Comments for October 14

3 v.10-13 These cherubim of very spectacular proportions, surely were the same representation of those that stood on the ark in the tabernacle. It seems that God gave them physical things which represented Him, presumably because he knew that they would have this tendency to want to worship idols, but still they did not respond. This temple was quite magnificent. It is a picture and a pattern to us, continuing from the tabernacle and reaching forward to the temple of Ezekiel's vision, showing us the kingdom in its many facets, which will be even more magnificent.

3:6 Parvaim is not mentioned elsewhere in Scripture. This fact alone should make us realise that the record was written at the time of the events it records. Parvaim was clearly a location known to the people in the time of Solomon.

4:2 The molten sea answers to the laver in the tabernacle. Exo 30:18-21 This 'sea' was for the washing of the priests. The laver was for the washing of the animals that were to be sacrificed and answered to the similar vessel in the tabernacle.
We have to conclude that the molten sea described here was part of the pattern that God gave him to follow.

As we remarked yesterday, we need to look at the effort that went into all this and be sure that we put the same effort into building God's things in our own lives. Nothing is more important than God's work and our meditation on His word. Everything we do should add, as it were, another stone or table or bowl or whatever to the temple which we build.

3:1 Mount Moriah was the place where Abraham offered Isaac ad the place of the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite (2 Samuel 24:16). The earlier events mentioned provided the explanation as to where the temple was to be built.

4:1 The altar of brass Solomon made is four times as big as the one that was made in the wilderness (Exodus 27:1). The absence of other details in addition to its size might mean that the details given in Exodus would form the basis for its manufacture. Or maybe the absence of mention of staves to carry it were to indicate that the altar was now in a permanent resting place.

3:3 Notice that Solomon was 'instructed' in matters relating to the building of the house. David received a 'pattern' (1 Chronicles 28:11, 12, 18,19) so clearly he did more than just pass the pattern on to Solomon. He spoke with him about how to do the work as well.

4:11 Huram's involvement in manufacturing the furniture for the tabernacle foreshadows the inclusion of the gentiles (you and I) in the living temple - the church of the living God. The fulfilment of the promise to David that He would build him an house' (2 Samuel 7:27)

QUALITY IN DETAIL

I recently saw a television programme that documented a number of people building their dream homes. The houses they built ranged from low budget accommodation through to million dollar mansions. The thing that showed the difference in quality between them was the attention to detail. The million dollar house was perfect in every minute detail, whereas those building cheaper houses had to put up with imperfections and flaws.

When it came to Solomon's building of the temple of the LORD, we can see the Solomon not only looked at the big picture, but that he also made sure that the quality of the temple was as good as it could be, by paying attention to every last detail. 2 Chronicles 3 shows us some of how detailed it was. It was the ultimate in quality, the very best for the LORD.

We might not always be able to afford quality, but we can make sure that our lives are quality lives for the LORD. We can do this by paying attention to the detail in our actions. What do we say or do in those moments when we are caught off guard? How do we act when we are tired or provoked? What do we use our time for? How do we fill in our free time?

Let's build ourselves quality lives for the LORD our God, perfect in every detail.

3:2 So Solomon reigned for three years before beginning to build the temple. This might seem rather slow given that David had already prepared the materials (1Chron 22:14) and the plans were already available (1Chron 28:11). However we should realise that Solomon was establishing the kingdom and developing a settled situation in which the temple was to be built.

4 The detailed description of the way that things were made for the temple focus, not on the outward structure of the building, but on the various items used in service to God. This highlights to us it is not outward appearance that matters - even though the temple was 'exceeding magnifical' (1Chron 22:5)  - but rather the way that worship is shown is more important.

 4:1 Steps must have necessary for ascending so elevated an alter, but the use of these steps could be no longer forbidden.(Exo 20:26) The thickness of the metal used for this alter is nowhere given; but, supposing it to have been three inches thick, the whole weight of the metal would have exceeded two hundred tons. This would support Bro. Peter's comment (2003), that the alter was now in a permanent resting place. 

Solomon made 2 huge cherubim to go inside the Most Holy Place. Their wings touched in the centre, and altogether were 20 cubits or 30 feet long, touching the wall at either end (2Chron 3:10-13).  The ark of the covenant (Exo 25:10), which was only 2 ½ cubits long (= less than 4 feet long), was to be stood in front of these 2 wonderful cherubim (see 2Chron 5:7).

