Ezekiel 20:38
And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD. And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
God will purge out the rebels and those who transgress against Him from among His people, separating them from the faithful. Those who are thus purged will not enter into the land of Israel. They are brought forth out of the country where they sojourn even though they are barred from entering the land. By this work of separation it is made known that He is the LORD.
The verse stands as a warning that the Lord will punish those who disregard His warnings, given because His people have failed to appreciate His mercy and heed those warnings. The pattern in the passage of judging His people while delivering them with power is a type of the seven last plagues and the deliverance of the saints. As the plagues on Egypt came just before and during the deliverance of Israel, so the last plagues will fall on the wicked just before and during the deliverance of the saints. The warning applies to the Battle Creek church, whose members received great light yet neglected God's work and failed to heed His warnings, so that God has a controversy with them and will punish their disobedience.