The 144,000 and the Multitude
Chapter 13
Ezekiel’s Hair
And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barber's razor, and cause it to pass upon thine head and upon thy beard: then take thee balances to weigh, and divide the hair. [2] Thou shalt burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled: and thou shalt take a third part, and smite about it with a knife: and a third part thou shalt scatter in the wind; and I will draw out a sword after them. [3] Thou shalt also take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy skirts. [4] Then take of them again, and cast them into the midstof the fire, and burn them in the fire; for thereof shall a fire come forth into all the house of Israel. [5] Thus saith the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her. [6] And she hath changed my judgments into wickedness more than the nations, and my statutes more than the countries that are round about her: for they have refused my judgments and my statutes, they have not walked in them. - Ezekiel 5:1-6
There is a great deal of information that we can glean from these passages. Ezekiel takes a barber’s razor and shaves off all his hair and his beard. He is then told to weigh it on scales and divide it into thirds -- three thirds to be exact. If you will notice in verse 3, it states “Thou shalt also take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy skirts.” This has remnant written all over it. Few equals remnant. Ezekiel binds the few hairs in his skirts, apparently for safekeeping, and keeps them completely separate from the rest of the hair.
The weighing and dividing put forth in this verse can be compared to Daniel chapter 5. In the recounting of the story of Belshazzar and the destruction of Babylon, hand-writing was placed upon the wall at the feast of Belshazzar. The handwriting on the wall was Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin, and the mysterious saying was interpreted by Daniel. The interpretation was as follows: “God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it….Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting….Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.”
This is an interesting comparison to the overall picture of the church. In Revelation 7:4, “John heard the number of them which were sealed...” In Ezekiel Chapter 5, Ezekiel weighs and divides the hair. The Church has a specific number, being the 144,000 who remove themselves from the Harlot Church. What remains of the church is the apostate.
The apostate church is then weighed and divided. This has all of the aspects of Daniel, chapter 5. And to top it off, in Daniel, it was Babylon that was weighed, divided, and destroyed. The harlot church of our time is Mystery Babylon; it too will be destroyed. The comparisons of these two are uncanny.
Verse 5 of Ezekiel’s amazing prophecy tells us that this hair represents Jerusalem. “Thus saith the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem.” Jerusalem is divided into thirds. What is Jerusalem? Jerusalem is the church; specifically, the apostate church. Remember, the few hairs that were taken out, represent the 144,000.
The hairs had to be taken out prior to the weighing of the hair for two reasons. The first is the most obvious, for the hair cannot be divided equally if a few hairs are taken out of any one of the thirds. Secondly, each of the thirds of hair is representative of judgment. The 144,000 are sealed prior to the judgment of God.
In referencing Daniel chapter 5, the numbering is the first of three steps. Weighing is the second step and dividing is the third step. So, the few hairs are separated prior to the weighing and dividing of the hair. The hair is then weighed and divided into three equal parts.
With this prophecy, we can actually establish a sequence which we can line up with the events of the tribulation that are now understood in much greater detail. The sequence of these judgments that are placed upon each third provide us with clues to an even bigger picture. I will go through each one in sequence and then give you the larger picture.
The first third is burned in the midst of Jerusalem. They are destroyed right at the onset. The second third is smitten about with a knife, and then placed aside. We know that they are placed aside by the “thou shalt take of them again” in verse 4. The final third is scattered in the wind, and the Lord draws a sword out after them. The second third is then taken, and burned in the midst of the fire that the first third was burned in.
The first and second groups of thirds represent the unrepentant apostate church. Both of them are burned in the fire. The second third is smitten about with a knife (punished) before they are burned. The last third is the Multitude. They are scattered in the wind (they flee), and the Lord draws a sword out after them (they are hunted down and killed).
Does all of this sound familiar? Remember Zechariah 13:8, 9 in which two thirds are cut off and die and one third is brought through the fire. When the two thirds are cut off and die, they are also representative of the branches of the olive tree in Romans 11; and when branches are cut off, they are burned in a fire.