2Chron 3:8-13 - The Most Holy Place is where the presence of God dwelled and is considered by some a representation on earth of heaven. The overlaid gold likely represents divine character or nature. We note in vs. 9 the gold nails weighed 50 shekels which is the jubilee number (Lev 25:10) suggesting mercy to a multitude, a returning to an inheritance, freedom and liberty (from sin and death?). The length of each wing of each cherubim was 5 cubits suggesting grace or mercy. Thanks to Christ yielding to his Father's will, we look toward a future age of mercy where God's will is to be done on earth as it is in heaven 2Sam 7:12-16; Luke 1:31-33; Matt 25:34; Isa 2:2-4; Matt 6:10.

3:9  On reading of nails which were made of gold I cannot help but think that they served a decorative rather than structural purpose as gold is such a soft metal.

4:6-8  Does anyone have an explanations as to why there were ten lavers, candlesticks and tables?

3:3 David must have spent a lot of time with Solomon, in giving him the instructions for the house of God. There would have been a lot of time spent giving verbal direction. We find it hard to think that there were no written plans and specifications provided by David. This would have been a tremendously large set of "blue prints", and taken many, many hours of preparation.

3:13 When we read that the feet and faces were ‘inward’ we should understand this as being ‘towards the house’.

4:2-4 The sea contained water and rested upon oxen. This is symbolic of the work of God’s servants. Water equates with the Scriptures – Eph 5:26 – The oxen speak of service. The servants uphold the water of life in their preaching.

3:1 It is supposed that Mount Moriah is the place where Abraham was ready to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering (Gen 22:2).  However, it is unclear whether the land of Moriah is referring to Mount Moriah. 

Nevertheless, the spiritual connection between the site of the temple and Isaac's sacrifice is strong.  Yahweh, having been pleased with the faith of Abraham, spared Isaac.  He said that He would provide a lamb (Gen 22:8).  That lamb was Jesus. 

The temple is where Yahweh placed His Name (1Kin 8:29).  The temple was built on Mount Moriah.  Jesus is the spiritual temple (Matt 26:61). All true believers of Jesus are part of that temple (1Cor 3:16).

3:1 David had ‘appointed’ RV the place where the temple was to be built further reinforcing the point that David had done the planning and the place was specifically chosen by David.

3:9 Two things need clarifying in this verse. First, it is more likely that a bolt, screw, or pin is meant than a nail. A nail weighing about 2lb (0.9 kg) is highly unlikely. Second, the material for the bolt was probably bronze overlaid with gold. It could not have been made of solid gold, as gold is far too soft a metal to be used as supports.

4:1 Whenever you read brass in the KJV understand it to mean bronze. Brass, which is an alloy of copper and zinc, was a later invention.

For your information: By about 20 B.C.-A.D. 20, metalworkers around the Mediterranean Sea were able to distinguish zinc ores from those containing tin and began blending zinc with copper to make brass coins and other items. Most of the zinc was derived by heating a mineral known as calamine, which contains various zinc compounds. Starting in about 300 A.D., the brass metalworking industry flourished in what is now Germany and The Netherlands (History of Brass).

For simple calculation, we can consider a cubit to measure 18 inches (46 cm). And, so it is easy to figure out the approximate measurement of the altar: It had a surface area of 30 feet (9 m) x 30 feet (9 m), and stood 15 feet (4.5 m) high. Obviously, steps must have been made to allow the priests to work easily with the surface of the altar.

Originally, priests would not have been allowed to use steps (Exo 20:26). However, since the dress code for priests was introduced, the problem of immodesty was eliminated (Exo 28:42).

4:5 There seems to be a contradiction with 1Kin 7:26. Perhaps, the difference is in the accompanying language. In 1 Kings 7:26, the sea contained two thousand baths (KJV); whereas in 4:5 the sea received and held three thousand baths (KJV).

And so, 1 Kings 7:26 states the actual capacity of the sea; whereas 4:5 states the capacity of the sea plus the extra (received) water to keep water in the sea from becoming stagnant. This extra water would be needed to keep the water in the sea flowing and fresh.

3:1 The items that Solomon made for the temple according to the pattern that David had indicates that the items made were ‘of God’ though there is no command given – such as in Exo 25 - Exo 27 regarding the furniture of the Tabernacle - that these things should be made.

2Chron 3:5 - "greater house" refers to the Holy Place or main chamber of the temple.

2Chron 3:11-12;2Chron 4:2,6-8 - numerous mentions of  "5" thought by some to suggest "mercy, (or) grace". 2Chron 4:4-5 - several mentions of  "3" thought by some to suggest "divine perfection, (or) sacrifice (and/or) resurrection".

