In this chapter, Ezekiel is visited by the elders of Judah and God shows Ezekiel the abominable acts done by the people of Judah. God gives four different evidences. This chapter is linked to Jeremiah 44 where “the queen of heaven” is mentioned. We understand from reading the OT that the Israelites served many different gods and rebelled against God. While their abominable acts were done both publicly and secretly, they thought they were chosen and protected by God. They did not understand that they were mere shadows of the real elect people of God, the eternal Kingdom. Because they knew neither God nor His words, they did whatever they wanted to do. God sent many prophets, but they mocked and killed them because they could not understand them. It is the same today. There are not many Christians who really understand God’s words. Yet, they think they are chosen and will be saved. False teachers and leaders in the corrupted church systems give people vain hope. This was rebuked by Christ.

But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut the kingdom of heaven in front of people; for you do not enter it yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. (Matthew 23:13)

God lets them do whatever they want to do. Yet, God accumulates evidences against them for the last judgement.

For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:30-31)

The prophetic books in the OT show us that the Israel nation (both the Northern Israel and the kingdom of Judah) is judged first. And then other nations that serve other gods are judged. I believe that the last days will be the same. Churches will be judged first. And those who believe in other gods will be judged.

It was God’s will that many people join the ceremonial baptism and join a visible church. Like in the OT times, people of the new Israel nation in the NT have been blessed in many ways. Yet, they serve “mother nature”. This “mother nature” is another “queen of heaven”. I am NOT saying that everyone should receive the ceremonial baptism and convert to Christianity. Joining a visible church does not make one a true chosen child of God. No one can stop a person from serving other gods. It is because God’s wisdom is hidden from many.

If the LORD of hosts had not left us a few survivors, we should have been like Sodom, and become like Gomorrah. (Isaiah 1:9)

If we confess that it is only by grace that we are saved, then we know that we are chosen. Yet, some who confessed it now say that they need to work for salvation. They are false Christians.

This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. (Galatians 2:4-5)

I’ve heard of two prominent Reformed theologians who changed their idea of justification later in their lives. They used to preach “justification by faith alone and grace alone” and later they changed their mind. They had much reputation and wrote many books. They had many followers. For a true elect child of God, it is better that he/she does not receive many praises from others. It is because they can be swayed by people, and the true elect people are scarce in this age as in the OT time. Once they taste of the sweetness of praises from people, they change their mind. Their focus moves from God to people. However, it is important to understand that they changed because they were not God’s children from the beginning. They pretended to be elect people by reciting what their early education had taught them from youth at their churches. We conclude that they were given the authority to preach to be the blind guides to the (spiritually) blind.

Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit. (Matthew 15:14)

As we age, we become weak physically yet, the Spirit in us becomes strong. Idols come into our lives in many shapes and forms. Only by the Holy Spirit, we discern.

Little children, guard yourselves from idols. (1 John 5:21)