might be termed in our phrase, the recorder. So Adam Clarke is saying that these six men then were representatives of the Babylonians.
#15 | 10:17 to 11:14 | cleaned
Interestingly, there's a passage in scripture that lists six princes of Nebuchadnezzar that sat in the gate. Let me just read it. Jeremiah 39 verse 3. "And all the princes of the King of Babylon came in and sat in the middle gate, even Nergal-Sharezer, Samgar-Nebo, Sarsechim, Rab-Saris, Nergal-Sharezer, and Rab-Mag, with all the residue of the princes of the King of Babylon." So six are particularly mentioned. So here is Adam Clarke saying these six men are representatives of the Babylonian army. Now, there are other commentators and other scholars who say no, that these six men are six angels.
#16 | 11:15 to 12:03 | cleaned
And I probably agree with this interpretation. When you consider that one angel in one night with one stroke of the sword killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers, I don't imagine six angels would have too much problem with Judah and Jerusalem. But here's what Matthew Henry says, and listen carefully. Because he's going to present the position that these six men are angels. He says, "There are those that have charge of the city destroyed, not the Chaldean armies."
#17 | 12:04 to 12:38 | cleaned
"They're to be indeed employed in this work, but they are not the visitors. They're only the servants or the tools. God's angels have received a charge now to lay the city waste, which they had long had a charge to protect and to watch over. They are at hand as destroying angels. As ministers of wrath for every man has his destroying weapon in his hand and the angel that kept the way of the tree of life with a flaming sword or as the angel that did so."
#18 | 12:39 to 13:09 | cleaned
Now notice what Henry goes on to say. "They went in and stood beside the brazen altar on which the sacrifices want to be offered an atonement made. When they acted as destroyers, they acted as sacrificers, not from any personal revenge or ill will, but with a pure and sincere regard to the glory of God. For to his justice, all they slew were offered up as victims. They stood by the altar as it were to protect and vindicate that and plead its righteous cause and avenge the horrid profanation of it at the altar."
#19 | 13:11 to 13:53 | cleaned
"They were to receive their commission to destroy, to intimate that the iniquity of Jerusalem, like that of Eli's house was not to be purged by sacrifice." Well, certainly Henry is right. In this sense of the word, because either one will offer an acceptable sacrifice to God as God demands, or one will become the sacrifice to his righteous wrath and judgment. The Bible says in Psalm 118 in verse 27, "God is the Lord, which has shown us light. Bind the sacrifice with cords, even to the horns of the altar." So here then are six angels in all probability that have come from God with a bill of destruction against Judah and Jerusalem.
#20 | 13:53 to 14:47 | cleaned
Now you have to ask yourself this question. Why did God deal so horrendously with Judah and Jerusalem? Well, Jeremiah states it like this in Lamentations 4 and verse 5. He says, "For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom that was overthrown in a moment and no hand stayed on her." So Jeremiah says the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem were greater than the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Certainly, the greatness of their sins and the greatness of their responsibility demonstrated the greatness of their culpability and therefore demanded a greater punishment. Now, you have to remember that Judah and Jerusalem not only had the law of God, they had the tabernacle of God, they had the worship of God, Later they had the temple of God.
#21 | 14:48 to 15:48 | cleaned
I want you to look with me in Ezekiel chapter 8, and let me show you that which provoked the Lord so horribly. And let me just say, before we look at Ezekiel chapter 8, that we do not want to mimic these provocations. Unhappily, I do believe this, and I am afraid of this. I believe that most professing Christians are engaging in the exact same provocations that Judah and Jerusalem engaged in.
#22 | 15:49 to 16:23 | cleaned
And if we continue to do so, the question has to be asked, will it happen again? And then you asked me what will happen again? And my answer is hold on, wait and see. So let's look in Ezekiel chapter 8. And see that which provoked to the Lord to destroy Judah and Jerusalem. Let's read the first five verses. "And it came to pass in the sixth year and in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house and the elders of Judah sat before me that the hand of the Lord God fell upon me."
#23 | 16:24 to 17:05 | cleaned
"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 the brightness as the color of amber. And he put forth the form of a hand, and took me by the lock of mine head. And the Spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heavens, and brought me into the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north."
#24 | 17:06 to 17:31 | cleaned
"Where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoked a jealousy? And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain. 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 the northward at the gate of the altar, this image of jealousy at the entry." Now, God states that there at the gate was the seat of the idol. We do not know exactly what idol this was. It could have been an image of Baal, which, of course, Manasseh had put in the temple, could also have been an image of Mars or Tammuz or Adonis. We're not told exactly what that image was or what that altar was. What we are told is that it was an image of jealousy. And the participle is added, provoking to jealousy. So whatever this was, it was in plain absolute view of everyone.
#25 | 17:32 to 18:53 | cleaned
So the reality that is being presented here is that the entire country was given over to idolatry. They had apostatized and they had left the true worship of Jehovah. And the idol was located at the door of the inner gate for everyone to see. They were unashamed in their sin and their rebellion. So the very first thing we have is open idolatry, open apostasy, but it gets worse.
#26 | 18:54 to 19:28 | cleaned
Let's look in verse 7, beginning verse 7. Well, let's read verse 6. "He said, therefore to me, Son of man, seest thou what they do. Even the great abominations at the house of Israel committed the year that I should go far off from my sanctuary, but turn thee yet again and thou shalt see greater abominations."
#27 | 19:29 to 19:47 | cleaned
