Part #1:
The Wilderness of the Peoples (Ezekiel 20)
Written By C.R.
Graphics by Justin Graphics
Welcome to A Series of Important Doctrine!
This is a small series of related articles, highlighting key misunderstandings related to the End Days, the Tribulation, and the survival of the Remnant.
In this first article, we will look at a key prophecy about the End Days that is often overlooked by many who hope for the return of Yahushua in our day.
Ezekiel 20:34 “And I shall bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the lands where you are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out.
Ezekiel 20:35 “And I shall bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and shall enter into judgment with you face to face there.
If you can take a 5-minute break right now, please open to Ezekiel chapter 20 and read the entire chapter because it is one of the best sections of all of Scripture clearly showing the upcoming gathering of YHWH’s people. Let’s look at some key areas of this chapter together.
An Interesting History of Israel from Ezekiel
In Ezekiel chapter 20, YHWH told Ezekiel a quick history of His covenant with Israel. YHWH showed that He revealed Himself to the Israelites during the time they were in Egypt. While in Egypt, YHWH told them to put away the idols they had collected and the practices they were learning.
I think it is common to think about the Israelites as people who were no longer in contact with YHWH during their 400 years in Egypt. Films about Moses and the Exodus usually show that no one knew YHWH and that Moses was introduced to Him for the first time by the burning bush.
According to what YHWH told Ezekiel, He may have always maintained contact with the Israelites, continually warning them of their idolatrous practices while they were living in Egypt. As at later times, the Israelites would not let go of their pagan practices. YHWH revealed that He was ready to destroy the Israelites during the time they were in Egypt.
Ezekiel 20:7 “And I said to them, ‘Each one of you, throw away the abominations which are before his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Mitsrayim! I am יהוה your Elohim.’
Ezekiel 20:8 “But they rebelled against Me, and would not obey Me. All of them did not throw away the abominations which were before their eyes, nor did they forsake the idols of Mitsrayim. So I resolved to pour out My wrath on them to complete My displeasure against them in the midst of the land of Mitsrayim.
YHWH revealed that He was ready to destroy them while they were still in Egypt! The reason He did not destroy them is because He remembered His covenant He had made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He still delivered them because He wanted the nations of the world to know Himself through Israel as a chosen people.
Ezekiel 20:9 “But I acted for My Name’s sake, that it should not be profaned before the eyes of the nations among whom they were – before whose eyes I had made Myself known to them, to bring them out of the land of Mitsrayim.
Ezekiel 20:10 “So I took them out of the land of Mitsrayim, and I brought them into the wilderness.
In the wilderness, YHWH gave the Israelites all His life-giving laws and commands. He also revealed all of His Sabbaths which would become a permanent sign to reveal the identity of His people.
Ezekiel 20:11 “And I gave them My laws and showed them My right-rulings, ‘which, if a man does, he shall live by them.’
Ezekiel 20:12 “And I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, to know that I am יהוה who sets them apart.
YHWH led His people through 40 years in the wilderness and eventually into the Promised Land. Verses 13-32 summarize the repeated disobedience against YHWH that occurred with His chosen people during their time in the wilderness and in the Land. He disciplined them and then had mercy on them. They would then rebel again by following other laws that He did not give them and disregarded His laws that brought life.
After a long history of consistent rebellion, Israel (the nation) went into captivity and the Land was no longer inhabited by His people or the government YHWH intended.
The Promise to Bring a Remnant Back to the Wilderness
Although the history of Israel as a nation ended with great sorrow, YHWH promised that He would bring a remnant of His people back to the Promised Land. But first, as YHWH told Ezekiel, He would bring the remnant into the wilderness and enter into judgment with them there. This brings us to the main Scripture in this article:
Ezekiel 20:34 “And I shall bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the lands where you are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out.
Ezekiel 20:35 “And I shall bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and shall enter into judgment with you face to face there.
The Wilderness, What Is It?
If you read chapter 20, you probably notice the word “wilderness” is used several times. For the rest of this article, we will focus on the phrase “the wilderness of the peoples.” But before we do that, it is important to look at the uses of “wilderness” in Scripture. This will allow us to see the first common misunderstanding in this series.
Various uses of wilderness include a vast desert usually with harsh conditions, a remote place that is far from people or convenient provisions, or a period of great trial or difficulty.
We still use the word “wilderness” in all of these ways today. For example, TV shows like Alone feature people being dropped off to survive alone in vast areas we would call “wilderness.” Another show, Mountain Men, features people who choose to live far from society and survive off the grid in areas with harsh conditions. In fact, many of YHWH’s people have chosen to withdraw from city living and try to build homesteads or live off-grid. These could also be classified as living in a type of “wilderness.”
