Workers For Jesus Online Bible Study Table of Contents

About this Bible Study........The King James Version of the Bible is written in a beautiful form of the English language. It can be hard for modern English readers to understand.  In this study, you will find notes and summaries in brown just above the the verses from the Bible. We recommend that you read the notes and summaries first, and then read the verses in their KJV form. 

Timeline of the Bible

God creates the world. --- God destroys the world with the flood, but saves  Noah and his family.---  God chooses Abraham and his descendants to His people. ---Abraham's grandson, Jacob, has 12 sons who lead the 12 tribes of Israel.--- The Israelites become slaves in Egypt.--- God helps the Israelites escape and leads them to Canaan. ---The Israelites fight in wars and take control of Canaan.---Judges lead the Israelites, but the Israelites want to have kings instead of judges. --- David is Israel's greatest king.--- Israel divides into 2 parts: Israel and Judah.---► The people of Israel and Judah continue to sin and worship false gods.--- God allows the Assyrians and the Babylonians to take the Israelites out of Israel and Judah.---  ◄This book of the Bible happens during this time The Israelites (Jews) live in Babylonia and then Persia. --- When Persia defeats the Babylonians, the Jews go back to Judah.--- The Jews build God's Temple in Jerusalem again.--- Greece defeats Persia, and the Greeks control Judah (also now called Israel).--- The Jews become independent for 100 years.-- The Romans take control of Israel.--- Jesus is born. At age 30, Jesus begins his ministry. ---Jesus is crucified and then is resurrected. --- A Roman named Saul is converted to Christianity and becomes Paul.--- Christianity spreads. --- Paul write letters to Christians in other places. In the year, 70 A.D., God's Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed again.

 


Ezekiel 31 - 33

 God gives Ezekiel a prophecy and compares the Assyrians to strong  trees in Lebanon.
God gives Ezekiel a prophecy about Pharaoh of Egypt.
God tells Ezekiel that He will destroy Egypt.
 God tells Ezekiel that it is his responsibility to warn the Israelites.
A man escapes from Jerusalem and travels to Babylon.
God tells Ezekiel that the Israelites hear him, but don't take his words seriously.


Ezekiel was one of the Israelites who got sent away (exiled) to Babylon.  He had lived in Jerusalem before the exile. He was in the first group to be exiled to Babylon.  His book starts 5 years after the exile. He was 30 years old when he began to see visions and became a prophet. Ezekiel and some of the other Israelite exiles had a camp by the river named Chebar.


Ezekiel 31

God gives Ezekiel a prophecy and compares the Assyrians to strong trees in Lebanon.


In the 3rd month of the 11th year in Babylon, God spoke to me on the 1st day of the month.
[1] And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third month, in the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,


God said, "Son of man,  say this to Pharaoh of Egypt and his people.  Ask them who is as great as they are."
[2] Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude; Whom art thou like in thy greatness?


God wanted Egypt to listen to this. He is comparing the Assyrians to strong trees in Lebanon. God said, "Assyria was like a cedar tree in Lebanon. It had good branches and was tall with thick leaves.  There was a good water supply which helped the tree grow taller than any of the other trees.
 [3] Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs.
[4] The waters made him great, the deep set him up on high with her rivers running round about his plants, and sent out her little rivers unto all the trees of the field.
[5] Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long because of the multitude of waters, when he shot forth.


All of the birds in the sky made nests in the tree's branches. All the animals in the field had their babies under the tree's branches.  All of the great countries lived under the tree's shadow.
[6] All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations.

The tree was beautiful with long branches and deep roots in a large water supply.
[7] Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches: for his root was by great waters.

None of the other trees were better.  None of the trees in My Garden of Eden were bigger. My fir trees were not as big. The chestnut trees were not as good. None of the trees in the Garden of Eden were better than this tree.  I made this tree better with more branches. The trees in the Garden of Eden were jealous of this tree."
[8] The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him: the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chestnut trees were not like his branches; nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty.
[9] I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him.


God said to the tree, "You have been too proud and arrogant. So, I will give you over to the people who don't believe in Me.  They will cut you down because you have sinned.
[10] Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast lifted up thyself in height, and he hath shot up his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height;
[11] I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen; he shall surely deal with him: I have driven him out for his wickedness.