Now, the open idol was bad enough, but now here's something greater. "And he brought me to the door of the court, and when I looked, behold, a hole in the wall. Then he said unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall, and when I had digged in the wall, behold, a door. And he said unto me, Go in and behold the wicked abominations they do here. So I went in and saw, and behold, every form of creeping things, an abominable beast, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed upon the wall round about and there stood before them 70 men of the ancients of the house of Israel and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan and every man his censer in his hand and the thick cloud of incense went up 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 but they"
#28 | 19:48 to 20:43 | cleaned
"said for they say the Lord seeth not The Lord hath forsaken the earth." Now, God says, look, open apostasy is bad. But I'm going to show you something even greater. Adam Clarke comments on this passage when he sees all of these things that are painted on the wall. For instance, look in verse 10. He says, "Then I went in and saw and behold every form of creeping things and abominable beast and all the idols of the house of Israel portrayed upon the wall roundabout." Now listen to this.
#29 | 20:43 to 21:21 | cleaned
And when I read this, I want you to remember what it looks like in the tombs of the Pharaohs. Listen carefully. He says it is very likely that these images portrayed on the wall were the objects of Egyptian adoration. The ox, the ape, the dog, the crocodile, the Ibis, the Scarabeus or the beetle and various other things. It appears that these were privately worshipped by the Sanhedrin or Jewish council consisting of 70 or 72 persons, six chosen out of every tribe as representatives of the people. The images were portrayed upon the wall as we find those ancient idols are on the walls of the tombs of the kings and nobles of Egypt.
#30 | 21:22 to 22:11 | cleaned
So here you have this open idol and open apostasy. And now you have everyone worshiping basically the leaders openly. I'm going to say openly, but actually secretly all of the abominations of Egypt.
#31 | 22:13 to 22:33 | cleaned
Now look at verse 12. This is exceedingly important. "Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark?"
#32 | 22:34 to 22:44 | cleaned
Now we're talking about the leaders. We're talking about the elders, every man in the chambers of his imagery. "For they say the Lord seeth not; the Lord hath forsaken the earth." What is every man doing in the chambers of his imagery? You remember the word image comes from imagination. So here's what is happening. A hole was dug into the wall and that a door was discovered and that door then led to the chambers of a man's imagery. That is, it led to what he actually held in his mind and in his heart. So these leaders of Israel were not willing to do that which they were not willing to do that openly, which they were willing to do secretly.
#33 | 22:46 to 23:45 | cleaned
In other words, their profession did not match their lives. Let me put it like this. They were first rate hypocrites. They professed one thing, that is that they were the people of God, but they lived a totally different thing. They were different in private than what they were in public. Does that ring a bell? Does that make you think of our modern-day politicians? Because the hypocrisy of our modern-day politicians is exposed here as well. Do you realize that practically all politicians, with the exception of the Muslims and the Jews, are professing Christians?
#34 | 23:46 to 24:33 | cleaned
And yet the truth of the matter is they work against the very faith they profess to believe. They pass laws that are absolutely contrary to God and His words, And they eagerly do so and then have the audacity to defend their actions based upon humanistic rationale. So it was with the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem. We must come to the realization that as a man thinks in his heart, how he acts and how he conducts his business in reality is what he is. As Proverbs 23 in verse 7 says, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." And our Lord said it very plainly in Matthew 7 verse 20, "Wherefore by their fruits, ye shall know them." So our Lord says, here is this open apostasy.
#35 | 24:35 to 25:30 | cleaned
Here is the seat of the idol, but here is what everyone is really doing in the chambers of their imagination. Words, their thoughts are absolutely contrary to me. They profess one thing. But they're acting entirely different.
#36 | 25:30 to 25:47 | cleaned
Now I want you to note, our Lord lists even a greater abomination in verses 13 and 14. Watch. "He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do. 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." Ah, I do not want to get into all of this absolutely pagan worship.
#37 | 25:47 to 26:20 | cleaned
But there is certainly an application here. I want to just give you two brief quotes by two commentators. The first one is Matthew Poole and the second one is Albert Barnes. And they're going to be talking about the worship of Tammuz. Listen carefully. I think Matthew Poole hits the nail on the head really he says this "there sat women" now listen to this next statement "contrary to the law were they come hither led by their blindest because the vilest and most impudent superstition and waiting that is expressed by city sitting ready to commit most lewd"
#38 | 26:21 to 27:06 | cleaned
"wickedness as part of their obscene and beastly rights weeping This is only the part which is specified of their irreligious religion commemorating with tears and infamously lustful and unclean whoremonger or virginary of Venus snatched from her by an unhappy wound of a boar said that sometime this weeping implies all the beastly rights of that idol." So actually what you're talking about here the worship of Tammuz it's not only sex worship prostitution everything. But listen further.
#39 | 27:06 to 27:43 | cleaned
Albert Barnes says it like this. "This was a revival of nature worship under another form. The death of Adonis, who was snatched from her, symbolized by the suspension of the productive powers of nature, which were in due time revived. Accordingly, the time of this festival was at the summer solstice. When in the east nature seems to wither and die under the scorching heat of the sun, to burst forth again into life in the due season. At the same time, there was a connection between this and the sun worship in that the decline of the sun and the decline of nature might be likened, like represented by the death of Adonis. The excitement attended upon these extravagances of alternate wailing and exaltation were in complete accordance with the character of nature worship, which for this reason was so popular in the East, especially with women, and led by inevitable consequences to unbridled license and excess."
#40 | 27:44 to 28:47 | cleaned
"Such was, in Ezekiel's day, one of the most detestable forms of idolatry." So here were women then who were sitting where they were not even supposed to be sitting. They were there where they were not even supposed to be, because this particular place was reserved for the rulers and the princes. And they were there weeping for this stupid idol or this nature worship. I want you to contrast Ezra and Daniel. Ezra and Daniel wept for the national sins of their people. Here these women were weeping for that idol or for what the idol represented.
