EZEKIEL AS A FIGURE OF CHRIST.

The prophet Ezekiel lived in exile in Babylon during the period and after the Fall of Jerusalem. His message was addressed both to the exiles in Babylonia and to the people of Jerusalem. He was a man of deep faith. Many of his insights came in the form of visions, and many of his messages is expressed in vivid symbolic actions.
The prophet Ezekiel emphasized the need for inner renewal of the heart and spirit and the responsibility of each individual for his own sins. As a priest, as well as prophet, he had special interest in the Temple and in the need of holiness.
The name Ezekiel means "power of God"and the power of God is none other than Christ our Lord. It is also written that Ezekiel was "son of Buzi, which means "despised."
To understand Ezekiel as a figure of Christ, we go to Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians. It deals with problems of Christian life and faith that had arisen in the church that he had established at Corinth.
Paul says, "By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ I appeal to all of you, my friends, to agree in what you say, so that there will be no divisions among you. Be completely united, with only one thought and one purpose."(1Cor:1:10) "Christ has been divided into groups!"(1Cor:1:13) "For the Message about Christ's Death on the cross is nonsense to those who are being lost; but for us who are being saved it is God's Power."(1Cor:1:18) "God has shown that this World's wisdom is foolishness! For God in His Wisdom made it impossible for human beings to know Him by means of their own wisdom."(1:21) "For what seems to be God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and what seems to be God's weakness is stronger than human strength."(1Cor:1:25) "From the human point of view few of you were wise or powerful or of high social standing. God purposely chose what the World considers nonsense in order to shame the wise, and He chose what the World considers weak in order to shame the powerful. He chose what the World looks down on and 'despises' and think is nothing, in order to destroy what the World thinks is important."(1Cor1:26-28)
"By the River Chebar"(Ezek1:1). This refers to that very heavy River of the World. "And the Word of the Lord came to Ezekiel, son of Buzi, the priest."(Ezek1:3). This is the Word of the Lord who "in the beginning was God, the Word with the Father."(John1:1)
The Gospel according to John presents Jesus as the eternal Word of God, who "became a human being and lived among us." John identifies the eternal Word of God with Jesus. John says, "In the beginning the Word already existed; the Word was with God, and the Word was God. From the very beginning the Word was with God. Through Him God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without Him. The Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out." (John1:1-5)
In his Second Letter, Peter addresses to a wide circle of Christians about the work of false teachers and the immorality which results from such teaching. The answer to this falsehood is found in holding to the true knowledge of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, which has been conveyed by persons who themselves have seen Jesus and have heard Him teach. He says, "False prophets appeared in the past among the people, and in the same way false teachers will appear among you, bringing untrue and destructive doctrines, and will deny the Master who redeemed them, and so they will bring upon them-selves sudden destruction. Even so, many will follow their immoral ways; and because of what they do, others will speak evil of the Way of Truth. In their greed these false teachers will make a profit out of telling made-up stories. .. These people are bold and arrogant, and show no respect for the glorious beings above; instead, they insult them. Even the angels, who are so much stronger and mightier than these false teachers, do not accuse them with insults in the presence of the Lord. But these people act by instinct, like wild animals born to be captured and killed; they attack with insults anything they do not understand. ..Pleasure for them is to do anything in broad daylight that will satisfy their bodily appetites;
they are a shame and a disgrace as they join you in your meals, all the while enjoying their deceitful ways! They want to look for nothing but the chance to commit adultery; their appetite for sin is never satisfied. They lead weak people into a trap. Their hearts are trained to be greedy. ..These people are like dried-up springs, like clouds blown along by a storm, .. They make proud and stupid statements, and use immoral bodily lusts to trap those who are just beginning to escape from among the people who live in error. They promise them freedom while they themselves are slaves of destructive habits -for we are slaves of anything that has conquered us." (2 Peter 2:1-19)
"Rid yourselves, then, of all evil; no more lying or hypocrisy or jealousy or insulting language. Be like newborn babies, always thirsty for the pure Spiritual milk, so that by drinking it you may grow up and be saved." (1 Peter 2:1-2)
Psalm 82 says, "God presides in the heavenly Council; in the Assembly of gods He gives His decision:
'You must stop judging unjustly; You must no longer be partial to the wicked! Defend the rights of the poor and the orphans; be fair to the needy and the helpless. Rescue them from the power of evil people.
How ignorant You are! How stupid! You are completely corrupt, and justice has disappeared from the World. 'You are gods,' I said; 'all of You are children of the Most High.' But You will die like mortals; Your life will end like that of any prince." (82:1-7)
It is the Word of God that make believers into gods, therefore Ezekiel too was a god.