Strangers will cut you down. Your branches will be broken.  The people of the earth will leave your shadow.
[12] And strangers, the terrible of the nations, have cut him off, and have left him: upon the mountains and in all the valleys his branches are fallen, and his boughs are broken by all the rivers of the land; and all the people of the earth are gone down from his shadow, and have left him.

The birds will stay on the broken branches. The wild animals will walk on the broken branches.
[13] Upon his ruin shall all the fowls of the heaven remain, and all the beasts of the field shall be upon his branches:

After that, no other tree will want to grow that high even if they grow by water. The trees will die and go down to the lower parts of the earth like people do."
[14] To the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves for their height, neither shoot up their top among the thick boughs, neither their trees stand up in their height, all that drink water: for they are all delivered unto death, to the nether parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with them that go down to the pit.


The Lord God said, "When the tree died, I caused everything to be sad. I caused the waters to stop.  I caused Lebanon to be sad. All of the trees fainted because they were sad.
[15] Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when he went down to the grave I caused a mourning: I covered the deep for him, and I restrained the floods thereof, and the great waters were stayed: and I caused Lebanon to mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted for him.

I made the nations shaken whey they heard him fall.  I sent him down to hell with people who go to hell. The trees who are already in hell (trees from Eden and Lebanon) will feel better.
[16] I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.
His helpers also went down to hell. The people who were protected by his shade will also go to hell.
[17] They also went down into hell with him unto them that be slain with the sword; and they that were his arm, that dwelt under his shadow in the midst of the heathen.


None of the trees are greater than you. But you will be brought down just like them.  You will be with people who have not been circumcised.  The trees in this story are symbols of Pharaoh and his people.
[18] To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD.





Ezekiel 32


God gives Ezekiel a prophecy about Pharaoh of Egypt.


God spoke to me in the 12th year after we left Jerusalem.  It was the first day of the 12th month. He said, "Son of man, sing a sad song for Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Tell him this: you are like a young lion in the other countries.  You are like a whale in the sea.  You have made the rivers dirty."
[1] And it came to pass in the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, in the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[2] Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say unto him, Thou art like a young lion of the nations, and thou art as a whale in the seas: and thou camest forth with thy rivers, and troubledst the waters with thy feet, and fouledst their rivers.

"So," said the Lord God, "I will spread My net over you. Other countries will help Me. They will bring you up in the net from the water. Then, I will leave you on the land. I will throw you out in the open field.  I will cause the birds to sit on you.  Other animals will eat you.
[3] Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will therefore spread out my net over thee with a company of many people; and they shall bring thee up in my net.
[4] Then will I leave thee upon the land, I will cast thee forth upon the open field, and will cause all the fowls of the heaven to remain upon thee, and I will fill the beasts of the whole earth with thee.
I will lay your flesh on the mountains. Your blood will cover the land.
[5] And I will lay thy flesh upon the mountains, and fill the valleys with thy height.
[6] I will also water with thy blood the land wherein thou swimmest, even to the mountains; and the rivers shall be full of thee.

When I put you out, I will cover the heaven, and the stars will go dark. 
[7] And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light.
[8] All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over thee, and set darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord GOD.

The other countries will be confused after I destroy you.
[9] I will also vex the hearts of many people, when I shall bring thy destruction among the nations, into the countries which thou hast not known.
Yes, I will make many people shocked at you. The other kings will be afraid for you when I show them My sword.  They will shake because they are worried for their lives."
[10] Yea, I will make many people amazed at thee, and their kings shall be horribly afraid for thee, when I shall brandish my sword before them; and they shall tremble at every moment, every man for his own life, in the day of thy fall.

The Lord God said, "The king of Babylon's sword will hurt you.  The mighty swords will kill the biggest nations. They will take all of Egypt's things away. All of the people will be killed.
[11] For thus saith the Lord GOD; The sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon thee.
[12] By the swords of the mighty will I cause thy multitude to fall, the terrible of the nations, all of them: and they shall spoil the pomp of Egypt, and all the multitude thereof shall be destroyed.

I will kill all of the animals that live by the water. No men or animals will walk in the water and make it muddy.
[13] I will destroy also all the beasts thereof from beside the great waters; neither shall the foot of man trouble them any more, nor the hoofs of beasts trouble them.

The water will be deep and run fast."
[14] Then will I make their waters deep, and cause their rivers to run like oil, saith the Lord GOD.