#41 | 28:48 to 29:34 | cleaned
Do you realize We have exactly the same thing today. You say, brother Weaver, I've never heard of anyone today. Worshiping Tammuz. Well, you have to remember that this is an aspect of nature worship. Do you realize in environmentalism today, a baby Eagle is worth far more than a human baby. You can murder a human baby, but you better not touch a baby Eagle. Or you'll spend 40 years in prison. It's just that simple. Environmentalism. Think about trees, Mother Earth, and nature. In environmentalism, all of these are accorded a higher worship than the one true and the living God. I've actually seen a bumper sticker that said, "Trees have feelings too."
#42 | 29:36 to 30:40 | cleaned
You talk about a tree hugger? I saw one sign I really liked. It said, "There's nothing wrong with hugging a tree, as long as you're getting to your deer stand." Well, that's a little different than environmentalism, that is for sure. But just to demonstrate this point, where nature is accorded a higher position than God himself. Just recently within the last several months, and I did not record her name, but there was one leading feminist who was pregnant with a male child and she had her baby murdered, aborted, And here is what she said.
#43 | 30:46 to 31:44 | cleaned
"I was not going to bring another monster into the world." She was a feminist. And if it was a man, it was a monster. That same woman probably would cry at a baby beached whale and shed great tears because a baby whale is dying. And yet there's no tears for an aborted baby. Paganism always exalts nature and ignores the God of nature. It's strange as well as an abominable thing that many will choose to serve an idol with tears. When they refuse to serve the one true and the living God with joy and gladness of heart.
#44 | 31:45 to 32:28 | cleaned
Now look at Ezekiel 8 in verse 16. Here's the final abomination notice. "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 20 men with their backs toward the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the East. And they worship the sun toward the East." Wow. Now, wait a minute.
#45 | 32:29 to 33:00 | cleaned
Maybe you didn't hear that. Look at verse 16 again. "And he brought me to the inner court of the Lord's house," the inner court. May I remind you that no one but the priests could enter into the inner court. And it's interesting that he said there were about five and 20 men. May I ask you, do you remember how many courses of priests there were? 24 and the high priest was over each one. And each of the orders, each of the courses had a priest over there. So here then you have all 25 of the Lord's priests worshiping the sun.
#46 | 33:00 to 34:02 | cleaned
They had their backs toward the West by the way, God's altar was in the West. So they were then worshiping the sun. May I point out that the worship of the sun and other heavenly bodies was part of the earliest idolatries and condemned repeatedly in scripture. Let me show you. Let's go in your Bibles. Hold Ezekiel chapter 8, but go in your Bibles very quickly to the book of Deuteronomy 17. And then we're going to Job 31, Deuteronomy 17. And notice if you would please beginning there with verse 2, Deuteronomy 17 and verse 2.
#47 | 34:04 to 34:54 | cleaned
Look what the Bible says. Deuteronomy 17, verse 2. "If there be any found among you with any of the gates which the Lord thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the Lord thy God, in transgressing his covenant, hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded. And it be told thee, and thou hast heard it and inquired diligently, and behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel. Then shall thou bring forth that man and that woman which have committed that wicked thing under thy gates. Even that man or that woman, thou shalt stone them with stones till they die." Worshipping of the sun and the moon.
#48 | 35:00 to 35:46 | cleaned
And if you will look in the book of Job chapter 31, Job is talking about the very fact that he's suffering. And of course, Job is holding on to his righteousness. And he's saying that he had not done anything to deserve the judgment he was facing. And this is one of the things he mentions Job chapter 31, beginning there verse 26. He says, "If I beheld the sun when it shined or the moon walking in brightness, and my heart had been secretly enticed, or my mouth has kissed my hand, this also were iniquity to be punished by the judge, for I should have denied the God that is above." Notice he's talking about the worship of the sun and the worship of the moon. He said, if I've done this, then I have denied the God who is above. Now I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Ezekiel chapter 22.
#49 | 35:46 to 36:46 | cleaned
Let me just show you. I don't know if you have been thinking with me, but as we read through Ezekiel chapter 8, you will find that the people were involved and engaged in idolatry. You'll also find that the princes were engaged in idolatry. The priests were engaged into idolatry. In fact, the truth is, idolatry had pretty well swept over the entire area. Very few had not bowed to some idol. Notice Ezekiel chapter 22, beginning there in verse 25.
#50 | 36:46 to 37:26 | cleaned
God says, "There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey. They devoured souls. They have taken the treasure and precious things. They have made her many widows in the midst thereof." Her prophets are no good. "Her priests have violated my law and have profaned mine holy things. They have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither they show difference between the unclean and the clean. And have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profane among them." Now the priests are guilty. Verse 27, "Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey to shed blood and destroy souls to get dishonest gain."
#51 | 37:28 to 38:12 | cleaned
"And her prophets are mentioned again, have daubed them with untempered mortar, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying thus saith the Lord God, when the Lord hath not spoken, here it is, the people of the land have used oppression, and exercise robbery and vex the poor and the needy, yet they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully." So God lists the prophets, the priests, the princes, and the people.
#52 | 38:12 to 38:39 | cleaned
Everyone is totally consumed with apostasy and idolatry. Now, I want you to go back to Ezekiel chapter 8. I want you to see God's attitude toward this apostasy this turning from Him and His law. Verses 17 and 18. Here it is. Ezekiel 8 verse 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?"
#53 | 38:40 to 39:14 | cleaned
