Page 226 - NOTES ON EZEKIEL

220 NOTES ON EZEKIEL.
But we must turn to the opening words of the
vision. “ In the five and twentieth year of our
captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the
tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year
after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame
day the hand of Jehovah was upon me, and
brought me thither. In the visions of God brought
lie me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a
very high mountain, and upon it was as it were
a city on the south. And he brought me thither, and,
behold, there was a man, whoso appearance was like
the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand,
and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate. And
the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine
eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart
upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that
I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither:
declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.”
(Ver. 1—4.)
The declared aim of the vision is thus evident. God
certainly did not reveal the mystery of Christ and the
church to Israel or to any other, but kept it secret in
Himself till the due moment came to make it known.
Much of man’s eventful trial yet remained. God had
yet to send His one Son—the Heir, not to speak of
prophets who followed Ezekiel and preceded John the
Baptist. Afterwards too He would add the final testi­
mony to the risen and glorified Lord by the Spirit,
besides His presence in humiliation in their midst.
Accordingly the vision is of Israel’s hopes when re­
stored to their land, to shew them how complete the
work shall be in the last days, above all (spite of their