The two thirds of Ezekiel’s hair are burned in a fire. Notice also that the “hair” that is burned, is burned in the in the midst of Jerusalem. This again correlates with the verse that judgment begins at the house of God. [i] This sequence of the judgement of the thirds in Ezekiel 5 lines up with Zechariah 13:8, 9. The first two thirds are cut off and die (burned in the fire) and the third that is left is scattered in the wind. Although this is the judgement of the church, the sequence in which it actually occurs in the physical reverses.
The first two thirds of the apostate that are burned is representative of their spiritual death because of their decision to become unrighteous vessels. Their physical death will occur at the end of the Tribulation. The Lord will use them as unrighteous vessels against the last third that He brings through the fire.
How do the first third and the second third actually die? The answer to that question can be answered in the following verses.
A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee: and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee; and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them.
[13] Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and they shall know that I the LORD have spoken it in my zeal, when I have accomplished my fury in them. - Ezekiel 5:12, 13
From the above verses, we can see that one-third is killed by famine and pestilence, one-third is killed by the sword, and one-third is scattered in the wind and the Lord draws a sword out after them. Since we can see that the Multitude is the third that is scattered, the other two-thirds are the apostate. The first third is killed with famine and pestilence, and the second third is killed by the sword. This is the fate of the Church of Babylon. But there is more. We can pick up an additional thread through this next verse that will take us into other passages that will give us still more information.
And I will scatter toward every wind all that are about him to help him, and all his bands; and I will draw out the sword after them. [15] And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall scatter them among the nations, and disperse them in the countries. [16] But I will leave a few men of them from the sword, from the famine, and from the pestilence; that they may declare all their
abominations among the heathen whither they come; and they shall know that I am the LORD. - Ezekiel12:14-16
In these verses we see the LORD will scatter the third, and will draw a sword out after them. This would be the Multitude; the last 1/3. It says in verse 16 that the Lord will leave a few men (remnant, the Multitude) of them from the sword, famine and pestilence. These few men will escape the judgment of God that is declared upon the other 2/3 of the apostate church that are destroyed both physically and spiritually.
When I shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine, which shall be for their destruction, and which I will send to destroy you: and I will increase the famine upon you, and will break your staff of bread: [17] So will I send upon you famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave thee; and pestilence and blood shall pass through thee; and I will bring the sword upon thee. I the LORD have spoken it. - Ezekiel 5:16, 17
This verse states that famine, evil beasts, pestilence, and death (the sword), will kill the Multitude. These are the four judgments of God that come down upon a nation that has gone the way of Baal. The harlot church of Babylon surely fits that bill.
There is also a phrase in verse 16, “and will break your staff of bread.” The breaking of the staff of bread signifies that there will be famine that will come upon them. We will find in the following verses the four judgments of God and the “breaking the staff of bread.”
The word of the LORD came again to me, saying, [13] Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it: [14] Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD. [15] If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts: [16] Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate. [17] Or if I bring a sword
upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it:
[18] Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves.[19] Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast: [20] Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness. [21] For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and
the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast? [22] Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it. [23] And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and ye shall
know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord GOD. - Ezekiel 14:12-23
This is quite a long passage, but it has huge prophetic implications. The first is in verse 13, where the Lord says that He will “break the staff of bread” and send famine upon the land. He says He will “cut off both man and beast” from it. The words cut off are the same words used in Zechariah 13:8 speaking about the 2/3 that are cut off and die. This verse does not say “and die” as it does in Zechariah 13:8. The ones that get cut off here are the Multitude who do not die a spiritual death as the other 2/3 of the apostate church does. They do die a physical death but inherit eternal life.
In verse 15, we can see that the Lord causes “noisome beasts” to pass through the land. The word noisome is defined as; bad or evil. [ii] The word evil, as used in Ezekiel 5:17, where the prophet speaks about the Lord sending famine and evil beasts, is the same word used in verse 15 for noisome.
