Feeling Sorry for the Church

He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand. 2 And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar. 3 And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side; 4 And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
5 And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: 6 Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house. 7 And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.
8 And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord God! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem? 9 Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The Lord hath forsaken the earth, and the Lord seeth not. 10 And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head. 11 And, behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me. (Ezekiel 9)

What a fascinating and terrible vision! This did not literally happen as far as I am aware, but it describes the slaughter that would come to Jerusalem possibly in one of the latter invasions by the Babylonians and it describes even more accurately the fates of those who are alive when Jesus returns. Those who have been sealed as loyal to Jesus will be spared the universal destruction which will come to those who oppress and murder them. The book of Revelation speaks of this in more detail.
Those who are sealed in the Ezekiel 9 vision are those that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst of Jerusalem. The slaughter begins at the temple, where Christ is willing to defile his own temple with blood so that the wicked priests may be killed. The temple is where the worst abominations are happening. Archeology suggests that Jehovah was worshipped by the Jews as Baal and Ashtoreth was worshipped as his wife. This worship was similar (relevant?) to the worship of the nations around Judah and involved sexual immorality and idolatry. The priests of this religion were frenzied (enthusiastic?) in their worship and the worshippers followed suit. Human life was not respected, especially the life of the infant. There are hints at the Bible that archeology shows the truth in this matter. (2 Kings 21:3, 6, 7)
Ezekiel's book does not begin until after the second captivity to Babylon. At this stage Daniel has been exiled (first captivity) but Jerusalem has not yet been destroyed (third captivity). There is no specific mention of Baal-Ashtoreth worship during this period, but since it seems to have been the standard course of apostasy throughout Judah and Israel's history I think it is a fair assumption.
If so, then God's people are not openly leaving God, but worshipping him in a way that he specifically commanded them not to and ignoring his laws.
That reminds me of the church today.
Just like the people who are sealed and protected in the vision, I sigh and cry for the sins of the church in these last days. God does not see this as disloyalty but seals those who are doing this. Pray for the church, she needs it.