It’s rather easy really. Just some study could have told you that. Whenever the twelve tribes are listed with names as Patriarchs of the tribe there is always twelve. But the names are not always the same. There is a reason for that. In Ezekiel 48 the land is being allocated and Levi is left off the list. That’s because Levi was the father of the Priestly tribe and they didn’t get land allotted to them so are left off the list when land is being discussed. On the other hand Levi is credited in Revelation since it’s not land being discussed but who it is that is protected through the last 3 ½ years of the Tribulation. Dan and Ephraim are left off getting credit in Revelation because they were the instigators of Idolatry as seen in 1 Kings 12. In every case of a list there is always twelve and always the descendents of Jacob.
Bottom line is that in Revelation Joseph gets credit for the tribe of Ephraim Dan is not given credit but Levi is. God knows who is who.
>>Was Ezekiel writing about the restoration of land to Israel after their return from Babylon, rather than 2500 years in the future as dispensationalists claim?<<
No, he was not. When is Israel’s history have they ever “dwelt safely” in the land since the days of Solomon?
Ezekiel 34: 28 And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid. 29 And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more. 30 Thus shall they know that I the Lord their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord God.
I Wrote: >>>How do you explain these discrepancies, Cynical?<<<
Cynical Wrote: >>>It’s rather easy really. Just some study could have told you that. Whenever the twelve tribes are listed with names as Patriarchs of the tribe there is always twelve. But the names are not always the same. There is a reason for that. In Ezekiel 48 the land is being allocated and Levi is left off the list. That’s because Levi was the father of the Priestly tribe and they didn’t get land allotted to them so are left off the list when land is being discussed. On the other hand Levi is credited in Revelation since it’s not land being discussed but who it is that is protected through the last 3 ½ years of the Tribulation. <<<
None for the Levites? This passage in Ezekiel 48 seems to indicate the Levites do get a portion, as do the sons of Zadok. This is a very informative passage:
"And by the border of Judah, from the east side unto the west side, shall be the offering which ye shall offer of five and twenty thousand reeds in breadth, and in length as one of the other parts, from the east side unto the west side: and the sanctuary shall be in the midst of it. The oblation that ye shall offer unto the Lord shall be of five and twenty thousand in length, and of ten thousand in breadth. And for them, even for the priests, shall be this holy oblation; toward the north five and twenty thousand in length, and toward the west ten thousand in breadth, and toward the east ten thousand in breadth, and toward the south five and twenty thousand in length: and the sanctuary of the Lord shall be in the midst thereof. It shall be for the priests that are sanctified of the sons of Zadok; which have kept my charge, which went not astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray. And this oblation of the land that is offered shall be unto them a thing most holy by the border of the Levites. And over against the border of the priests the Levites shall have five and twenty thousand in length, and ten thousand in breadth: all the length shall be five and twenty thousand, and the breadth ten thousand. And they shall not sell of it, neither exchange, nor alienate the firstfruits of the land: for it is holy unto the Lord." (Eze 48:8-14 KJV)
>>>Dan and Ephraim are left off getting credit in Revelation because they were the instigators of Idolatry as seen in 1 Kings 12.<<<
You are spiritualizing the scriptures. Where does it say that Dan and Ephraim are left off in the Revelation for any reason? Where is Dan even mentioned in the New Testament? Not once is it mentioned!
>>>In every case of a list there is always twelve and always the descendents of Jacob.<<<
Except when it is 13 or 14, as is the case in Ezekiel, when Levi and the sons of Zadok are included.
>>>Bottom line is that in Revelation Joseph gets credit for the tribe of Ephraim Dan is not given credit but Levi is. God knows who is who.<<<
Bottom line is you are making all this up to cover the fact that literalism failed in these instances!
>>Was Ezekiel writing about the restoration of land to Israel after their return from Babylon, rather than 2500 years in the future as dispensationalists claim?<<
>>>No, he was not. When is Israel’s history have they ever “dwelt safely” in the land since the days of Solomon?<<<
Under Cyrus?
"Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen: Thus saith the Lord that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen. For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses." (Isa 44:1-4 KJV)
"Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me. I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee. Sing, O ye heavens; for the Lord hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel. Thus saith the Lord, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the Lord that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself; That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish; That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof: That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers: That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid." (Isa 44:21-28 KJV)
You can read more about Cyrus and the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple in Ezra. This is an excerpt:
"Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem." (Ezra 1:1-4 KJV)
>>>Ezekiel 34: 28 And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid. 29 And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more. 30 Thus shall they know that I the Lord their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord God.<<<
What about the verses just before those, Cynical?
"Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle. And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it." (Eze 34:22-24 KJV)
Is this not referring (spiritually) to Cyrus? It cannot be David under either circumstance: either after the return from Babylon, or during the so-called "millennial kingdom," unless is spiritualized.
The Lord did call Cyrus his shepherd, and that he would build the temple: the 2nd temple after the Babylonian captivity:
"That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid." (Isa 44:28 KJV)
It appears you have been spiritualizing the scriptures, Cynical Bear.
Philip