Day 252 – Reading – EZEKIEL 40 – 42

Read the Scriptures.  Meditate on what the prophet is saying.

 

Illustration: Ezekiel’s Vision of the New “Millennial” Temple when “the Prince” (Jesus) will reign as King.

Ezekiel 40.

Ezekiel has this wondrous vision in the 25th year of his exile (14 years after Jerusalem fell), on the tenth day of the month, at the beginning of the Jewish year, when the preparations of Passover began.  God took Ezekiel, in a vision, to the land of Israel, to a high mountain (probably Mt. Zion, lifted up by that great earthquake (Ezek. 38:19). 

The LORD’s instructions to Ezekiel were:  “Son of man, look with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and set your heart upon all that I shall show you, FOR YOU WERE BROUGHT HERE IN ORDER THAT I MIGHT SHOW IT ALL TO YOU. Declare ALL you see to the house of  Israel.”

Boy, I would have had to have the drawings, schematics, pens, and rulers, etc., to fulfill that task!  But it seems a “man like bronze” helped Ezekiel by measuring everything.  This was the Temple and the area around it (chambers, court, gates, walls).

NOTE: This is the MILLENNIAL (1,000-year) Temple when Jesus will reign on earth.  (It’s NOT Zerubbabel’s small temple built by the returned exiles, and later rebuilt by Herod (God’s presence was not in that one). It was NOT the “Eternal” temple in heaven, because the Lord and the Lamb are that Temple.)

Ezekiel 41.

This describes the “nave” (Holy Place) and the Most Holy Place, which are of the exact measurements as Solomon’s temple (twice that of the Tabernacle).  There is a large building to the West of the Temple, which was probably a large storehouse for supplies. He describes a few things inside the “nave” (Holy Place), such as a wooden altar, like the “Altar of Incense.”  And it looks like wooden, hinged double doors separated the “nave” from the Most Holy Place (instead of a massive veil).  

NOTE: There is no mention of the Ark of the Covenant.

Ezekiel 42.

Next to the inner court where the Temple was, on both north and south sides, were large, 3-storey “Priest’s Chambers.”  In these, the priests would change into the priestly garments before entering the Temple area and where they would eat the “holy offerings.” 

The “bronze man” then took Ezekiel OUTSIDE the walls, through the Eastern Gate, and showed him the measurements of the wall.  They were approximately ONE MILE on each side.  (Yes, too large for Mt Moriah, but remember the changes to the area of Jerusalem during the Great Battle at the end of the Tribulation. See Zechariah 14).  This wall separated “the holy and the common.”

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I love how the Temple area is exactly square now. It reminds me of the New Jerusalem coming down (Revelation) which will be a 1,500 mile cube.  The LORD is a God of order. He has wonderful plans which He revealed to Ezekiel (and the other prophets, and to John) so His people will know He will forever take care of them.  I PRAISE YOU, O God!