Bible Study: August 7, 2024

Ezekiel 13: Woe to Foolish Prophets

This Bible Study focuses primarily on Ezekiel 13: Woe to Foolish Prophets

Transcript

This transcript was generated by AI and may contain errors. It is provided to assist those who may not be able to listen to the message.

Let's review a little bit about where we've been in Ezekiel since we've been together.

As I was thinking about this and looking at the first 12 chapters, we have to remember this is a whole prophecy that God gave Ezekiel over a period of time, but it all leads to a conclusion. It starts with what's going on in his world that day as he reveals the sins that are there that are behind the scene, but he goes all the way through the millennium and the time of the temple.

God shows the problems that people are going to endure as a result of their sin, but always at the end of it he shows the good that comes when Jesus Christ returns and all the world benefits from keeping his way of life and following him. If we go back even beyond before Ezekiel, you know, we went through Isaiah over a year and a half, and Isaiah was a prophet, as you recall. He lived during the time that physical Israel was still in existence, and he prophesied during the time of those four kings, and he was the prophet during the time of Israel's fall. God commissioned him to preach that gospel to Israel, and if you recall in chapter 6, when Ezekiel said, well, how long do I preach it? He said, until the cities are laid waste, and really until the end of time, and Isaiah did that. As we went through that book, we saw Israel fall during his time. God did give him the prophecies of what would be in the future. He talked about these things, and we talked about prophecies that had been fulfilled, dual prophecies. We talked about Babylon, Babylon then, and Babylon in the future, all the way up through the millennium, even talked about the white throne judgment period. As God gave Isaiah that prophecy, following Isaiah, the next major prophet is Jeremiah. He was there, and he prophesied during the times of Judah. For 40 years, he told Judah, turn back to God, turn from your own ways, look at the example of Israel, don't allow that to happen to you what happened to Israel. They failed, they lost everything. But Judah didn't listen. They ignored Jeremiah, and he dedicated his life to preaching the word that God had given him to do. He was not held in high esteem. He was not liked by the people of that time. They looked at him as a gloom and doom prophet, but he was doing what God had said for him to do. And indeed, Judah did fall to Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon.

And in stages, the people were taken out of Judah. They lost their homeland, and they were brought to foreign lands. So we see God fulfilling those prophecies. He's very patient with people. He keeps reminding them what those prophecies are, and if they don't turn back to him, what is going to happen? So as we come into Ezekiel, we find Ezekiel. He's one of the exiles. We see him in chapter 1. He's at the river Kebar, and God makes his presence known to Ezekiel. He's decided that Ezekiel would be the prophet, and he calls him. And if you want to follow along your Bible a little bit, I'm just going to kind of recap what these first 12 chapters are, because they build into where we are in chapter 13 and, of course, the rest of the book. But it is interesting when you look at the major prophets, the way that it has been. You have Isaiah, and then you have Jeremiah and Judah, and then you have Ezekiel. And Ezekiel does have some prophecies for Judah, because it hasn't completely fallen to Nebuchadnezzar yet, but most of the prophecies are directed to the house of Israel. And when we read that, we have to remember Israel has already been taken captive. They've already lost their land. They've been taken captive. They've been disseminated and scattered throughout the nations. They are no longer a nation. So when we read about the prophecies to the house of Israel, it is for the time of the end. And as we go through these chapters and we see what's going on in the world around us, we can see what God is talking about happening in our eyes today. But as we begin chapter 1 in Ezekiel, God reveals Himself to Ezekiel by taking Him in vision to heaven, if you will. And you recall in chapter 1, we talked about all the various beings that were there. What Ezekiel, he kind of is quite descriptive in what God has given him to write down. And we see this recurring thing of God's throne room as God is speaking to Israel. Here, he gets Ezekiel's attention in chapter 1. And Ezekiel, at the end of chapter 1, he falls down because he's in awe of what he's seen. He has absolutely no doubt it is God who is speaking to him and revealing these things to him. And at the end of chapter 1, it says, he fell on his face and he heard a voice of one speaking. We see this recurring vision of the throne room when God is going to speak to Ezekiel again and further the prophecies that he wants to give to Judah in some cases, because he says Jerusalem and House of Israel, but in most cases to the House of Israel. So when we go into chapter 2, we see God telling Ezekiel, Stand up, get up, get up. I'm about to give you the things, I'm going to about to give you the commission that I have for you. And in verse 2, Ezekiel says, The Spirit entered me.

And in chapter 2, God tells Ezekiel, You're going to speak these words, but understand that the people are rebellious people. Over and over in chapter 2, and throughout the chapters, he reminds them, they're rebellious people, Ezekiel. They're not going to listen to you. They didn't listen to Isaiah. They didn't listen to Jeremiah. They're not going to listen to you, but the reminder is, do it anyway. Speak what I give you to speak, when I tell you to speak, and the words that I want you to speak. And so Ezekiel, as all people of God, follow his commands. But we remember, God isn't working with all people today. And even though they may not respond to the message, the job is still, the commission is still, to preach the gospel to the world. And of course, care for the people, you know, that God does us because we are family, and he is quite interested in how we care for each other, develop love for each other. So in chapter two, God is reminding Ezekiel, or prepping him for the job that he's going to do. He's, they're not going to listen, but it's your job to do it anyway, and to say it. So in chapter three, we see something that reminds us, reminds us of Revelation 10. Because at the beginning of chapter three, God says, eat this scroll, eat this scroll. And in verse three, you know, verse four, he says, and then go to the house of Israel and speak my words to them. And in chapter three, God tells Ezekiel, I'm gonna, I'm gonna strengthen you. I'm gonna make your forehead like flint. People are not gonna like you. They're gonna want to attack you. But you're going to be strong. I'm going to give you the strength to stand up against them and to keep preaching the word that I give you to do. Verse nine, he says, like Adam and stone, harder than flint, I have made your forehead. Don't be afraid of them. Don't be dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house. And then he tells Ezekiel later on in the chapter, I have appointed you to be a watchman, a watchman for Israel. You warn them what is going to happen. And if you warn them and they don't listen, you know, they will suffer the consequences of their actions, but you will deliver yourself. The blame won't be on you. But if I warn you and I tell you what's coming and show what's coming, and you decide not to tell them, they will still suffer the consequences for their actions, but I'm going to lay their demise at your feet. So it's a warning. You know, Ezekiel is a watchman. God is preparing him, teaching him what it means to do his work. And in a way, God has given us that commission to be a watchman. When he says in Isaiah, you know, cry aloud, spare not, tell my people their sin, warn them what is going on, preach the gospel to them, and don't worry about how they don't like you or that they don't like what you're saying because they didn't like what Isaiah said. They didn't like what Jeremiah said. They didn't like what Ezekiel said. They didn't like what Jesus Christ said. They didn't like what Peter said or Paul said or any of the apostles. And so the same is going to be for you, but you give the warning and you give the message anyway. That's the commission that you have. So God has prepped and shown Ezekiel, he's God. Here's your commission. Here's what you do. And in chapter four, I'm sorry, then he gives Ezekiel kind of an interesting command.

