<\/span>Contents<\/span><\/h2>\nEzekiel was born in the waning days of the kingdom of Judah. He comes from a priestly family and is called by God as a prophet. In the year 597 BC he was deported to the land of Babylon, just like King Jehoiachin. He stayed there in the village town of Tel-Abib on the river Chebar. In the year 602 BC he was called by GOD as a prophet for the exiles and the Jewish people left behind in the city of Jerusalem. As a prophet, He never went to the city. After his calling, he lived at least 22 years (29:27). His message was initially ignored. Only after the news of the fall of Jerusalem had come did the people begin to hear. Ezekiel was a special man in many ways.<\/p>\n
\n- He had great imagination. His descriptions of Celestial Being and the New Age bear witness to this.<\/li>\n
- He possessed supernatural gifts that enabled him to see in detail events in Jerusalem. He was more than 1,600 km away from this city.<\/li>\n
- He was a person of great courage and determination. He was not discouraged by dismissive reactions. He continued to speak the truth. As a prophet of his people, Ezekiel saw himself as a<\/li>\n
- Shepherd. As a shepherd, he protected the people, as a shepherd does. He saw himself as a symbol of the Great Shepherd to come, Christ Jesus.<\/li>\n
- Watchman. As a watchman, he warned the people of the coming judgment of God. As a military watchman searches for the approaching enemy, so Ezekiel looked into the dark and cried out that the judgment of God was approaching.<\/li>\n
- Advocate of God. As God’s advocate, he explained that the land did not fall because of the weakness of God, but because of the sins of the people.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n