God said, "After Egypt is empty, they will know that I am the Lord.  The daughters of the other countries will cry for Egypt and her people."
[15] When I shall make the land of Egypt desolate, and the country shall be destitute of that whereof it was full, when I shall smite all them that dwell therein, then shall they know that I am the LORD.
[16] This is the lamentation wherewith they shall lament her: the daughters of the nations shall lament her: they shall lament for her, even for Egypt, and for all her multitude, saith the Lord GOD.



God tells Ezekiel that He will destroy Egypt.


It was the 12th year after the Israelites were carried away from Jerusalem. It was the 15th day of the month. God talked to me.  He said, "Son of man, cry loudly for the people of Egypt.  Throw them down to the pit. Throw them where the people from other nations are.
 [17] It came to pass also in the twelfth year, in the fifteenth day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[18] Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt, and cast them down, even her, and the daughters of the famous nations, unto the nether parts of the earth, with them that go down into the pit.

You are more beautiful than the others. But you will go to hell the same as the others. They will be killed with the sword. You will be the same.
[19] Whom dost thou pass in beauty? go down, and be thou laid with the uncircumcised.
[20] They shall fall in the midst of them that are slain by the sword: she is delivered to the sword: draw her and all her multitudes.

The people who were strong will talk to you in hell.
[21] The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword.

People from Asshur (Assyria) will be there.  They will all be there after they are killed with swords. When they were living, they made other people very afraid.
[22] Asshur is there and all her company: his graves are about him: all of them slain, fallen by the sword:
[23] Whose graves are set in the sides of the pit, and her company is round about her grave: all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which caused terror in the land of the living.

People from Elam made other people very scared.  They were not circumcised to show their faith in God. Now, they are all dead and in the pit with the people they killed.
[24] There is Elam and all her multitude round about her grave, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which are gone down uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth, which caused their terror in the land of the living; yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit.
[25] They have set her a bed in the midst of the slain with all her multitude: her graves are round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword: though their terror was caused in the land of the living, yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit: he is put in the midst of them that be slain.


People from Meshech and Tubal used to scare other people. Now, they are dead and in the pit of hell. They were not buried with dignity. Soldiers who are honored are buried with their swords under their heads and their shields covering them. The people from Meshech and Tubal will be in hell with people that were killed with swords.
[26] There is Meshech, Tubal, and all her multitude: her graves are round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword, though they caused their terror in the land of the living.
[27] And they shall not lie with the mighty that are fallen of the uncircumcised, which are gone down to hell with their weapons of war: and they have laid their swords under their heads, but their iniquities shall be upon their bones, though they were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living.
[28] Yea, thou shalt be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised, and shalt lie with them that are slain with the sword.


The people, kings, and princes of Edom are dead and in the pit of hell.   They once scared other people. Now, they are in hell with other people who were not circumcised.
[29] There is Edom, her kings, and all her princes, which with their might are laid by them that were slain by the sword: they shall lie with the uncircumcised, and with them that go down to the pit.

There will be all of the princes of the north and all of the Zidonians. They were very bad and hurt other people.  Now, they are dead and in hell in shame.
[30] There be the princes of the north, all of them, and all the Zidonians, which are gone down with the slain; with their terror they are ashamed of their might; and they lie uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword, and bear their shame with them that go down to the pit.

Pharaoh will see all of the other people in hell with him. He will feel better about this. He caused much terror when he was alive. Now, he will be in the pit of hell with people he killed. This is what the Lord God says.
[31] Pharaoh shall see them, and shall be comforted over all his multitude, even Pharaoh and all his army slain by the sword, saith the Lord GOD.
[32] For I have caused my terror in the land of the living: and he shall be laid in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that are slain with the sword, even Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD.



Ezekiel 33


God tells Ezekiel that it is his responsibility to warn the Israelites.


God talked to me again. He said, "Son of man, speak to the children of your people.  Tell them this. When I send someone into a country to attack it, the people might pick someone to be the guard or watchman.  If the watchman sees the attackers coming, he will blow a trumpet and warn the people.
[1] Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[2] Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:
[3] If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;


If someone hears the trumpet but doesn't take the warning, it is his own fault if he gets killed or carried away. He heard the warning, but didn't do anything. But if someone hears the warning and pays attention to the warning, he will be saved.
[4] Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
[5] He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.


