1 He cried also in mine 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.

Them that have charge over the city

In connection with the Hope of Israel (Acts xxviii: 20) and consequently with the figurative Jerusalem, the Agents of the Father constantly supervise this work (Heb. 1. 14; Psalm xxxiv. 7).

Here it may be observed that since no manifestation of glory has taken place in connection with the destruction of the literal city of Jerusalem, or in connection with the dispersion of its people—Israel after the flesh under bondage—the prophecy of " fury upon Jerusalem "

above-mentioned must relate not to the literal city, nor to Israel after the flesh, but to Israel after the spirit. These drastic judgments leave " the City" like gold purified.

2 And, 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 [the seventh] among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar.

And behold, six men . . . and every man with his slaughter weapon

The six men may be taken to be representative of the six wings full of eyes, which in their relation one to another and to the divine purpose are the foundation according to which judgment will be delivered.

By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. (Matt. xii. 37.)

The terrible result which may come from neglect of divine precept and inadvisable speech is set forth in the following verses :

Thou hatest instruction, and casteth my words behind thee . . . Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit. Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou

slanderest thine own mother's son. These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou

thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes. Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you

in pieces, and there be none to deliver. (Psalm L.17-22.)

BUT

Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me : and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God. (Verse 23.)

One man among them clothed with linen

In the midst of the six winged community stands one enshrouded in linen, and, therefore, the righteous one, who executed judgment—see verse 11. This can be none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. Because there is

"a day appointed, in which he will judge the world in righteousness." (Acts xvii. 31).

Thus it is written :

The Father hath committed all judgment to the Son. (John v. 22.)

Behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give to every man according as his work shall be. (Apoc. XXII. 12.)

The Temple of Ezekiel's prophecy 5.6.11.

A writer's inkhorn by His side, standing beside the brasen altar

We have already seen that the names of the saints are enrolled in the book of life of the Lamb (Apoc. xiii.8] by whose record they will be judged. He with the writer's inkhorn "stands beside the brazen altar." We have seen that the brasen altar represents sin's flesh

Hence, to use a figure, Jesus stands beside the brazen altar—

"Forasmuch as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also likewise partook of

the same."

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 that be done in the midst thereof (verse 4).

The process thus figuratively represented has been literally in operation for all time, and is particularly illustrated in the Apocalypse, where the man with writer's inkhorn speaks [to the ecclesias - Rev 2,3]

3 And the glory of the Elohim of Israel was gone 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;

The glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub

In view of the abominations practised by the people through whom the Father was manifesting His glory, whether under the ministration of the law or under the ministration of Christ, the time comes when this phase of the glory ceases and the glory goes up " from the cherub".

At this time Ezekiel " hears a loud voice " commanding those who have " charge over the city " to draw near. He then observes that the glory had already gone up, i.e., before the command was issued for the execution of slaughter. The loud voice must be the voice of the

archangel calling the dead when the Lord descends from heaven (1 Thess. iv. 16 ; Matt. xxiv. 31).

At this time the phase of the manifestation of the Father's glory which comes from persecution for His name's sake (1 Pet. 14) has ended.

" The glory had gone up from the cherub."

Now the time has come for the glorification of the Father by executing judgment upon the wicked, and in rewarding His servants the prophets and the saints, and them that fear His name, small and great (Rev. xi. 18).

To the threshold of the house

Figuratively the prospective phase of the glory departs to the threshold of the house in which the glory of the God of Israel will again shortly appear. But before that glory can appear in the house, there must be judgment, so that every man may receive according to his works (Rom. xiv. 10-12).

The Temple of Ezekiel's prophecy 5.6.11.

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. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.

Behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven ; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble ; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith Yahweh hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. (Mal. iv. 1.)

But who may abide the day of His coming ? and who shall stand when he appeareth ? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap : And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi (sons of Zadok) and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. (Ibid. in. 2, 3 )

9 Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, Yahweh hath forsaken the earth, and Yahweh seeth not.

How this sound dings in our ears to-day‭! ‬Some will say we are mistaken,‭ ‬and point,‭ ‬perhaps,‭ ‬to the universal weekly confession,‭ "‬I believe in God,‭ ‬the Father Almighty,‭ ‬maker of heaven and earth.‭" ‬But actions speak louder than words.‭

The habitual conduct of those who make this confession betrays their scepticism.‭ ‬Believe in God,‭ ‬and worship Mammon‭? ‬Believe in God,‭ ‬and delight in the world's amusements‭? ‬Believe in God,‭ ‬and make no effort to curb the sinful impulses of pride,‭ ‬vanity,‭ ‬and temper‭? ‬Believe in God,‭ ‬and embrace no opportunity to converse upon His Word‭? ‬Impossible‭!

Those who are guilty in these matters are like Israel of old—they draw nigh with their mouth,‭ ‬and honour with their lips,‭ ‬whilst their hearts are far away.‭ ‬Let us not be seduced by the unbelief of the age.‭ ‬It is productive of every evil.‭ ‬Because of it the land,‭ ‬as in the prophet's time,‭ ‬is filled with iniquity and perverseness.

‭ "‬Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord,‭ ‬and their works are in the dark,‭ ‬and they say,‭ '‬Who seeth us‭? ‬and,‭ ‬who knoweth us‭?'

‭Bro AT Jannaway

The Christadelphian, Jan 1887