In what ways does Ezekiel 9:6 connect to 1 Peter 4:17 about judgment? Setting the Stage Ezekiel’s vision shows God commissioning angelic executioners to purge Jerusalem, while Peter writes to scattered believers facing fiery trials. Both passages spotlight a sobering truth: divine judgment starts with those who bear God’s name. Key Texts • Ezekiel 9:6: “Slaughter the old men, the young men and maidens, the women and children, but do not go near anyone who has the mark. Now begin at My sanctuary. So they began with the elders who were before the temple.” • 1 Peter 4:17: “For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who disobey the gospel of God?” Common Threads • Same starting point: God’s sanctuary/household. • Same principle: holiness must characterize God’s people first. • Same warning: greater accountability rests on those who know the truth (Luke 12:47-48). • Same mercy: the righteous are marked/sealed (Ezekiel 9:4; Ephesians 1:13) even amid judgment. Why Judgment Begins at God’s House • Purification: Like a refiner’s fire (Malachi 3:1-3), God cleanses His people so His name is not profaned. • Testimony: A purged, holy community stands as a witness to the nations (Isaiah 52:11-15). • Covenant responsibility: Israel under Law and the Church under grace both enter covenant by blood; violation invites discipline (Hebrews 12:6-10). • Escalating seriousness: If God deals strictly with His own, the final sentence on unbelievers will be far more severe (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). The Mark and Our Identity in Christ • Ezekiel’s “mark” (Hebrew tav) protected those who “sighed and groaned” over sin (Ezekiel 9:4). • Believers today are sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30), a guarantee of redemption amid judgment. • Both marks distinguish genuine faith from mere religious association (2 Timothy 2:19). Implications for Believers Today • Take personal holiness seriously; hidden sin invites loving yet painful discipline (1 Corinthians 11:29-32). • Mourn over society’s sins, not indulge them (James 4:8-10). • Endure trials as refining tools rather than random misfortune (1 Peter 1:6-7). • Remember that God’s corrective judgment now spares us from eternal condemnation later (1 Corinthians 11:32). |