In verse 17, the Lord sends a sword to cut off man and beast. In verse 19, the Lord sends pestilence to cut off man and beast. In verse 21, it states the Lord will send His four sore judgments upon Jerusalem; the sword, famine, noisome or evil beasts, and pestilence, to cut off man and beast. The word sore used for his “four sore judgments” is the same word used for noisome or evil. These four judgments come upon Jerusalem; the church.
Now let’s compare this to the fourth seal in Revelation, denoting the fourth horseman.
And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. - Revelation 6:8
These match exactly with the passages in Ezekiel chapter 5, and Ezekiel 14, with the exception of “death.” Revelation 6:8 has one of the four causes listed as “death” as opposed to “pestilence” in both of Ezekiel’s chapters. The word pestilence means; (in the sense of destroying); a pestilence. - murrain, pestilence, plague. [iii] The word pestilence as noted above in the sense of destroying. This could easily be substituted for death. Since all of the others match exactly, this can be presumed to be the case to bring the verses into harmony.
In the pronouncements of each of these judgments you find the verse “though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.” This is an indication that there are a few that are delivered by their righteousness. Three would definitely indicate a few. Once again, this would be referring to the Multitude within these passages for they shall be righteous as the sun. The Multitude shall deliver only their own souls from these four sore judgements that come down upon them. Their physical bodies will not be delivered from these judgements.
Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it. - Ezekiel 14:22
We can see in this passage that there is a remnant that shall be brought forth. Is this the remnant (144,000), or is this the Multitude? The clue is in the phrase “brought forth.” The word brought is the same word used for offspring in Isaiah 44:3, 61:9, and 65:23. This means the verse is referring to the Multitude since the offspring comes from the 144,000 as the man child that the woman in Revelation 12 births.
Then the verse states that they shall come forth “unto you.” Who would this be referencing? This would be referencing the 144,000. The Multitude will come to the 144,000, and the 144,000 will be “comforted” with the news of the judgment upon Jerusalem (the church).
There is another verse that ties in with these four judgments. It can be found within the Song of Moses. This shouldn’t be a surprise, for the Song of Moses is sung by the Multitude.
They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust. [25] The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling also with the man of gray hairs. – Deuteronomy 32:24, 25
We can see the four judgments within these verses; hunger (famine), burning heat (denoting pestilence), beasts, and the sword. These four judgments will destroy, both male and female, and young and old. This verse now will lead us to another thread. The phrase “sword without, and terror within,” located within the Song of Moses which connects with other verses in Ezekiel.
Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, [2] Also, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD unto the land of Israel; An end, the end is come upon the four corners of the land. [3] Now is the end come upon thee, and I will send mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense upon thee all thine abominations. [4] And mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity: but I will recompense thy ways upon thee, and thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee: and ye shall know that I am the LORD. [5] Thus saith the Lord GOD; An evil, an only evil, behold, is come. [6] An end is come, the end is come: it watcheth for thee; behold, it is come. [7] The morning is come unto thee, O thou that dwellest in the land: the time is come, the day of trouble is near, and not the sounding again of the mountains. [8] Now will I shortly pour out my fury upon thee, and accomplish mine anger upon thee: and I will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense thee for all thine abominations. [9] And mine eye
shall not spare, neither will I have pity: I will recompense thee according to thy ways and thine abominations that are in the midst of thee; and ye shall know that I am the LORD that smiteth.
- Ezekiel 7:1-9
This passage above is used as a prelude to the next verses that contain the thread “sword without, and terror within.” These verses above describe the Tribulation and the LORD’S judgments upon the land. His eye will not spare, nor will He have pity. In verse 3 it states that the end has come upon thee and he will send his anger and will judge and recompense upon them all of their abominations. The Lord is very angry with the church.
The sword is without, and the pestilence and the famine within: he that is in the field shall die with the sword; and he that is in the city, famine and pestilence shall devour him. [16] But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity. [17] All hands shall be feeble, and all knees shall be weak as water. [18] They shall also gird themselves with sackcloth, and horror shall cover them; and shame shall be upon all faces, and baldness upon all their heads. - Ezekiel 7:15 -18
Here we see a fairly close match to “sword without, and terror within.” When you look at the verses and compare them, they are referring to the same thing. The “terror within” from Deuteronomy 32:25 is representative of the pestilence and the famine. We can now find more information within these verses concerning exactly what is being spoken about.
