Scripture Reading : Ezekiel 36
Theme : End Times Restoration of Israel
This chapter is obviously speaking of God’s restoration of Israel in the end times, not God’s restoration of Israel from the Babylonian captivity. Because this chapter speaks of complete and permanent restoration of Israel to the land, with no more famine (v. 29), no more fighting between Jews and gentiles (vv. 12-15), and the permanent blessing of a new heart from the New Covenant (vv. 25-28)
It is no surprise that Ezekiel, like other prophetic books, speaks of God’s restoration of Israel in the end times. It may seems out of context for God to speak of Israel’s restoration in the end times when the immediate historical context is the Babylonian exile. But if we look at the wider context of the Bible, it fits well completely. Ever since the loss of Eden in Genesis (echoed in v.35), God’s intention has always been to restore His kingdom on earth. His original plan was to use Israel to restore God’s kingdom on earth by having Israel be a kingdom of priests (Ex. 19:6). The Jews were supposed to evangelize the whole world, but Israel failed. The Jews knew God’s intention to restore the world through Israel. When they failed and were exiled like Adam and Eve were exiled from Eden, they wanted to know God’s plan to restore His kingdom on earth. This chapter and many more chapters by other OT prophets answer this question. God will restore His kingdom on earth by rescuing again the defeated, exiled nation of Israel, and by judging Israel’s enemies, and then restoring both Israel and the whole world to Himself (v.36). This is God’s ultimate plan to defeat satan and to restore His kingdom on earth, which was lost when sin entered Eden.
Praying the Scripture
经文：以西结书36
主题：末日以色列的复兴
这个篇章显然阐述的是神在末日时对以色列的复兴，而非他们从巴比伦被掳归回以色列的复兴。这是因为经文对这片土地所阐述的复兴是全面性、永久性的；地不再遭受饥荒（29节），犹太人和外邦人不再争夺（12-15节），他们又将蒙永恒的祝福，即从新约而来的新心（25-28节）。
以西结书与其他先知书一样都阐述神在末日时对以色列的复兴——这并不稀奇。由于以色列当前所面临的是巴比伦的流放，所以此刻讲述以色列在末日时的复兴或许看似不对题，但我们若放眼观望整本圣经的主题，一切都对眼了。自从伊甸园在创世纪被挪去后（35节呼应这一点），神一直都想在地上复兴祂的国。神原本的计划是要以色列做祭司的国度（出19:6），从而用以色列复兴神在地上的国。犹太人本当向全世界传扬神，但始终失败了。犹太人晓得神的意愿是要借着以色列复兴全世界。当他们以失败收场，像亚当和夏娃被逐出伊甸园一样被放逐时，他们想知道神将如何在地上复兴祂的国。这章经文以及旧约先知书中的许多经文都回答了这个问题。神将再次拯救落败、被逐的以色列国，又审判以色列的敌人，然后使以色列和全世界归于自己（36节），从而复兴祂在地上的国度。这是神打败撒旦并复兴祂在地上之国的最终计划，因为当罪进入伊甸园的瞬间，祂的国就消失了。
用经文祷告
自从伊甸园（即神在地上的国度）消失后，整本圣经都在叙述神将如何复兴祂在地上的国。基督徒当把他们最大的盼望放置在神地上的永恒国度里，按此生活。你若将你的信心放置在这个国度里，你的信心就是真实的，你也得救了（西1:5；太13:22）。你的信心与盼望若只是在这个世界上，你就不是基督徒。你若是基督徒，祷告神会使你在灵性上有长进，加增你对你永恒基业的盼望和感恩之心（西1:12-14）。
