Ezekiel was a contemporary of Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, during the final days of the Kingdom of Judah. When Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, led Judah into captivity Ezekiel went along with his people. He was God's mouthpiece to the nation that so persistently rebelled against Jehovah, her covenant-God. So fully had Judah hardened her national heart against His holy purpose that she could be saved from utter destruction ONLY by the discipline of SLAVERY to a strange people which God, in His supreme wisdom and faithful love, laid upon her.
    The self-pity of the Jews, during this period, is manifested in Psalm 137:2-3 which describes them as having hung their harps upon the willows and whined: "How can we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?" Their hearts were not yet turned back to the worship of Jehovah, their God - not even by this stroke of judgment!
    After the nation had served the Chaldeans for 24 years (Ezek. 40:1) God tried once again to arouse their hearts to obedience, joy and worship. This He did by revealing

    Is it not strange that perishing sinners are not half as willing to BE SAVED as God is TO SAVE THEM? To ancient Israel the Lord God spoke saying: "I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked: but that the wicked turn from His way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for WHY WILL YE DIE, 0 house of Israel?" (Ezek. 33:11). And the apostle Peter wrote "The Lord ... is not willing that ANY should perish; but that ALL should come to repentance!" (2 Pet. 3:9).
    How foolish that sinful men, from the pride of their nature and the unbelief of their rebellious hearts, imagine they can DO something to procure God's favor toward themselves! What base ingratitude for the divine love that made propitiation for sin in the sacrifice of His own dear Son! (I Jn. 4:10). No one is saved by "works of righteousness" which he himself has done (Tit. 3:5-6). It is, rather, according to God's mercy that salvation is offered freely to ALL who will trust in the merits of Jesus, the Christ!

    To Him "all the ends of the earth" are invited to LOOK! And all who look, in the expectancy of faith, will be saved. But, Jesus is the ONLY SAVIOUR! Men may despise, reject, or simply NEGLECT Him; but, He WILL BE EXALTED in the earth! (Psa. 46:10). Every knee will ultimately bow to Him, and every tongue acknowledge His rightful lordship - to the glory of God, the Father, (Phil. 2:9-11).
    Jesus Christ is God; nor is any other so fit to rule or able to save, (Isa. 45:21; Acts 4:12). By the power of the Holy Spirit, He convinces men (also women, boys and girls) "of sin, righteousness and judgment" - and saves TO THE UTTERMOST all those who, tired of their sin, flee to Him for refuge, forgiveness and cleansing.
    Have YOU so LOOKED UNTO HIM? Then LOOK NOW! and LIVE FOREVER! EG
    "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith!" (Paul)

    Five great Gentile-world-empires (beginning with Nebuchadnezzar) will have come and gone before the God of Heaven sets up a kingdom (His kingdom) which shall not pass away, (Dan. 2). The kingdom, dominion and greatness of the kingdom UNDER THE WHOLE HEAVEN will be given TO THE PEOPLE OF THE SAINTS OF THE MOST HIGH - whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. All dominions will serve and obey Christ, the King, (Dan. 7:27).
    Toward this goal the whole creation has moved from the beginning. This kingdom will begin with the coming of Christ to sit upon the throne of His glory, (Matt. 25:31). When the kingdom comes: the curse will be lifted from the earth; deserts will blossom as the rose; animals and men will live together in peace and harmony; Israel will be re-gathered - never again to be driven from the covenant-land. Peace will truly reign on earth. Jerusalem will be "the city of the great King". From all nations men will flock to Jerusalem to learn the ways of the Lord. Resurrected saints will share the reign of their Lord. The earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord "as the waters cover the sea". The Lord will rebuke strong nations afar off, and, with the breath of His lips, He will slay the wicked.
    This kingdom will NOT gradually emerge, nor will it spread by the employment of marching armies. It will come INSTANTLY "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the