It's not speaking right away. There's been a lot of speaking to Israel. They haven't listened, so God gives him some things to act out instead. Maybe they'll listen in this way. Maybe it's just not talking they're listening to, but at the beginning of chapter four, get this clay model.

Show them Jerusalem on it. Build a siege against it. Show them what's going to happen and picture this for them. Maybe they'll respond to that. Maybe they'll get their attention through this mechanism if it didn't get their attention through this mechanism. So Ezekiel does it in chapter four, and then he tells them, build a wall between you and them, and Ezekiel, you lay on your side. He says, I'm going to bind you on your side. For 390 days, you're going to lay on your side. That pictures the punishment on Israel, and then 40 days on Judah. And Ezekiel did it. Again, God is trying whatever it takes to get the message out to people. Maybe they will listen. Maybe they will listen. Well, of course, as they went through all this, they did not listen to Ezekiel. They continue to go in their own way. And then we come to chapter five, and God gives a pretty chilling prophecy to Ezekiel. Now he is going to speak because God gives him the time to speak. But he also, he takes the sharp razor, if you remember. Let's just look at chapter five, because it is a key prophecy. In chapter five, he says, in verse one, take a sharp sword, take it as a barber's razor, pass it over your head and your beard, then take scales to weigh and divide the hair.

Burn with fire one third in the midst of the city. When the days of siege are finished, and take one third, strike it around with the sword, and one third you shall scatter in the wind, I will draw out a sword after them. Later in the chapter, you know, he says in verse 12, one third of you shall die of pestilence and be consumed with famine in your midst. One third will fall by the sword all around you, and I'll scatter another third to all the winds.

The house of Israel will be punished. They will be scattered. Now remember, ancient Israel has already been scattered. So when this house of Israel is something in the future, because that house of Israel is already gone. They've already been scattered, and they weren't one third killed. They were all taken captive, and some killed. But this is a prophecy that has not yet been fulfilled. But it is for the house of Israel, and it's key to understand who the house of Israel is today, and God has revealed that as well. But if we go back to chapter 5, verse 3, he says, one third, one third, one third, but you shall take a small number of them and bind them in the edge of your garment. So take a very small group out of that group that's going to be scattered, killed, suffer from pestilence, and hide them in your garment. Now the church teaches this is that small flock that God has called out of the world today, that he's working with, the firstfruits that are committed to God, that follow what he has to say, that listen to what he has to say, and aren't closing their ears to that, or binding their eyes to what is really going on. So he says, bind them in the edge of your garment, and take some of them again, and throw them in the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire. Some, sadly, who are protected that way don't learn the lesson, and they have to learn the lesson as we're told in Revelation 7, I think it is.

The robes washed white in the tribulation. So it's a very chilling prophecy when you see what God is saying. What is going to happen to the people of the house of Israel? Because they simply will not listen. They simply are a rebellious house that simply will not do it. Through these chapters, we talked about the word abominations, and they show up frequently through these early chapters of Ezekiel, because God is very aware of the abominations that the people have committed. When we get into chapter 6, then, he talks about...let me...well, chapter 6. Let me see what this...oh, I think the key thing in chapter 6 is, again, there's a prophecies, you know, for all the abominations of Israel, they're going to suffer. But I think the key verse in chapter 6 is, in all your dwelling...it's in verse 6...in all your dwelling places, the city shall be laid waste.

And we've talked about that back in the time of Isaiah, when God is calling him in chapter 6.

You know, in Isaiah, as I mentioned, says, well, how long am I going to preach this gospel?

Are they going to preach this message? And God says, until the cities are laid waste. The cities of Israel were never laid waste. That hasn't happened yet, but it is going to happen in the future, that there will be a desolation of the cities. Today, we live in a time where the cities could be made desolate in a matter of hours. And so we live in a time where that could happen, but it hasn't happened yet. So we know that these things that God is talking about is for a future time, that apparently we're getting closer and closer to as we look at events around us. Laramie, you've got a question or comment? Just a comment talking about the cities laid waste. So I think Monday, I saw that I think you guys are having a council elders meeting, which I think gets kicking off, which I think is really interesting, because Monday night is the eve of the 9th of OV. It's the eve of the 9th of OV. So the Jews are in, there's probably people on here that know more about it than I do. But if I understand correctly, you know, it is when the walls of the Babylonians breached the walls of Jerusalem and destroyed the temple on the 9th of OV. So the Jews nowadays, they take this time, this, you know, the Monday and, you know, Tuesday very solemnly because it's a time of destruction. So I think it is, I'm glad you guys are back. And also, I ran, I heard some talk that they would like to destroy, you know, Jerusalem, because they understand the significance of this date that we're coming up on. And then with all also with the whole red heifer thing, I just feel like next week could be really interesting considering just what's been going on this week. So yeah, so and then of course, the 9th of OV is also when the second temple was destroyed by the Romans. And there was a number of other atrocities that happened to the Jews on the 9th of OV. So yeah, so yeah, it's just kind of going to be intense, I think, possibly intense, Monday and Tuesday. That's, you know, that's very interesting because every day something about Iran, right? Are they are they going to attack tonight? Are they going to attack in the future? Maybe indeed they are waiting for the 9th of OV because they're very aware of those days and the significance to Israel as well. So and you hear the reports of them that they're going to barrage Israel with such such an array of weapons that the iron shield they have, they believe is going to penetrate that and cause some real damage. So you know that if if and when that happens, that's gonna that's gonna create a whole that's gonna create a whole mess in the world that no one knows exactly what will happen. So eyes are going to have to be taken at that time. It appears so yeah very very interesting. I marked that down. I didn't realize that but I think that is very significant. So okay so going on in chapter in a chapter 7 in your Bible it looks you know in my Bible chapter 7 is kind of it's a really interesting verse. It is kind of talking about how the end is going to come. In this chapter you see in verse 5 a singular disaster comes and God says the end is near.

