Ezekiel 9 · The Lantern

Execution of the Idolaters

And he called in my ears with a great voice, saying: Draw near, you who attend to the city, each with his weapon of destruction in his hand.

And see, six men coming by the way of the upper gate that faces north, each with his weapon of smashing in his hand; and one man among them clothed in linen, with a scribe inkhorn at his waist. And they came and stood beside the bronze altar.

And the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from over the cherub on which it had been, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the scribe inkhorn at his waist.

And the LORD said to him: Pass through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark on the foreheads of the men who groan and moan over all the abominations being done in her midst.

God says that only those can escape who have been reborn and signed with the sign of Christ; when sending his angels to lay waste the world and to destroy the human race he threatens more seriously than the last time.… This sign pertains to the passion and blood of Christ and that he is kept safe and unharmed whoever is found in this sign.

And I have heard many, after such experience, blame themselves, and say, What advantage is it that I have grieved? I have not recovered my money, and I have injured myself. But if thou hast grieved on account of sin, thou hast blotted it out, and hast reaped the greatest pleasure.

But maybe that person wasn't yet a Christian. We at least, brothers and sisters, should listen; we to whom as believers the gospel is chanted, we by whom the one who said all this is worshiped, whose sign is worn by us on our foreheads and held in our hearts.

And to the others he said in my ears: Pass through the city after him and strike. Let your eye not pity, and do not spare.

Elder, young man and virgin, and children and women — kill to destruction; but do not approach any man on whom is the mark. And begin from my sanctuary. And they began with the elder men who were before the house.

And he said to them: Defile the house and fill the courts with the slain. Go out. And they went out and struck in the city.

And it was, as they were striking and I was left, that I fell on my face and cried out and said: Ah, Lord GOD! Are you destroying all the remnant of Israel in pouring out your wrath on Jerusalem?

And he said to me: The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is very, very great, and the land is filled with blood and the city filled with twisting; for they say: The LORD has forsaken the land, and the LORD does not see.

And I too — my eye will not pity, and I will not spare. Their way I have set on their head.

And see, the man clothed in linen, who had the inkhorn at his waist, was bringing back word, saying: I have done according to all that you commanded me.

Ezekiel9

Execution of the Idolaters