The Bible by David Alley

Daniel, and his three friends Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael are among the earliest Jewish people taken into exile in Babylon. They are presumably castrated and put into the public service under the watchful eye of Ashpenaz the caretaker of the eunuchs. While in Babylon Daniel is renamed after a foreign god, taughter a foreign way of life and language, and is surrounded by worldliness. How does he maintain his faith, while maintaining friendliness and kindness to those wanting him to change?

In the final chapter of Ezekiel's grand vision, he is shown how the promised land is to be divided up. The tribes get a strip each from left to right starting with Dan at the top, each tribe in turn all the way to Gad at the very bottom. In the middle is a giant chunk designated for the priests. What should we make of this unusual and quite impractical breakup of the land?

In Ezekiel's grand 9 chapter long vision, this chapter is one of the most intruiging features, and strongly suggests we are not talking about a physical temple, but a spiritual one. The river gets deeper and deeper as it goes, eventually flowing all the way to the dead sea, which it turns into a living sea full of fish. This is nothing other than the fruitfulness of God's people, who have springs of living water welling up within them.

Ezekiel's grand vision of the future temple continues, and now he sees the festival practices, including the Passover, that are happening. What do we make of these things, when we are clearly in the New Covenant?

Ezekiel's grand vision continues, and now he sees the city. It would seem it is the same city that is described in Revelation 21 - the New Jerusalem.

Ezekiel's grand vision of the temple continues and now he sees some of the practices of the temple. In this chapter it becomes clear that only the Prince can enter by way of the east gate. What does this mean? What is the symbolism of the east?

Paul tells us that the glory of the new covenant surpasses that of the old covenant. And in this chapter Ezekiel's vision of the spiritual temple continues, and he sees the glory, which previously departed from the physical temple, now return and fill this spiritual building which is the Body of Christ on earth.

In chapter 3 of this nine chapter long vision of Ezekiel's, the measuring of the temple continues. The outer area is now measured and we find out that the space required for this temple is too big for the available space. David explains why that is ok, because this is not a temple that is ever going to be physically built. NOTE: In the youtube comments section, @Noniksleft made this correction to the math: 500 x 6 x 52.4cm = 1.572Km

Ezekiel continues his grand vision and the man with the rod takes him into the most holy place. As the measurements of all the various parts of this grand new temple are advised, one thing becomes clear.... this temple is not going to fit on the existing site of the current temple. What is the reason for these measurements? Is this even a real temple?

Later in Ezekiel's life he has a grand vision, the longest of any in his book. In his vision he sees someone who appears to be Christ, with a measuring reed in his hand, and they set out to explore the land and what seems to be a third temple.... except, the second temple wasn't build yet. What do we make of this visionary temple? There are many theories, and starting with this chapter and the 8 that follow it, we will explore these ideas.

Gog and Magog are misunderstood in scripture, and every commentator seems to have a different belief. What seems clear to David is that when Jesus went to the cross, he defeated the works of Satan, and conquered the kingdoms of the world. In this video we learn that "on the mountains of Israel" when Jesus submitted to the Father, he defeated the devil and led him in triumph, destroying his works. God and Magog were humiliated.

This is one of the most misunderstood chapters in the Bible, but David believes it is a picture of the great triumph of Jesus over Satan, who in this chapter and the next is called the "Chief Prince" of the nations. Jesus defeats Satan at Calvary and takes the nations back through his atoning work. Gog and Magog are not some combination of Russia, and Iran attacking Israel. That idea is particularly tenuous and as is based on just about no evidence whatsoever.

Have you every tried to raise someone from the dead? What about if there were only bones to work with? In this chapter Ezekiel sees a vision of a valley of bones that becomes a living army. This is the closest you get to a Zombie Apocalypse in the Bible, but is nothing of the sort. What is the interpretation of this remarkable vision? Also, in this video David explains why there is a skull on his desk - is he copying St Jerome?

In the last chapter (Ezekiel 35) God prophecies against one mountain - Mt Seir. But in this chapter God prophecies towards many mountains in the land of Israel - promising many good things including.... that he would pour out the Holy Spirit on them? How exactly does a mountain receive the Holy Spirit? This video explains.