"For they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger, lo, they put the branch to their nose. Therefore will I also deal in fury, mine eyes shall not spare, neither will I have pity, and though they cry in my ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them." Wow.
#54 | 39:15 to 39:37 | cleaned
Now I want you to watch. We've now arrived at chapter 9. At chapter 9, verse 1, God calls for men with the destroying weapons in their hand. When you get to Ezekiel chapter 9, let me say it like this. Judgment has come. Full judgment has come. God graciously and mercifully marked the few who sighed and cried for the abominations of the country. Look in verses 3 and 4 "and the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub whereupon he was."
#55 | 39:37 to 40:24 | cleaned
"To the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side. And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations to be done in the midst thereof." So God said, I want you to go over there and pick out all of those who are upset with all of this apostasy and idolatry and wickedness and corruption. Put a mark on their heads. After these are marked.
#56 | 40:24 to 41:02 | cleaned
The awesome and terrifying destruction begins. Look in verse 5. "And to the others, he said in my hearing, Go ye after him through the city and smite. Let not your eyes spare. Neither have you pity. Slay utterly old and young, both maids and little children and women, but come not near any man upon whom is the mark, and begin at my sanctuary. Then they begin at the ancient men which were before the house."
#57 | 41:05 to 41:40 | cleaned
Yeah, that is those elders watched. And it came to pass when they were slaying them, and I was left, that was verse 8, verse 7, "and he said unto them, Defile the house and fill the courts with the slain." That is those wicked priests. "Go ye forth. And they went forth and slew in the city."
#58 | 41:43 to 42:04 | cleaned
Now, the interesting thing is. God says, I want you to slay everybody who doesn't have the mark. Look at look at verse 5 again. "And to the others, he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city and smite. Let not your eyes spare. Neither have you pity." There's no mercy shown "slay utterly old and young. Notice both maids and little children and women, but come not near any man upon whom is my mark." Now, although there was no mercy to be shown, there are no pity to be given. God is saying the time for repentance and forgiveness is past. The only thing that remains now is judgment.
#59 | 42:05 to 42:55 | cleaned
Now there is one question here that is clearly answered for us. You never have to guess. Here's the question that is answered. Where did this judgment begin? Well, look at verse 6. "Slay utterly old and young, both maids and little children and women, but come not near any man upon whom is the mark and begin at my sanctuary." Have a question. Does that passage ring a bell for you?
#60 | 42:55 to 43:45 | cleaned
Hold Ezekiel 9, but turn in your Bibles to 1 Peter chapter 4. 1 Peter chapter 4. And let's read there verses 17 and 18. 1 Peter 4, 17 and 18. Look what Peter says. "For the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God. And if it first began in us. What shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God. And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?" Now, wait a minute, wait a minute "for the time has come. The judgment must begin at the house of God. And if it began with us, what shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God."
#61 | 43:48 to 44:44 | cleaned
Now watch what he said. "And if the righteous scarcely be saved." Go back in your Bibles to Ezekiel chapter 9 and look at verse 8. What did Ezekiel say? "And it came to pass while they were slaying them and I was left. I fell on my face." I got news for you. If God graciously spared me, I'd be falling on my face as well. But that's what he's saying. Judgment now must begin at the house of God. And if the righteous scarcely be saved, what are the world's going to happen to the wicked in the ungodly?
#62 | 44:45 to 45:30 | cleaned
I want you to pause and contemplate a very serious thought. Here it is as a professing Christian people. And as a professing Christian nation, we have apostatized from the truth. In this nation, we seek an easy religion and a superficial salvation. We want to be saved from the penalty of our sins while we enjoy revel in and glory in our sins. We wish to be entertained and coddled and comforted and pampered. We have no desire as a nation to be biblical, to be obedient, holy, or righteous. We as a nation have become unjust, unrighteous, unholy in every sphere of life and in our government.
#63 | 45:35 to 46:44 | cleaned
Listen, we have forsaken God and his word socially. Economically, ecclesiastically, governmentally, and individually. We're in rebellion and disobedience up to our eyeballs. We're committing the same sins that Judah and Jerusalem committed. So my question is, will it happen again? You say, wait a minute, brother Weaver, hang on. I'm not worshiping the sun. I'm not falling down to some idol before some idol. I'm not worshiping Tammuz. Really? You're not an idolater.
#64 | 46:45 to 47:30 | cleaned
I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Colossians chapter 3. By the way, I hope you understand. You cannot violate any of the 10 commandments Until you have violated the first commandment, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Hmm. Think about this. Look in Colossians chapter 3, verse 5 and verse 6. Watch carefully "Mortify therefore your members, which are upon the earth fornication and uncleanness inordinate affection. Evil concupiscence." Are you watching?
#65 | 47:34 to 48:19 | cleaned
"And covetousness, which is idolatry for which things sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience." Now, did you notice he said, "and covetousness, which is idolatry" and covetousness, which is idolatry. When we place our desires, lusts, and love upon things other than the Lord, it is idolatry. When we place material possessions ahead of the worship and obedience to God, it is idolatry. Are you listening? When we refuse to order our thoughts in accord and in agreement with the word of God, it is idolatry. When we place ourselves, our wants, and our wills ahead of God and His Word and His truth, it is idolatry.
#66 | 48:20 to 49:28 | cleaned
We may not bow down to a physical idol, but we oftentimes submit and bow down to the idol of self. We want what we want. We want to please ourselves. We want to satisfy and gratify our flesh. We want that which we want and we want it no matter what it does not matter. Whether it flies in the face of God's word. Do you realize all adultery is idolatry? All theft is idolatry. All murder is idolatry. Any violation of God's law is idolatry because you cannot disobey God without first enthroning yourself. You make self an idol. Such is idolatry. It's that abominable thing which God hates.
#67 | 49:30 to 50:29 | cleaned
