The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Pamphlet #6313

We know where he is right now (heaven), we know who he is (Satan), and we know who he will say he is when he comes (Jesus Christ).

Knowledge can be a wonderful thing and very satisfying indeed, and if one has been given knowledge of the truth and of the events of the future he should consider himself very blessed. We have been given awesome intelligence reports in God's Word and in this book of Ezekiel concerning the soon coming king of Babylon. We know where he is right now (heaven), we know who he is (Satan), and we know who he will say he is when he comes (Jesus Christ). We know how he operates within the four hidden dynasties of Economics, Religion, Politics and Education. We know how he runs economies and trafficking of merchandise worldwide (example Tyre). We know how he profanes God's sanctuary and "pollutes" His Word with the idolatrous traditions of men (example Ishtar, Easter). We know how he corrupts governments with proud self-exalted dictators (Pharaoh) who make captives of their people and make covenants with God's people which they cannot keep. And we know how he deceives the multitudes with his lies and cover-ups of the truth.

However, along with all that knowledge of the truth comes a responsibility, a very great responsibility. You see, for the watchmen of this final generation it is a matter of life and death, even eternal life and eternal death, not so much for the watchmen themselves, but for their families and friends and their fellow countrymen. Consider the following the scenario:

Imagine that you were in the army on the front line with the ground troops, and you were one of a select group of intelligence specialists who were highly trained in enemy tactics and in interpreting the movements and activities of the enemy as sure signs that they are getting ready to attack. So because of your special training you were assigned to "watch duty" to lookout for signs of an approaching enemy. All of your fellow soldiers in the camp and all of the commanding officers have knowingly or unknowingly placed their trust in you to "forewarn" them if you see signs of trouble.

Now suppose you were standing on your watch and you DID SEE signs that the enemy was approaching but you did nothing about it, and you failed to sound the alarm, and you failed to tell anyone in the camp that they were about to be slain. And so the enemy came and slew them all!  You're going to be in heap big trouble when the General finds out, aren't you? A quick court-martial and death by a firing squad is my guess.

On the other hand, suppose you were standing on your watch and you DID SEE signs that the enemy was approaching and you sounded the alarm and forewarned everyone you possibly could, but only a handful of them heeded your warning and put on their armor. And so the enemy came and slew all the rest of them. Surely you shall be decorated for your valiant efforts in trying to save your men.

Ezekiel 33:1
Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

[2] Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:

So, verse 2 says that God is going to "bring the sword" (of the king of Babylon) upon the land! (No duh! I'm so full!) There will be watchmen at that time who will SEE that he is coming. How about you? Are you familiar with the warning signs?

[3] If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;

[4] Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.

[5] He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.

Ezekiel 33:6
But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.

[7] So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.

Warn = zahar, zaw-har', Hebrew 2094; a primitive root; to gleam; figurative to enlighten (by caution) :- admonish, shine, teach, (give) warn (-ing).

Ezekiel 33:8
When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

[9] Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

Ezekiel 33:10
Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?

Tell them that God swears by His eternal life that He has absolutely NO PLEASURE whatsoever in seeing someone deceived and "slain by the sword".

[11] Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

But know this one thing. It is our Father's desire that ALL of His children repent and turn from their evil ways. He does not want to see anyone perish along with Satan, and He is patient and longsuffering and willing to embrace with His loving arms all who will turn to Him and say Abba, Father.

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

When you consider all that He has done for us, His children, how can anyone not love our Father?

We learned in our last study that our Father does not wish for anyone to perish, nor does it give Him any pleasure whatsoever to see the death of the wicked (vs. 11). That would include His son Satan as well! It gives our Father no pleasure to have to destroy that son who once was perfect in his ways (Ezek. 28:15) and esteemed a morning star (an admired prince) by God and all His children. That is why the plan of salvation is such that any person who is judged to die and sentenced to perish in the lake of fire will have personally CHOSEN death of his or her own free will! You can be sure that Satan had every opportunity in "the world that then was" to repent and change His ways, but instead he willfully chose death over life and so at his judgment his fate was sealed according to his wishes and his book was closed forever.

And so it is that each and every child of God must individually, of his or her own freewill, decide whether to live or die. It is God's will, however, that you choose "life", which is to love Him, for He is your life (Deut. 30:20).

Deut. 30:15
See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;

[16] In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

[17]But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;

[18]I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.

[19] I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

[20] That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for He is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.