A strange prophecy against.... a mountain? Well the mountain actually represents the Edomites, the people of Edom, the descendants of Esau. God is very annoyed with them for reasons this video will explain.

Ezekiel hears the Lord's frustration against the Shepherds of Israel who only feed and care for themselves, and have little regard for the flock. Then we hear that there is one flock and one true shepherd - which of course is Christ. Watch this video and consider the Shepherd of our Souls, Jesus.

The Lord sets Ezekiel as a watchman over the house of Israel. A watchman had a job of alerting when an enemy was approaching, and like Paul Revere, sounding the alarm. But what about spiritual watchman, and our role today?

We have heard that at the end of hte world the sun, moon and stars will go out. Jesus said it in Matthew 24. But did you know he was quoting the Old Testament prophets concerning thier prophecies about Egypt, and about Babylon. The lights went out for those nations. Here in the Egypt prophecy we will consider what it means for the lights to go out, and hence what it also meant for Jerusalem in Matt 24.

Some things are too big to crash, right? We cannot imagine Google going away, or Facebook, or the USA. And yet Egypt in its day was such a big immovable object but in this chapter Ezekiel says they are going down.

End time Bible enthusiasts have heard about the prohpecy that the Euphrates River will dry up - but did you know Ezekiel predicts the rivers in Egypt will dry up.... surely not the Nile? In this video we discuss what the symbolism of a river drying up means. It doesn't mean actually going dry right?

In Ezekiel 28 we have a passage of prophecy against the King of Tyre, but it turns out that this "king" is a demonic principality none other than Lucifer. This angelic being was found in Eden and wore a breastplate of twelve precious stones just like the High Priests did in the Temple. What do we make of that? Join us as we explore the Lucifer Prophecy.

Pharoah the king of Egypt is called "that great monster" in this prophecy against Egypt. The Lord says he will put hooks in his jaws and take him away, and Egypt will become the lowest of kingdoms, never to recover its prominent position. Does this happen?

The Phoenicians are described in the most horrible way in the Bible, and the ancient Roman historians agreed. The discovery of a "baby cemetery" at Carthage seems to give evidence that agrees with both the Bible and the Romans. But what was so horrible about Tyre and the Phoenicians? And is this why God proclaimed such judgements against them?

Tyre was to have it's walls pulled down, and become a palce for the spreading of nets. How exactly was a city on the mainland, going to become a place where fishing would happen. In this video we explore the amazing fulfilment of a prophecy that occured when Alexander the Great threw the mainland city into the sea to build a land bridge.

Ezekiel brings four short prophecies against four nearby countries all of which have the same concluding idea - that they would know that He is God. One of the nations, Ammon, looked at what happened to God's people and was delighted - they were so happy that Jerusalem was destroyed, but that terrible attitude brought them down too. In this video we talk about the gods of the nations, and how these nations would know that the Lord was God through the judgement of what happened.

The Lord tells Ezekiel that when his wife dies, he is not allowed to mourn or show any signs of sadness.... and that night she dies. Why did the Lord say that to Him? Anyone want to swap places with Ezekiel?

Oholah and Oholibah were two sisters who did the most lewd, rude, adulterous and unfaithful things, and the Bible describes their practices in .... well, language you don't want your children reading about. This is "that chapter."

In this video we explore the city of blood, Jerusalem. Or at least in the mind of God it was a city of blood. Why exactly was that the case, and what could the Lord has been so upset about?

Ezekiel is approached by leaders of God's people wanting to inquire of the Lord, but the Lord refuses to be inquired of. In his mind, their behaviour is despicable. In this video you will learn why God would refuse to talk to people that seemed to be interested in Him.

A sword! A sword! It is sharpened, and also polished. The sword is sharp, and clean…. Ready to be used. It is sharpened that it may make a slaughter. It is polished that it may be as lightning. Should we then make mirth? The rod of my son condemns every tree. In this chapter Ezekiel gives us a song, the song of the sword. A terrible song about the judgement coming on Jerusalem.

‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? That parable is the basis for a word from the Lord to Ezekiel about how the moral choices of parents affect their children.

