What think ye of Ezekiel's Temple?

[Hiscosmicgoldfish3]

Some Christian interpretations of Ezekiel's temple are:
1. it is the temple that Zerubbabel should have built;
2. a literal temple to be rebuilt during the millennial reign of Christ,
3. a temple which is symbolic of the worship of God by the Christian church today,
4. or a symbol of the future and eternal reign of God.

It's a puzzle to me. Such a detailed description - like an architects plans. My guess is that number 1 is most likely: it is the temple that Zerubbabel should have built. There are problems with number 2: Isaiah states that God does not want animal sacrifice - so that would apply to any future as well, unless we want to accept dispensationalism, and I don't - that would mean that Isaiah was mistaken, and the atonement of Jesus is invalid - I don't believe that.
There's also the problem that I don't believe in a millennial reign of Christ.
Option three doesn't seem likely - why would it be a symbol of worship? What's it got to do with Christian worship - a naff idea, in my opinion.
Option 4 is the same as option 3.

 

[Chinchilla]

There will be temple where Anticrhist will sit and declare himself God don't forget that one .

 

[Hiscosmicgoldfish3]

There will be temple where Anticrhist will sit and declare himself God don't forget that one .

that's another option.

 

[ralliann]

There will be temple where Anticrhist will sit and declare himself God don't forget that one .

Have you ever considered the coins which were minted by the leaders of the revolt against Rome? The first one Somon ben Giora (when the temple was destroyed) did mint a coin proclaiming the redemption of Israel on one side. On the other side an image of himself as a star above the mercy seat in the temple. Evidently he said he need not God's help , nor his hindrance. He Also was proclaimed by some as messiah.

 

[keras]

The Third Temple – Beit HaMikdesh

Ezekiel 40,41 & 42 Ezekiel measures the future Temple and its precincts.

Ezekiel 43 to 48 Details of the Temple furnishings and the Land divisions, etc.

Haggai 2:6-9 In a little while, I shall shake the heavens, the earth, the sea and all the nations. I will fill this House with their treasures. This latter House will be greater than former. In this place, I shall grant prosperity and peace.

[The Second Temple was not greater than Solomon’s Temple]

Zechariah 1:16-17 These are the words of the Lord; I have returned to Jerusalem with compassion, My House is to be rebuilt there. My cities will again brim with prosperity, once again the Lord will comfort Zion and make Jerusalem the city of His choice.

2 Thess 2:3-4 The Return of Jesus cannot come until the man doomed to destruction is revealed and enthrones himself in God’s Temple, claiming to be God.

[What could be clearer than that? The Temple must be rebuilt before the Tribulation.]

Daniel 9:27....He will put a stop to the sacrifices and offerings, then will set up an abomination in the Holy place.

Malachi 3:1 I am about to send My messenger to clear a path before Me. Suddenly, the Lord, whom you seek, will come into His Temple. The messenger of the Covenant, whom you desire, will come to you. Reference REB, NIV some verses abridged


Jewish Midrash sources say that the messenger is the Messiah ben Joseph, who will be the leader of the 10 tribes of Israel when they return to the Land and he will instigate the rebuilding of the Temple. Jeremiah 30:21

Further on, it is mentioned again in Haggai 2:21, the shaking and overthrowing of kings and how the Lord will break the power of the heathen realms. As we see in verses 6-9 this happens before the rebuilding and therefore, the regathering of His people.

It is likely that the Lord will use the next prophesied event, the Day of the Lord’s vengeance and wrath, centered on the Middle East, to ‘break the power of the heathen realms’. This will enable His people, faithful Christian Israel to settle into the Land of Greater Israel and build the Temple.


It is not possible, at present for the Jewish State of Israel to build anything on the Temple mount.
1/ They have handed control of the area to the Muslims.

2/ Any move to start construction would trigger a war.

3/ Orthodox Jews, especially Ultra Orthodox, are forbidden or dare not go onto the Mount, for fear of stepping onto the place of the Holy of Holies.

4/ Atheist Jews [half the population] are not interested or don’t want a Temple.

But this will happen:
Zechariah 6:15 Men from far away will come and work on the rebuilding of God’s Temple. This will come about if you listen to and obey your God.

Ezekiel 43:4 The glory of the Lord comes into the temple via the East gate.

