Question of the Week: Is Ezekiel 28:12-19 actually a description of the account of the original fall of Satan or the description of a historical king of Tyre?

The Book of Ezekiel is a book of prophecy. And like the other Old and New Testament books of prophecy, they are all speaking from God’s perspective. In order to know whether this particular section of Ezekiel is addressing one, the other, or both at the same time, it is best to simply read what it being said. Once we can establish what has been said in the passage, we can take the issues God addresses and ask the question if each are appropriate to apply to a human king or a spiritual entity. Like in any comparison between two figures, it’s easy to find out where one is being referred to over the other when something is said that can’t be applied to both of them at the same time.

The word of the Lord came to me again, saying, “Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Because your heart is lifted up, And you say, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of gods, In the midst of the seas,’ Yet you are a man, and not a god, Though you set your heart as the heart of a god (Behold, you are wiser than Daniel! There is no secret that can be hidden from you! With your wisdom and your understanding You have gained riches for yourself, And gathered gold and silver into your treasuries; By your great wisdom in trade you have increased your riches, And your heart is lifted up because of your riches),”
Ezekiel 28:1-5 (NKJV)

Point 1: You claimed you are a god but you are a man.
Application: Definitely a man, not an angelic being.

Point 2: Your wisdom gained you riches and your heart was lifted up by them.
Application: Definitely a man, perhaps an angelic being.

In the introductory statements of Ezekiel’s prophecy, it’s very plain that he’s addressing the historical king of the city of Tyre. While parallel passages do clarify that the sin of Satan was pride (Isaiah 14:12-21), it makes the same point as Ezekiel when addressing the King of Babylon. We have yet to prove that either is addressing two audiences at the same time. We won’t treat this as conclusive, nor could we exclusively claim that Satan is the only creature capable of pride. This introductory passage could apply to both Satan and the King of Tyre, but given that only the King of Tyre is addressed, the information we have only suggests that audience.

‘Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Because you have set your heart as the heart of a god, Behold, therefore, I will bring strangers against you, The most terrible of the nations; And they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom, And defile your splendor. They shall throw you down into the Pit, And you shall die the death of the slain In the midst of the seas. “Will you still say before him who slays you, ‘I am a god’? But you shall be a man, and not a god, In the hand of him who slays you. You shall die the death of the uncircumcised By the hand of aliens; For I have spoken,” says the Lord God.’ ”
Ezekiel 28:6-10 (NKJV)

Point 3: The surrounding nations will defile your splendor through the sword.
Application: Definitely a man, not an angelic being.

Point 4: You will be thrown into the Pit by your enemies.
Application: Probably a man, not an angelic being.

Continuing his point addressed to the same audience, Ezekiel continues to address the King of Tyre’s attitude in thinking he was a god. He would be directly reminded of his mortality by being thrown into the Pit, or literally the Grave, by the surrounding nations that hate him. We know how this was fulfilled historically on two occasions. In light of prior passages in Ezekiel 26 addressing the King of Tyre as well, Alexander the Great and Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon both sacked and leveled the kingdom of Tyre, the former of which literally fulfilled Ezekiel 26:3-6. While we do acknowledge that Satan likewise will be thrown into the Abyss following the Tribulation period for 1000 years, (Revelation 20:1-3), there are details given in this passage that conflict with that event. Men/surrounding nations won’t throw Satan into the Pit. An angel will see that done according to the text. The details given don’t add up to one another without picking and choosing parts of sentences, rather than points. It would be inappropriate to apply this text to anyone other than a human being.

Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “You were the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes Was prepared for you on the day you were created. “You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you.
Ezekiel 28:11-15 (NKJV)

Point 5: You were perfectly wise and beautiful once, covered with every precious stone and a living instrument of worship to God and perfect when you were created.
Application: Impossible to be a man, very likely an angelic being.

Point 6: You were a chosen/anointed cherub established by God in Heaven.
Application: Not a man, definitely an angelic being.