He repeats in this chapter the end near. A day of trouble is near. It progresses through the chapter. You come down to the end of it and you have verse 25 destruction. They will seek peace but there will be none. It can't. It just doesn't happen. And as we see the world move further and further into unending wars and talk of the Ukraine-Russian conflict, this goes on and on with who knows if and when that will ever be resolved. You look at Israel and Iran. That just keeps heating up. There's been talk among some of the candidates about World War III coming and there's really that aspect and that prospect of what's going on because there just is no peace. The world is in a mess right now. So you know this destruction comes. They'll seek peace but there will be none. Verse 26 speaks of as the time draws nearer and nearer and people aren't paying attention to what's going on, that God just heaps disaster upon disaster, rumor upon rumor. They will look for answers but things just happen lightning fast one upon another as you speed through to the time that Christ talked about and the Great Tribulation, the time that talks about a prophecy that suddenly things come on. People haven't paid attention to the warning signs for God.

Paul talks in 2 Thessalonians 2, verse 1 Thessalonians 5 that we can't be those people. That time can't come upon us unawares because we are people of God. He does make us know. So we look at these things and we watch as Christ said so that when it comes we don't put our faith, we don't panic, but we put our trust in God because we know in Him is salvation. In Him all good things come.

There is disaster before His return, but we have faith in Him. We have faith in Him that all will all will be well when Christ returns. So in Ezekiel 8, as God gives this prophecy, He's speaking these things to Ezekiel and Ezekiel's asking them out. And then we come to chapter 8. Go ahead, Dale.

Yeah, you're muted, Dale. Yeah. Just briefly, yeah, it seems like with all the illegal immigration in the United States, you know, and a lot of undesirables coming in included, right? It seems to tie in with the last few verses of Ezekiel 7. You know, it's affecting the cities. It already is a lot more crime and bloodshed and the illegal aliens coming in, you know? It seems to tie in with what's going on in America right now. Yeah, you know, it is. I saw an article. I didn't read it through the other day, but, you know, when they look at, you mentioned the illegal immigrants, that there are terror cells in many of the major cities already just waiting, just waiting almost, it seems, for something to signal whatever. And we've done it to ourselves, right? I mean, you can't blame anyone. We've done it to ourselves. I didn't mention, but in Ezekiel 6, it says, you know, as these things come upon it, Israel will loathe themselves for what they have done. Now, when they see the results of their decisions and policies and what they've done, how could you not loathe yourself when you see what the result of all this is going to be? So kind of live in a time where you see all that happening.

Right. Ezekiel 8, you know, God takes Ezekiel behind the scenes to show him the abominations.

You know, maybe not visible to the people of that time, but Ezekiel needs to see these are the abominations that God sees as we look at the world around us. Who knows what's going on behind the scenes? We've had enough, you know, talk about the corruption and the goofiness, you know, later on in chapter 13. God uses the word nonsense, you know, the nonsense that goes on in the world, and we look at the world. And, you know, I didn't see any of the Olympics, but of course, it made headlines everywhere. The opening ceremony with their depiction of the with the drag queens and everything. And it's like, what is the world thinking? You know, that's what is the world thinking? Well, I think we kind of know what they're thinking, but we see the nonsense that's that's that's going on, but the evil that's going on behind the scenes and where the people are being led. So God talks, God shows that to Ezekiel in verse 9 or chapter 9. He, you know, talks about people should be sighing and crying. He sends, you know, the angels out and the people that are sighing and crying, not taking glee at what's going on in the world, but sighing and crying for what Israel is doing to itself. And God says, don't touch those who sigh and cry. But the people, and he specifically mentions the elders who were leading the people astray, you know, let the judgment begin at their house. In chapter 10, you know, we have God ready to give Ezekiel another vision because he goes back to the throne in heaven. Ezekiel sees this, so it's like we're getting ready, we're getting ready for another thing to, you know, for God to give Ezekiel to do. So in chapter 11, he specifically mentions these 25 men who were looking to or the east that we met at the end of Ezekiel 8. And God says, you know, to prophesy against them.

And because of the abominations of the land, they're going to be taken away. It does say in chapter 11 about how Israel will not pay attention to anything, but then it will, if we look in the middle of the chapter there, remember we talked about a fire and the cauldron back a couple Bible studies ago, and it talked about that, you know, they would, they think that they're protected. They're protected because they're in this city and they can't possibly be touched. But then when they realize that they can be touched, the leaders go out and they're caught at the border. They think they're going to escape to another thing, to escape what they brought upon themselves. But at the borders, at the borders, they're caught and they become, they become captive.

So, though we talked about chapter 12, last time, as God continues to accentuate what the problems in Israel are, he talks about Ezekiel acting out being taken captive. Again, if they're not listening to the words, Ezekiel, let them see you packing your bags and being captive, that you're digging a hole in the wall and they're being taken captive. Maybe they'll get the lesson that way.

Of course, they don't. But I want to lead in because at the end of chapter 12, it leads right into what chapter 13 is, what God is talking about. So, I want to kind of begin here in verse 20, verse 20 of Ezekiel 12. And I'm not going to comment on it until we get to chapter 13, but just to set the tone as we lead into chapter 13, because it'll set the tone of what God is talking about, because he talks about prophets at the end of chapter 12. People, and I think sometimes the churches say these are prophets in the world, but I think they're prophets in the church. And he's talking to the ministry today because he is talking to his people. Let's just pick it up in verse 20 then of chapter 12. It says, Then the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste. That gives us the time we're talking about, the time of the end. Then the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste. And the land shall become desolate. And you shall know that I am the Lord. You'll know because you've heard these prophecies, and you'll know that God brought them about. The Lord, Word of the Eternal, came to Ezekiel saying, Son of Man, what is this proverb that you people have about the land of Israel, which says, the days are prolonged and every vision fails? Kind of reminds you of Peter saying, you know, people run around saying, oh, we've been hearing about the coming of Jesus Christ forever and ever and ever. When's it really going to happen? So he addresses that here. Tell them therefore, verse 23, Thus says the Lord God, I will lay this proverb to rest, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel. But say to them, the days are at hand, and the fulfillment of every vision. For no more shall there be any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. For I am the Lord. I speak, and the word which I speak will come to pass. It will no more be postponed. For in your days, O rebellious house, I will say the word and perform it, says the Lord God. These are similar words, though, you know, God gave Isaiah. When I speak it, it's going to happen. They will not, my words will not come to be void. So he's saying here at the time of the end, there'll come a time when it is, God is, you know, the time is at hand, and the time will be that God says those words you hear, they're coming to pass. And then in verse 26, again the word the Lord came to me saying, son of man, look, the house of Israel is saying the vision that he sees is for many days from now, and he prophesies of times far off. God says, you know, the time is at hand, but there are some who say it's far off. Don't worry about it. The vision that he sees is for many days from now, and he prophesies of times far off. Therefore say to them, thus says the Lord God, none of my words will be postponed anymore, but the word which I speak will be done, says the Lord God. So, and we get into chapter 13, he talks about prophets and foolish prophets, and it appears that he's building off of verse 27. Those who say, well, the time isn't at hand. Take it easy. Don't worry about it, you know, and whatever. And God shows why that is such a terrible thing to do, because he does throughout the Bible show we have to have a sense of urgency. We don't know.