So that's why I ask this question. Since we're committing exactly the same sins that Judah and Jerusalem committed. Will it happen again? Will God send his destroyers upon us? Will our society, our nation and our people be destroyed? You must remember that God is immutable. He does not change and neither do his judgments. We have to learn the truth of Hebrews 10 in verse 31. "It's a fearful thing to fall in the hands of a living God." It's even more fearful. When that living God is angry with you. I think the question that I ask is a very legitimate one in light of our apostasy. Will it happen again? Will it happen again? Let me make some applications and I want you to think. With me, please. First of all, if you will understand Ezekiel 9 in verse 1, you understand this, that God has ministers of wrath at his call and at his disposal. And those ministers are always within his call and they come with invisible powers by whom he accomplishes his purposes.
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It should be noted that those who make God their enemy also make his messengers their enemy. It does not bode well for those who fight against God, nor does it bode well for those who fight against his messengers. Instead of fighting, we need repentance. I want you to listen to me very carefully. I just said that we have fallen into the same trap that Israel fell into. I want you to turn in your Bibles to Ezekiel 33, Ezekiel 33. Very interesting passage.
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Most of you know that our founding fathers were Christian. The few who were not Christians were deeply influenced by the Christian faith. Do you know what Israel did? Israel depended on upon the fact that we have Abraham and our father. Well, Abraham was the friend of God. I mean, doesn't that give us something we could sit back and say, well, look at the faith of our founding fathers.
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And I got news for you. Even Benjamin Franklin, who's accounted a deist. If you read his writings, he has far more theology. And expresses a far greater faith than most professing Christians today. It was Benjamin Franklin who called for prayer at the constitutional convention. I mean, the very fact that he said that if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without your heavenly father, how much less can a nation arise without it?
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Obviously he believed in God's sovereignty. He may not have been a Christian, but the point I'm trying to make is. Those who were not Christians were deeply influenced by the Christian faith. And by the way, Benjamin Franklin and George Whitefield were friends and Franklin always went to hear Whitefield preach. It was Franklin who did the figuring and figured out that approximately 25,000 people could hear Whitefield preach without any type of amplification or megaphones.
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I want to show you look in Ezekiel chapter 33. Let's begin reading verse 24. We're depending on our founding fathers, just like Israel depended upon Abraham. Notice Ezekiel chapter 33, beginning there. Verse 24 "Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel speak saying Abraham was one and he inherited the land, but we're many. The land has given us for inheritance. It's ours."
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"Wherefore saying to them, now watch the set, the Lord God, you eat with the blood and lift up your eyes towards your idols and shed blood. And shall you possess the land? You stand upon your sword. You work abomination. You defile everyone. His neighbor's wife. And shall you possess the land? Say thou thus into them. Thus said the Lord God, as I live, surely they, that they're in the waste shall fall by the sword."
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"And him that is in the open field will I give to the beast to be devoured and they in the forts and in the cave shall die the pestilence for I will lay the land most desolate and the pomp of her strength shall cease and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate that none pass through it." Wow. It didn't help them to be the descendants of Abraham. Didn't help them to be the friend of the friend of God. And it won't help us to know that we had a godly foundation. We've spent it.
#75 | 56:13 to 56:53 | cleaned
Thirdly, I want you to look back in Ezekiel chapter 8. Here's the third application. Watch this. There comes a time when God will not hear cries for mercy. That is a frightening truth. And yet it is clearly revealed. We need to look no further than Ezekiel 8 in verse 18. I could multiply verses, but look what God says in Ezekiel 8 in verse 18. "Therefore will I also deal in fury. Mine eye shall not spare."
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"Neither will I have pity. And though they cry in my ears with a loud voice yet, will I not hear them?" Look in Ezekiel 9 and verse 10. "And as for me also, mine eyes shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head." The truth of the matter is this. If one does not seek the Lord in a state of mercy and grace, if one does not hear God in the time of mercy and grace. God will not hear him in the time of judgment. You know what Isaiah 55 verses 6 and 7 state? The Bible says, "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found."
#77 | 57:32 to 58:29 | cleaned
"Call ye upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return to the Lord. And he will have abundant mercy upon him. And to our God, for he will abundantly pardon him." So God said, If you seek me while I may be found, and if you turn from your wicked ways and you obey me, there's mercy. But if you do not turn from your wicked ways and you do not seek me in a time of grace and mercy and the time of judgment, I will not hear you. Will it happen again? God said.
#78 | 58:30 to 59:12 | cleaned
And Ezekiel 9 "begin at my sanctuary." He said in 1 Peter 4, "the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God." And let me tell you something, folks. If the righteous scarcely be saved, or as Job said, if we make it by the skin of our teeth, if God spares us in his mercy, what in the world will the end of the ungodly and the wicked be? I can assure you, I don't want to be with the wicked and the ungodly and find out. I want to be like Ezekiel. When I find out that I was spared, I want to fall on my face and say, thank you, Father. Thank you for grace and mercy. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to thee. We thank you for your word. We thank you for your truth and Lord help us Lord to consider and seriously consider the state of our nation and to order our lives accordingly, that we, like Ezekiel, may be spared if and when it happens again.
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Give us grace to serve thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. In thy name we pray. Amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T18:00:38Z