 

[ralliann]

The Third Temple – Beit HaMikdesh

Ezekiel 40,41 & 42 Ezekiel measures the future Temple and its precincts.

Ezekiel 43 to 48 Details of the Temple furnishings and the Land divisions, etc.

Haggai 2:6-9 In a little while, I shall shake the heavens, the earth, the sea and all the nations. I will fill this House with their treasures. This latter House will be greater than former. In this place, I shall grant prosperity and peace.

[The Second Temple was not greater than Solomon’s Temple]

Zechariah 1:16-17 These are the words of the Lord; I have returned to Jerusalem with compassion, My House is to be rebuilt there. My cities will again brim with prosperity, once again the Lord will comfort Zion and make Jerusalem the city of His choice.

2 Thess 2:3-4 The Return of Jesus cannot come until the man doomed to destruction is revealed and enthrones himself in God’s Temple, claiming to be God.

[What could be clearer than that? The Temple must be rebuilt before the Tribulation.]

Daniel 9:27....He will put a stop to the sacrifices and offerings, then will set up an abomination in the Holy place.

Malachi 3:1 I am about to send My messenger to clear a path before Me. Suddenly, the Lord, whom you seek, will come into His Temple. The messenger of the Covenant, whom you desire, will come to you. Reference REB, NIV some verses abridged


Jewish Midrash sources say that the messenger is the Messiah ben Joseph, who will be the leader of the 10 tribes of Israel when they return to the Land and he will instigate the rebuilding of the Temple. Jeremiah 30:21

Further on, it is mentioned again in Haggai 2:21, the shaking and overthrowing of kings and how the Lord will break the power of the heathen realms. As we see in verses 6-9 this happens before the rebuilding and therefore, the regathering of His people.

It is likely that the Lord will use the next prophesied event, the Day of the Lord’s vengeance and wrath, centered on the Middle East, to ‘break the power of the heathen realms’. This will enable His people, faithful Christian Israel to settle into the Land of Greater Israel and build the Temple.


It is not possible, at present for the Jewish State of Israel to build anything on the Temple mount.
1/ They have handed control of the area to the Muslims.

2/ Any move to start construction would trigger a war.

3/ Orthodox Jews, especially Ultra Orthodox, are forbidden or dare not go onto the Mount, for fear of stepping onto the place of the Holy of Holies.

4/ Atheist Jews [half the population] are not interested or don’t want a Temple.

But this will happen:
Zechariah 6:15 Men from far away will come and work on the rebuilding of God’s Temple. This will come about if you listen to and obey your God.

Ezekiel 43:4 The glory of the Lord comes into the temple via the East gate.

Here is what bothers me. People say the temple in Ezekiel is so detailed it cannot be used a spiritual imagery. Yet, The temple institute is preparing for a third temple. Does anyone ask whether they are making things according to the detail of Ezekiel? But it is those very details that everyone says it has never been built so it must be future.
So far there is no evidence that plans are being made for a temple to match the descriptions of Ezekiel. So whats up with that?

 

[keras]

Here is what bothers me. People say the temple in Ezekiel is so detailed it cannot be used a spiritual imagery. Yet, The temple institute is preparing for a third temple. Does anyone ask whether they are making things according to the detail of Ezekiel? But it is those very details that everyone says it has never been built so it must be future.
So far there is no evidence that plans are being made for a temple to match the descriptions of Ezekiel. So whats up with that?

It won't be only the Jews who will build the new Temple.
It will be the new citizens in all of the holy Land, the new nation of Beulah. Isaiah 62:1-5

 

[ProtectionET]

2. a literal temple to be rebuilt during the millennial reign of Christ,

It can not be said "will be rebuilt". This Temple has never existed on earth, this Temple differs from the First and Second Temples.

As you can see, there are drawings and schemes of Ezekiel's Temple, the prophecy of Ezekiel can really be realized.

This Temple does not deny the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. On the contrary, all sacrifices in the future Temple will point to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, just as all the Old Testament sacrifices indicated the future sacrifice of Jesus Christ. But in the new Temple the order of sacrifice will be changed: there will be no more evening sacrifice (Jesus Christ died in the evening), there will be no more sacrifices of the Passover lambs. Obviously, the largest number of sacrifices in the Temple will be peaceful sacrifices.Visitors to the temple will eat the meat of these peaceful sacrifices, which will be cooked in the kitchens. Twenty-four refectory rooms for the Israelites, as well as four more refectory for the Levites, are located on the outer court of the Temple.