We don't know when the time is that God determines now it begins, and now it doesn't. We don't know the day, so we always have to be ready, and we should never be people who are lulling people to sleep saying, don't worry about it. Chapter 13 verse 1, the word of the Lord came to me saying, son of man, put aside against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy out of their own heart, hear the word of the Lord. So here we have some who are saying, well, you know, it's kind of like wishful thinking.

I don't want it to be now, so I say don't worry about it, right? So he's kind of building off chapter 27 out of their own heart. Yes, the time, there is a time of the end. Yes, the Bible is true. It's not now. It's a way off. Prophesy against those who speak from their own heart what their desires are rather than what the truth of God is, a sense of urgency. He says, say to them, hear the word of the Lord. Verse 3, thus says the Lord God, woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing.

So you have this where you have to look at the word of God. You have to kind of know what God is doing. His Spirit leads us, guides us, binds us. We will know what the truth is, but we have to follow God. And sometimes we're going to hear things that aren't what God would have us here, and they're leading us. It's leading us in the spirit of verse 27.

Don't worry about it. Don't worry about it yet. The time is coming. Yes, it is. We actually believe it's coming. Looks like it's afar off. Foolish prophets, God says. And he says in Israel, your prophets are like foxes in the deserts. It's kind of an old time saying that foxes are kind of, as I read about, what does that mean? I don't know much about how foxes hunt their prey, but they're kind of cunning. They're kind of deceptive, it said, and they'll lure their prey off into the desert, and then they capture them.

And so God is comparing prophets to that. And then he gets into... Yes, go right ahead. In regards to foxes, our lord called Herod one. So we have a good example. They're sneaky, and they're kind of like, what's that word? Psychopods and the sedatives flip. Because he just snapped on and killed John.

There you go. There you go, right? Whenever I hear the word cunning anymore, I think of Satan, right? Because Satan is cunning, and so when we read the foxes are that way, not a good thing. Not a good thing. And then for the next several verses, God talks about the wall we're supposed to be building up with his people as we strengthen God's people against what is going to come.

In verse 5, he says, you haven't gone up. And again, he's chiding the prophets who haven't done this, but in those verses, he's telling us what we must do. You haven't gone up into the gaps to build a wall for the house of Israel, that they may stand in battle on the day of the Lord. They need to be strengthened. They need to have their faith in God. They need to be building their temple with the gold and silver that Paul talks about in verse Corinthians 3, and not with the straw and hay that's going to crumble and be burned up into fire.

That needs to be part of what the church is doing as it strengthens the people. And the strength doesn't come from a man. It comes from God. It comes from his Holy Spirit, the love and the agape that he develops in us that casts out all the fear that man can saddle us with. But the love of God and the trust in him replaces those things.

Now, we can keep our finger there in Ezekiel 13 and turn back to Ezekiel 22, because this is a reference to the other place in Ezekiel that he comes back to building a wall and standing in the gap in Ezekiel 22. Now, verse 30. You know, it says, yeah, verse 30, Ezekiel 22. I sought for a man among them who would make a wall and stand in the gap before me on behalf of the land that I should not destroy it. But I found no one. God was looking for someone who would stand up for the truth, speak it boldly, clearly, not relent from it.

You know, have a forehead of flint that no matter what they threw at him, that was going to continue to be what it was there. God giving him the strength. God giving him the words. And as we go back to chapter 13, we see him talk about the wall and what it needs to be built with. And it's a very interesting series of verses here, because here God tells us, this is what we need to be doing. This is what we need to do as a church and as ministers and all of you, because we're all teachers, we're all in this, we're all working with one another and helping each other do what the thing is that God wants us to do.

So he says, you haven't, go back to verse 5 in Ezekiel 13, you haven't gone up into the gaps to build a wall. You haven't done it. Well, he's saying, do it. Do it. You haven't built a wall for the house of Israel, that they may stand or to stand in the battle on the day of the Lord in that time of the end, but there are going to be tough times and a lot of trials, the tribulation going on.

Verse 6, he says, they, referring back to these people, the false prophets, you know, in 27 that say, ah, don't worry about it, the vision that he sees is for many days from now and the prophesies of times far off, they have envisioned futility. Ah, they're wasting their time. They've, they're, later on, the very same word in verse 8 is used as nonsense. They're talking nonsense to you. They're not doing what God said to do. It's interesting that in this chapter, that word futility, that's translated futility, is used five times, always combined with lies, always combined with lies, lies that are being told. So in verse 6, they have envisioned futility, kind of just wasting your time, just kind of like biting to sleep. You know, we, none of us wants our time to look back on it and say, well, those are just futile. They were just done and seen. Nothing really got accomplished during that time. It's never a good feeling to think that you just kind of wasted time. They've envisioned futility and false divination saying, thus says the Lord, but the Lord hasn't sent them. But interesting, interesting verse here, they hope, they hope that the word may be confirmed. They're hoping it's right. They know a lot of the truth. They know that it is going to come to them, but they hope that what they're saying is right. They've kind of put themselves a little bit to sleep, putting others to sleep, but they hope that the word may be confirmed.