Will It Happen Again?

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

In this sermon, Pastor John Weaver examines Ezekiel 9, where God commands the destruction of Jerusalem due to rampant idolatry and apostasy. He draws parallels between the sins of ancient Judah and modern America, warning that God's immutable nature means His judgments against sin remain unchanged. The message emphasizes that judgment begins at the house of God, and only those who mourn over sin are marked for mercy. Weaver calls for repentance, lest the same destruction befall the nation again.

Opening

Scripture Reading — Ezekiel 9:1-11

"He cried also at mine ears with a loud voice saying, Cause them to have charge over the city to draw near." "Every man with this destroying weapon in his hand. Behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north and every man, a slaughter weapon in his hand. And one man among them was clothed with linen. The other writers inkhorn by side. And they went in and stood by the brazen altar. And the glory of the God of Israel was going up from the cherub." "Whereupon he was to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side. And the Lord said to him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. And to the others, he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city and smite, let not your eyes spare neither have pity. Slay utterly old and young, both maids and little children and women, but come not near any man upon whom is the mark and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house. And he said unto them, Defile the house and fill the courts with the slain. Go ye forth. And they went forth and slew in the city. And it came to pass while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face and cried and said, Ah, Lord God, wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem." "Then he said unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness. For they say, The Lord hath forsaken the earth, and the Lord seeth not. And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head. And behold, a man clothed with the linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me."

Introduction: The Question of Repeated Judgment

Weaver introduces the theme by questioning whether God's judgments, like lightning or natural disasters, can strike again, emphasizing God's immutability in judgment.

The Command to Destroy Jerusalem (Ezekiel 9:1-2)

God calls for destroyers with weapons, representing either angels or the Babylonian army, to execute judgment on the city.

No Mercy at the Altar: The Principle of Substitution

Those who reject God's substitutionary sacrifice become the sacrifice themselves; Joab's death at the altar illustrates that judgment leaves no room for mercy.

The Identity of the Six Men and the Man with the Inkhorn

Weaver discusses two views: the six men as Babylonian princes or as angels, and the man with the inkhorn as a recorder marking the faithful.

Interestingly, there's a passage in scripture that lists six princes of Nebuchadnezzar that sat in the gate. Let me just read it. Jeremiah 39 verse 3.

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 39:3

"And all the princes of the King of Babylon came in and sat in the middle gate, even Nergal-Sharezer, Samgar-Nebo, Sarsechim, Rab-Saris, Nergal-Sharezer, and Rab-Mag, with all the residue of the princes of the King of Babylon."