If you have been through a difficult time of loneliness accompanied by the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, or a time when you feel little hope, you may call that a “wilderness” experience. So the wilderness can be physical, emotional, and spiritual.
YHWH has always used the physical and/or spiritual wilderness to reveal Himself to people. If you would like to study the many uses of the word in Scripture, historic events when YHWH has used the wilderness, and the promises given for a future wilderness, you can see our article by clicking this picture:
The “Wilderness of the Peoples,” A SPECIFIC LOCATION
Notice from verse 35 above that YHWH promised to gather a remnant of His people and bring them into the Wilderness of the People. It is important to realize this is a specific place where He will gather His people.
Why is this important?
It shows the order and exposes a false doctrine many are being taught!
If the Wilderness of the Peoples is where He gathers people and enters into judgment with them, then He is not going to bring people to the modern state of Israel first. Through many articles, teachings, and books on this site, we have outlined the order of the events of the Ingathering. There is a popular doctrine that people will go directly from their own home country to the modern state of Israel and greet Yahushua for His millennial kingdom. This is false. The prophets tell us that He gathers His people in a specific place called THE WILDERNESS OF THE PEOPLES. He uses this as a place to enter into judgment and restore His people to righteousness. He will do this during the tribulation period and then protect this remnant from the worldwide destruction that is prophesied to occur.
It is critical to understand that just like when He took His people out of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness FIRST, He will use a location in the wilderness again to lead and protect His people.
The Nations vs. the Wilderness of the Peoples
We need to distinguish the nations where most of YHWH’s people are still living from the Wilderness of the Peoples. The Wilderness of the Peoples is where YHWH gathers and brings His people to rescue them from the destruction of the Anti-messiah and the judgment coming. We have shared through many Scriptures on this site that this is a specific place located in the modern-day country of Jordan.
Sometimes, your whole life may feel like you are living in the wilderness. You may know of many others who feel the same way. It is quite an experience to identify with other believers who have a similar faith walk and the same desire to be delivered from this current world. However, please do not confuse other areas as gathering places. The Scriptures show a place that His people go. In Ezekiel, YHWH calls it “the wilderness of the peoples.”
Personal Trials
The life of a believer who sets their life apart from the ways of this world can be described as a continual “wilderness.” This has been true for our ancestors in Scripture and countless people throughout history. One good example of a continual “wilderness” is the life of a sojourner. A sojourner, or foreigner, living in a country that is not their homeland can be a continual wilderness experience. This was how it was for the life of Abraham and his children. Because of the difficulty of being sojourners in a foreign land, our Creator commanded many times in His laws to not oppress the sojourner because the Israelites had been sojourners and knew what it was like.
Our family has been living as sojourners since 2016. We left everything familiar to us: the family that we love, the home and property we owned, the language we spoke wherever we went, and the culture we knew. The culture in the Middle East is not like moving to another European or Westernized country. It is about as different as it can be to our previous ways of living. Although it has had blessings, it has been a daily wilderness experience. Unless someone permanently moves to a country that is very different than their own, they will not know what it is like. Touring another country, or even temporarily living in another country, does not compare.
Our struggles as sojourners make us desire the Wilderness of the Peoples more than we ever have. Ironically, we are living near the actual location, but we are still waiting as we send out this call.
You may be reading this article right now and be experiencing ongoing difficulties and loneliness, your own wilderness-type experience. As time grows closer to the Tribulation, this will increase for all true believers. This is why the first half of the tribulation period is called “Jacob’s Troubles.” (Jeremiah 30:7) The people scattered around the world who are part of the covenant of YHWH and call upon the name of Yahushua will experience great tribulation. The first half of the 7-year tribulation is specifically used for this purpose. The whole purpose of Jacob’s Troubles is for YHWH’s people to wake up and realize they do not want to be in the nations any longer.
Please do not confuse a personal wilderness experience with the wilderness promised in Ezekiel 20. The wilderness location YHWH has chosen to protect His people is a specific place and it is real. How else can you gather a group of people unless you have a specific place to put them? If they are not in one location, they are not gathered yet.
Summary
In this first part of this series, we have looked at the misunderstandings associated with YHWH gathering His people before and during the tribulation. We have seen that He brings His people to a specific location called THE WILDERNESS OF THE PEOPLES.
There are therefore three truths that follow:
- The wilderness in Scripture where YHWH’s scattered people will go is NOT in the modern state of Israel and Palestine, so that is not the immediate destination.
- The wilderness is not found throughout the nations of the world.
- This particular wilderness does not describe a personal state of loneliness or trials.
Up Next in Part 2….TWO PLACES OF PROTECTION
In the next part of this series, we look at a widespread misunderstanding associated with the place of protection for the Bride of Messiah. We will find there are 2 Wildernesses for 2 Purposes! To read part 2, click the picture below.