And verse 7 then, haven't you, have you, making sure I'm not forgetting some things here that I intend to talk about and let me look at my notes here. Yeah, verse 7, have you not seen a futile vision? It's meaningless. It's empty. It's in vain. When God says, don't take my name in vain, don't waste what you've been given. Haven't you seen a futile vision? Haven't you spoken or have you not spoken false divination? You say, the Lord says, but I didn't tell you that. I have not spoken, God says. You're making it sound like that's from me, but you're kind of giving people a futile vision. You're lulling them to sleep. As I read these, I kind of think of Matthew 25 and the 10 virgins that are asleep, and half of them, half of them are not fully asleep. They still have oil in their lamps, but the other five are fully asleep, and they're not aware when the bridegroom is coming. They're not aware with that day. Their wall has not been built. They aren't ready to stand in the gap when trial comes, and so that day passes them by, and they have to make their robes in the tribulation. The time is now that God wants us to be working and building those walls, building that foundation, that trust in Him. He gives us every opportunity, every opportunity to do it. So He says, but there are some out there who will lead you astray and say, don't have to worry about it. Don't listen to those. Always be ready. Jesus Christ at the end of Matthew 24 says, be ready. You don't know the day or the hour. Be ready for that time. That means consistently getting close to God, consistently examining ourselves, consistently looking and making sure that we are becoming like God, and letting the old self stay dead, become dead, and letting the new life live in us. Therefore, it says the Lord in verse 8, because you have spoken nonsense.

You haven't helped them at all. You've given them a false wall. You have spoken nonsense and envisioned lies. Therefore, I am indeed against you, says the Lord God. Man, none of us want God ever to say that about us, that we have spoken nonsense. James 3.1, I think every minister and every parent should be very aware. He says, not let many of you become teachers, because God will hold us to a higher standard. So what we say, we better be clear in the Word of God, and we better be preaching the Word of God, and we better be telling and preparing people, as God is through his Holy Spirit, leads us in our personal development and trust and faith in him, and helping each other in that way. Verse 8, therefore, thus says the Lord God, because you have spoken nonsense and envisioned lies, therefore I am indeed against you, says the Lord God.

My hand will be against the prophets who envision futility over and over, who envision futility, and who divine lies. They shall not be, and he gives a pronouncement here that is very serious, they shall not be in the assembly of my people, nor be written in the record of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.

That's a pretty stern thing. Look at what God has said. If you're going to preach futility, if you're going to not preach the truth, if you're going to preach from your own heart, rather than what the word of God is, that's a very serious offense. God says they won't be numbered among his people. How important is it that we stick to the word of God, know the word of God, and that no matter what is being said in times ahead, that we know the Bible so well that we aren't fooled by a cunning conversation or a cunning way of putting things or whatever, that could lead us astray like those foxes who go into the desert or lead their prey into the desert and somehow consume them there. It's a very, very—it's a incumbent upon all of us—know the word of God, and don't be fooled. Don't be fooled, because deception will certainly come. Verse 10, because, indeed, because they have seduced my people. Ah, there's that word, kind of like—what is it? Proverbs 6 that talks about the young man who was seduced by the lady who says, ah, my husband's away, just come in, who's going to know about it, let's just do this or whatever. Because, indeed, because they have seduced my people, they've led them astray, they've led them to slaughter, I mean, if we want to be very graphic about it, because, indeed, because they have seduced my people, saying, peace, when there is no peace. When they say, it's okay, it's okay, don't worry about it, these things mean nothing. The time is far off, as he says in verse 27 of the prior verse, or the entire chapter, peace when there is no peace, and one builds a wall, but they plaster it with untempered mortar. And here he gets into, kind of, if we have any people in construction that build walls, that we learn a little bit about what untempered mortar is. You know, years ago, when I came across these verses, I thought, I have no idea what untempered mortar is, but there is a mortar that binds a wall together, that it can stand against wind and rain and whatever comes its way. And then there's another mortar that's just kind of loose that looks good, looks good on the outside, but when it's forced, or when it has meets with a tough wind or rain, as God says, it falls down. It's kind of a false-looking wall. Looks good on the outside, but it doesn't have the strength. So God says, here's one who builds a wall, but they plaster it with untempered mortar. It's not the true mortar. It's not the stuff that strength is made of. It's not the stuff that can withstand trials, tribulations, winds, storms, and calms that keep people standing so that when Christ returns, they are standing.

And he says to those in verse 11, Say to those who plaster it with untempered mortar that it will fall. Your words may sound good, but are they strengthening? Are they from the Bible? Are they actually what God has said to do? Or are they peace when there is no peace? Vision that he sees is from many days from now, and he prophesies of times far off. These things that God says are futile. These things there they envision lies speaking from their own heart what their desire is rather than what the word of God says. Say to those who plaster the wall with untempered mortar, it will fall. There will be flooding rain, and you, O great hailstones, shall fall, and a stormy wind shall tear it down.

God will test that house. He will test what it is that our our temples that are being built are made of. You can keep your finger there to Ezekiel 13. Let me read just from chapter 3, because Paul says basically the same thing here. It's the same concept. Verse 11 of 1 Corinthians 3 says, No other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Now, if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear, for the day, capital D, for the day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test each one's work of what sort it is.

If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. And then he says, don't you know that you are the temple of God and the Spirit of God dwells in you? So this is what Ezekiel is saying, too. The wall that we're building stands in the gap and build the wall. It's going to be tested. God will see what it's really made of. Some are plastering their wall with tempered mortar. The stuff of God, the faith of God, the Spirit of God, the belief, the love of the truth, all those things that the Bible tells us about that you and I are to be yielding to God so he can build that wall in us, the agape that marks us and defines his church to the world. All those things that are being developed in us.

As God says, the time is coming, and someone will just do it with untempered mortar. It'll look good on the outside, but really doesn't have any strength when the time comes. Verse 12. I'm back in Ezekiel 13. Surely when the wall has fallen, will it not be said to you, but where is the mortar with which you plastered it? What did you do? How did you spend your life? What did you do with the Spirit I gave you? What did you do with the truth I gave you? What did you do with the talents I gave you? Did you use them? Did you use them? Therefore, verse 13, it says, the Lord God, I will cause a stormy wind to break forth in my fury, and there shall be a flooding rain in my anger and great hailstones in fury to consume it. So I will break down the wall you have plastered with untempered mortar, and bring it down to the ground so that its foundation will be uncovered. It will fall, and you shall be consumed in the midst of it. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

A tough lesson to learn. To learn the lesson that what God says, he means. The same lesson we should be learning now. Believe in him, and doing things his way, a complete yielding to God to ask him to grow us, mold us, and become who he wants us to be. A very tough lesson to learn. When Christ says, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, that's what weeping and gnashing of teeth are made of. My wall has fallen. I wasted my time. My life has been just futility. It was filled with nonsense, and I did not pay attention to the word of the Lord. What an awful feeling that will be. We pray that none of us, none of us ever are part of that. That we take the time now to pay attention to God and yield to him because we believe in him, and we believe in his salvation. And to know that these times are coming. We're not going to escape through it just without any kind of test. God will test us, but that is to see what are we made of.

