Ezekiel 9:2
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 among them was clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar.
Six men with slaughter weapons come from the way of the higher gate toward the north, with one man among them clothed in linen with a writer's inkhorn by his side, and they go in and stand beside the brazen altar. The six are appointed to execute destruction, while the linen-clothed man marks those who will be delivered before destruction follows, for this is judgment beginning at the sanctuary that falls first on the church and on those with responsibility who have failed their trust. The mark is God's seal, the pure mark of truth wrought by the Holy Spirit, given to those registered in heaven as overcomers who grieve over abominations among God's professed people, love His purity and honor, see sin's true evil, separate from sin and sinners, and remain loyal to His commandments. All without the mark are left to unsparing slaughter that follows the marking man through the city, including those who excuse sin, oppose faithful reproof, do not mourn over declension and sin, corrupt the churches by truth without sanctifying power, turn people from God, and betray great light by unfaithfulness. This will be literally and exactly fulfilled very soon in the perils of the last days as the final sealing of the 144,000, parallel to the blood on Israel's doorposts and the sealing before the four winds are loosed, so the time to wake, humble the soul, be converted, and prepare is now before every case is decided for eternity.
Judgment at the Sanctuary
Behold, six men approach by way of the higher gate that lies toward the north, every man with a slaughter weapon in his hand, and one man among them clothed with linen with a writer's inkhorn by his side, and they enter in and stand beside the brazen altar. The scene is the opening of judgment at the sanctuary, where those answerable before the house are judged first.
The six bearing weapons are appointed agents to execute destruction, while the one in linen with inkhorn or writing case is the messenger who marks those who shall be delivered before destruction follows. The linen-clothed man places the mark or seal upon foreheads, and the destroyers spare everyone bearing it. The marked are registered in heaven as overcomers.
That work is judgment beginning at the sanctuary, meaning the church is the first to feel the wrath of God. It falls first upon those with responsibility and upon the spiritual guardians who have failed their duty and betrayed their trust. It begins with the ancient men who had great light and stood as guardians of the spiritual interests of the people.
The mark is God's seal, the pure mark of truth wrought in the soul by the Holy Spirit. It is given to those who sigh and cry over the abominations done among God's professed people, who love God's purity and honor and see sin in its true exceeding evil. It distinguishes those who are separated from sin and sinners, as shown when mothers who believe must separate their children from sinful influences, and those who remain loyal and true to God's commandments before the four winds are released. Those who receive it are spared when judgment begins at God's sanctuary.
All without the mark are left to the unsparing slaughter that follows the marking man through the city, smiting without pity or sparing. This includes those who excuse sin and oppose faithful reproof, who do not grieve over their own spiritual declension nor mourn over the sins of others, and who are thus left without the seal of God. It includes those who corrupt the churches by teaching truth without its sanctifying power, who turn people from remembering God, and men of responsibility who have not glorified God by faithfulness and integrity, upon whom the Lord God of Israel will most thoroughly execute judgment at the appointed time. First to fall are the ancient men who had great light yet betrayed their trust, who taught that miracles and marked manifestations of God's power need not be looked for, who said the Lord will do neither good nor evil, who cried peace and safety, and who never lifted the voice to warn against sin.
Literal Fulfillment and Warning
The ninth chapter of Ezekiel is a solemn and awful account of God's judgment, and with this verse in it will be literally and exactly fulfilled very soon. Its fulfillment belongs to the perils of the last days and the closing scenes of earth's history, when agents of destruction are permitted to bring disaster, and it points to stern realities that will shortly come to pass. The warning therefore should be studied carefully to learn what work God requires, and it must not be neglected with the many warnings of God's Word.
The verse belongs to the final sealing work of the 144,000, when the angel with the writer's inkhorn places the seal on the foreheads of those loyal and true to God's commandments before the four winds are released. As the blood on Israel's doorposts marked the homes the destroying angel passed over, so the mark distinguishes and protects those separated from sin and sinners before the destroying angel follows. A person's course of action determines the outcome, whether sealed or cut down by the destroying weapons. When the seven last plagues fall it is too late to repent or find shelter, because atoning blood no longer washes away sin.
The time is short and passing while people sleep, and very soon every case will be decided for eternity. Those with great and important revealed truths are therefore called to wake, humble their souls, hear and receive God's message, be converted before it is too late, bring truth into individual experience, and prepare for what is about to take place. The Lord will not bear much longer with refusal to do this, and He will surely humble those who refuse to humble themselves.
That humbling judgment will reach the institutions unless there has been a thorough transformation of heart, for hearts not softened and subdued by Christ's love cannot manage wisely or fulfill responsibility to God. Believing mothers must do their God-given work by separating their children from sinful influences rather than expecting angels to do it for them. Those commissioned to warn must speak whether people listen or refuse.