2Chron 3:16;2Chron 4:13 - our sacrificed redeemer is like the red pomegranate packed with seed and so he shall redeem many unto eternal life.

2Chron 3:17 - the pillars "Jachin" and "Boaz" were at the entrance - could they represent/foreshadow Jew and Gentile seeking entrance to the future earthly kingdom through Christ?

3:15   casting the pillars was a massive job. One can only imagine the area set out to cast such large objects. However it is helpful to visualise a smelting works on such a scale.

4:19-22          We should not forget that David had prepared the material and had been shown the pattern of all these things. Which pattern he gave to Solomon 1Chron 28:11-12

3:13     Notice that whereas the Cherubim which Solomon made had “feet” there were no feet mentioned on the Cherubim on the ark of the covenant in the tabernacle.

2 Chron. 4 It is interesting to note that most of the temple and the work inside was trusted to a Gentile, Huram-abi the son of a Danite woman but his father was from Tyre. Again it can be a foretelling that God's house would be a house for all nations.

3:1    Two threshingfloors figure in David’s life. The first – 2Sam 6:6 – was a place of grief to David. This second was a place of deliverance – 2Sam 24:18-25

What was the meaning of the Cherubim?

Consider the sheer size and weight of the cherubim. They stretched the width of the temple with their wings tip to tip (see 2Chron 3:11-13). They were there to remind the people of the way to the garden of Eden which had been guarded by Cherubim (Gen 3:24), and of the Ark of the covenant which bore the same Cherubim in miniature (Exo 25:16-22). Notice in the Exodus passage that the law was to be inside the Ark and the Cherubim looked towards it. It was a powerful reminder that one cannot come to God without learning his commandments and keeping them, the very thing that Adam and Eve had failed at (Gen 3:17).

2Chron 3:2;John 2:18-22 - As noted by Peter Forbes in his 2004 comments, Solomon reigned for 3 years before being allowed to begin work on the temple; we can compare this with Christ's mission of approximately 3 years before he was allowed to have rebuilding work on the temple of his body.

2 Chronicles 4

The pillars in 2Chron 4:12 and 3:15-17 were an engineering marvel. Cast out of bronze, they were hollow tubes with a wall thickness of four fingers (see Jer 52:21-21), which might be about 7.5cm. They are described as "without weight", which is to say, they couldn't be weighed because they were so heavy. The question is, why are they so big and what did they support? In today's building structures, steel columns are used to support multi-storey buildings, but the largest size in common use has a wall thickness of 1.6cm. Depending on the alloy used and the way it is worked, bronze could have been of similar strength to the steel we use today, so that probably makes the pillars of the temple the largest and strongest ever made in the history of mankind.

3:4     The ail that Solomon made contained Blue, purple and crimson <3758> whereas the vail in the tabernacle contained Blue, purple and scarlet <8144>. Probably the different word is indicating that the dye used was different in Solomon’s temple compared with the tabernacle.

4:17     “the plain of Jordan is a few hundred feet below sea level. Mount Moriah is over a thousand feet above sea level. Transporting the items made in the plain of Jordan, in particular the pillars, would have been a significant logistical project.

3:3      The instruction that Solomon received must have been more than we have recorded as it is not possible to construct a copy of the temple using only the details contained in the description. In fact – 1Chron 28:11-12 – using the word “pattern” indicates that Solomon was given what we might call architects’ drawings.

4:6   further details of these lavers is given in 1Kin 7:27

3:3 In the same way as Solomon needed instruction in the building of the temple – the house of God – in Jerusalem we need instruction in building the house of God – the family of believers. This instruction can only come from a reading of the whole of the Bible.

3:17 the names Jachin and Boaz have meaning Jachin “he shall establish”. Boaz “in it is strength”

3:1-2Mount Moriah was not the most convenient place to build the temple. There were areas in Jerusalem that were far more suitable building sites. However Solomon built the temple there because it was the place that Yahweh had designated. A lesson we might take from this is the when we do things for God our convenience is not the most important factor. One way in which this can be seen in the life of a faithful believer is the degree to which such a one is willing to inconvenience themselves for the benefit of fellow believers.

