Ezekiel 9:1
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. 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.
He cried with a loud voice to summon those given charge over the city to draw near to execute judgment, each one coming with a destroying weapon in hand as agents of death permitted to bring destruction. Before they strike a mark of deliverance, which is the seal of God, is set on the foreheads of those who grieve over the abominations done, and all who have it are spared while those without it are slain utterly without pity, old and young alike. The command to begin at the sanctuary means destruction starts first among those who professed to be spiritual guardians but were unfaithful in trust. This chapter will be literally fulfilled to the very letter very soon in the perils of the last days, in the closing work for the church and the sealing of the 144,000. It stands as a solemn warning that every person's course decides whether he receives the seal or is cut down, so while time is short all must hear the message, humble their souls, and be converted before every case is decided for eternity.
The Judgment Vision Described
The cry sounds with a loud voice in the ears, summoning those given charge over the city to draw near to execute judgment on Jerusalem, each man coming with his destroying weapon in his hand. The summons is a call for those appointed to judgment to come with instruments of destruction, for the Lord's eye is upon every transaction and judgment falls upon wrongdoing. The men with slaughtering weapons are agents of the angel of death, representing destroying angels permitted to bring disaster and destruction in final judgment.
Before they strike, a mark of deliverance is set upon those who sigh and cry and grieve over the abominations done, placed on their foreheads, and everyone bearing that mark is spared. That mark is the seal of God, distinguishing the protected from the rest when the work begins in Jerusalem. Those without the mark are slain utterly without pity and without sparing, old and young, maids and little children and women. Their destroying weapons mean final destruction for those who do not recognize the difference between sin and righteousness, who do not have the seal of the living God upon their foreheads, and whose corrupt character leads others astray.
The line of separation is thus drawn between faithful grievers over abominations and those cut down according to each person's course of action. The command to begin at the sanctuary means destruction starts among those who professed to be the spiritual guardians of the people. False watchmen and unfaithful men of responsibility who have not glorified God by faithfulness and integrity are the first to fall when the Lord thoroughly does His work at the appointed time.
Fulfillment in Last Days
The summons with destroying weapons will be literally fulfilled to the very letter, and very soon, in the perils of the last days and the closing scenes of earth's history. The destroying angels are permitted to bring disaster and destruction, and their work makes the coming end a reason to heed the warning and prepare. The prophecy is to be studied carefully.
Its fulfillment belongs to the closing work for the church and the sealing of the 144,000, when those marked for protection because they grieve over sin are distinguished from those facing final destruction for not recognizing the difference between sin and righteousness. It brings bitter disappointment in the day of God upon the great mass of lukewarm and half-hearted professing Christians who do not have the seal of the living God upon their foreheads.
Each person's course of action determines whether that person receives God's seal or is cut down by the weapons that represent destruction for those who are not sealed. When the seven last plagues fall it will be too late to repent or find shelter, for atoning blood will no longer wash away or cleanse sin.
Warning and Call to Prepare
Ezekiel 9 opens with solemn warnings pointing to stern realities that will shortly come to pass as divine judgment soon to take place. The warning is given against those who persist in injustice and refuse the light, with judgment coming upon those who do wrong. The Lord's eye is upon every transaction as He summons those charged with judgment to come with instruments of destruction to execute judgment on the city. That warning must be spoken whether people heed it or reject it, yet it is neglected by backslidden believers to their peril.
Its fulfillment stands as a sure warning to leaders who remain unrepentant that God will humble them. Institutions likewise will face this judgment unless their hearts are thoroughly transformed. The destroying angels are permitted to bring disaster and destruction in connection with the closing scenes of earth's history, so every soul must prepare and heed the warning.
Time is short and passing while the people are asleep. Through these words God is calling for those who have great and important truths revealed to them to hear, to receive His message, to humble their souls, and to be converted. The Lord will not bear much longer with those who refuse to bring those truths into their individual experience. Soon, very soon, every case will be decided for eternity, and then it will be too late to be converted.