The Book of Ezekiel is mainly written to the ten tribe "house of Israel". By that, it means God gave Ezekiel to speak also to Christ's Church. How?
This must first be understood per Bible prophecy:
1. Per 1 Kings 11, God split old Israel into 2 separate kingdoms in the days of Solomon's son Rehoboam of the house of David. Rehoboam of Judah became king over the "house of Judah", only the tribe of Benjamin joined with Judah there at Jerusalem-Judea, in the south. These later then became pointed to as the "house of Judah", or "kingdom of Judah", or just as "Jerusalem", or as just "Judah", or as "Jews".
2. Per 1 Kings 11, God then made Jeroboam, of the tribe of Ephraim, king over the ten tribes that dwelt in the north, their capital at Samaria. These later became called "house of Israel", or "kingdom of Israel", or "Israel", or "Samaria", or "Ephraim", or "Joseph".
3. the two separate kingdoms had war against each other.
4. God brought the kings of Assyria upon the northern ten tribe kingdom first, because of their fall into idol worship by king Jeroboam's doing. All the ten northern tribes of Israel were removed captive to Assyria and the lands of the Medes. Only the "house of Judah" remained in the land.
5. Then about 120 later, God brought Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, upon the southern kingdom of the "house of Judah" (Jews), and took them captive to Babylon for 70 years (time of Daniel the prophet).
During Judah's captivity to Babylon, the prophet Ezekiel was there at Babylon. The captive ten tribes were located about 45 miles north of Babylon, and this is where God sent Ezekiel to speak to the "house of Israel".
Ezek 3:1-5
1 Moreover He said unto me, "Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel."
2 So I opened my mouth, and He caused me to eat that roll.
3 And He said unto me, "Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee." Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.
4 And He said unto me, "Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with My words unto them.
5 For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language, but to the house of Israel;
KJV
Again, it's important to remember, that at this period in Israel's history, God had already separated old Israel into two separate 'houses', or kingdoms, and both were in captivity here, but not together. The "house of Israel" at this time meant only the ten tribes of Israel.
Ezek 3:17
17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at My mouth, and give them warning from Me.
KJV
So how does this relate to Christ's Church? I'm getting there...
This must first be understood per Bible prophecy:
1. Per 1 Kings 11, God split old Israel into 2 separate kingdoms in the days of Solomon's son Rehoboam of the house of David. Rehoboam of Judah became king over the "house of Judah", only the tribe of Benjamin joined with Judah there at Jerusalem-Judea, in the south. These later then became pointed to as the "house of Judah", or "kingdom of Judah", or just as "Jerusalem", or as just "Judah", or as "Jews".
2. Per 1 Kings 11, God then made Jeroboam, of the tribe of Ephraim, king over the ten tribes that dwelt in the north, their capital at Samaria. These later became called "house of Israel", or "kingdom of Israel", or "Israel", or "Samaria", or "Ephraim", or "Joseph".
3. the two separate kingdoms had war against each other.
4. God brought the kings of Assyria upon the northern ten tribe kingdom first, because of their fall into idol worship by king Jeroboam's doing. All the ten northern tribes of Israel were removed captive to Assyria and the lands of the Medes. Only the "house of Judah" remained in the land.
5. Then about 120 later, God brought Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, upon the southern kingdom of the "house of Judah" (Jews), and took them captive to Babylon for 70 years (time of Daniel the prophet).
During Judah's captivity to Babylon, the prophet Ezekiel was there at Babylon. The captive ten tribes were located about 45 miles north of Babylon, and this is where God sent Ezekiel to speak to the "house of Israel".
Ezek 3:1-5
1 Moreover He said unto me, "Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel."
2 So I opened my mouth, and He caused me to eat that roll.
3 And He said unto me, "Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee." Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.
4 And He said unto me, "Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with My words unto them.
5 For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language, but to the house of Israel;
KJV
Again, it's important to remember, that at this period in Israel's history, God had already separated old Israel into two separate 'houses', or kingdoms, and both were in captivity here, but not together. The "house of Israel" at this time meant only the ten tribes of Israel.
Ezek 3:17
17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at My mouth, and give them warning from Me.
KJV
So how does this relate to Christ's Church? I'm getting there...