= 4:6,7,8  notice the recurring “ten”. This is a continuation of the “ten” elements of the tabernacle –Exo 26:12

4:4 the twelve oxen in groups of three at each point of the compass matches the 12 tribes of Israel camped around the tabernacle though the listing runs counter clockwise unlike the listing of the tribes around the tabernacle - Num 2.

v.5-7 - There seems to be an emphasis here on squareness, reflecting the shape of the holy of holies of the tabernacle - that which was opened to us by the blood of Christ, whose sacrifice broke down the middle wall of partition between us and God. Is there a connection between these chambers and the 'abiding places' in 'my Father's house' that Jesus speaks of in John 14:2?

40:1 10 beginning of year 20 - 14 after city smitten
40:2 set ... a very high mountain Revelation 21:10
40:3 a measuring reed Zechariah 2:1 Revelation 21:15
40:11 'Length ... Breadth' in the early part of Scripture relates to the measurements of the Tabernacle Exodus  25:10,17,23 26:2,8,16 27:18 28:16 30:2 36:9,15,21 37:1 ,6,10,25 38:1,18 39:9 And then elements of Solomon's Temple 1 Kings 6:2,20 7:27 2 Chronicles 3:8 4:1 And then is found in Ezekiel's description of a temple Ezekiel 40:11,20,21,25,36,49 41:2,4 42:2
So when Zechariah uses this language Zechariah 2:2 5:2 He is clearly drawing on these earlier uses
The New Testament has two interesting uses. Speaking of the love of Christ speaks of the dimension of the love of Christ in terms of the language of the tabernacle and temple. Ephesians 3:18 Whereas the city of Revelation 21:16 is spoken of in similar terms to mark the continuity with the Old Testament theme.

Everything is carefully measured to fit and to be correct and precise and perfect. So it should be with our lives as we present them to God.

40:2 During his temptations Jesus was shown all the kingdoms of the world from an ' exceeding high mountain' (Matthew 4:8) He resisted the temptation. Maybe he thought, from that 'mountain' about what Ezekiel was shown from his exceeding high mountain and so resisted the temptation. Can we, by having a vision, resist the temptation to take hold on short term benefits?

40:1 this date marks the 25th year of Jehoiakim's captivity - this is how Ezekiel had been marking time through the prophecy. So we are about 13 and a half years into the 70 years captivity. The vision of the temple, therefore, was to be a word of encouragement to those who were in Babylon.

PAY ATTENTION
Are we ever guilty of reading the word of God without concentrating on what we are reading, only to get to the end of the chapter or chapters to realize that we cannot remember anything about what we have just read? Several times I have caught myself out doing just that, and I have discovered the Word of God going in one ear and out the other. If it happens to you too then maybe God is speaking to us today through Ezekiel. He says, "Son of man, look with your eyes and hear with your ears and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for that is why you have been brought here. Tell the house of Israel everything you see." (Ezekiel 40 v 4)
We too must pay attention to God when he speaks to us. When we read his word let us picture it clearly, let us see it and understand it. Let us listen for his message to us, hear him speaking personally to us through his word. And to make sure that we have learned what we have read, share it with someone - tell them what God has told you. By doing this we will benefit so much more from God's word. May He bless you through it.

40:1 - This verse indicates the reason why we believe there is a period of 50 years between the return of Christ and the opening of the Temple.
Consider: "the five and twentieth year", dated from the fall of Jehoiachin comprises 11 years of Zedekiah's reign, and a further 14 years to this vision. Therefore, 50 years from Josiah's Passover (2 Chron 35) which was a jubilee year(and typifies the return of Christ). Hence, this indicates the Temple will be opened in a Jubilee year from the return of Christ.

40:6 In being taken to the "gate  which looketh toward the east" Ezekiel is arriving at the city in the direction that the glory of God left the city (Eze 10:19) and will return (Eze 43:4).

V.46 Zadok was of the line from Aaron. He had the high priesthood conferred on him Solomon, who had set aside the family of Ithamar, because of the part which Abiathar had taken in the rebellion of Adonijah. (1Kin 1:7, 1Kin 2:26-27)

There is critical information here that we do well to recognize in order to best interpret the later chapters in the prophecy (i.e. chapter 44). 
Two Classes of Priests are introduced here with distinction. Both are Levitical priest, but the first, are "keepers of the charge of the house" and correspond to chapter 44:10-14, and 17 onwards.
The second class are "keepers of the charge of the altar"- Eze 40:45,46 and correspond to Chapter 44:15,16.
Later we will learn why the distinction was made due to past practice. Malachi 2 will suffice to show the failure of the priesthood in keeping the commandments. Those who didn't go astray, will be resurrected to immortality along with the other faithful making up the Sons of Zadok(righteousness) class after the order which is established in the King, Christ(Melchizedek order).