Ezekiel’s prophecy continues to address the King of Tyre, but with a lamentation or sorrowful observation. He references things we never could apply to a human being after the fall of Adam and Eve. This creature being addressed was described as perfect from the day he was created; not only in what they were in their worship, wisdom, and beauty, but specifically in their ways. If this was directly addressing a fallen sinful human being, it would contradict the Old and New Testament observations about mankind following the Fall of Genesis 3. Romans 3:10-18 and the Psalms it references doesn’t allow the interpretation that a man could be described this way. If that weren’t enough, it even refers to this creature as a cherub. The Cherubim are referenced in Ezekiel 1 and Revelation 4 as an exalted type of heavenly creature that worship around the throne of God. The only common factors between the human and the cherub being described is that they both had wisdom and beauty that were prophetically going to be taken away from them because of their iniquity.

“By the abundance of your trading You became filled with violence within, And you sinned; Therefore I cast you as a profane thing Out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the fiery stones. “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, That they might gaze at you. “You defiled your sanctuaries By the multitude of your iniquities, By the iniquity of your trading; Therefore I brought fire from your midst; It devoured you, And I turned you to ashes upon the earth In the sight of all who saw you. All who knew you among the peoples are astonished at you; You have become a horror, And shall be no more forever.” ’ 
Ezekiel 28:16-20 (NKJV)

Point 7: The abundance of his trading filled his heart with a false self-image and violence, resulting in him being cast our of the mountain of God and set before kings as an example.
Application: Both a man in regard to trading and humiliated before kings, and an angelic creature in regard to them being cast out of Heaven and consumed by fire.

In conclusion, it’s a false dilemma. The figures being addressed aren’t Satan or the King of Tyre. It’s a both/and scenario. We determine where it applies to Satan where details are given that couldn’t apply to a human being, and vice versa. Both had common causes for their corruption and judgment. Therefore they used as a point of contrast to one another. The same mistakes produced the same consequences.

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

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Question of the Week: Does Hosea 4:6 say that Christians can perish/lose their salvation?

There is a saying, “If the only tool in your toolbelt is a hammer, everything begins to look like a nail.” When it comes to the controversy concerning eternal security vs not taking your salvation for granted, there are good arguments on both sides of the issue that are entirely based on scripture. This passage is not one of those cases. You need to be extremely careful when coming to a passage in the Bible, or in this case the middle of a chapter, and reading into it something that reflects more of the reader’s emotional perspective/bias than the point actually being made. When it comes to clarifying the difference between the two, it’s often a problem reconciled by just going to the start of the chapter.

Hear the word of the Lord, You children of Israel, For the Lord brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: “There is no truth or mercy Or knowledge of God in the land.
Hosea 4:1 (NKJV)

If verse 6 is the passage in question, we already have an intended audience established as the people of Israel. Likewise, within the verse itself, we also have the kind of person in the audience clarified for us as well. Hosea 4:6 continues to address the priests (of Israel as established in verse 1) Their rejection of knowledge has resulted in them forgetting the law of their God. This was a serious charge because it was one of the reasons the Priesthood as a whole existed.

Then the Lord spoke to Aaron, saying: “Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, that you may distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean, and that you may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord has spoken to them by the hand of Moses.”
Leviticus 10:8-11 (NKJV)

People then continue down the passage in Hosea 4:6 by concluding that God forgetting their children somehow implies a truth statement within it that has long term implications towards those who sin. “If I fall back into an area of sin, I must have forgotten the Law of God. And if I’ve forgotten the Law of God, then I must also be the child being spoken of in this passage as being forgotten by God.” While a guilty conscience could certain make this sound reasonable, the most rational approach to words on paper is to finish reading the point before coming to conclusions.

“The more they increased, The more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame. They eat up the sin of My people; They set their heart on their iniquity. And it shall be: like people, like priest. So I will punish them for their ways, And reward them for their deeds. For they shall eat, but not have enough; They shall commit harlotry, but not increase; Because they have ceased obeying the Lord.
Hosea 4:7-10 (NKJV)

Hosea concludes the point made in this section of scripture by explaining that it is indeed the behavior of the people of Israel (Hosea 4:1-3), the negligence of the priests of Israel (Hosea 4:4-6), and the impact this is having on the behavior of the next generation (Hosea 4:7-10). The question then remains that we should consider this doctrine going forward. Is Hosea’s point that these people will perish as a result of their rebellion and negligence? Let’s finish the book to see how Israel is ultimately being addressed for their sinful behavior.