Especially it should be noted that the location of the Messianic Temple in accordance with the prophecy of Ezekiel is in the Judean Desert.

Probably, this Temple will be built during the Great Tribulation, and this will be the event that will serve as the cessation of the Great Tribulation. This Temple is the meeting place of the "elect from the four winds."

 

[Hiscosmicgoldfish3]

Probably, this Temple will be built during the Great Tribulation, and this will be the event that will serve as the cessation of the Great Tribulation. This Temple is the meeting place of the "elect from the four winds."

Personally, I do not believe that the earth continues after the return of Jesus. Jesus said that his kingdom was not of this world. And in various places in the gospels, Jesus says - end of this world, and he doesn't correct the disciples when they ask him: about the end of the world.
I believe that the earth is destroyed. The elect are gathered out of the world by the angels, after the tares have been removed. The meeting place of the elect would be a new heaven and earth - combined, in my opinion - a place where there is no more predation, no more death, as says Isaiah.

 

[Biblewriter]

This question is explicitly answered in the opening verses of Ezekiel 43:

"1 Afterward he brought me to the gate, the gate that faces toward the east. 2 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory. 3 It was like the appearance of the vision which I saw--like the vision which I saw when I came to destroy the city. The visions were like the vision which I saw by the River Chebar; and I fell on my face. 4 And the glory of the LORD came into the temple by way of the gate which faces toward the east. 5 The Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the temple. 6 Then I heard Him speaking to me from the temple, while a man stood beside me. 7 And He said to me, 'Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever.'" Ezekiel 43:1-7a

 

[BABerean2]

7 And He said to me, 'Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever.'" Ezekiel 43:1-7a

One thousand years is not "forever".

Based on 2 Peter 3:10-13, this rotten, sin-cursed world does not last "forever".

Therefore, this temple must represent a temple in another location.

.

 

[ralliann]

This question is explicitly answered in the opening verses of Ezekiel 43:

"1 Afterward he brought me to the gate, the gate that faces toward the east. 2 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory. 3 It was like the appearance of the vision which I saw--like the vision which I saw when I came to destroy the city. The visions were like the vision which I saw by the River Chebar; and I fell on my face. 4 And the glory of the LORD came into the temple by way of the gate which faces toward the east. 5 The Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the temple. 6 Then I heard Him speaking to me from the temple, while a man stood beside me. 7 And He said to me, 'Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever.'" Ezekiel 43:1-7a

Isa 66:1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
Ac 7:49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?

 

[icxn]

Isa 66:1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
Ac 7:49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?

Finally! Someone who gets it!

The only 'place' that in spirit and in truth (John 4:24) is called a temple (1 Corinthians 6:19) and the abode of God (John 14:23) is man. This temple is built through the practice of God's commandments. The measurements are symbolic of Christian virtues and knowledge about God. The three parts of this temple correspond to the three parts that make up man: body, soul and spirit. The sacrifices offered in this temple are purity and chastity (dove), holiness (pigeon), desire for God and heavenly things (goat), meditations on scripture and how to put it to practice (sheep) and love for God and neighbor (bull).

 

[Hiscosmicgoldfish3]

Finally! Someone who gets it!

The only 'place' that in spirit and in truth (John 4:24) is called a temple (1 Corinthians 6:19) and the abode of God (John 14:23) is man. This temple is built through the practice of God's commandments. The measurements are symbolic of Christian virtues and knowledge about God. The three parts of this temple correspond to the three parts that make up man: body, soul and spirit. The sacrifices offered in this temple are purity and chastity (dove), holiness (pigeon), desire for God and heavenly things (goat), meditations on scripture and how to put it to practice (sheep) and love for God and neighbor (bull).

Why make it into an elaborate Temple? Why not just spell it out as you have done? - in the original? I can't accept that it is a literal Temple, on the earth, in the future, for various reasons, but the biggest reason is that it goes against Isaiah and his saying that God does not want animal sacrifices.

 

[ralliann]

Why make it into an elaborate Temple? Why not just spell it out as you have done? - in the original? I can't accept that it is a literal Temple, on the earth, in the future, for various reasons, but the biggest reason is that it goes against Isaiah and his saying that God does not want animal sacrifices.