LOOK AND LISTEN
 
Ezekiel was about to get an important prophecy.  Fourteen years after the destruction of Jerusalem, a time that must have seemed almost hopeless to the captives, Ezekiel was given a prophecy of the future that was to be greatly encouraging to those who were longing for their land.  The prophecy of the new temple and the city next to it would have given the exiles a hope to hang on to and  reason to live.  It would have reassured their faith in God, enabled them to see a better time and helped them to make the most of the situation they were in.
 
As Ezekiel was about to have the prophecy revealed to him, he was told, "Son of man, look with your eyes and hear with your ears and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for that is why you have been brought here.  Tell the house of Israel everything you see." (Eze 40:4) 
 
Just as Israel were, we too are at a time when we desperately need a vision to hold on to, that will keep us on track living a godly life.  Pictures of what is to come have been given to us through the word of God.  But it is up to us to look with our eyes and hear with our ears and to pay attention to what God tells us.  If we don't, we will lose sight of the vision and lose our grip on our faith.

There is now a 13 year gap. The last date we had was in Eze 32:1, the twelfth year. Now, with the vision of the future temple, we are in the 25th year of Judah’s captivity (Eze 40:1). Although of-course, it could be that chapters 32-40 are spaced out over the 13 years, but the dates are not given. This future temple shown to Ezekiel was to be a real incentive to the captive Jews to want to go back to their land and to worship God. As usual in the Old Testament, the temple was to be the centre of their lives, and occupied almost all the remainder of Ezekiel’s prophecy.

40:3 The idea of a measuring reed is taken up in Zech 2:1  – surely an encouragement after the exile to the people to think of the return as a fulfilment of the things that Ezekiel saw.

40:46 In saying that the "sons of Zadok" will have a particular task to do we have to conclude that in the kingdom the exact part of a tribe from which a man descends will be known. This will be achieved by Jesus – Mal 3:3 – who will ‘purge the sons of Levi’, that is establish their lineage.

As we consider the measurements of the temple, the most amazing thing is the size of the whole building. It is described as a city, which says a lot about its size. Taking a conservative 19 inches for a cubit and a hand breadth, it being five hundred reed round about, this would would work out to be a mile or 1600 meters long. We remember visiting a large city in the United over 50 years ago and a brother pointing out a car manufacturing plant, and saying that the temple would take up more space than this enormous plant. When we compare an area over a mile square, we can get an idea of the size of the temple.

40:2 Here Ezekiel sees ‘the frame of a city’ and what he sees is a glorious picture which contrasts with the evil that he sees in the city – Eze 8:3

V.1 etc. The details of the temple start in this chapter and continue until the end of the Book of Ezekiel. The Jews in exile would have been encouraged that a new temple was to be built.  But no temple was built in their lifetimes. 

And so, the temple described here would have been taken to mean one that would be built when the Messiah came.  The dimensions of this temple do not relate to the refurbished second temple of Herod the Great. That temple was destroyed in 70 AD by the Romans. 

Today, religious Jews are waiting for their Messiah to appear and for a third temple to be built. That will happen after Jesus returns to the earth, and is recognized by the Jews as their Messiah.

Beware of religious commentators who think that Ezekiel's temple is a metaphor for orderly spiritual living. These commentators do not believe that Jesus is coming back to earth to set up His kingdom in which the inhabitants will learn of Yahweh's ways.  

These commentators believe, erroneously, in a reward in which souls go to heaven at death.  With that belief one would be hard pressed to believe that Ezekiel's temple would be a real building on earth. 

But, the Bible says that the reward of the faithful followers of Jesus is on earth (Rev 22:12). Those who are rewarded will serve as priests in the kingdom (Rev 1:6; 5:10).  And what would priests be without a temple?

40:4 In seeing with his eyes and hearing with his ears Ezekiel is very unlike those who captivity war prophesied because they would not hear or see – Isa 6:10

WE ARE THE GATES

When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he asked them, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you received from God?" (1Cor 6:19)

If our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, then some of the temple design must contain principles we can apply to our lives as we live for the Lord. The temple in Ezekiel's prophecy is an appropriate one to think about in this regard. Much of it's description involves gates and entrances. The gates around the temple in Ezekiel's prophecy were there for the purpose of people coming in to worship the LORD. Each gate had a portico over it to protect the worshippers from the sun, wind and rain as they entered. The portico was a shelter from the outside weather. There were four gates around the temple courtyard allowing easy access for people to come and go from any direction.