O Israel, return to the Lord your God,
For you have stumbled because of your iniquity;
Hosea 14:1 (NKJV)

That sure doesn’t sound like someone who is going to perish. While their sins will warrant immediate consequences, God somehow still calls them to return. That seems like they won’t perish. Likewise, even the most extreme passages of condemnation towards the Tribe of Ephraim (Northern Israel) in Hosea 4:17 is ultimately something they’ll be redeemed from in Hosea 14:8. Not to mention the fact that there are 10 chapters after Hosea 4 and 3 chapters prior. Given the fact that the Lord uses Hosea’s adulterous wife Gomer as an illustration of Israel and she ultimately doesn’t perish, it would be inappropriate to esiegete this text and claim it’s saying something that someone reading the whole book would never conclude about the original audience.

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

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Question of the Week: What is the proper interpretation of Jesus’ statement in Luke 9:27?

But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.”
Luke 9:27 (NKJV)

There are three conclusions people have come to concerning this statement by Jesus. All of which stem from their understanding of the kingdom of God.

1. The Kingdom of God refers to the establishment of a political system on the earth.
2. The Kingdom of God refers to the End Times.
3. The Kingdom of God refers to Jesus revealed in His glory.

The first interpretation isn’t a conclusion people make in ignorance. Their scriptural basis for concluding that the kingdom of God is referring to God ruling as king on the earth comes from Psalm 103:19. In the broadest possible terms, it is taken very plainly from this passage to refer to a literal kingdom literally ruled by God. While this is a possible handling of the term “kingdom of God” in scripture, there are several problems with the conclusion in this particular text. The first and most significant problem is history. If this was what Jesus meant, it simply didn’t happen. All of those who were physically with Jesus when He spoke those words have not only tasted death, but have remained dead for almost two thousand years. We would be unfair in insisting on an interpretation that makes Jesus out to be a liar when other valid interpretations are available to us. Therefore, it is appropriate to consider other options before believing this is the proper interpretation and by extension a failed prophecy that destroys Jesus’ credibility in His claims to be God.

The second interpretation is also a reasonable conclusion people come to. In Revelation 11:15, the kingdoms of the world will be announced as the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ when the 7th Trumpet is sounded. These trumpet judgments will take place during the Great Tribulation during the End Times. Thus, this requires Jesus’ statement to be referring to the Great Tribulation and therefore conclude that Jesus is predicting the End Times will not only take place, but the full repercussions will take place before those who heard Jesus say these words would taste death. The greatest reinforcement to this conclusion is found in the verse immediately prior to His statement. Luke 9:26 references the time of judgment that leads up to His statement. Like the previous point, the biggest problem with this interpretation is that it did not happen. The End Times remains in the future, and we who are observing that reality are not those who heard Jesus speak these words. They have all tasted death. There is a view of the End Times known as Preterism which denies a literal interpretation of prophetic events. They would conclude that Jesus’ statement here is referring to the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. However, the restoration of Israel in 1948 literally fulfilling Ezekiel 37 has challenged this viewpoint along with many others. The majority of adherents to this handling of scripture are content with this approach and are focusing on other topics. We can be gracious and at least allow this as a possible conclusion, given that it does fit the criteria held to the previous point. There were those who heard Jesus say these words that didn’t taste death before 70AD.

The final interpretation and the position we believe is the most consistent is that Jesus was referring to Himself. The scriptural justification for this conclusion is in the very next verses.

But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.” Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him.
Luke 29:27-32 (NKJV)

The other passages that would refer to the kingdom of God as a relationship with Jesus Christ are the following;
John 3:5-7 includes Jesus referring to those who are born again as able to inherit the Kingdom of God.
Luke 17:20 includes Jesus answering the Pharisees about this very topic, clarifying it wouldn’t be something that took place in an observable way.
Romans 14:17 describes the Kingdom of God as a right relationship with God.