Scripture Reading — Psalm 118:27

"God is the Lord, which has shown us light. Bind the sacrifice with cords, even to the horns of the altar."

So here then are six angels in all probability that have come from God with a bill of destruction against Judah and Jerusalem.

The Sins That Provoked Judgment (Ezekiel 8)

A detailed look at the abominations in Jerusalem: open idolatry, secret idolatry among leaders, weeping for Tammuz, and sun worship by priests.

Scripture Reading — Ezekiel 8:1-18

"And it came to pass in the sixth year and in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house and the elders of Judah sat before me that the hand of the Lord God fell upon me."

Now look at Ezekiel 8 in verse 16. Here's the final abomination notice.

Scripture Reading — Ezekiel 8:1-18

"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 20 men with their backs toward the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the East. And they worship the sun toward the East."

Wow. Now, wait a minute. Maybe you didn't hear that. Look at verse 16 again.

Scripture Reading — Ezekiel 8:1-18

"And he brought me to the inner court of the Lord's house,"

The Marking of the Faithful and the Slaughter (Ezekiel 9:3-7)

God commands a mark on those who sigh over sin, then orders the destruction of all others, beginning at the sanctuary.

Judgment Begins at the House of God (1 Peter 4:17-18)

Weaver connects Ezekiel 9:6 with 1 Peter 4:17, stressing that judgment starts with God's people, and if the righteous are scarcely saved, the wicked face a terrible end.

Modern America's Parallel Sins

Weaver argues that America has apostatized like Judah, committing idolatry through covetousness, self-worship, and rejection of God's law.

Applications: God's Wrath, False Security, and the Need for Repentance

God has ministers of wrath ready; relying on a godly heritage is futile; there comes a time when God will not hear cries for mercy, so repentance must be urgent.

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 10:31

"It's a fearful thing to fall in the hands of a living God."

Scripture Reading — Ezekiel 33:24-28

"And him that is in the open field will I give to the beast to be devoured and they in the forts and in the cave shall die the pestilence for I will lay the land most desolate and the pomp of her strength shall cease and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate that none pass through it."

Will It Happen Again?

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	ZWU51y5UVVw
Subject	Church Government
Course	Church Order: Preaching and Pastoral Ministry
Genre	Sermon
Date	2016-12-18
Dictation Name
Book	Book 039: Church Order and Worship - Volume 1 — Chapter 25
Source Timed Segments	80

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction: The Question of Repeated Judgment: Weaver introduces the theme by questioning whether God's judgments, like lightning or natural disasters, can strike again, emphasizing God's immutability in judgment.
The Command to Destroy Jerusalem (Ezekiel 9:1-2): God calls for destroyers with weapons, representing either angels or the Babylonian army, to execute judgment on the city.
No Mercy at the Altar: The Principle of Substitution: Those who reject God's substitutionary sacrifice become the sacrifice themselves; Joab's death at the altar illustrates that judgment leaves no room for mercy.
The Identity of the Six Men and the Man with the Inkhorn: Weaver discusses two views: the six men as Babylonian princes or as angels, and the man with the inkhorn as a recorder marking the faithful.
The Sins That Provoked Judgment (Ezekiel 8): A detailed look at the abominations in Jerusalem: open idolatry, secret idolatry among leaders, weeping for Tammuz, and sun worship by priests.
The Marking of the Faithful and the Slaughter (Ezekiel 9:3-7): God commands a mark on those who sigh over sin, then orders the destruction of all others, beginning at the sanctuary.
Judgment Begins at the House of God (1 Peter 4:17-18): Weaver connects Ezekiel 9:6 with 1 Peter 4:17, stressing that judgment starts with God's people, and if the righteous are scarcely saved, the wicked face a terrible end.
Modern America's Parallel Sins: Weaver argues that America has apostatized like Judah, committing idolatry through covetousness, self-worship, and rejection of God's law.
Applications: God's Wrath, False Security, and the Need for Repentance: God has ministers of wrath ready; relying on a godly heritage is futile; there comes a time when God will not hear cries for mercy, so repentance must be urgent.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

God's judgments are repeatable because He is immutable.

Since God's character does not change, His response to sin remains the same, meaning past judgments can recur.

God does not change and neither do his judgments against sin and rebellion. He is the same infinite, immutable and holy God.

Rejecting God's sacrifice makes one the sacrifice.

Those who refuse Christ's substitutionary atonement must bear the penalty of their own sin.

The wicked had refused God's substitutional sacrifice for sin, and now they are going to be the sacrifice for their sins.

Modern America mirrors the sins of Ezekiel's Jerusalem.

The same idolatry, hypocrisy, and apostasy seen in Judah are prevalent in contemporary American society.

We're committing the same sins that Judah and Jerusalem committed. ... we have apostatized from the truth. In this nation, we seek an easy religion and a superficial salvation.

Covetousness is a primary form of modern idolatry.

Paul equates covetousness with idolatry, and it manifests when material desires supersede God.

And covetousness, which is idolatry for which things sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience.