And he will make us, and he will build us into who it is if we yield to him to do it.

Verse 15, Thus will I accomplish my wrath on the wall, and on those who have plastered it with untempered mortar. And I will say to you, the wall is no more, and nor those who plastered it.

So God will reveal. And he says to those that are plastering it with the wrong mortar, not building it with gold and silver, but with straw and hay, it's going to be a tough time. And you will know you wasted your time and spoke from your own heart rather than giving God all of our heart, mind, and soul.

Verse 15, The wall is no more, the last part of it, nor those who plastered it.

Verse 16, That is, the prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and who see visions of peace for her, when there is no peace as the Lord God. So we got Jerusalem, and some are saying, you know, at this time, peace, peace in Jerusalem, no, Nebuchadnezzar was going to finish the job.

Jerusalem was going to fall. The temple was going to be dismantled. The first temple, he was going to take all the gold and silver from it, and everything that they counted on, was laid astray. The same thing happened to us, that if we believe in the futility and the things of physical, that our walls will fall and our temple will fall as well.

Mr. Shaby. Yes, sir. The last few verses that we've gone through really, really bring in my ears about the 50% of so-called Christianity that believes in the rapture.

They're going to be shocked. They are going to be shocked. And I see a lot on YouTube. I mean, they've got guys, oh, it's going to be this month. Oh, it's going to be next month.

They're going to drop on the floor and cry. Yeah. And as they keep setting these dates, it's going to be this month, next month. It never happens. It's kind of like what God says. They hope someone that God's going to confirm their word, but he's not going to. It'll be when God is ready for it, but not to confirm the words of the truth that has been spoken.

So, good point. Let me look here. You know, the next verses he talks about, he moves into a little bit, and this is talking more about women and prophetesses. I think we can move through that pretty well. I think it's pretty self-explanatory. So, he's talking about prophets that we've just talked about, and preaching futility, preaching from their own heart rather than preaching from the word of God, preaching wishful thinking, preaching to me, spoofing things rather than the truth of God.

We don't want to hear concerns we would never hear anymore. All the church does is speak gloom and doom. We don't only speak gloom and doom. We speak the salvation of Jesus Christ. We speak the return of Jesus Christ. We speak that that's the hope of the world, and you have to be prepared for what is coming about there. It reminds me of Ezekiel or Isaiah 30, where it says, these are the people who just want to speak to us smooth things.

Well, if we teach these smooth things, and that's all it is, it's all going to be okay, you're not prepared, then how is the wall being built? Where is the untempered mortar that's going in there? So, I mean, we kind of have, everywhere in the Bible where God talks about the return of Jesus Christ, that is the hope.

That is the salvation of mankind. But we have to be aware of what's coming ahead of time. It's not going to be just one day we wake up and Jesus Christ is there and everything has been washed away. There are hard times coming, and we have to be prepared for it. God will prepare us for it. But if we ignore it, then we are speaking of utility and foolishness if we never address it. And we live in a time where it appears it's more and more imminent, the return of Christ and in the times that the Bible has talked about, even more important, that we're ready for the time and getting ourselves ready for it, the whole Dole Church.

So let's talk about the daughters here because he's talked about prophets, but he's talking about some prophetesses here who may come up and who might be saying that they have the Word of God, right? And they're going to be doing some preaching and they're going to be luring people aside with what they say as well.

Likewise, verse 17, Son of Man, set your face against the daughters of your people who prophesy out of their own heart. Who, well, this is my idea. This is what I think is going to happen. I think this is the times that we're in, who prophesy out of their own heart.

Prophesy against them and say, Thus says the Lord God, woe, woe to the women who sow magic charms on their sleeves, who adorn themselves with these things, who make veils for the heads of people of every height to hunt souls. He pictures them as this Proverbs 6 lady. I'm going out to seduce people to get them to do my way. And you know, there's that thing in Proverbs, boy, I hope it's Proverbs 6.

It's not Proverbs 6, it's Proverbs 7, where the young man finally is seduced. He goes in and the Bible is very graphic. It says he does not have any idea at that time that he takes that forbidden fruit that he has slain himself, an arrow through his heart. It's kind of very dramatic what God says, but kind of very much that we need to be aware of. What are we listening to? What are we doing? That we're not allowing Satan to lead us to take of some forbidden fruit that we know we shouldn't be taking part of as we get lured and thinking it's okay, not a danger.

And those times of deception and those times of cunningness and trickery will occur more and more as the time draws near because Satan will do anything to draw us away from God whatever it is. And... well, I could say more, but I'm gonna stop right there for now. So, okay, woe to the women who sow magic charms back in verse 18, and make veils for the heads of people of every height to hunt souls. Will you hunt the souls of my people and keep yourselves alive?

Is that what you're doing? Are you looking to just take my people away from me to lead them astray? And will you profane me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread?

What are you doing it for? What is the real reason you're doing these things? Just to benefit yourself or glorify yourself? Killing people who shouldn't die and keeping people alive who should not live? Not even making a discerning between the good and the evil?

Are you doing this by your lying to my people who listen to lies? And we live in a world where, boy, you listen to the news and you listen to what's going on in America. And I guess it's going on all over the world because you have elections happening in, what do they say, 64 nations in the world at this time. So at the end of 2024, completely different world than what we entered into the year two, depending on how these elections go. Remembering that God is the one who ordains these things. And we are here to just watch and to trust in Him and realize He's in control. But the lies that are out there, and it's kind of amazing. It's kind of amazing when you just sit back and look at the lies and how they are fostered. And we live in a time where that is, you know. And God over and over in this chapter talks about the lying. Verse 20, Therefore thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am against your magic charms by which you hunt souls there like birds. I will tear them from your arms and let the souls go. The souls you hunt like birds. So God is saying, you know, maybe it'll be some other person that comes along, some other prophetesses who seem to have some truth but isn't really the truth. They're building it with untempered mortar, too. I will tear it. God says, I'll reveal. I will reveal. And one of the things that, you know, I think we have to remember is God will reveal what's going on. He says there is nothing hidden that won't be revealed that, you know, it is our job to be living our lives completely, completely yielded to God and not allowing anything in our lives that might bring any kind of harm or talk against the church. We have a responsibility to everyone and we've, most of all, our responsibility to God to live the life He has called us to.

