August 23, 2007 Thursday
Yam HaMelach (Salt Sea) Israel
If you are reading this blog, we’ve had a minor miracle. I’ve figured out how to do it!
This trip, although I’ve been blessed to come to this Holy Land many times, is quite surreal. I think it’s because I just finished teaching an Eschatology seminar on the Book of Ezekiel. What a week of revelation we had!
Looking at the Book from its beginning to the last chapter, gives such an overview of Israel from the beginning of the exile to the Millennium. Ezekiel saw visions of God. His wheel within a wheel visions are the chariot (Merkavah) of God sent to escort the Shechinah from the Temple before Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the Temple in 586 BC. The Prophet witnessed the leaving of the Shechinah in stages. (9:3; 10:3,4 18,19; 11:22,23.)
The first part of the Book is Israel’s judgment which led to the exile. The middle part of the Book is judgment of the nations around Israel. But the last third of the Book is the consolation of Israel. It tells what is happening now. And what will happen in the future. Right up to the Millennium.
Israel was so defeated. Their very connection to God was destroyed. They were carried off to Babylon. But God had a message of consolation. They would come back home. Even in “the end of days.” A great Millennial Temple is described starting in Ezekiel 40.
Ezekiel sees another Merkavah (chariot) vision and witnesses the future return of the Shechinah to that temple (43:1-5; 44:4).
On the plane, I sat among so many Jews brought back home just like God said. Driving down from Jerusalem through the Judean desert, I remembered that from under the threshold of the Millennial Temple waters will flow out eastward and down through the Judean desert and into the now Dead Sea. These waters where nothing lives now will come alive! There will be exceeding many fish. When I passed where the fresh waters of an Engedi stream flow into this Dead Sea, I had to think about how in the Millennium this would be a hot spot for fishing!!! (Chapter 47.)
I thought about how trees for the healing of the nations would grow along either side of that great river!!! And how the desert would become like the Garden of Eden. Wow! God’s Word is real!
I see its fulfillment with my eyes. Jews are home in their own land. The rest will come just like He said it would! I’m so glad I get to be a witness of it.
More later!
Shalom, Billye Brim
