Prophecy, parables and pyrotechnics

Dear friend

Some of the ancient prophets were shown our day, the latter days. I can't help wondering what they thought about what they saw. Surely some things must have appeared very odd to them. But whatever they thought of helicopters and hovercraft, we gain great benefit from what the Lord told them about these days. For example, from the Old Testament, Ezekiel 20:45-49.

45 Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
46 Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;
47 And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.
48 And all flesh shall see that I the Lord have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.
49 Then said I, Ah Lord God! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?

While prophets of olden times might have wondered about worldly works of our day, for our turn we too can wonder about the strange ways of the ancients; including how they wrote. From these verses it is helpful to understand that the Prophet Ezekiel was living in Mesopotamia at the time, and Judea was the land to the south of his location. Judea represents His chosen people who at times have been disobedient. "Drop thy word", according to other verses, simply means to preach the gospel. The forest refers to the people as if they were trees, like fruit or olive trees; which is a common device in scriptural prophecy. Many of these trees are unfruitful, good for nothing but to be burned. In the last days there will be a burning removal of the useless trees. This will be in preparation for Christ’s glorious return. And all the world will know of it.

The continual use of analogies, parables and such constructions is instructive, but we must put in some effort to discover the meanings, to seek out the mysteries that are in plain sight if we will but look for them.

I pray that we will "hear the word of the Lord", search it, and that it will "kindle a fire in us".

Samuel.