In verse 1, it states “he that is in the field shall die with the sword.” The word field means; to spread out; a field (as flat): - country, field, ground, land, soil, X wild. [iv] This word usage in the sentence would indicate outside of the city. Since the city being spoken about is Jerusalem, this would tell us that these are outside of Jerusalem. They are in a place that is not even remotely with the Lord. This tells us that this third is associated with the earth, perhaps they are the beasts of the earth that the Lord uses to come after the Multitude.
We then see “and he that is in the city, famine and pestilence shall devour him.” Famine and pestilence will devour (kill) those that are in the city. What city? This would be city of Jerusalem. The ones that die by the sword are the 1st third of the apostate. The ones that die by famine and pestilence are the 2nd third of the apostate.
The people that are in the city will die by famine and pestilence, and the people outside of the city will die by the sword. However, we find in the next verse that some of them escape. The ones that escaped spiritual death are the Multitude. We find this in the following verse.
But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity. [18] They shall also gird themselves with sackcloth,
and horror shall cover them; and shame shall be upon all faces, and baldness upon all their heads. - Ezekiel 7:16
The ones that escape are speaking about the 144,000 that flee and escape to the mountains.
The Multitude will be mourning for their iniquity. They shall gird themselves with sackcloth, and horror shall cover them. They will have shame upon their faces and baldness upon their heads.
When the Multitude realizes where they have placed themselves; they will then repent and be in mourning. Here is another verse that will tie this in with the 5 unwise virgins.
Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth. – Joel 1:8
They are lamenting like a virgin, (unwise virgin) for the husband of her youth. Who would the husband of her youth be? This would be Jesus Christ whom they were married to but because of their loving lies more than the Truth, they became part of the harlot church. When the Multitude finds themselves in the Tribulation and they understand where they have fallen, they will be remorseful and remembering when they were in close fellowship with Jesus Christ and how far away from that they have gone.
At the time that they finally arrive at the mountains which would be Zion where they will find the Truth and Jesus Christ, they will realize the full impact of what has just happened; and what is about to happen. They will, return back to the LORD and be converted with righteousness.
[i]. 1 Peter 4:17
[ii]. Strong’s 7451
[iii]. Strong’s 1698
[iv]. Strong’s 7704
There is a great deal of information that we can glean from these passages. Ezekiel takes a barber’s razor and shaves off all his hair and his beard. He is then told to weigh it on scales and divide it into thirds -- three thirds to be exact. If you will notice in verse 3, it states “Thou shalt also take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy skirts.” This has remnant written all over it. Few equals remnant. Ezekiel binds the few hairs in his skirts, apparently for safekeeping, and keeps them completely separate from the rest of the hair.
The weighing and dividing put forth in this verse can be compared to Daniel chapter 5. In the recounting of the story of Belshazzar and the destruction of Babylon, hand-writing was placed upon the wall at the feast of Belshazzar. The handwriting on the wall was Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin, and the mysterious saying was interpreted by Daniel. The interpretation was as follows: “God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it….Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting….Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.”
This is an interesting comparison to the overall picture of the church. In Revelation 7:4, “John heard the number of them which were sealed...” In Ezekiel Chapter 5, Ezekiel weighs and divides the hair. The Church has a specific number, being the 144,000 who remove themselves from the Harlot Church. What remains of the church is the apostate.
The apostate church is then weighed and divided. This has all of the aspects of Daniel, chapter 5. And to top it off, in Daniel, it was Babylon that was weighed, divided, and destroyed. The harlot church of our time is Mystery Babylon; it too will be destroyed. The comparisons of these two are uncanny.
Verse 5 of Ezekiel’s amazing prophecy tells us that this hair represents Jerusalem. “Thus saith the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem.” Jerusalem is divided into thirds. What is Jerusalem? Jerusalem is the church; specifically, the apostate church. Remember, the few hairs that were taken out, represent the 144,000.