Judgment begins with God's people due to their greater light.

Those who have God's revelation are held to a higher standard and face judgment first.

For the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God. And if it first began in us. What shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God.

A godly heritage cannot shield from judgment.

Israel's reliance on Abraham did not spare them, and America's Christian founding will not spare it if it continues in sin.

It didn't help them to be the descendants of Abraham. ... And it won't help us to know that we had a godly foundation. We've spent it.

There is a point when God refuses to hear cries for mercy.

If people reject God during the time of grace, He will not respond when judgment falls.

Therefore will I also deal in fury. Mine eye shall not spare. Neither will I have pity. And though they cry in my ears with a loud voice yet, will I not hear them?

Scripture References

Ezekiel 9:1-11: The entire chapter is read and forms the basis of the sermon, describing the vision of the six destroyers and the marking of the faithful.
1 Kings 2:28-31: Joab's execution at the altar illustrates that there is no mercy at the place of sacrifice when judgment comes.
Jeremiah 39:3: Lists six princes of Nebuchadnezzar, used to support the view that the six men in Ezekiel 9 could represent Babylonian leaders.
Psalm 118:27: Cited to show that sacrifices were bound to the altar, contrasting with the wicked who become the sacrifice.
Lamentations 4:5: Jeremiah states that Jerusalem's punishment was greater than Sodom's, emphasizing the severity of their sin.
Ezekiel 8:1-18: Describes the abominations that provoked God's wrath: the image of jealousy, secret idolatry, weeping for Tammuz, and sun worship.
Proverbs 23:7: Quoted to emphasize that a person's true character is revealed by their inner thoughts.
Matthew 7:20: Used to support that people are known by their fruits, not just their profession.
Deuteronomy 17:2-5: Commands death for those who worship the sun, moon, or stars, showing the seriousness of such idolatry.
Job 31:26-28: Job denies sun or moon worship, equating it with denying God, reinforcing the sin of the priests in Ezekiel 8.
Ezekiel 22:25-29: Lists the corruption of prophets, priests, princes, and people, showing widespread apostasy.
1 Peter 4:17-18: Judgment begins at the house of God; if the righteous are scarcely saved, the wicked face a terrible end.
Colossians 3:5-6: Covetousness is equated with idolatry, bringing God's wrath, applied to modern materialism.
Hebrews 10:31: It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, underscoring the terror of judgment.
Ezekiel 33:24-28: Israel's claim to the land based on Abraham is rejected because of their sins, paralleling America's reliance on its founding.
Isaiah 55:6-7: Urges seeking the Lord while He may be found, promising mercy to those who forsake wickedness.

Historical References

Adam Clarke's commentary on Ezekiel 9: Clarke interprets the six men as representatives of the Chaldean army, with the man in linen as a recorder.
Matthew Henry's commentary on Ezekiel 9: Henry argues the six men are angels, acting as ministers of wrath and sacrificers at the altar.
Egyptian idolatry and tomb paintings: Clarke notes the images on the wall in Ezekiel 8 resemble Egyptian deities, suggesting the elders secretly worshipped them.
Worship of Tammuz/Adonis: Explained as a nature cult involving mourning and licentious rites, connected to sun worship and fertility.
Benjamin Franklin and the Constitutional Convention: Franklin called for prayer, showing even non-Christian founders were influenced by Christian faith, used to illustrate reliance on heritage.
George Whitefield's preaching: Franklin estimated 25,000 could hear Whitefield without amplification, demonstrating the influence of the Great Awakening.

Important Quotes

The wicked had refused God's substitutional sacrifice for sin, and now they are going to be the sacrifice for their sins.

Highlights the principle that rejecting Christ's atonement leaves one to bear their own punishment.

For the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God. And if it first began in us. What shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God.

Applies the principle from Ezekiel to the church, warning that believers face judgment first.

It didn't help them to be the descendants of Abraham. Didn't help them to be the friend of the friend of God. And it won't help us to know that we had a godly foundation. We've spent it.

Warns against false security in a Christian heritage without personal repentance.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

In what ways do we see modern parallels to the idolatry described in Ezekiel 8, such as the worship of self, nature, or material possessions?

[Context]

Weaver argues that covetousness and self-will are forms of idolatry prevalent today.

[Question]

How should the truth that 'judgment begins at the house of God' affect the way we live as Christians and as a church?

[Context]

The sermon stresses that God's people are held to a higher standard and face judgment first.

[Question]

What does it mean to 'sigh and cry' over the abominations of our land, and how can we cultivate such a heart?

[Context]

The faithful in Ezekiel 9 were marked because they mourned over sin; Weaver implies this is the mark of true believers.

[Question]

Why is relying on a godly heritage or past revivals insufficient to protect a nation from judgment?

[Context]

Weaver uses Ezekiel 33 to show that Israel's claim on Abraham did not spare them from destruction.

[Question]

How do we balance the urgency of repentance with the assurance of God's mercy for those who truly seek Him?

[Context]

Isaiah 55 is quoted to show that God will abundantly pardon, but only while He may be found.

Applications

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T10:02:32Z