Vision of divine wrath against rulers of Christian nations
In the 11th chapter of Ezekiel, the Spirit lifted the prophet up and brought him unto the east gate of the Lord's house. The prophet saw at the door of the gate twenty five men. Among them, he saw Jaazaniah the son of Azur, and Pelatiah, the son of Benaiah, princes of the people. These two princes represent two types of rulers of Christian nations in our midst. One type shows those who want to please the world. The other type represents those who want to please both the world and the Church. Though there were twenty five men at the door of the gate, only two princes among them were not doing the will of God. Prophetically speaking, we have, in our midst, many princes who please the Lord.
The Spirit showed Ezekiel "the men that devise mischief, and give wicked counsel in this city"(Vs.2). Then the prophet was commanded to prophesy against these men. We have to prophesy against the princes of the people who devise mischief and give wicked counsel against the Body of Christ.
The princes said, "It is not near; let us build houses; this city is the caldron, and we be the flesh". The princes wanted to build their own houses. This means that they wanted to consolidate their position to remain in the throne without love towards the people. They treated the city ofJerusalem and the Lord's house as the caldron (a large kettle which is used for boiling or heating liquids). They wanted to use the Lord's house for their own purposes.
The Spirit fell upon the prophet and led him to prophesy against the princes. Accordingly the prophet pointed his fingers at the princes, saying, "Ye have multiplied your slain in this city, and ye have filled the streets thereof with the slain" (Vs.6). God is angry with the rulers of His people or of the Christian nations because they have shed blood over the years in wars. History tells us about the wars waged by these nations in conquering territories of other nations. Death of thousands in wars is tantamount to multiplying the slain and filling the streets thereof with the slain "in this city". A Christian nation may wage a war against its enemy in the soil of the latter. But in the eyes of God, the blood shed by the aggression of a Christian nation is tantamount to filling the streets of the city of Jerusalem with the slain.
The final word of prophecy came from the prophet - "Ye shall know that I am the Lord; for ye have not walked in My statutes, neither executed My judgments but have done after the manners of the heathen that are round about". His warning is in unambiguous terms. A prince of His people is supposed to walk in His statutes, the Bible, and to execute righteous judgment. He is not supposed to wage a war against another nation in an unrighteous manner. He is supposed to give protection to the people under his reign. Righteousness of a Christian nation should exceed that of a non-Christian nation in every aspect. A Christian nation should be a role model for the other non-Christian nations in governance.
God said, "I will judge you in the border of Israel". God judges the erring Christian rulers or the princes of His people in their very land. "Ye have feared the sword, and I will bring a sword upon you" (Vs.8). The sword comes against the princes because they have feared the same sword. Their fear comes true.
"I will bring you out of the midst thereof, and deliver you into the hands of strangers, and will execute judgments among you" (Vs.9). No doubt, God brings the princes out of the mess created by them. But this does not mean that God has delivered the princes. He brings them out just to deliver them into the hands of strangers for judgment. Strangers are not acquaintances or friends.
"Ye shall fall by the sword" said the prophet. The erring princes fall by the sword that they fear.
Hardly had the prophet conveyed the final message of God to the princes than the judgment of God came upon one of the princes. "And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died….."(Vs.13)
The manner in which God judged the princes of His people under the Old Covenant remains the same under the New Covenant. However, His judgment under the New Covenant is sorer than under the Old Covenant.
"But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the Blood of the Covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace.
The Lord shall judge His people….
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Heb.10:27-31).
A Christian ruler cannot have a different role than a minister of God. Paul says in Rom.13:3-4, a ruler is the minister of God to execute wrath upon him that does evil. The ruler is supposed to execute divine judgment upon his own citizens who do evil, and not upon the citizens of another nation. The power and authority of the ruler is confined to the boundaries of his nation.
-Job Anbalagan