20151028 Wednesday, October 28 2015
Ezekiel 05: What Is At The Center Of The Earth?

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her"

If one looks at the location of Jerusalem on a map, it's easy to see why the LORD (see The Identity Of The LORD God and The LORD God Our Saviour) said "This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her" (Ezekiel 5:5 KJV).

Jerusalem is indeed literally at the center of the origin of nations (i.e. the people) of humanity. Africa is to the southwest, Europe is to the northwest and Asia is to the northeast. Jerusalem is located exactly at the point that joins them. So too, the people of the nations of the other continents of the world nevertheless had their origin around Jerusalem, from those three continents. The LORD's statement includes everyone, everywhere.

Israel was created as a living prophecy of the coming Kingdom of God and the New Jerusalem that will then be the Capital of everywhere (see The First And Last Nation and The Patriotism Prophecy). When the people of the Kingdom of Israel (see Israel In History and Prophecy: The Lost Ten Tribes), and then the Kingdom of Judah about 135 years later (see Israel In History and Prophecy: Kingdom Of Judah), became corrupt, they were sent back to "Babylon" (from a Hebrew word that means confusion; see How Did Eden Become Babylon?) because they had turned Jerusalem into confusion (see The Cure For Confusion).

A number of the prophecies that were given to Ezekiel about that were presented in symbolism that was both timeless and in a portrayal language that all could witness. The prophecies are not only written, but also illustrated.

"5:1 And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barber's razor, and cause it to pass upon thine head and upon thy beard: then take thee balances to weigh, and divide the hair. 5:2 Thou shalt burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled: and thou shalt take a third part, and smite about it with a knife: and a third part thou shalt scatter in the wind; and I will draw out a sword after them. 5:3 Thou shalt also take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy skirts. 5:4 Then take of them again, and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire; for thereof shall a fire come forth into all the house of Israel.

5:5 Thus saith the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her. 5:6 And she hath changed my judgments into wickedness more than the nations, and my statutes more than the countries that are round about her: for they have refused my judgments and my statutes, they have not walked in them.

5:7 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye multiplied more than the nations that are round about you, and have not walked in my statutes, neither have kept my judgments, neither have done according to the judgments of the nations that are round about you;

5:8 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, am against thee, and will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of the nations. 5:9 And I will do in thee that which I have not done, and whereunto I will not do any more the like, because of all thine abominations. 5:10 Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee, and the sons shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments in thee, and the whole remnant of thee will I scatter into all the winds. 5:11 Wherefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD; Surely, because thou hast defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also diminish thee; neither shall mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity. 5:12 A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee: and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee; and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them.

5:13 Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and they shall know that I the LORD have spoken it in my zeal, when I have accomplished my fury in them.

5:14 Moreover I will make thee waste, and a reproach among the nations that are round about thee, in the sight of all that pass by. 5:15 So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment unto the nations that are round about thee, when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes. I the LORD have spoken it. 5:16 When I shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine, which shall be for their destruction, and which I will send to destroy you: and I will increase the famine upon you, and will break your staff of bread: 5:17 So will I send upon you famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave thee; and pestilence and blood shall pass through thee; and I will bring the sword upon thee. I the LORD have spoken it." (Ezekiel 5:1-17 KJV)

Fact Finder: For a complete 20 part series of studies of the history and future of Jerusalem, begin with the link below. The links to all of the studies are in each one.
See A History Of Jerusalem: In The Beginning