Read 250.) Ezekiel 40:1-44:3. Can I be honest? This and the next reading are among the most difficult in all the Bible. I love the Word of God and I love reading the Word of God… But I love some parts more than others. This is a tough read, as you will see. What can really make the entire last 9 chapters of Ezekiel to come alive is if you can conduct an online search for artists' renderings of all that we will read about next.
Let's start with some preliminaries. God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai in Arabia powerful visions whereby he was able to direct the manufacture and construction of every aspect and piece of Israel's Tabernacle in the Wilderness, says Exodus 26:30 in 1446 BC. That Tabernacle served its purpose for Israel until the dedication of King Solomon's magnificent Temple in Jerusalem. Solomon ascended to Israel's throne in 970 BC and in the 4th year of his reign, he commenced its construction, which went on for 7 ½ years, so that we can put its completion and dedication at about 958 BC. We read of these in I Kings 6:1 and 37+38. That was the temple that Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon burned and tore down in 586 BC. The details of that temple had been given to King David, Solomon's father, in a vision from God, so we are told in I Chronicles 28:11, 12 and 19. Here now, we read of yet another temple, one that has never yet been constructed before, and this one is given in detail to Ezekiel in a vision in what is calculated to be about 571 BC and the very end of his ministry if not his life, as he would be in his mid-60's by now. This temple and everything about it eclipse by far anything Moses or David saw for the Tabernacle or Temple that came before. Having never been built, when and where will it be? Revelation 21:22 says it will not be in the Holy City, New Jerusalem of eternity!
Chapter 40 tells us of the temple area and makes it clear it will be in Israel and on a very high mountain. In the Millennium, Jerusalem will be elevated and become the premier city of all the world in that time. We then read of the east-facing gate v.6, inside that gate was an outer court v.17, from there we read of the north and south facing gates v.20. From this outer court, Ezekiel is led to an inner court thru a south gate v.28. There would be animal sacrifices at this temple with rooms for their preparation at each of the 3 gates. From 40:48, we come to the temple itself. It had both a Holy 41:1, and a Most Holy place v.3. Chapter 43 then tells of how the Glory of the Lord returns to Israel. He'd seen the glory depart in chapter 10, some 21 years before. It is here in chapter 43 we learn this will be an eternal temple, and so it will also reside on the new earth! Do conduct an online search for efforts to depict this in all its magnificence. It's what the Book is all about!
ForeverKingdom,
Harold F Crowell
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