Ezekiel 9: Literal or Symbolic

Ellen G. White/Spirit of Prophecy

Introduction

The fulfillment of Ezekiel chapter 9 has been a topic of debate for many years within Seventh-day Adventist circles. The question foremost in the minds of Adventists is if it will be literally or symbolically fulfilled. Sis. White unequivocally provides an answer to this most daunting question.

The Literality of Ezekiel 9

Is the Slaughter of Ezekiel 9 literal or symbolic?

 “Study the ninth chapter of Ezekiel. These words will be literally fulfilled; yet the time is passing, and the people are asleep. They refuse to humble their souls and to be converted. Not a great while longer will the Lord bear with the people who have such great and important truths revealed to them, but who refuse to bring these truths into their individual experience. The time is short. God is calling. Will you hear? Will you receive His message? Will you be converted before it is too late? Soon, very soon, every case will be decided for eternity.”—Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 24 (1909), Lt 106, 1909, par. 17

 Answer: Ezekiel 9 is literal and is yet to be fulfilled. Notice her words, “These words will be literally fulfilled…” This prophetic event referred to is future and still looms over the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Notice what people she is speaking about, “…the people who have such great and important truths revealed to them, but who refuse to bring these truths into their individual experience.”

What did Sis. White mean when she penned the phrase “fulfilled to the very letter” and does it refer to a symbolic or literal fulfillment of an event or prophecy?

“We are amid the perils of the last days, the time will soon come when the prophecy of Ezekiel 9 will be fulfilled; that prophecy should be carefully studied, for it will be fulfilled to the very letter.”—1888 Materials, p. 1303

 Answer: In the foregoing statement, she is referring to the same event but states it will be fulfilled to the very letter. In order to understand her writings correctly, they must be allowed to interpret themselves as scripture interprets scripture, “The testimonies [Spirit of Prophecy] themselves will be the key that will explain the messages given, as scripture is explained by scripture." Brackets added. Letter 73, 1903. An exhaustive perusal of this phrase in her literary works makes it evident that when she used the phrase “fulfilled to the very letter” or “fulfilled to the letter” it always referred to a literal fulfillment of an event whether past, present, or future. Refer to the statements below:

 Daniel’s Prophecy of God about King Nebuchadnezzar

“Daniel said to the king, ‘O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.’ But the king did not heed the message of Daniel. For twelve months he was tested and proved of God, to see if he would humble his proud heart, and the witness was with him when he came in and when he went out; and at the end of the twelve months he walked in his palace in the kingdom of Babylon. ‘The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty? While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.’ The king's reason was taken away, and the word of God was fulfilled to the very letter. For seven years his kingdom was ruled by others, while the might and mind and power of the king were humbled. He ate grass as an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven.”—The Youth’s Instructor, November 9, 1893, pars. 4, 5

The Prophecies Concerning Israel

“The prophecies regarding Israel were fulfilled to the letter. God permitted His chosen people to be scattered as captives in strange lands. When they repented, God took them to Himself again, and established them in His own land. But their continual disobedience resulted in their complete overthrow, and in the overthrow of Jerusalem.”—Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898), Ms 40, 1898, par. 9

The Destruction of the Earth by the Flood

“Through His faithful messengers, the Lord warned them that in one hundred and twenty years, if they did not repent, He would destroy the earth, and the inhabitants with a flood. They held their future in their own hands. If during their probation they would repent and turn to the Lord, He would avert His judgment. But they would not believe the message, and they laughed at Noah. They would not turn from their wickedness to obey the commands of God, and as the result the word of God was fulfilled to the letter.”—Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898), Ms 40, 1898, par. 1

The Destruction of Jerusalem

“Christ warned His disciples of the destruction of Jerusalem as well as of the temple. This event was foretold by Daniel. The oblations and sacrifices were no more of value, for type had reached antitype in the one great oblation. And when the great antitypical sacrifice was offered, the veil of the temple was rent in twain. Forty years after Christ uttered His prediction, His words were fulfilled to the letter. In the siege of Jerusalem, it is stated that more than a million people perished, while many were led into captivity.”—Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897), Ms 78, 1897, par. 33

“All the predictions given by Christ concerning the destruction of Jerusalem were fulfilled to the letter. The Jews experienced the truth of his words of warning, ‘With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.’”—The Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 4, p. 31

Note: See also The Signs of the Times, December 19, 1900, par. 15; The Review and Herald, December 13, 1898, par. 12

Iniquity Abounding Before the Second Advent of Christ

“In giving us the statement of the occurrences which would mark the approach of the second advent of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Christ says, ‘Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.’ [Matthew 24:12.] We see this fulfilled to the letter.”—Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897), Ms 21, 1897, par. 31

The Predictions of the Prophets

“The disciples of Christ could not believe that Christ should be treated with such contempt, that men should scourge him, and put him to death. They expected that he would set up a temporal kingdom, that he would sit upon David's throne, and reign as a temporal prince in Jerusalem, bringing all nations into subjection to his will. Although Christ plainly told them what would be his fate, they were not prepared to change their ideas. They were unwilling to believe the disagreeable truths that he opened to them, were unwilling to give up the thought that Christ would be a conqueror. They would not harbor the idea that he would be rejected and treated as a slave by his enemies. Not believing the words of Christ, they did not comprehend the words of the prophets, and thought them out of harmony with the words of Christ. We marvel that they could not comprehend these things; for as we stand this side of the cross, we see clearly how the predictions of prophets were fulfilled to the letter. Because they did not believe the words that Christ spoke to them (and he always spoke truth and never deceived them), they were unprepared for the trying scenes through which they were called to pass.”—The Signs of the Times, July 9, 1896, par. 3

The Prophecy of Isaiah and Jeremiah Concerning the Destruction of Babylon

“The monarch, his princes, and guardsmen, were given up to feasting, and, intoxicated with strong drink, they knew nothing of the peril of the kingdom. There was a noise at the palace gates, the doors were forced open, the troops of Cyrus rushed in, and in a short time the king and his guests were lying mangled in the heaps of the slain, and the drunken slept a perpetual sleep. Thus was the prophecy of Isaiah and Jeremiah fulfilled to the letter.”—The Signs of the Times, December 29, 1890, par. 3

The Promises of God

“There are limits to the forbearance of God; there is a point at which it becomes necessary to interpose his vengeance, and visibly to rebuke the impiety of men. And it is no less apparent, that those who love and obey God's law will realize that he means what he says, and that all his precious promises to the faithful and obedient will be fulfilled to the letter.”—The Signs of the Times, December 9, 1880, par. 8

The statements above are unequivocal. Ezekiel 9 will be fulfilled to the very letter. In other words, it will be literally fulfilled as plainly stated in Letter 106, 1909, par. 17. The Lord desires us to turn to Him with contrite hearts and repent of our sins so His judgments can be averted. If you have any questions in respect to Ezekiel 9 or any other questions, do not hesitate to contact us: info@shepherdsrod.com

(All italics ours)