First Nine Chapters


Preparation for the
Clap of Thunder
-Futher Study Comments-





The scroll of prophecy.

Further Study 1     Back to main study.
Ezekiel 2:1-3:11
      Eat that I give thee. “This is symbolic prophecy, and the prophet ate the scroll in vision, not in fact (see on v. 2). The figure is full of spiritual meaning. In order to impart to his fellow men, the teacher must first receive from God. Second, as physical nourishment introduced into the body becomes flesh, blood, and bones, so the message must be appropriated and become a part of the messenger. The teacher cannot be fitted for service by a superficial and uncertain acquaintance with his message. The message must sink into the depths of his nature, must penetrate his being, must enter into all the functions of his spiritual life. It must become an integral part of his thought and life.”
      Written within and without. “Books were anciently written upon skins or papyri sewed together to form long strips that were then rolled up. Normally these rolls were written on one side only. The one that was handed to Ezekiel was written on both sides, doubtless to denote abundance of subject matter. The message was no evangel of peace such as the angels brought to the shepherds of Bethlehem when Christ our Saviour was born (Luke 2:13, 14). Their message was “good tidings of great joy” (Luke 2:10), but this was a prophecy of “lamentations, and mourning, and woe.” Yet the disclosure of the threatened calamity was the means God used to awaken sin-hardened hearts that He might heal them with the gospel balm. As Ezekiel’s work developed, it was often his privilege to temper his discourses of denunciation with appeals of proffered mercy.”
      As honey for sweetness. “How thrilling was the realization to Ezekiel that he had been called to be a fellow worker with God, to be a mouthpiece for Jehovah in reproving the sins of his people! The call to prophetic office is indeed a high privilege. But the danger of self-exaltation is ever present. Paul feared it (2 Cor. 12:7). . . . Ezekiel’s initial experience of sweetness was later turned to bitterness as he came face to face with the realities of the task. It is frequently thus with those called to special service. How soon the early thrill loses its potency when one is face to face with the stark realities of grim duty.” (The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association) 1978.)

Jeremiah 36:1-3
      A roll of a book. A parchment-scroll, consisting of several skins sewn together, and cut of an even breadth, with a piece of wood at one end (or, in case of larger volumes, at both ends) on which to roll them up.
      Write therein all the words ... The phrase means that the roll was to contain "all the counsel of God" (Acts 20:27) upon the special point mentioned in Jer 36:3; and that the prophet was not to keep anything back. (Barnes’ Notes, Electronic Database.)

Jeremiah 51:59-64
      In a book. literally, in one book, on one scroll of parchment.
      And shalt see, and shalt read. Or, then see that thou read etc.
      Verse 62-64. The sinking of the scroll was not for the purpose of destroying it, but was a symbolic act (compare the marginal reference); and the binding of a stone to it signified the certainty of the hasty ruin of the city. (Barnes’ Notes, Electronic Database.)

Zechariah 5:1-6:3
      The length. Inasmuch as Zechariah was able to estimate the dimensions, the roll must have appeared entirely open. By modern measure the roll was about 17 by 34 ft. Inasmuch as these dimensions agree with those of the holy place of the tabernacle (see on Ex. 26:1), and with those of the porch of Solomon’s Temple (1 Kings 6:3), some have sought to show a connection between the “flying roll” and the sanctuary. However, even though the curse sprang from the transgression of the tables of stone containing the Ten Commandments found in the tabernacle and in the Temple of Solomon, there is no way of proving that such a connection was to be represented by the foregoing similarity in dimensions. The roll was of unusual dimensions and contained a very large writing area. The dimensions were therefore probably noted to show the magnitude of the curse.”
      Cut off. “In order to accomplish God’s purposes it was necessary that Israel of the restoration be pure. The vision of Joshua’s change of raiment (ch. 3) pointed to the divine provisions for dealing with sin. Pardon would be granted to every repentant soul. Those who accepted the provisions would be clothed with the perfect righteousness of Christ. However, in order to appropriate the robe of Christ’s righteousness, men would be required to forsake their evil deeds. Those who refused would be visited by the curse pronounced by the flying roll.” (The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association) 1978.)

Isaiah 34:1-17
      Let the earth hear. “The message of ch. 34 is not for Judah alone, but for all nations and for all time. Isaiah here describes the sad and terrible fate of the wicked, both in his own day and at the end of time. He beholds the great day of slaughter, when the wicked perish and their corpses are scattered about like those of Sennacherib’s army after the visit of the destroying angel of the Lord (ch. 37:36). In the destruction of the Assyrian army he sees promise of the fate of all the hosts of evil that fight against God. Idumea, or Edom (v. 5), is selected as the typical representative of the enemies of right because Edom often proved to be the most cruel and heartless of the enemies of Judah (see 2 Chron. 28:17; Eze. 35; Amos 1:11; Obadia).” (The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association) 1978.)





Back To Top

First Nine Chapters