August 27 Read Ezekiel 40-43 (Ezekiel 40) (40:1) In the twenty-fifth year ... the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was captured identifies April 28, 573 B.C. This begins a section which contains the vision of the New Jerusalem (40:1-48:35). The following chapters seem to be a rehashing of the book of Leviticus to some extent. This seems to be almost a NEW Exodus that is happening. Instead of telling Moses how to build the Tabernacle, God is telling Ezekiel about how to build a temple. Then God goes on to who can be his priest, how to cleanse the Temple Altar, when to offer sacrifices, the feast and etc. (40:2) These visions of restoration are millennial. As the prophecy unfolds, it becomes clear that the postexilic community never achieved such splendor. The N.T. counterpart of this passage may be found in Rev. 21; 22. Why did Ezekiel receive such a vision? God wanted Ezekiel and those who received His vision to see the great splendor that He has planned for the New Jerusalem during the reign of the Messiah. (4:3) This vision is very similar to that of John in Rev. 11:1; 21:15-17. The man seen by Ezekiel is described similarly to the one seen earlier (1:26, 27), to the angel who appeared to Daniel (Dan. 10:6), and to the glorified Christ (Rev. 1:15). In other words, this is either a theophany, an appearance of the preincarnate Christ, or at least a divine messenger. (40:5) The east gate of the outer court is described with intricate detail. While many interpreters advocate that the whole section is symbolic, the careful detail, plus the fact that the plans are architecturally sound, suggests a literal structure. The last nine chapters of Ezekiel have posed numerous problems for expositors. Five explanations have been offered: (1) Some feel these chapters describe the Solomonic Temple before its destruction in 586 B.C. This is not possible because of disagreement in detail with the accounts in the books of Kings and Chronicles. (2) Some hold it is a description of the restoration Temple completed in the sixth century B.C. This view is also untenable, because the descriptions do not tally. (3) Others maintain that the chapters portray an ideal Temple never realized. This position does not explain why the portrayal is presented, nor why there is so much detail. (4) Still another view is the claim that the picture is one of the Church and its blessings in this age. This view does not explain the symbolism, nor why large areas of Christian doctrine are omitted. And (5) the preferable interpretation is that Ezekiel gives a picture of the millennial Temple. Judging from the broad context of the prophecy (the time subsequent to Israels regathering and conversion) and the testimony of other Scripture (Isa 66; Ezek 6; 14), this interpretation is in keeping with Gods prophetic program for the millennium. The Church is not in view here, but rather it is a prophecy for the consummation of Israels history on earth. (Ezekiel 41) (41:18) These palm trees remind me of the procession on Palm Sunday. They are mentioned several times in this section of Ezekiel as decorations of the new temple. I wonder if these cherubim represent Jesus? - in the next verse they will say that the two faces are human and a lion - The Lion of Judah who is a man? (Ezekiel 42) (42:13) North that usually means destruction and evil now comes (in the new Temple) to be Holy - Thus there will be no more destruction and strife. (Ezekiel 43) (43:1-2) Nineteen years after the vision in which he had witnessed Gods departure, Ezekiel in this vision saw the glory of ... God return the way it had departed (10:4, 18-22; 11:22-25). The return of God in the millennial age to the new temple is much like the vision of John, in which the heavenly voice declares that the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God (Rev. 21:3). (43:11) The temple is pivotal to understanding Gods message to the people. It represents both continuity with the past, as the divinely appointed sanctuary for worship, and the interruption of the superficial and distorted worship of former days. Israels sin brought the destruction of the former temple, and Gods mercy, i.e., His grace, will restore the temple after Israels repentance. The predominant theme of the law governing the temple is holiness. The millennial temple is one of seven temples that are presented in the Bible. The temple of Ezek. 40-48 falls into this context of significant places of worship. Pictures 1. Man with measuring rod – from chapter 40 2. New Jerusalem Till Tomorrow Allen
Posted on: Wed, 27 Aug 2014 09:23:13 +0000
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