As a temple of the LORD, we also need to have the doors of our hearts wide open for those who want to worship the LORD to be able to find him there. As people come to us to find the LORD, they need to find us accessible, open, and a shelter from the storms they face in their lives. We are not the final stop. It is God they need to find, but here and now, we are the gates through whom people can find him. Are we open and pointing the way to the LORD?

V.2 On which was a structure like a city to the south (ESV) implies that the temple is as large as a city. But, in order for that to occur, the mountain upon which the temple sits must be a plateau.

When Jesus manifests Himself in Jerusalem, with power, there will be a strong earthquake which will change the surrounding topography (Zech 14:4). It is at this time that Mount Zion will be transformed into an enormous plateau, on which the temple will be built, and from which divine rule will emanate (Mic 4:7).

V.3 The man in Ezekiel’s vision is Jesus. He will build the temple and rule from Zion (Zech 6:13).

V.5 etc. For architectural renderings of the third temple see: The Temple Of Ezekiel's Prophecy by Henry Sulley available from Logos at: http://www.logos.org.au

What did the gateway look like?

Sir Isaac Newton, the famous scientist who discovered gravity and documented the three laws of physics, also studied prophecy. One of his treasured subjects was the temple. His writing on this chapter can be found in Manuscript 434 at this link, where you will find his plan drawing of the gateway:

http://www.newtonproject.sussex.ac.uk/view/texts/normalized/THEM00079

40:2 In setting Ezekiel upon a ‘very high mountain’ we see the pattern of the way in which God showed John – Rev 21:10 – the ‘holy Jerusalem’. Whilst Ezekiel saw a pattern of a real temple that will be built as a place of worship for all nations these things are a pattern also of the glorification of the saints.

40:47  In saying that court was ‘foursquare’ we see that the temple that Ezekiel has been shown follows the pattern of the way that God constructs places of worship. The first occurrence relates to the tabernacle – Exo 27:1-21. We see it in Solomon’s temple – 1Kin 7:31 and finally in the city in Rev 21:16

Eze 40- 48

A common objection to the consistent literal interpretation of Ezekiel’s Temple vision in which Ezekiel also speaks of the “atonement,” kaphar (Eze 45:15,17,20), is that if this is literal it will require a return to the sacrificial system that Christ made obsolete. They argue that this is a heretical and blasphemous contradiction to the finished work of Christ as presented in Heb 10.

Concerning the vision of Ezekiel’s Temple, several other prophets affirmed its unconditional future reality and of a sacrificial system (Psa 65:4; Isa 2:2-3; Isa 56:7; Isa 66:20-23; Jer 33:17-18; Zech 14:16-21; Mal 3:3-4) in which Jesus the Messiah will be physically present instead of the Shechinah glory, there will be a new priestly order of Levites from the sons of Zadok instead of the Levites per se because they went astray (Eze 40:46; Eze 43:19; Eze 48:11), and a much larger Temple than Solomon’s (Eze 40:48-Eze 41:26).

With the exception of Eze 47, all the chapter references are so prominent regarding the new moons and Sabbaths, the appointed feasts, sin, guilt, burnt and grain offerings, blood sacrifices, an altar for the burnt and incense offerings, the boiled sacrifices, the Zadok priesthood that is to offer the fat and the blood, the Levitical priests that are to do the slaughtering of bulls and goats, but no lamb, for the burnt offerings, which is stated to be a sin offering to make an atonement, or reconciliation! This tells us sacrifices in the future will be without lambs, as the Lamb will have already been sacrificed!

In Eze 47:1-10, we read that fresh subterranean water will continuously flow from this Temple area in Jerusalem down to the Dead Sea with increasing volume as it sweeps down east to the Sea of Arabah, and west to the Mediterranean Sea. The Dead Sea is also referred to as the Salt Sea, the Sea of Arabah (Sea in the desert), or Eastern Sea, which was also the southern boundary of the Promised Land (Num 34:12). Zechariah confirms Ezekiel’s prophecies, and also references the Eastern Sea when Christ will return, splits the Mount Of Olives, half to the east, and half to the west, and how living waters will flow out of Jerusalem, half to the Eastern Sea (Dead Sea), and half to the Western Sea (Mediterranean Sea) - Zech 14:4,8-12 (RV).