"SHOW THE HOUSE" .. Continued
to Ezekiel His glorious plan for Judah's future - IF THEY WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR SIN AND RETURN TO HIM WITH THEIR WHOLE HEARTS!
    In chapters 40-43 one reads the account of Ezekiel's being transported, "in visions", to "a very high mountain" (Jerusalem). There the Lord unfolded to him the divine plan for a magnificent new temple - with its various courts, chambers holy place, etc. - which He purposed to build. IF the nation responds to His love, in such a way as will enable Him to consummate His purpose for their good, THEN He will restore unto them such worship as He can consistently accept from them. In fact, the Lord reiterated that this was THE PLACE OF HIS THRONE - where He purposed to dwell FOREVER in the midst of the children of Israel! (43:7). And, as Ezekiel beheld, in his vision, the splendor of the purposed temple, he saw "the glory of Jehovah" come into it by way of the Eastern gate. Then the Spirit transported him into the inner court where he saw "the glory of Jehovah" FILLING THE HOUSE OF THE LORD.
    Ezekiel is then commanded (43:10) to SHOW (the plan, or purposed blueprint of) THE HOUSE (the purposed temple) TO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL! If they will cease defiling Jehovah's holy name, by the abominable whoredoms which they have habitually committed; if, in shame, they will acknowledge and forsake their sin; THEN the Lord, their God, will restore them to their own land in peace. He will also re-establish true worship in

the glorious temple that He has purposed for them and give them a Prince who will lead them in paths of true greatness! Their walk is to be according to "the law of the house" - which is, obviously, according to the moral pattern of Moses' law.
    A careful comparison of these chapters with God's revelation in the New Testament, concerning the Messianic, millennial kingdom, will reveal the necessity of recognizing this temple-plan as PROVISIONAL and CONDITIONAL for Israel - following her return from captivity in the 6th century B.C. But, since the nation refused to meet the CONDITIONS prescribed, she FORFEITED her opportunity to experience the glorious order to which the righteous Lord WOULD HAVE RESTORED HER, and the blessings that He so deeply YEARNED to lavish upon her!
    The Lord's lament over Israel's forfeiture of the blessings He longed to bestow upon her is set forth in Psalm 81:13-16. "Oh that my people had HEARKENED unto me, and Israel had WALKED IN MY WAYS! I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries. The haters of the LORD should have SUBMITTED themselves unto him: but their time should have endured forever. He should have fed them also with the finest of wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee!" But, it was NOW TOO LATE! (comp. Matt. 23:37-39).
    Rebellion against God's will, God's word, God's plan and God's holy love, IN ANY AGE, is far more costly than ANY PEOPLE CAN AFFORD!

    How much better that we humbly, and joyfully, commit ourselves to Him who is faithful in ALL THINGS - and who "is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think!" (I Cor. 1:9; Eph. 3:19).


    Word has just been received that the Editor's Commentary on Jeremiah, published by the Blessed Hope Foundation, of Lakeland, Florida, will be ready for distribution about May 1. As much as I would LIKE to provide this material FREE to all my brethren, it simply IS NOT PRACTICAL to undertake such a thing.

    Anyone desiring a copy of the Jeremiah Commentary may obtain it from us for $13.95 per copy, postpaid. For those ordering as many as 4 copies the price will be cut to $10.00 each.
    If you do not already have a copy of my Commentary on Isaiah, in the same series, it is still available at $10.00 per copy, or at $7.50 each for 6 or more (post paid) E.G.

SIMPLE FACTS ... Continued
sound of THE LAST TRUMP", and will be connected with the raising of the righteous dead, (I Cor. 15:51-52; Matt. 24:29-31; Rev. 11:15-18).


Lo, He cometh: hear the trumpet    Blow to raise the sleeping dead;
Midst ten thousand saints & angels,
   See their great exalted Head:
     Hallelujah!
   Welcome, welcome, son of God.

Full of joyful expectation,
   Saints, behold the Judge appear;
Truth and justice go before Him;
   Now the royal sentence hear:
     Hallelujah!
   Welcome, welcome, Judge divine.

"Come, ye blessed of my Father,
   Enter into life and joy;
Banish all your fears and sorrows;
   Endless praise be your employ;"
     Hallelujah!
    Welcome, welcome, welcome home!

to those of YOU who have written this month. Your letters have been a real encouragement; your offerings a great help! E.G.