Days 252 & 253—We are in the NINETH month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history and EZEKIEL’s prophecy.

NOTE: Both Sunday and Monday studies are posted on Monday.

    Day 252 – Ezekiel 40 – 42 (Ezekiel’s vision of the New Temple)

For the next few days, you architects and builders, get your tape measures and drafting tools ready!

Ezekiel 40. Twenty-five years after Ezekiel went into captivity and fourteen years after Jerusalem fell, the LORD took him back to the city in a vision and stood him on a high mountain. A “builder man” in bronze with his measuring tools appeared. God told Ezekiel to write down all the man showed him.

(The dimensions of this new temple complex are huge, way surpassing the small one the returning exiles would build and even Herod’s.  THIS temple is way off in the future – in Christ’s millennial reign.)

The Bronze Builder begins with the outer court. If you get confused with cubits, “long” cubits, and handbreadths, remember a cubit is 18 inches, a handbreadth is 3 inches, and a long or royal cubit is the sum of these, 21 inches.  The Bronze Builder’s rod, or reed, was 10 1/2 feet long. This is the height and depth of the outside wall, not very tall, but enough to show the separation between holy and common.

Next, he measures and describes the East Gate (the one leading into the entrance of the Temple), the Outer Court of the Temple, the North and South Gates, the Inner Court and chambers for the priests, and finally, the Vestibule (or porch) of the Temple.

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Ezekiel 41. This chapter describes the Temple itself. (Read 1 Kings 6-7 to compare it to Solomon’s Temple). It is twice the size of Moses’ Tabernacle but the same as Solomon’s building. Decorations were carved cherubim and palm trees.

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Ezekiel 42. Many priestly chambers (rooms) and passageways are described in this chapter, particularly those where the priests prepared themselves to minister in the Holy Places.  The outer dimension of the Temple complex was 750 feet square.

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    Day 253 – Ezekiel 43 – 45 (Got continues to show Ezekiel visions of the NEW Temple, His Glory, the priests, and the prince)

Ezekiel 43. Remember, at the beginning of the book, Ezekiel saw the Glory of the LORD – on its wheeled, cherubim-flying glorious throne – leaving the Temple (full of abominations) and joining His people in captivity.  Now, God shows Ezekiel the Glory of the LORD, returning through the East gate and entering the Temple.  Again, the prophet falls on his face. Then the Spirit of the LORD lifts him up and takes him to the inner court. There he sees the glory of the LORD filling the temple.  “This is the place of my throne where I will dwell in the midst of the people of Israel forever. And the house of Israel will no more defile My Name.”

Ezekiel is told to describe this temple to the exiled people, so they will be ashamed of their iniquities. He is also to remind them of the statutes and laws they are to observe.

It’s interesting that the bronze altar is described in detail, as well as all the animals to be sacrificed on it in this new era… burnt offerings and peace offerings. “And I will accept you, declares the Lord GOD.”

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Ezekiel 44.  God then takes Ezekiel back out to the East gate and tells him the gate is to remain closed because the Glory of the LORD has come through it.  Only “the Prince” may come in and go out through it.  Then God warns him that even though the North gate, no “unclean” person shall enter it.  The rest of the chapter reviews the laws about the Levitical priests, their clothing, their marriage status, and their foods.

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Ezekiel 45. The LORD then tells Ezekiel about an area around the Temple complex which He calls “the Holy District”  It is reserved for those who minister in the sanctuary; the priests and Levites.   There is also to be portion for the Prince in the Holy District.  And at the heart is an area that is one mile square, for those in Israel as well as the world to come and worship the LORD.

God then tells Ezekiel the schedule of offerings and celebrations throughout the year, including Passover and Unleavened bread in the first month.

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NOTE: Chapters 43-48 are some of the most challenging chapters in the Bible to interpret and understand.