The End Has Come: God’s Judgment and His Mark of Mercy
- Be God's Glory
- Sep 1
- 10 min read
Updated: Sep 3
Welcome to Day 245 of The Glory Team Bible Reading plan and we are in the book of Ezekiel. These chapters present a sobering vision of God’s judgment on Judah for their rebellion and idolatry. In chapter 7, God declares the imminent end for the land of Israel, describing the destruction and despair that would soon overwhelm the people. In chapter 8, Ezekiel is shown a vision of the abominations happening within the temple itself, exposing the deep corruption of Israel’s leaders and worship. Finally, in chapter 9, judgment is executed, but God marks and spares those who grieve over sin, showing both His wrath against wickedness and His mercy toward the faithful remnant. Together, these chapters reveal the seriousness of sin, the certainty of divine justice, and the hope of God’s protection for those who remain faithful to Him.
Ezekiel 7
Ezekiel 7 is a prophetic announcement of the end of Judah as a nation. God declares that the time for patience has run out and His wrath will be poured out on the land because of the people’s violence, idolatry, and corruption. He describes chaos, famine, and destruction where silver and gold will be useless, and no one will escape judgment. The “day of doom” is pictured as near, leaving no room for pride or hope in human strength. This chapter emphasizes that God’s holiness requires judgment and that sin always brings consequences when people continually reject His warnings.
Ezekiel 8
In Ezekiel 8, the prophet is transported in a vision to the temple in Jerusalem, where he is shown the abominations taking place within God’s house. Ezekiel witnesses leaders and people bowing to idols, worshiping images on the walls, women weeping for the false god Tammuz, and men bowing to the sun with their backs to the temple of the Lord. These images reveal how deeply idolatry had corrupted the nation, even in the very place meant to honor God. The chapter shows God’s grief and anger at seeing His sanctuary polluted with false worship. It highlights the seriousness of turning God’s house into a place of idolatry and how unchecked sin spreads among leaders and the people alike.
Ezekiel 9
In Ezekiel 9, the vision shifts to judgment being executed. Six men with weapons appear, accompanied by a man clothed in linen with a writing kit. God commands the man in linen to put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and mourn over the abominations committed in the city. The others are then sent to strike down everyone without the mark, starting with the elders in the temple. This chapter underscores God’s justice but also His mercy toward those who remain faithful and brokenhearted over sin. It reveals that God distinguishes between the righteous and the wicked, and He preserves a remnant even in times of judgment.
Origin & Meaning of the Name:
The name Ezekiel comes from the Hebrew name Yehezqel, which means “God strengthens” or “God is my strength.” This meaning is significant in the context of the book because Ezekiel is called by God to strengthen the faith of Israel and uphold God’s authority in the midst of the nation’s exile and rebellion.
Purpose of the Book:
The book of Ezekiel was written primarily to warn, convict, and comfort the people of Israel during their exile in Babylon (c. 593–571 BC). Its purposes include:
Warning of Judgment: To declare God’s judgment on Israel for their idolatry, rebellion, and unfaithfulness (Ezekiel 5:5–17).
Encouraging Repentance: To call the people to repentance and restore hope for the remnant who return to God (Ezekiel 18:30–32).
Revealing God’s Sovereignty and Glory: Through vivid visions, symbolic acts, and prophetic messages, the book emphasizes that God is sovereign over all nations, not just Israel (Ezekiel 1:26–28; 36:22–23).
Promising Restoration: Ezekiel concludes with promises of renewal for Israel, including the vision of the valley of dry bones and the restored temple, symbolizing spiritual revival and national restoration (Ezekiel 37:1–28; 40–48).
Authorship & Sources Supporting the Author:
The book of Ezekiel is attributed to the prophet Ezekiel, a priest and prophet among the Jewish exiles in Babylon. Evidence for his authorship includes:
Biblical References:
Ezekiel repeatedly identifies himself in the text as the recipient of God’s visions and messages (Ezekiel 1:3, 2:1, 3:4).
The Book of 2 Kings 24–25 provides historical context about the Babylonian exile, confirming the timeframe of Ezekiel’s ministry.
Extra-Biblical Support:
The Jewish historian Josephus in Antiquities of the Jews (Book 10, Chapter 10) references Ezekiel as a prophet active during the Babylonian exile, confirming the traditional attribution.
The Talmud (Babylonian Talmud, tractate Megillah 14b) also recognizes Ezekiel as the author of the prophetic book that bears his name.
Internal Evidence: The first-person accounts, vivid visions, and symbolic actions consistently present throughout the book strongly suggest a single author with intimate knowledge of priestly practices and the Babylonian exile experience.
Key People:
Ezekiel – The prophet and main figure, called by God to deliver messages of warning, judgment, and hope.