Why ? It is a spiritual house (household of God), so imagery is used.
Why use parables???
The mystery hidden....
*The gospel
Mt 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mt 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
* The law
De 29:4 Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.
Eze 12:2 Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.
*The prophet Ezekiel
Eze 20:49 Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?

Mt 13:34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:

Mt 13:35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.u 8:10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
Here is what we understand......
1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

 

[icxn]

Why make it into an elaborate Temple? Why not just spell it out as you have done? - in the original?

For the same reason Christ spoke in parables.

- EDIT -

It looks like ralliann beat me to it.

I can't accept that it is a literal Temple, on the earth, in the future, for various reasons, but the biggest reason is that it goes against Isaiah and his saying that God does not want animal sacrifices.

I agree, God doesn't want literal animal sacrifices. They were just a type, not the truth.

 

[ralliann]

For the same reason Christ spoke in parables.

- EDIT -

It looks like ralliann beat me to it.


I agree, God doesn't want literal animal sacrifices. They were just a type, not the truth.

LOL, looks like we are on the same page so to speak.
Deuteronomy 29 and thirty speak about this about this as well.
De 29:28 And the LORD rooted them out of their land in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as it is this day.
29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
1 And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee,
2 And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;
3 That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.
4 If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee:
5 And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers.
6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.

Lu 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

Eze 6:9 And they that escape of you shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, which hath departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols: and they shall lothe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.

 

[Hiscosmicgoldfish3]

Finally! Someone who gets it!

The only 'place' that in spirit and in truth (John 4:24) is called a temple (1 Corinthians 6:19) and the abode of God (John 14:23) is man. This temple is built through the practice of God's commandments. The measurements are symbolic of Christian virtues and knowledge about God. The three parts of this temple correspond to the three parts that make up man: body, soul and spirit. The sacrifices offered in this temple are purity and chastity (dove), holiness (pigeon), desire for God and heavenly things (goat), meditations on scripture and how to put it to practice (sheep) and love for God and neighbor (bull).

seems like the most credible solution so far. Still, how many chapters are there in Ezekiel describing that Temple? - given that so many will end up mis-interpreting it?

 

[ralliann]

Finally! Someone who gets it!

The only 'place' that in spirit and in truth (John 4:24) is called a temple (1 Corinthians 6:19) and the abode of God (John 14:23) is man. This temple is built through the practice of God's commandments. The measurements are symbolic of Christian virtues and knowledge about God. The three parts of this temple correspond to the three parts that make up man: body, soul and spirit. The sacrifices offered in this temple are purity and chastity (dove), holiness (pigeon), desire for God and heavenly things (goat), meditations on scripture and how to put it to practice (sheep) and love for God and neighbor (bull).

Do you see anything there specific to Israel's future repentance? I am thinking Ezekiel includes all Israel there? Curious your views on that.

 

[Danoh]

Some Christian interpretations of Ezekiel's temple are:
1. it is the temple that Zerubbabel should have built;
2. a literal temple to be rebuilt during the millennial reign of Christ,
3. a temple which is symbolic of the worship of God by the Christian church today,
4. or a symbol of the future and eternal reign of God.

It's a puzzle to me. Such a detailed description - like an architects plans. My guess is that number 1 is most likely: it is the temple that Zerubbabel should have built. There are problems with number 2: Isaiah states that God does not want animal sacrifice - so that would apply to any future as well, unless we want to accept dispensationalism, and I don't - that would mean that Isaiah was mistaken, and the atonement of Jesus is invalid - I don't believe that.
There's also the problem that I don't believe in a millennial reign of Christ.
Option three doesn't seem likely - why would it be a symbol of worship? What's it got to do with Christian worship - a naff idea, in my opinion.
Option 4 is the same as option 3.

Regarding your point number 2 as to what Isaiah said - one of us is misinterpreting his words.

For we read of accounts like the following many centuries after Isaiah...

Luke 2:21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 2:22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; 2:23 (As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord; ) 2:24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

And some 30 years after that...

Matthew 8:1 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. 8:2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 8:3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 8:4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

That "gift" there?

Leviticus 14:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 14:2 This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest: 14:3 And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper; 14:4 Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: 14:5 And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water: 14:6 As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water: 14:7 And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.

And so on...

Rom. 5:6-8.