Judah was a majestic lion, and she had several cubs. The first was taken away in hooks and chains to Egypt, but then the next cub was taken away in chains to Babylon. Ezekiel sang a kinah - a special type of funeral song - for these poor cubs, and the end of Judah. Join us as we explore what this is all about.

An Eagle flies down and snaps the top off a cedar tree and plants it far away, but the plant actually reaches out towards a different eagle. What is that all about? In this video we explain the riddle of the two eagles and the cedar tree.

The House of Israel is described as God's wife in this chapter - and she is an adulterous woman, who chases after her lovers. God does everything he can, but she is one wild lady, and God loses his wife's heart. This is not only the longest chapter in Ezekiel, but also the saddest. Join us in exploring God's heart towards his wife.

In this chapter, God tries to compare a fruitless burnt vine to a tree..... any tree. The tree wins. Jerusalem is the burnt and fruitless vine - totally useless for any purpose. In this video we consider why God said this, and also the analogy of the true vine in John 15.

In this unusual chapter God says he hates pillows, but the question is, what was that pillow that was being referred to. The bigger picture of this chapter is about false prophets, male and female, and the things they did (sometimes using "pillows") were tied in with speaking on behalf of the Lord, when in fact they were speaking false things. Watch this video and clear up this whole pillow thing.

Noah, Daniel and Job were three of the most righteous people in the Bible. Noah saved 8 people, Daniel saved 4, and Job saved 2, but if these three were in Jerusalem, none would be saved. Why?

The Lord tells Ezekiel to dig through the wall and then move house. Given the strangeness of what he did, it prompted his neighbours to ask the inevitable "what are you doing?" This video will answer that question and why.

"We are the meat" must be the strangest metaphor to modern ears, but that metaphor is what the residents of Jerusalem used in an attempt to make themselves feel safe.... safe inside the cauldron. The cauldron however is on fire... and the meat is being cooked.

In Ezekiel's vision, he sees the glory of God get up (in the previous chapter) and now has gone to the door and has paused for one last look around (this chapter) before leaving for good. (chapter) Why is God leaving His very own temple? What does it mean in context, and what does it mean for us?

Ezekiel's vision of Jerusalem continues. In the vision he sees a man dressed in linen with a writers inkpot who has the task or marking people for safety. Then six executioners go through the city killing everyone who does not have the mark. What is this mark? Who are these executioners? What is this about?

God tells Ezekiel than an unique evil is coming agains the land of Judah. What is this unique evil? Then we find that God has a unique name - Jehovah Makkah - the God who strikes. What is that about?

Ezekiel has a second major vision in which he is lifted and taken to Jerusalem where he sees a series of terrible idols and idol worship in the temple. Things are terrible and the people who should be worshipping the Lord are worshipping everything else.

The Lord tells Jeremiah to shave with a sword, then weigh his hair, divide it into thirds, and then attack one third of it with his sword. Ezekiel seems to be asked to do many strange things. Why is he doing this, and what does it mean?

Ezekiel is told to speak to the mountains, the valleys and the watercourses. What is that all about?

Ezekiel is told by the Lord to build a model city of the Lord and symbolically lay siege to it. Then he is bound and told to lay on his left side for 390 days for the years of the sins of Israel, and to lay on his right side 40 days for the years of the sins of Judah. What do these numbers mean? And why is God wanting him to do this?

Having been given (in a vision) a double-sided scroll to eat, Ezekiel is told to fill his bowels and to prophecy. He is then sent to the house of Israel, just as the apostles were sent in the NT. But what is he to say?

As Ezekiel's weird vision continues, he is called by God to speak for him, and as part of that is given a scroll with writing on the inside as normal, but also on the outside. Then weirdly he is told to eat the scroll and "fill his bowels." What is this about bowels? And why does he have to eat a scroll?

Ezekiel is a Prophet that we meet after he has already been taken away by the Babylonians, but while Jerusalem is still intact. In this first chapter he sees strange visions by the river Chebar in Babylonia - things that we see again later in the book of Revelation.

In the last chapter of Lamentations the numerical pattern in the literature continues, but this time we find Jeremiah changes the content... and prays one of the saddest prayers of all time for those around him. I wonder what would happen if we carried such a big heart for others too?