The hairs had to be taken out prior to the weighing of the hair for two reasons. The first is the most obvious, for the hair cannot be divided equally if a few hairs are taken out of any one of the thirds. Secondly, each of the thirds of hair is representative of judgment. The 144,000 are sealed prior to the judgment of God.
In referencing Daniel chapter 5, the numbering is the first of three steps. Weighing is the second step and dividing is the third step. So, the few hairs are separated prior to the weighing and dividing of the hair. The hair is then weighed and divided into three equal parts.
With this prophecy, we can actually establish a sequence which we can line up with the events of the tribulation that are now understood in much greater detail. The sequence of these judgments that are placed upon each third provide us with clues to an even bigger picture. I will go through each one in sequence and then give you the larger picture.
The first third is burned in the midst of Jerusalem. They are destroyed right at the onset. The second third is smitten about with a knife, and then placed aside. We know that they are placed aside by the “thou shalt take of them again” in verse 4. The final third is scattered in the wind, and the Lord draws a sword out after them. The second third is then taken, and burned in the midst of the fire that the first third was burned in.
The first and second groups of thirds represent the unrepentant apostate church. Both of them are burned in the fire. The second third is smitten about with a knife (punished) before they are burned. The last third is the Multitude. They are scattered in the wind (they flee), and the Lord draws a sword out after them (they are hunted down and killed).
Does all of this sound familiar? Remember Zechariah 13:8, 9 in which two thirds are cut off and die and one third is brought through the fire. When the two thirds are cut off and die, they are also representative of the branches of the olive tree in Romans 11; and when branches are cut off, they are burned in a fire.
The two thirds of Ezekiel’s hair are burned in a fire. Notice also that the “hair” that is burned, is burned in the in the midst of Jerusalem. This again correlates with the verse that judgment begins at the house of God. [i] This sequence of the judgement of the thirds in Ezekiel 5 lines up with Zechariah 13:8, 9. The first two thirds are cut off and die (burned in the fire) and the third that is left is scattered in the wind. Although this is the judgement of the church, the sequence in which it actually occurs in the physical reverses.
The first two thirds of the apostate that are burned is representative of their spiritual death because of their decision to become unrighteous vessels. Their physical death will occur at the end of the Tribulation. The Lord will use them as unrighteous vessels against the last third that He brings through the fire.
How do the first third and the second third actually die? The answer to that question can be answered in the following verses.
A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee: and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee; and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them.
[13] Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and they shall know that I the LORD have spoken it in my zeal, when I have accomplished my fury in them. - Ezekiel 5:12, 13
From the above verses, we can see that one-third is killed by famine and pestilence, one-third is killed by the sword, and one-third is scattered in the wind and the Lord draws a sword out after them. Since we can see that the Multitude is the third that is scattered, the other two-thirds are the apostate. The first third is killed with famine and pestilence, and the second third is killed by the sword. This is the fate of the Church of Babylon. But there is more. We can pick up an additional thread through this next verse that will take us into other passages that will give us still more information.
And I will scatter toward every wind all that are about him to help him, and all his bands; and I will draw out the sword after them. [15] And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall scatter them among the nations, and disperse them in the countries. [16] But I will leave a few men of them from the sword, from the famine, and from the pestilence; that they may declare all their
abominations among the heathen whither they come; and they shall know that I am the LORD. - Ezekiel12:14-16
In these verses we see the LORD will scatter the third, and will draw a sword out after them. This would be the Multitude; the last 1/3. It says in verse 16 that the Lord will leave a few men (remnant, the Multitude) of them from the sword, famine and pestilence. These few men will escape the judgment of God that is declared upon the other 2/3 of the apostate church that are destroyed both physically and spiritually.
When I shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine, which shall be for their destruction, and which I will send to destroy you: and I will increase the famine upon you, and will break your staff of bread: [17] So will I send upon you famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave thee; and pestilence and blood shall pass through thee; and I will bring the sword upon thee. I the LORD have spoken it. - Ezekiel 5:16, 17
This verse states that famine, evil beasts, pestilence, and death (the sword), will kill the Multitude. These are the four judgments of God that come down upon a nation that has gone the way of Baal. The harlot church of Babylon surely fits that bill.
