Ezekiel 16:35 says, Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of the Lord: God called on the people of Israel, who He referred to as a harlot, to hear His word. If people go away to everlasting punishment, it will never be because God didn’t call them to repentance. If people are teaching anything other than God's word while professing to be a part of His people, they are being a spiritual harlot, but I believe that God will always make them aware of this.
Verse thirty-six adds, Thus saith the Lord God; Because thy filthiness was poured out, and thy nakedness discovered through thy whoredoms with thy lovers, and with all the idols of thy abominations, and by the blood of thy children, which thou didst give unto them; God then listed all the ways that the people of Israel had failed in keeping their covenant relationship with Him. Their following of false god’s and worshipping idols had even led them to sacrificing their children to these idols. Today, people follow many false gods and some even sacrifice their unborn children to the god of self-will and pleasure in life.
Verse thirty-seven continues, Behold, therefore I will gather all thy lovers, with whom thou hast taken pleasure, and all them that thou hast loved, with all them that thou hast hated; I will even gather them round about against thee, and will discover thy nakedness unto them, that they may see all thy nakedness. God said He was going to gather all the ones that they had put their faith in around them and that their spiritual nakedness would be discovered. God was very displeased with those who professed to be His people failing to live by His commandments. If we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are forever a part of His kingdom, but if we have called ourselves His people without doing so, one day we will be held accountable for our actions.
Verse thirty-eight states, And I will judge thee, as women that break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will give thee blood in fury and jealousy. God said He was going to judge them as a woman who committed adultery was judged. We might ask why He said a woman and not men and women, but we need to remember that the church is called the bride of Christ, so it would apply to everyone who professed to be a part of God’s kingdom and not just women.
Verse thirty-nine adds, And I will also give thee into their hand, and they shall throw down thine eminent place, and shall break down thy high places: they shall strip thee also of thy clothes, and shall take thy fair jewels, and leave thee naked and bare. God said when He removed His protection from the people of Israel that they would lose everything and be left naked. Those that they had looked to for protection, the Egyptians and the Assyrians, would be the ones to destroy them. If we refuse God’s call to salvation, one day we will stand before Him spiritually naked.
Verse forty continues, They shall also bring up a company against thee, and they shall stone thee with stones, and thrust thee through with their swords. God said that the people of Israel were going to be killed in horrible ways. Still, this destruction would be nothing compared to the everlasting punishment that awaits those who do not put their faith in God.
Verse forty-one says, And they shall burn thine houses with fire, and execute judgments upon thee in the sight of many women: and I will cause thee to cease from playing the harlot, and thou also shalt give no hire any more. God said that their houses were going to be destroyed in the sight of many of the women, and God would cause them to quit playing the harlot. When God’s final judgment comes, it will be in the sight of all who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, and they will then know that God is God, but it will be too late to save them. This is why it is so important that we proclaim to gospel to the world today.
Verse forty-two adds, So will I make my fury toward thee to rest, and my jealousy shall depart from thee, and I will be quiet, and will be no more angry. God said that once those who had disobey their covenant relationship with Him were destroyed that He would be quiet and would no longer be angry. One day, those who are not a part God’s will be sent away to everlasting punishment and sin will be no more. If we are a follower of Christ, we will never face this everlasting punishment and when God calls us to our heavenly home, sin will be no more. Of course, we need live our lives today by faith and not allow sin back into our lives,
Verse forty-three continues, Because thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, but hast fretted me in all these things; behold, therefore I also will recompense thy way upon thine head, saith the Lord God: and thou shalt not commit this lewdness above all thine abominations. God said that since they had not remained true to their covenant relationship with Him, having forgotten all about it, that He would pay them what their disobedience had earned them, which was everlasting separation from Him. I believe these were the people who had never put their faith in God and not those who had but temporarily strayed away. If we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord but have then committed sin once again, we are still a part of God’s people, but we need to repent and ask His forgiveness. If we haven’t, then we will face God based on our own righteousness, which will lead to everlasting separation from Him.
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