If the watchman sees the attackers coming and doesn't blow the trumpet to warn his people,  it is the watchman's fault if his any of his people get carried away.
 [6] But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.

So, you, Son of man, I have made you the watchman for the house of Israel. You should hear my words and warn the Israelites for me.
[7] So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.


I may tell you to warn the wicked people that they will die if they continue to sin. But you may not obey Me. You may not warn them. They will die because they are wicked, but you will die, too. You will die because you didn't warn them.
[8] When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.


However, if you warn the wicked people and they don't stop sinning, they will die. But, you will not die because you warned them. It was their fault that they didn't change.
[9] Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.


So, speak to the Israelites. They think they cannot be saved.  Tell them that it doesn't make Me happy to punish sinners. It makes Me happy for sinners to change and stop doing wicked things.
[10] Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?
[11] Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
So, you, Son of man, tell the Israelites this.  They may do a lot of good things, but if they start to sin, their good things won't save them.  And if they do a lot of bad things and then stop, they will not be judged for their sins.
[12] Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.


I may tell someone they will be saved because they did good things, but then they start to sin. They will die for their sins. They will not live just because they did good things in the past.
[13] When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.


I may tell someone he will die because he does bad things. But then he stops doing bad things. If he stole from others, he gives back what he stole.  If he starts to follow My rules, I will save him. He will not die. None of his past sins will be talked about.
[14] Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;
[15] If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.
[16] None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.


The Israelites say My ways are not fair. But their ways are not fair. When a good person starts to sin, he will die. But if a bad person changes and stops sinning, he will live.
[17] Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal.
[18] When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby.
[19] But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.

But still you say that My ways are not fair.  I will judge each one of you by what you do.
[20] Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways.




A man escapes from Jerusalem and travels to Babylon.

In the 12th year after we were carried away, on the 5th day of the 10th month, a person talked to me.  He had escaped from Jerusalem and told me that the city had fallen.
[21] And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity, in the tenth month, in the fifth day of the month, that one that had escaped out of Jerusalem came unto me, saying, The city is smitten.


I didn't say anything. But later that evening, the Lord came to me. He opened my mouth. When the man came back the next morning, God gave me the words to say.
[22] Now the hand of the LORD was upon me in the evening, afore he that was escaped came; and had opened my mouth, until he came to me in the morning; and my mouth was opened, and I was no more dumb.

God said, "Son of man, the Israelites say that the land is theirs. They say that Abraham inherited the land, and now his descendants own the land.
[23] Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[24] Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we are many; the land is given us for inheritance.


But tell them I said to them, 'You eat meat with blood in it, you worship idols, and you kill other people. You own the land? 
[25] Wherefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Ye eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood: and shall ye possess the land?


You do violent things and break all of My laws. But do you still think you own the land?
[26] Ye stand upon your sword, ye work abomination, and ye defile every one his neighbour's wife: and shall ye possess the land?
The Lord God says, 'As sure as I live, people in the wasteland will be killed violently. The people in the open fields will be eaten by wild animals. The people who live in the forts and caves will die of disease.
[27] Say thou thus unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; As I live, surely they that are in the wastes shall fall by the sword, and him that is in the open field will I give to the beasts to be devoured, and they that be in the forts and in the caves shall die of the pestilence.

I will make the land empty. It will not be strong anymore.  The mountains of Israel will also be empty. No one will go through them.'
[28] For I will lay the land most desolate, and the pomp of her strength shall cease; and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate, that none shall pass through.


Then, they will know that I am the Lord.  They will know it when I make their land empty because of all of their sins."
[29] Then shall they know that I am the LORD, when I have laid the land most desolate because of all their abominations which they have committed.


God tells Ezekiel that the Israelites hear him but don't take his words seriously.


God said, "Also, Son of man, the people with you in Babylon still talk about you. When they get together, they say they want to hear from you. They want to know what I have said to you.
[30] Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the LORD.
They come to you and sit and listen to you talk. You tell them what I say, but they don't do what I tell them to do.  They say the right things, but their hearts still sin.
[31] And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.

And so, they like to hear you like a beautiful song they can sing or play on an instrument. But they don't do what the words say. When all of these things that I told you about happen, then they will know that you have truly been a prophet. They will know that I really did talk to you."
[32] And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.
[33] And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.