Given that we don’t need to leave the chapter in order to come to the final conclusion, we believe that it is most appropriate interpretation is made. As is the case with any piece of literature; If the plain sense makes sense, seek no other sense lest you believe in nonsense. If the Kingdom of God in a plain sense makes nonsense of this passage, then we should look for other interpretations. Given that the application of the Kingdom of God refers to the person of Jesus in more plain statements made in scripture, we conclude it is the most appropriate.

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

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A Reason For Hope Question of the Week – July 2nd, 2021

‘Whoever kills any man shall surely be put to death. Whoever kills an animal shall make it good, animal for animal. ‘If a man causes disfigurement of his neighbor, as he has done, so shall it be done to him—fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he has caused disfigurement of a man, so shall it be done to him. And whoever kills an animal shall restore it; but whoever kills a man shall be put to death. You shall have the same law for the stranger and for one from your own country; for I am the Lord your God.’ ”
Leviticus 24:17-22 (NKJV)

The question, “What is meant by” has meaning. Usually, it is asking how this command is applied practically in the Christian life today. Sometimes it’s asking for clarification of how it was applied in general. Those who are objectively coming to the text are asking something much simpler. What is being communicated in this passage? In order to clarify all three ways this question could be asked, we will first start with the title.

Leviticus means “pertaining to the Levites.” The Levites were the descendants of the 3rd son of Israel Levi, who were given no specific territory in Israel. Instead, they were to be spread out throughout the land of Israel to serve as their equivalent of government representatives. Those who would enforce the law as a police force apart from the military were Levites. Those who would establish the right to a fair trial in Cities of Refuge were Levites. Those who would enact the penalties of the law were Levites. Those who would perform religious ceremonies and sacrifices were Levites. This was their calling from God as the head of state. There were also serious penalties for those who tried to take the responsibilities of Levites on themselves. Examples of this were the kings Saul and Uzziah in the context of offering sacrifices. The former of which was removed from the throne, and the latter struck with leprosy.

At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister to Him and to bless in His name, to this day. Therefore Levi has no portion nor inheritance with his brethren; the Lord is his inheritance, just as the Lord your God promised him.)
Deuteronomy 10:8-9 (NKJV)

As God’s ministers, or servants, this gives us the audience this legal penalty was spoken to. It is also worth noting that distinctions are made between those who take the life of another human being and those who take the life of an animal. Animals lives were to be financially compensated for. Human lives were to be met with a capital penalty. Who would be enforcing this penalty? Look no farther than the title of the book. Pertaining to the Levites.

Now for the statement itself, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. If the statement is being spoken to those meeting out legal penalties, the application would be exactly that. What is the legal penalty for, quote, disfigurement. The meeting out of justice for the loss of an eye or tooth was limited to the harm done to the individual. Instead of a perpetuation of violence as it’s often presented to mean, it was actually a limiter to the kind of consequences that would be meeted out on the offender. It wouldn’t be two eyes for one eye. It could only match the harm done in the context of violence.

This then brings us to the practical aspect of the question. How does this apply to us today? Since we aren’t under the legal authority of the Levites, the legal penalties given out to them aren’t how the law is enforced in our own lands. Followers of Christ are commanded to submit to governing authorities as God’s ministers for the same reasons that Israel was to submit to the authority of the Levites. Even though their penalties and legal codes may not entirely line up with one another, we acknowledge that authority as from God. The instructions for this are given to us in Romans 12-13. And from these sections of scripture, Paul the Apostle uses his extensive knowledge of the Old Testament to apply the Law to those living outside of Israel’s covenant. (The whole world today) Just like the citizens of Israel were not to avenge themselves, but allow God and His representatives to do their job, so are we called to do the same.

If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:18-21 (NKJV)

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

Listen: Monday – Friday 5-6pm, on 106.3FM Reach Radio

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