I will tear off your veils and deliver my people out of your hand and they shall no longer be as prey in your hand. Then you'll know that I'm the Lord. Boy, every time God says, then you'll know that I'm the Lord, there is going to be repentance and a realization among those people who have done those things that, whoa, we have sinned against God. We have transgressed what He has said. Because, I think verse 22 here is a key verse as we come to the end of this chapter here, because of the lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad. This is the false prophets. These are the prophetesses who have done these things to draw the people after them, to make people believe the same things they believe. Because with lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad. Remember, Sian cried in chapter 8, whom I have not made sad. God hasn't made us sad. We have hope in the return of Jesus Christ. I haven't made them sad, but by your actions you've made them sad. And you have strengthened the hands of the wicked so that He doesn't turn from His wicked way to save His life. And there's a key thing. We're prophesying wrong things, smooth things, not making people aware of the truth of God. What does it do?

It keeps them from turning to God with all their heart because they think, oh, that's okay. I don't have to do that. We should all underline that when we fall prey to that or listen to those things so that He does not turn from His wicked way to save His life. Mr. Peterson, I'll be with you in just a minute. Let me finish this verse and then we'll go to that.

Verse 23, Therefore you shall no longer envision futility nor practice divination, for I will deliver my people out of your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord. So chapter 13 is another quite a chapter when you look at the detail of what God is talking about. And as He's educating and rowing Ezekiel into these are the things that have to be told. And of course, He's recorded it for us because it is His Word speaking to us today when we read through these words of Ezekiel. They're very powerful and the timing for us is quite amazing. So let me leave it at that.

Mr. Peterson, you had a comment. Yeah, it's a very interesting scenario that is developed here in Ezekiel whereby the government, which is Jerusalem, sends out its prophets and they have a narrative. And their narrative is a lie. They do under table deals, as you just read there, for bread and take advantage of the poor. And they kill people who shouldn't be killed and let people go who should be killed.

I mean, there are treasonous things. And so, what we're seeing here is God is telling Ezekiel, look, the government is telling you to do this. The government is telling you that, no, no, nothing's going to happen here. It isn't going to happen that way. It's going to happen this way. And they send out their prophets. And I would say we have exactly the same thing going on now. You have a government narrative that is nothing but a pack of lies. Even, I forget what the paper was, it could have been the New York Times, came out and unpacked all of the lies about the Afghan war.

It was absolutely astounding, to me anyway. They have a narrative that is nothing but a pack of lies. They're lying to us about global warming because they have the solution. They're lying about that. They're lying about false flags. They lie to the people. And so, like Ezekiel, maybe we should be standing up and exposing that. But how are we going to do that when I think a lot of people believe that government narrative, just like they did back there?

Now, one of the things that you know, and you're absolutely right, you listen to some of the narrative from the government and you know it's lies, and we know that we should be speaking out against it. One of the things that comes back against us, and the fact I saw it today, which was kind of surprising to me, the source it came from, that the church, anytime we speak out against something and it looks like there's a party that, a political party, that we're accused of being Republicans, right?

It's like, no, we are not Republicans. We do the biblical worldview just because one party isn't as corrupt. Whatever the word you want to use is neither of them would Jesus Christ support, and yet as soon as we say something, and I think it's one of those things that Satan uses, like, so you can't say anything about it because you're accused of being political.

But we have to kind of, we kind of have to say it anyway and say, no, we're not. We're just saying what the Bible has to say and exposing that. That's part of what watchmen do. So, okay, good point. Yes, Mr. Wellhausen. Hey, my Bible has a little different interpretation of verse 22. Because you've to have hardened the righteous with your lies when I have brought them no grief, and because you have encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways and so save their lives.

I'm going to take apart some of the mainstay churches on this one. Right now, they, it's like, go ahead, you know, the Mary Gays in church, that's against the rules. They're even letting the transvestites in the church. Now let them sit in the pew, let them mess with their kids.

But none of them will tell them to repent. This is exactly what it says here. They're encouraging the wicked not to turn away. So this is where we're at. This is written for us today. We're seeing this. Absolutely. No, I totally agree with you. And part of the problem with the message those church gives is some of that comes in to comes in. The people can listen to that, right? And they buy into some of the stuff. And yeah, we just got to be very aware. It's what the Bible says. You know, God, what God says we abide by. Very, very good. Okay. Bud, Bud, how are you doing tonight? First, welcome back. We've missed the Bible studies. We've missed your presentations on YouTube that we've picked up. Now, my comment. With all that's going on around Israel, God is never brought into the picture of all the news. There's nothing about God and what's going on. And I think that's kind of amazing because you would think that the Jewish leaders would say, you know, this is some of this stuff is biblical. We were going back to the Old Testament.

And we know the next thing to happen is one of the next things to happen is a daily sacrifice.

We don't hear anything about that taking place. And I wonder if it's going on behind the scenes if we don't know about it. Well, you know, I've wondered the same thing because the Red Heifer, remember, it was a thing back a few months ago. And it flooded a lot on the internet about Red Heifers and those four Red Heifers. And I saw a video from something in Israel, and it talked about they don't want anyone to know where those Red Heifers are anymore. They don't want any talk about them because they knew it was stimulating the Hamas. And so they separated those four Red Heifers into some four places. No one knows where they are, they say. But it makes me wonder, have they been sacrificed and everything's being done in a secret way that no one knows what's going on because you hear literally nothing and you can't find anything on it. Israel has done a very good job of keeping that secret. And there's a reason for that, I think. So good point, bud. Hey, Debbie, how you doing tonight?

Hi, I'm doing fine. Welcome back. We missed the Bible studies. So my comment or question, did you listen to this cons take since we're talking about false prophets, did you listen to Jonathan Cahn's take on the assassination of Trump? I did not. The similarities. Mm-hmm. Okay, you can find it on YouTube on his assassination attempt, but it's very interesting. And he's not really saying this or that one way or the other, but he's pointing out all similarities and coincidences of the high priest being anointed with the blood on the ear, blood on the thumb and the blood on the toe. It's very interesting. So just listen to it. I mean, we know he's a false prophet. He does claim to be of the descendant of Aaron, but, you know, he's he's rattles the fence. He's satteth keeper. And then he's a Sunday worshipper, you know, evidently, but still, I don't know. It's just it's kind of interesting.

