Ezekiel 35: judgment of Mt. Seir
Mount Seir and Idumea are alternative names for Edom, who were the descendants of Esau (Ezk. 35:15; Gen. 36:8-9, see article “Tidings,” May, ’91, p. 140). As a matter of historical record, Edom attacked Israel, took advantage of her weakness and occupied part of her territory (II Chr. 28:17; Ezk. 25:12, referenced article). In addition, history documents that nation was destroyed by the Jews under the Maccabees and absorbed into Jewry (Ezk. 25:14 and article).
Given this history, why consider Ezk. 35 to be a latter-day prophecy?
A latter-day prophecy?
Following are the reasons that can be given:
- Vs, 4,12,15 “thou shalt know that I am the LORD” sounds like a consequence of the manifestation of divine glory in the last days.
- Vs, 11 “I will do…I have judged” sounds like the direct divine judgment of the final battles rather than God working through a human nation.
- Vs, 14 “When the whole earth rejoiceth, I will make thee desolate” speaks of Edom’s condition in the kingdom. Surely this could not link back 2,500 years to Edom’s treatment of Israel. It must be referring to some latter-day action of Edom.
Manifestation of God
The phrase, “thou shalt know that I am the LORD” or its equivalent occurs over 70 times in Ezekiel. It is used any time a divine judgment occurs in fulfillment of the prophet’s word.
When Babylon overthrew Egypt, “they shall know that I am the LORD” (30:25-26,8,19 and again in 29:18-19,6,9,16).
When Tyre was scraped like the top of a rock (fulfilled by the Greek Alexander the Great), “they shall know that I am the LORD” (Ezk. 26:4,6).
The appearance of the phrase does not indicate a latter-day prophecy.
I will do it
Note Ezk. 30:24-26: “And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and put my sword in his hand: but I will break Pharaoh’s arms…I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations [actually done by Babylon]…” The king of Babylon was a tool in God’s hands to accomplish His will, therefore God speaks as if He directly afflicted Egypt.
This is a very common manner of speaking in the prophets. Of Tyre it is said, “I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon…they shall make a spoil of thy riches…I will cause the noise of thy songs to cease” (26:7,12,13). Of Assyria the LORD declares, “…I have driven him out for his wickedness. And strangers, the terrible of the nations [who actually did the damage], have cut him off…” (Ezk. 31:11-12). Again of Egypt it is written, “by the swords of the mighty will I cause thy multitude to fall…I shall make the land of Egypt desolate” (Ezk. 32:12,15).
The vocabulary of scripture is clear. When God judged Mount Seir by the Maccabees in fulfillment of His word, God did it even though some human agency may have been the actual instrument by which He accomplished His purpose. Such language of direct divine action obviously is not unique to latter-day prophecies.
Sins cast long shadows
For her sins, Egypt was condemned to become “the basest of the kingdoms” and was told “there shall be no more a prince of the land of Egypt” (29:15; 30:13). To this day, the people of Egypt are affected by the judgment pronounced 2,500 years ago.
In like manner, Jewish people suffered in their dispersion among the nations because, “when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings…wherefore I poured my fury upon them…” (36:17-18). To this day, Jewish people are affected by the shadow cast by the sins of their ancestors. They are not excluded from the gospel call, but they still are suffering from the sins committed long ago.
The witness of the nation of Israel is clear: sins have long-term impact; we determine our eternal fate now. The point helps us understand how the sins of ancient Edom seal the fate of Edom in the kingdom age. Such judgment perfectly fits the divine pattern.
Places suffer for people’s sins
Yet since there are no more Edomites, the judgment must actually fall on the land area they occupied. Again this is a common feature of divine judgments. Sodom and Gomorrah suffer “the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 7) in that they have disappeared as cities. In like manner, Capernaum is today a heap of ruins and Bethsaida is a farmer’s field because of the Master’s judgments upon their inhabitants (Matt. 11:21,23). Tiberias presents a striking contrast. Today it is a thriving city south of Capernaum. While Tiberias existed in Christ’s day (John 6:23), it was not cursed with Capernaum and therefore survives to this very day.
Again, the spiritual lesson is carried forward from generation to generation and, again, one can see how Mount Seir fits the pattern. The area will no doubt be a desolation as a reminder to the mortals in the kingdom age that rebellion against God has eternal consequences.
Time gaps in prophetic writing
The point should be known by everyone because of the Lord’s quotation of Is. 61:1-3 at Nazareth (Lk. 4:18,19). He stopped in the middle of vs. 2 because he was to comment only upon what was “fulfilled in your ears.” The balance of that verse would not be fulfilled for 2,000 years. How do we know this? Because of the facts of the case. The day of vengeance and the exaltation of Zion has not yet occurred, but everything Christ quoted was fulfilled during his ministry.
The same pattern occurs right in this section of Ezekiel. In Ezk. 34 there is a sudden shift from condemnation of the leaders in Ezekiel’s time to God’s gathering of His people in the kingdom (34:7-16 with the break occurring in the middle of v.10). In Ezk. 36, a 2,500-year gap occurs between vs. 20 and 21 and between vs. 6 and 8. How do we know this? By the facts of the case and by knowing the characteristic idioms of scripture such as we have covered in this article.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One