There is also a phrase in verse 16, “and will break your staff of bread.” The breaking of the staff of bread signifies that there will be famine that will come upon them. We will find in the following verses the four judgments of God and the “breaking the staff of bread.”
The word of the LORD came again to me, saying, [13] Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it: [14] Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD. [15] If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts: [16] Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate. [17] Or if I bring a sword
upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it:
[18] Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves.[19] Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast: [20] Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness. [21] For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and
the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast? [22] Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it. [23] And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and ye shall
know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord GOD. - Ezekiel 14:12-23
This is quite a long passage, but it has huge prophetic implications. The first is in verse 13, where the Lord says that He will “break the staff of bread” and send famine upon the land. He says He will “cut off both man and beast” from it. The words cut off are the same words used in Zechariah 13:8 speaking about the 2/3 that are cut off and die. This verse does not say “and die” as it does in Zechariah 13:8. The ones that get cut off here are the Multitude who do not die a spiritual death as the other 2/3 of the apostate church does. They do die a physical death but inherit eternal life.
In verse 15, we can see that the Lord causes “noisome beasts” to pass through the land. The word noisome is defined as; bad or evil. [ii] The word evil, as used in Ezekiel 5:17, where the prophet speaks about the Lord sending famine and evil beasts, is the same word used in verse 15 for noisome.
In verse 17, the Lord sends a sword to cut off man and beast. In verse 19, the Lord sends pestilence to cut off man and beast. In verse 21, it states the Lord will send His four sore judgments upon Jerusalem; the sword, famine, noisome or evil beasts, and pestilence, to cut off man and beast. The word sore used for his “four sore judgments” is the same word used for noisome or evil. These four judgments come upon Jerusalem; the church.
Now let’s compare this to the fourth seal in Revelation, denoting the fourth horseman.
And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. - Revelation 6:8
These match exactly with the passages in Ezekiel chapter 5, and Ezekiel 14, with the exception of “death.” Revelation 6:8 has one of the four causes listed as “death” as opposed to “pestilence” in both of Ezekiel’s chapters. The word pestilence means; (in the sense of destroying); a pestilence. - murrain, pestilence, plague. [iii] The word pestilence as noted above in the sense of destroying. This could easily be substituted for death. Since all of the others match exactly, this can be presumed to be the case to bring the verses into harmony.
In the pronouncements of each of these judgments you find the verse “though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.” This is an indication that there are a few that are delivered by their righteousness. Three would definitely indicate a few. Once again, this would be referring to the Multitude within these passages for they shall be righteous as the sun. The Multitude shall deliver only their own souls from these four sore judgements that come down upon them. Their physical bodies will not be delivered from these judgements.
Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it. - Ezekiel 14:22
We can see in this passage that there is a remnant that shall be brought forth. Is this the remnant (144,000), or is this the Multitude? The clue is in the phrase “brought forth.” The word brought is the same word used for offspring in Isaiah 44:3, 61:9, and 65:23. This means the verse is referring to the Multitude since the offspring comes from the 144,000 as the man child that the woman in Revelation 12 births.
Then the verse states that they shall come forth “unto you.” Who would this be referencing? This would be referencing the 144,000. The Multitude will come to the 144,000, and the 144,000 will be “comforted” with the news of the judgment upon Jerusalem (the church).
There is another verse that ties in with these four judgments. It can be found within the Song of Moses. This shouldn’t be a surprise, for the Song of Moses is sung by the Multitude.
They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust. [25] The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling also with the man of gray hairs. – Deuteronomy 32:24, 25
We can see the four judgments within these verses; hunger (famine), burning heat (denoting pestilence), beasts, and the sword. These four judgments will destroy, both male and female, and young and old. This verse now will lead us to another thread. The phrase “sword without, and terror within,” located within the Song of Moses which connects with other verses in Ezekiel.
Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, [2] Also, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD unto the land of Israel; An end, the end is come upon the four corners of the land. [3] Now is the end come upon thee, and I will send mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense upon thee all thine abominations. [4] And mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity: but I will recompense thy ways upon thee, and thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee: and ye shall know that I am the LORD. [5] Thus saith the Lord GOD; An evil, an only evil, behold, is come. [6] An end is come, the end is come: it watcheth for thee; behold, it is come. [7] The morning is come unto thee, O thou that dwellest in the land: the time is come, the day of trouble is near, and not the sounding again of the mountains. [8] Now will I shortly pour out my fury upon thee, and accomplish mine anger upon thee: and I will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense thee for all thine abominations. [9] And mine eye
shall not spare, neither will I have pity: I will recompense thee according to thy ways and thine abominations that are in the midst of thee; and ye shall know that I am the LORD that smiteth.
- Ezekiel 7:1-9
This passage above is used as a prelude to the next verses that contain the thread “sword without, and terror within.” These verses above describe the Tribulation and the LORD’S judgments upon the land. His eye will not spare, nor will He have pity. In verse 3 it states that the end has come upon thee and he will send his anger and will judge and recompense upon them all of their abominations. The Lord is very angry with the church.
The sword is without, and the pestilence and the famine within: he that is in the field shall die with the sword; and he that is in the city, famine and pestilence shall devour him. [16] But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity. [17] All hands shall be feeble, and all knees shall be weak as water. [18] They shall also gird themselves with sackcloth, and horror shall cover them; and shame shall be upon all faces, and baldness upon all their heads. - Ezekiel 7:15 -18
Here we see a fairly close match to “sword without, and terror within.” When you look at the verses and compare them, they are referring to the same thing. The “terror within” from Deuteronomy 32:25 is representative of the pestilence and the famine. We can now find more information within these verses concerning exactly what is being spoken about.
In verse 1, it states “he that is in the field shall die with the sword.” The word field means; to spread out; a field (as flat): - country, field, ground, land, soil, X wild. [iv] This word usage in the sentence would indicate outside of the city. Since the city being spoken about is Jerusalem, this would tell us that these are outside of Jerusalem. They are in a place that is not even remotely with the Lord. This tells us that this third is associated with the earth, perhaps they are the beasts of the earth that the Lord uses to come after the Multitude.
We then see “and he that is in the city, famine and pestilence shall devour him.” Famine and pestilence will devour (kill) those that are in the city. What city? This would be city of Jerusalem. The ones that die by the sword are the 1st third of the apostate. The ones that die by famine and pestilence are the 2nd third of the apostate.
The people that are in the city will die by famine and pestilence, and the people outside of the city will die by the sword. However, we find in the next verse that some of them escape. The ones that escaped spiritual death are the Multitude. We find this in the following verse.
But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity. [18] They shall also gird themselves with sackcloth,
and horror shall cover them; and shame shall be upon all faces, and baldness upon all their heads. - Ezekiel 7:16
The ones that escape are speaking about the 144,000 that flee and escape to the mountains.
The Multitude will be mourning for their iniquity. They shall gird themselves with sackcloth, and horror shall cover them. They will have shame upon their faces and baldness upon their heads.
When the Multitude realizes where they have placed themselves; they will then repent and be in mourning. Here is another verse that will tie this in with the 5 unwise virgins.
Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth. – Joel 1:8
They are lamenting like a virgin, (unwise virgin) for the husband of her youth. Who would the husband of her youth be? This would be Jesus Christ whom they were married to but because of their loving lies more than the Truth, they became part of the harlot church. When the Multitude finds themselves in the Tribulation and they understand where they have fallen, they will be remorseful and remembering when they were in close fellowship with Jesus Christ and how far away from that they have gone.
At the time that they finally arrive at the mountains which would be Zion where they will find the Truth and Jesus Christ, they will realize the full impact of what has just happened; and what is about to happen. They will, return back to the LORD and be converted with righteousness.
[i]. 1 Peter 4:17
[ii]. Strong’s 7451
[iii]. Strong’s 1698
[iv]. Strong’s 7704