Um, 50% of the United States believe that Trump can turn things around for us and possibly return family values and God back into the society. And he does, you know, the God judges the nation for what the leader does. And God, I mean, Trump has been humbled or so it seems.

So there might be something there in the future. Plus, don't we need four more years before we start World War Three to maybe get the gospel out a little bit, you know, a little bit more? You have done it. The biblical worldview, very, very strong. But I'm not hearing the other large church teaching I'm into several minutes and they are bold and speaking, you know, boldly of what's happening. And you definitely with your messages and biblical worldview, but I don't know. It's just, we can't put our hope in Trump, right? If God gives us more time, God knows that he knows that we need to get a job done. I'm going to tell you something that I said in our media committee meeting today, and I don't I don't guess there's anything wrong. I would tell you what he was. One of the things I learned as this whole Kamala Harris thing has unfolded over the last couple of weeks is kind of like amazing to me to look from afar because I won't say that I was a fan, right? I mean, she kind of was, you know, when they said they were talking about her being a presidential candidate, there's no way she can be a presidential candidate. But somehow the media has turned her into this hero, right? I mean, they have done a really good blitz on this and trying to change everything around. And I was saying today, I said, you know, what it taught me was with the communication channels we have out there, if we were to go out with the message of God in the same way, a strong unified message, because God's blessed us with funds that we could do this. The kingdom of God isn't near. Short messages that were crisp and close, and we flooded the airways with it. We could get that message out there just as quickly as they got that message, if God let it, if that's what he wants to do. So it is interesting when you watch how people flood the airways with their message, and we have something to learn about that.

But God will lead us, He'll direct us in what He wants to do. He'll get that message out. He'll get that message out when He's ready. So. Well, listen to that. It's very interesting.

I am going to listen to it, yeah, so see what he has to say.

Jonathan Cahn, you know, he doesn't have the truth, but he does have some interesting things. You know, he wrote that book on the gods, right? And he does talk about these and how society is going back to these pagan gods and whatever. And then you see what went on at that Olympic opening ceremony and some of these things. And you think exactly it is. It's the time of the Gentiles returning to earth, and people are paying more attention to the pagan gods and forgetting God. And we see, in association with that, exactly what Paul talked about, just the debauchery and the depravity and the every kind of sexual weirdness that you can imagine that are associated with those gods and the worship of not the true God. So, you know, he has some points. He doesn't have the truth, but he has some points that are interesting every now and then. So, Rita Swanson, how are you?

How are you, Mr. David? Okay. I have a question. It's on chapter 13 verse 10 when it says, when one builds a wall, is that referring to Israel? Or is that like, what does that part mean? I'm confused. I think the wall that he's talking about here is the wall that we need to be building, comparing that to the temple that we're building in 1 Corinthians 3. The thing that we're building with temperate mortar, right? True mortar that can bind us and keep that wall standing through whatever storm comes our way. That's the wall we're supposed to be building. And it ties into Ezekiel 22-30 where he says, build a wall, build a wall and stand in the gap. Okay, thank you.

Okay, have we exhausted everything?

Mr. Shaby. Yes. I'm going to tell people about our Bible study. You're doing so well with interacting with us. I've got 123 on email and 245 on Facebook that I want to give the link to.

Feel free. We can take up to 500 on this thing. So yeah, anyone that wants to join, more than happy to have us have them. So okay. Okay.

Hey, Reggie. By the way, I got your message, Reggie. I'm going to listen to Mike's sermonette.

Okay, one thing I was going to know whenever you were building a legacy in Leon, did y'all discuss the situation in Bangladesh and that area? No, no, we didn't know that was going on near the end. We saw, I guess, that the president or whatever they call him there has been exiled from the country and Manik has written and saying there's a lot of unrest, but at least he was safe. He didn't know about all the rest of the people, though, but they have Bangladesh has entered into a kind of not a good time. So keep that in your prayers. Well, there's a country, too, that's east of Bangladesh called Mizram. Yes. And there's a contingent of people there, too.

Yes, there are. They have history in the church. Yep, there's 500 members in Mizram. Yeah, so you're right. That's part of India and that seems to be safe up there, right? I think David Treiber goes up there every once in a while to visit them, but they seem to be a very solid group.

Yeah, Bangladesh is kind of a mess, but India, that area is safe for them.

Okay, is A. Xavier. Hi, brother Shabey. I'm another scripture that our Father and Our Lord gave us to help visualize that wall technology.

Building the wall is 1 Corinthians 3, verse 12 to 13, where we're encouraged to, with God's help, to build our temples with gold, silver, and precious stones, rather than wood, hay, or stubble that won't last the test. Yep, yep. We talked about that, yes. That's kind of a corollary to it, so. Bill, how you doing? Good, you know, I was just thinking about, I listened to Ben Carson, and he makes Trump sound like, I almost feel like Festus. Was it Festus who told Paul I'm almost convinced to be a Christian? Yes, uh-huh. I listened to Ben Carson, I'm almost convinced to be a Republican, the way he was talking about Trump.

Anyway, yeah, yeah, I, yeah, no comment. Okay, anything else? I'm gonna tell you about, you know, I have, I have on my books, and I'm going to try really hard since we've been gone so much to have a Bible study next Wednesday. But the council is meeting, the council is meeting next week, and already my Monday and Tuesday nights are filled, so I'm going to tell you what, I'm going to try to do it, but I know if the council has to take precedent, if there's something that I have to talk about or meet on on Wednesday. So watch your emails next week. If we have, I'll send it out either way, either we can't do it or we can, so you're aware. But certainly the week five, if it's not next week, certainly the week follow, we move back together, and there should be ample time, but there should be a number of weeks in a row that we have a Bible study. So I'll try hard to not have anything scheduled next Wednesday night for the council. Okay, very good. Well then let me say goodbye to everyone. Great, great to see you. Thank you. Enjoy very much. We'll see you next week, hopefully, or that's Sabbath if you're in Cincinnati. Okay, bye bye. Bye. Bye. Bye, Christina. Xavier.

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Rick Shabi was ordained an elder in 2000, and relocated to northern Florida in 2004. He attended Ambassador College and graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Science in Business, with a major in Accounting. After enjoying a rewarding career in corporate and local hospital finance and administration, he became a pastor in January 2011. Since then, he and his wife Deborah have served in the Orlando and Jacksonville, Florida, churches. Rick served as the Treasurer for the United Church of God from 2013–2022, and was President from May 2022 to April 2025.