In Heb 10, the thrust of Paul’s argument was that animal sacrifices could never take away sin. Paul was trying to show those who had put their stock in and over emphasized animal sacrifices, that it was Christ’s sacrifice that was the important one. Paul knew the day was coming when their Temple in Jerusalem would be no more and animal sacrifices would cease during their Age (Dan 12:11; Hos 3:4). This happened in 70 AD. Paul was dealing with his Age, and not about the Age to come in regards to animal sacrifices. Furthermore, we read right at the onset of the New Testament Age in Acts 3:21 from the Holy Spirit filled apostle Peter that when Jesus returns there will be a RESTITUTION of ALL things, “which God hath spoken by the mouth of ALL His holy prophets since the world (Age) began.” The animal sacrifices were suspended for a time, though the sacrifices of the Millennial Temple will NOT be a return to the Mosaic Law; it will be different.

The Old Testament period pointed forward, prophetically portraying the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. Animal sacrifices reinstated during the Millennium will look back in a retrospective and instructive way, commemorating an already accomplished salvation. Animal sacrifices would not remove sin anymore than the sacrifices did in Old Testament times, but they would remind and instruct the people of their sinful nature. Today, we observe the Lord’s Supper as a commemoration of our Lord’s costly sacrifice on the stake, but this will only be practiced, “until he comes” (1Cor 11:26). Animal sacrifices during the Millennium would certainly be a vivid and unforgettable reminder of the Lamb “led to the slaughter” (Isa 53:7), and of the cost of their redemption.

The presence of a Temple and purpose of the millennial sacrifices neither diminish the finished work of Messiah, nor do they violate the literal interpretation of these prophetic passages. Jews and Gentiles will unite once again, not to destroy the Temple (Christ), but to build it! The Millennial sacrifices will be the focus of all worship because during the Millennium, believers will look back at Messiah’s sacrifice and Yahweh’s sacrificial provision for them. It will serve as a daily reminder of their fallen state, and in addition, it will also be evidence of their belief that the Redeemer has come (Job 19:25-27; Psa 2:4-9). During Old Testament times, God demonstrated the perfection of His Law. During this present dispensation, He demonstrates the incomparable riches of His Grace, and in the Millennium, the people will experience both simultaneously.

During the Millennium, God will dwell among His people as He once did (Zech 8:3). Their relationship with Yahweh will be like it was with Israel in the Old Testament. For this reason, without the animal sacrifices Yahweh’s holiness would be defiled, as sin will still exist (cf. Rev 20:7). Yahweh gave the Scriptures to us. It is His written word. Not to believe the prophecies He gave to His prophets and His apostles who all wrote about a restoration of a Temple with a Priesthood and animal sacrifices is blasphemous and heretical because they all comprise Yahweh’s infallible Word!

A proper and consistent interpretation indicates that Ezekiel’s Temple is a literal Temple that will be built for the Lord’s literal Kingdom, literally here on earth when he literally returns. This Kingdom will last for 1000 years, with the Temple serving as the center of Divine government. After the 1000 years, there will be no more need for a Temple, a Priesthood, or animal sacrifices, as there will be no more sin and death, and God will be all in all (1Cor 15:24-28). Several of the pioneer brethren fought tooth and claw against the Laodicean Spirit of the Dowie-ites, and though false teachings are so entrenched that it is impossible to disband, we must still make attempts to preserve what is left and strengthen the things that remain.

40:22 The ascent by seven steps contrasts the six steps in Solomon’s temple. 1Kin 10:19

Ezekiel's Temple: A Fresh Look at Ezekiel's Temple by Harry Whittaker

www.christadelphianbooks.org/haw/ezek_temple/ch02.html

www.christadelphianbooks.org/haw/ezek_temple/ch03.html

www.christadelphianbooks.org/haw/ezek_temple/ch04.html ("8. ...Contrast Isa.60:1" on last pg should be Isa. 60:11).

(Whittaker believed Ezekiel 40-48 was pre-millennial and designed to show the Jews how they were to worship and serve God when their seventy years of exile were expired).

The Temple of Ezekiel's Prophecy by Henry Sulley, 1887

http://books.google.com/books?id=mgMUAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

(Sulley believed Ezekiel's Temple would be millennial).

1. the millennial kingdom (Rev 21:1-27;22:1-5), the millennial temple (Rev 21:22;John 2:19) - is this what we find in Ezekiel 40-48?

2. did Israel need a new code upon returning from Babylon as had no ark, no mercy seat, no day of atonement, no holy fire (Lam 2:6-9;Eze 40:4;44:5;Eze 43:10-11)?

3. can a prophecy primarily refer to one era yet echo another era, or can a prophecy be split into two parts (Isaiah 24,61; Daniel 2,8,11; Luke 21)?