God (YHWH) – Central figure of the book, revealed in powerful visions and messages.
King Jehoiachin – King of Judah taken into Babylonian exile, mentioned in Ezekiel 1:2 and 24:1–2.
Other Israelites – The people of Israel, often depicted as rebellious and in need of correction (Ezekiel 2:3–5; 18:2–3).
Foreign Nations – Babylon, Tyre, Egypt, Ammon, Moab, and Edom, who are often referenced in prophecies of judgment (Ezekiel 25–32).
Conclusion
The book of Ezekiel concludes with a powerful message of hope, restoration, and God’s enduring presence. Despite Israel’s rebellion and judgment, God promises to gather His people, cleanse them from sin, and restore them to their land. The final chapters (Ezekiel 40–48) present a vision of a renewed temple and a reestablished covenant community, symbolizing spiritual revival and the assurance that God remains faithful to His promises. The overarching theme is that God is holy, sovereign, and faithful, and He works through judgment and restoration to fulfill His purposes for His people.
What is God's Name in these Chapters?
In this portion of our journey we want to dive deep into the character of God described in His name. By identifying who God is, we can further relate to Him personally and build a stronger relationship and connection with Our Father.
Names are important. They give significance to places, people, and things. We identify with so much based off what it's name is. This is considerably notable when it comes to the names of God.
"Jehovah" is considered a Latinized version of the Hebrew name "Yahweh" (represented by the consonants YHWH) where the vowels of the Hebrew word "Adonai" (meaning "my Lord") were added to the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) when pronounced by Jewish readers who avoided saying the sacred name directly; essentially, Christian scholars combined the consonants of YHWH with the vowels of Adonai to create the pronunciation "Jehovah" in the Latin alphabet.
Looking for the Names of God from the previous chapters? Due to the overwhelming amount of names we had to dedicate a special place for them for the sake of space. Click the link to see them:
Ezekiel 7
In this chapter, God’s holiness and justice are displayed as He announces the end of Judah. His patience had run out after generations of rebellion, and now His wrath would be poured out fully. God shows that He is not indifferent to sin but acts with righteousness, ensuring that wickedness is confronted and judged.
In this chapter, God refers to Himself as Adonai Yahweh (Sovereign Lord), emphasizing His supreme authority over time and history. The lesson is that God’s timing is perfect—He endures long with patience, but when the appointed time comes, His justice cannot be delayed. We learn that trusting in wealth or human strength will not save us; only obedience and faithfulness to the Sovereign Lord bring hope.
Ezekiel 8
God reveals His jealousy for His glory and His grief over the corruption of His temple. He exposes the hidden sins of His people and leaders, showing that nothing is concealed from His sight. His character here reflects His role as the all-seeing and holy God who will not share His worship with idols.
Again, the title Adonai Yahweh (Sovereign Lord) appears, reinforcing His rightful rule over His house and people. The lesson is that God’s sanctuary, and by extension our lives, must remain pure and devoted to Him alone. We learn that God is not mocked—He sees every compromise and calls us to remove idols and return to wholehearted worship.
Ezekiel 9
In this chapter, God’s justice and mercy are both on display. While He commands judgment on the unrepentant, He also marks and protects those who mourn over sin, showing His compassion for the faithful remnant. God’s character shines as both righteous Judge and merciful Savior.
The repeated phrase “Ani Yahweh (I am the LORD)” emphasizes His covenant faithfulness and the truth that He alone defines righteousness and judgment. The lesson is that God distinguishes between the righteous and the wicked—He knows the hearts of His people and preserves those who are loyal to Him. We learn that God calls us to grieve over sin, stand apart from corruption, and trust His protection even when judgment falls around us.
Christ in Every Book of the Bible
Christ is the theme throughout the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals His Son, Jesus Christ.
