Ezek. 10: Coals Of Fire

Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne. And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight. (Ezekiel 10:1 and 2)

There’s something that we need to understand about the prophecies that Ezekiel brought forth during this time: he was speaking about events that would occur some four, five, six or seven years later. Consequently, the things that the Lord is showing me and others are not things that are coming to pass yet. As I’ve been saying, He’s going to send His company of believers to the churches with words of warning, with the intention of giving His people every opportunity to turn from their rebellion and to recommit to Him. You see, we’re still in a time of grace; and He’s extending this opportunity to them because He doesn’t want to have to judge them.

But there’s a limit.

The time is coming when His judgment will go forth, first to the church and then to the world, with the purpose of cleansing and purifying both. Again: far too many in the church realize that the world is in the place where God has to render His judgment, but they fail to recognize the fact that He has to do the same with them. The reason for that cleansing is simple: since He intends to send her into the world to reach the unregenerate, then she needs to be able to manifest Him to them. But she has quite a way to go. As a matter of fact, we ALL have quite a way to go. Because of that, we all need to endure His judgment, His correction and His chastisement, as well as to receive His blessings and encouragement. Therefore, if we choose to reject the correction that He knows we need because we can’t accept the fact that we need it, then we’ll put ourselves in a precarious position. Remember what Paul wrote?

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. (Hebrews 12:6 to 8)

There’s something that we need to realize about the time to come. The focus of many in the church has been upon the mercy of the Lord; and we need to understand that He’s infinitely more merciful than we deserve. Additionally, His Holy Spirit is our closest companion, teacher and guide. However, far too many believers tend to overlook one of His characteristics; and it’s seen in the second verse of this chapter. If you noticed in chapter nine, He’s referred to as one “clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side” (verse 2). But, here we read about Him “clothed with linen”; yet nothing about the inkhorn. Instead, He’s the one who scattered the coals of fire over the city. That’s quite a difference. Something that far too many believers fail to understand is the fact that God is love, but He’s also justice; and, whereas He saves us for His name’s sake, He also judges for the same reason.

There’s a story that I heard which brings out what is overlooked by those who should know better. A young man was drinking heavily and decided to go for a swim at a California beach. Fortunately, an older man was watching the young man as he entered the water and did not come back up for air. The older man ran to the struggling young man and saved his life. A few years later, that same young man was standing in court facing a sentence on drug charges. Suddenly, the young man realized that the judge was the very same man who saved his life when he was drowning years earlier. He looked at the judge and said, "Sir, don’t you recognize me? You saved my life. Don't you remember?" The judge nodded his head and then looked at the young man and said, "Young man, then I was your savior, but now I am your judge".

The Lord is our Savior, and He extends grace and mercy to all who would turn to Him. He does that now, and He has done that from the days of our first parents in the garden. Yes: there was a time when He exacted some severe judgments upon those who violated His law, both upon those who were and who weren’t His people. Then the time came when Jesus ushered in this present age of grace, and everything changed. Whereas under the old covenant people knew that they needed to obey the commandments of God, because violating them would have some dire consequences, the new covenant allowed for the failures of our humanity. Thus, obedience under the law was mandatory to avoid judgment, but obedience under grace has been voluntary. There’s something that far too many believers don’t realize: even though we’re under grace, if we shirk obedience, then judgment will ultimately follow.

The Lord has been requiring sacrificial obedience from His people, there have been numerous ones who have been walking in obedience joyously and willingly. But there have also been many who have avoided it at all costs. Consequently, the Holy Spirit is doing two seemingly contradictory things. On the one hand, He’s marking those who are walking faithfully, to keep them from judgment; but then He’s going to administer that judgment upon the rebellious. Now take a look at a couple of portions of Scripture.

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. (Acts 5:1 to 11)

And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-Jesus: Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord. (Acts 13:6 to 12)

These are just a couple of incidences of many more in the Word of God where we see judgment going forth; and there’s something that I want to say here. Jesus commanded us not to judge others; and that’s referred to continually by believers and nonbelievers alike. But Jesus actually puts a distinction there. After all, if He was making it a blanket statement, then Peter and Paul and every person who spoke judgment upon others would have been standing in opposition to God. We need to understand that we’re to refrain from judging in numerous instances, because those times come from our fallen Adamic nature. However, there are times when the Lord wants to use us to speak His judgment upon people and situations; and He expects obedience. You see, as much as believers think that they’d dearly love to hear the Lord speaking audibly, they don’t realize that, if He were to give them what they wanted, the majority would cower in fear, exactly the way that the children of Israel did when God spoke audibly to them from Mount Sinai. Therefore, when the situation warrants it, He’ll administer judgment through His chosen followers.