Join our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/2183117951984132/?source_id=181918175166472

September 9th

The bible reading today is in Ezekiel chapters 40,41. This final and great vision of the prophet is recorded in Chapters 40-48... to the end of this Old Testament scroll. It’s dated as the 25th year of the 70 years of Judah’s exile in Babylon. 14 years after the final assault on the city and Temple of Jerusalem.

This final vision/prophesy from God to Ezekiel took place at least 10 years after the preceding oracles. That must mean that God was using the prophet to preach old sermons (during that decade ) that still had application to the children who were growing to a maturity to understand God’s words and act upon them.

From the dating in the text, it seems possible that this vision was introduced to the congregation on the day of Passover. Whether they were actually observing the feast or not, the people would have at least been thinking about their deliverance from Egypt at the mighty hand of God. And that would have been of great encouragement to the Judeans, giving them a boost in faith that God would fulfill His purposes for their exile and complete His will for the nation of Israel in the messianic kingdom.

In our reading today Ezekiel makes his second visionary visit to Jerusalem. We read of his first in chapters 8-11. He saw the Temple profaned by God’s people and he saw the spiritual glory of God depart the Temple Mount.

At this visionary visit to Jerusalem, at the end of Ezekiel’s ministry, he saw the actual Temple, and the glory of God return to Mount Zion.

And Ezekiel said...“When God brought me there, behold, there was a “man” whose appearance was like bronze, with a linen cord and a measuring reed in his hand. And he was standing in the gateway.”

‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭40:3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The Father transported Ezekiel to Mount Moriah in Jerusalem. And when Ezekiel got there the Lord Jesus was there. His appearance was like that of brilliant shiny bronze. Jesus was there to be Ezekiel’s guide through the vision.

“And the man said to me, “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 to you. Declare all that you see to the house of Israel.”

‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭40:4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Jesus told the prophet to pay close attention to what he would see and hear. Because it would be his job to declare all that he experienced there to the house of Israel in exile. Therefore, all the numbers and all the details of the new Temple that would be built was real, not just spiritual or symbolic.

This message about the new Temple in Jerusalem would be very important to the Israelis. It would confirm previous oracles that predicted a restoration of the nation of Israel in their land and in their beautiful city on a hill.

An interesting note to me...Some read this historical prophesy about Israel’s restoration to their land and their place of worship with a question...”When Ezra led Israel to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, did it look like the one prophesied of by Ezekiel’s vision?

Answer: No

Then....when Herod built the magnificent Temple structure for the Jews in Jerusalem during his rule in Judea, did it look like the one prophesied of by Ezekiel’s vision?

Answer: No

So here is where I carefully stand...The Temple described here must relate to the Millennial Kingdom age of the 1000 yr reign of Christ upon the earth.

“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be released for a little while.

Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also, I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God (the martyrs), and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands.

They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead (those who died in their sins, unforgiven and unsaved ) did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭20:1-5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

It is my belief (for now), that the Temple that Jesus showed and described in such perfect detail to Ezekiel, was the Temple of the Revelation 20 Millennial age. The priests and sacrifices offered there would be “memorials” looking back at the true perfect sacrifice for sin...the cross of Jesus. Jesus told his disciples that he wouldn't partake of the communion cup until he shared it with them in the coming Kingdom. So, like the Temple would memorialize the perfect sacrifice for sin, so would the broken bread and the cup of the fruit of the vine.

One thing is for sure, Jesus tells Us, just as He told the prophet, pay attention to what you hear and see. This is coming...I am coming...and it won't be Babylon or any other nation or king that will rule the earth. I will rule from Jerusalem and you who believe Me will rule with Me.

Have a great day