Christ is the Seed of the woman Genesis 3:14 , He is the Passover Lamb Exodus 12:3, The Atoning Sacrifice Leviticus 17:11, The Smitten Rock Numbers 20:8, 11, The Faithful Prophet Deuteronomy 18:18, Christ is the Captain of the Lord's Host Joshua 5:15, The Divine Deliverer Judges 2:18, The Kinsman Redeemer Ruth 3:12, Christ is the anticipated as the Anointed One,1 Samuel 2:10, The Son of David 2 Samuel 7:14, The Coming King 1 & 2 Kings, Builder of the Temple 1 & 2 Chronicles (1 Chronicles 28:20), Ezra represents Christ as the Restorer of the Nation Ezra 6:14, 15, Nehemiah shows Him as the Restorer of the Temple Nehemiah 6:15, and Esther portrays Him as the Preserver of the Nation Ester 4:14, Christ is seen as the Living Redeemer Job 19:25, The Praise of Israel Psalm 150:6, The Wisdom of God Proverbs 8:22, 23, The Great Teacher Ecclesiastics 12:11, The Fairest of Ten Thousand Song of Solomon 5:10. Christ is the Suffering Servant Isaiah 53:11, The Maker of the New Covenant Jeremiah 31:31, The Man of Sorrows Lamentations 3:28-30, The Glory of God Ezekiel 43:2, The coming Messiah Daniel 9:25, The Lover of the Unfaithful Hosea 3:1, The Hope of Israel Joel 3:16, The Husbandman Amos 9:13, the Savior Obadiah 21, the Resurrected One Jonah 2:10, the Ruler in Israel Micah 5:2, the Avenger Nahum 2:1, the Holy God Habakkuk 1:13, the King of Israel Zephaniah 3:15, the Desire of Nations Haggai 2:7, the Righteous Branch Zechariah 3:8, and the Sun of Righteousness Malachi 4:2.
The King of the Jews Matthew 2:2, the Servant of the Lord Mark 10:45, the Son of Man Luke 19:10, and the Son of God John 1:1. Christ is the Ascended Lord Acts 1:10, the believer's Righteousness Romans 1:17, Sanctification 1 Corinthians 1:30, Sufficiency 2 Corinthians 12:9, and Liberty Galatians 2:4. He is the Exalted Head of the church Ephesians 1:22, the Christian's Joy Philippians 1:26, and the Fullness of Deity Colossians 2:9. In the Thessalonian epistles Christ is the believer's Comfort 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 and Glory 2 Thessalonians 1:12. The Christian's Preserver 1 Timothy 4:10, Rewarder 2 Timothy 4:8, Blessed Hope Titus 2:13, and Substitute Philemon 17. He is the High Priest Hebrews 4:15, the Giver of Wisdom James 1:5, the Rock 1 Peter 2:6, and Precious Promise 2 Peter 1:4. John represents Christ as the Life 1 John, the Truth 2 John, and the Way 3 John, Jude portrays Christ as the Advocate and Revelation shows Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords Revelation 19:16. The whole Bible is literally all about Christ!
Questions:
Let's expand how these chapters expanded your faith and your relationship with God.
Questions About God's Character: What do these chapters reveal about God’s faithfulness to His word and promises?
What does Ezekiel 7 reveal about God’s holiness and His unwillingness to overlook sin indefinitely?
How does the title “Adonai Yahweh (Sovereign Lord)” emphasize God’s authority over judgment in chapter 7?
In Ezekiel 8, how do we see God’s jealousy for His glory and His grief over the corruption of His temple?
What does God’s response to hidden idolatry in chapter 8 teach us about His all-seeing nature?
In Ezekiel 9, how does God show that He is both just and merciful at the same time?
What does the act of marking the faithful in Ezekiel 9 reveal about God’s care for those who remain loyal to Him?
Across these chapters, how do we see God’s character revealed as a righteous Judge but also a compassionate Protector?
Questions About Themes:
What major theme of “the end has come” is repeated in Ezekiel 7, and why is it significant?
How does the theme of misplaced trust in wealth and possessions appear in Ezekiel 7?
In Ezekiel 8, what theme is highlighted through the vision of idolatry inside the temple?
How do the four different idolatries in Ezekiel 8 (images, elders, women, priests) represent widespread corruption in the nation?
What theme of separation between the righteous and the wicked is emphasized in Ezekiel 9?
How does the theme of God’s glory being defiled by human sin connect all three chapters?
What recurring theme do you see in these chapters about God’s ultimate purpose for judgment—that His people would “know that He is the LORD”?
Reflective Application Questions:
In Ezekiel 7, God declares that “the end has come.” What areas in your own life might God be warning you to change before it’s too late?
How can we avoid placing our security in money, possessions, or worldly success like the people of Judah did?
In Ezekiel 8, God exposes the hidden sins of His people. What “hidden idols” might you need to confront in your own life?
How can we make sure our worship—whether at church or in daily life—is pure and directed to God alone?
In Ezekiel 9, God spares those who grieve over sin. Do you find yourself mourning over the sin you see in the world, or have you grown numb to it?
What would it look like in your daily walk to be marked as one who belongs to the Lord?
How do these chapters encourage you to live with greater seriousness about sin while also resting in God’s mercy for those who remain faithful to Him?
These questions can help deepen understanding of the themes of these chapters, while encouraging trust in God's sovereignty, justice, faithfulness, and timing. We hope thoughts to these questions invite you to reflect on your own journeys, grow in faith, and understand more about God's nature.
Reference Guides:
Life Application Study Guide
A Popular Survey of the Old Testament by Norman L. Geisler
The Power of God's Names by Tony Evans
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