Days of Ezekiel Are signs converging that point to the turbulent times which will precede the second coming of Jesus? Birth pangs, as Jesus referred to them, will increase in frequency and intensity. In part one and two of this three-part series, Colleen Marshall noted signs and similarities from the Days of Noah and Days of Elijah. In this final part, she looks at the Days of Ezekiel. A popular Christian worship song ‘Days of Elijah’, by Robin Mark, says in verse 4, ‘And these are the days of Ezekiel, the dry bones becoming as flesh’. Ezekiel was an Old Testament prophet and priest around 600–550BC during Israel’s exile in Babylon. God had appointed Ezekiel as a watchman in a small community uprooted from their homeland and facing tough times in exile. The exile was a consequence of their rebellion against God. Many times, Ezekiel was told to raise an alarm and warn his fellow Hebrews of judgement. His prophetic messages sounded brutal but were tempered with compassion to bring 26
January 2024
people to a place of humility and repentance. But sadly, they ignored the trumpet call to mobilise (Ezekiel 7:14) and thumbed their noses at God (Ezekiel 8:17). Only a few wept for the state of their people (Ezekiel 9:4).
Valley of dry bones Ezekiel’s ministry was more intense than Elijah’s. Sin committed behind hidden doors was exposed as God revealed himself as the omnipresent (all seeing), omniscient (all knowing), omnipotent (unlimited) Almighty and Holy God to whom his people were accountable. Ezekiel is perhaps better known for his vision of the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37.
God had appointed Ezekiel as a watchman in a small community uprooted from their homeland and facing tough times in exile. When God took him to a valley full of dry bones the Bible says, ‘He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Sovereign LORD, you alone know”’ (Ezekiel 37:3). Then God said to Ezekiel, ‘Prophesy to these bones and say to them, “Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!”