4. is the law of Moses put to death (Matt 5:17-20;Heb 10:9;Gal 3:19,24-25)?

5. are literal expiatory sacrifices done away with by the sacrifice of Christ, is there a need for commemorative sacrifices, how are we to remember Christ's sacrifice (Eze 40:42;43:19-26;45:17,22;Heb 7:18-28;9:9,12,24-26,28;10:4,10,11,12,14,18;Eph 2:15;Col 2:14;Rom 10:4;Matt 26:29;Luke 22:16-19;1Cor 11:23-25;Zech 12:10)?

6. is the man with the brass appearance Christ in the flesh, is the flax a symbol of righteousness, is it the righteousness of the saints, is the man of brass appearance the prince (Eze 44:3), is it evidence of the millennial kingdom, is it evidence of Christ's sacrifice, is it evidence of an echo of the millennial kingdom (Eze 40:3;Rev 19:8)?

7. who or what is the altar in the millennial kingdom (Eze 40:46-47;Heb 13:10,15;Isa 19:19-21)?

Eze 40:47 - "the altar 'that was before'<6440>".

8. who will be the priests of millennial times (Eze 40:46;Heb 7:12;1Pet 2:5,9,10;Rev 1:5-6; 5:9-10;Rom 15:15-16)?

9. what are we to make of seeming animal sacrifices in the millennial age (e.g. Isa 19:19-25;56:6-7;60:6-7;Zech 14:16-19  could this be a feast of tabernacles without animal sacrifice?; Mal 3:1-4, etc.)?

10. there are no New Testament prophecies that make reference to animal sacrifices in the millennial kingdom.

11. in light of Christ's final sacrifice, should we interprete Old Test prophecies seemingly suggesting animal sacrifice (Gal 4:9) as better comprehended by those under the law, in a reframed modern New Covenant context (Joel 3:10;Isa 2:4;Mic 4:3) just as we substitute ancient tools of war and peace for modern?

12. might the suggestion of animal sacrifices be updated in the millennial kingdom era to be bread and wine (Luke 22:16,18), and might other "offerings" include "the sacrifice of praise" (Heb 13:15-16;Hos 14:2) and "living sacrifices" (Rom 12:1-2;Mark 12:33)?

13. what are we to make of seeming eternity of serving Levitical priests who sacrifice continually (Jer 33:18)?

14. As we read in Josh 9:23 words like "always", "ever" and "never" may have termination periods contingent upon one or more circumstances (such as the end of Levitical sacrifices due to the destruction of the temple and scattering of the Jews in 70 AD).

15. the Levites shall never fail to have to have a mediator (1Tim 2:5) and high priest (Heb 5:5-10) before God and that man is Jesus who offered his life.

16. the Levitical priesthood will include Gentiles as the sons of Abraham (Gal 3:27-29) so there will be a spiritual seed of Levi.

17. it would seem there is variation in measurements with normal cubits, long cubits (including a hand breadth), and reeds (Eze 40:5).

40:32  The eight steps here, combined with the six steps in verse :22 gives a total of fifteen steps. Maybe echoing the fifteen Psalms of degrees. 120-134

Eze 40 - 48   The details, whilst comprehensive, are not sufficient to enable the making of a model of the temple which Ezekiel describes. This is true of both the tabernacle and Solomon’s temple. This should cause us to reflect on why the description is given. The suggestion is that the detail is given, not to enable one to make a model, but rather the actual words used should be examined for their spiritual significance. This will be done by looking at the some of the same Hebrew words elsewhere in Scripture.  In previous comments over the years I have given some examples of the way words are used elsewhere.

40:4   Ezekiel had to both look and hear when the angel spoke. But, maybe, more importantly, he had to set his heart on what he heard and saw. The same is true for ourselves. It is not enough to just know what God has in store. It has to be in our heart. It has to be the driving force in our lives.

40:4       On other occasions when one is invited to behold with their eyes the reward is delayed – Deut 3:27, 34:4 or one is invited to look at the reward of the wicked 2Kin 7:2, Psa 91:8. Here Ezekiel s shown something that will be given to the righteous at the resurrection. It was not for the wicked men to whom he had been prophesying.

40:3    The “measuring reed” is seen again in a very similar context in Rev 21:15 where we see a picture of the kingdom of God centred in Jerusalem.

Eze 40:44

“And without the gate were the chambers of the inner court, which was at the side of the north gate; and their prospect was toward the south: one at the side of the east gate having the prospect toward the north.”