The devil still uses three attacks against believers today: deception, seduction, and persecution.
The episode is a sermon from Beech Hill Church, part of a series on the book of Ezekiel. The speaker introduces a new section covering God's judgment on seven nations surrounding Judah, starting with the first four: Ammon, Moab, Edom, and the Philistines. He notes this parallels the seven seals in Revelation, indicating a period of God's judgment on the world. The core theme is the devil's three tactics against believers—deception, seduction, and persecution—with a focus on persecution in this passage. Historical context is provided, including Nebuchadnezzar's three invasions of Judah from 605 to 587 BC, leading to Jerusalem's fall. For Ammon, the crime is rejoicing at Israel's pain and the temple's destruction, compared to the world rejoicing at Jesus' death and modern anti-Christian sentiments. Moab's crime is dismissing God's people as deluded, likened to mockery of Jesus on the cross and how believers are viewed as imposters today. Edom's crime is profiting from Judah's downfall, similar to soldiers casting lots for Jesus' clothing and modern persecution driven by greed, such as Boko Haram's attacks. The Philistines' crime is an irrational, perpetual hatred, compared to Jesus' warning that the world hates his followers, illustrated by a personal story of being uninvited from a funeral due to mistrust. Each nation faced obliteration by Babylon, serving as a warning of God's judgment. The sermon ends with a call for non-believers to seek forgiveness and for believers to find hope and comfort in God's ultimate justice, referencing Psalms and the New Testament.
