Confused about Ezekiel

[Ringo123]

I see that in Ezekial there is mention of a prince that offers a sin sacrifice in the Temple. Ive heard that most if not all Christians and Jews believe these verses (Ezekial 40...or there about) are messianic verses pertaining to the 3rd (millennial) Temple. Who is this prince and why would he offer a sin sacrifice? If Jesus was the once-and-for-all sacrifice, why would the sin sacrifice be brought back? And who is the prince if not the messiah?
Thank you for your response!

 

[skypair]

I see that in Ezekial there is mention of a prince that offers a sin sacrifice in the Temple. Ive heard that most if not all Christians and Jews believe these verses (Ezekial 40...or there about) are messianic verses pertaining to the 3rd (millennial) Temple. Who is this prince and why would he offer a sin sacrifice? If Jesus was the once-and-for-all sacrifice, why would the sin sacrifice be brought back? And who is the prince if not the messiah?
Thank you for your response!

There are 2 kingdoms yet to come, ringo .. Christ's Millennial (1000 year) Kingdom on earth (of which Ezek 40-46 speaks) and the Eternal Kingdom of God, the New Heavens and New Earth, Rev 21-22:5.

Christ's kingdom was known to Israel and was to be a kingdom of law with Messiah reigning as King. So when we look at Ezek 40-46, we see sacrifices reinstated. However, they will be like a memorial to Christ — much like we observe communion. Salvation, itself, will be just as it is in this church age except it will be belief or faith that sees the Truth.

I believe that the designation of "prince" 1) is about Christ and 2) signifies that He will become King also in the Eternal Kingdom of God (princes accede to become kings, right?). Yes, I think you have the right understanding of that.

skypair

 

[classicalhero]

The sacrifice in Ezekiel are looking back to what the redemptive work of Christ did.

 

[thankfulttt]

I see that in Ezekial there is mention of a prince that offers a sin sacrifice in the Temple. Ive heard that most if not all Christians and Jews believe these verses (Ezekial 40...or there about) are messianic verses pertaining to the 3rd (millennial) Temple. Who is this prince and why would he offer a sin sacrifice? If Jesus was the once-and-for-all sacrifice, why would the sin sacrifice be brought back? And who is the prince if not the messiah?
Thank you for your response!

Not all Christians believe it pertains to the 3rd (millennial) Temple. Why isn't it talking about Christ and the second Temple? Why would God have the Jews turn back to the beggarly elements of the Law, when Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of them.

Eze 40:46 And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him.

Eze 43:19 And thou shalt give to the priests the Levites that be of the seed of Zadok, which approach unto me, to minister unto me, saith the Lord GOD, a young bullock for a sin offering.

Eze 44:15 But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord GOD:

Eze 48:11 It shall be for the priests that are sanctified of the sons of Zadok; which have kept my charge, which went not astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray.

It was the sons of Zakok that took over when the second Temple was built.

Best regards, Terry

 

[Ringo123]

Please know that I am not trying to be confrontational!

How could this be the second temple? Arent these verses messianic? If so, why would Ezekiel give a prophecy about the end times/messianic age and then shift into a description about the temple? And these verses speak of a temple/covenant that will last "forever". Ive even read other Christian writers say that the actual second temple didn't fit the descriptions / dimensions listed in Ezekiel. (confused :o)

"David my servant". Both the KJ and NAS study bibles say this title refers to the messiah / Jesus.

Ezekiel 37
24 And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them

25 And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.

26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.

27 My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

28 And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.

Even John McArthur, who narrated my study bible, suggests this is the millennial temple.

In addition to being a very large and complex structure Ezekiel's temple differs in several very important ways from any previously existing Jewish temple. These have been catalogued by researcher John Schmitt, a Portland, Oregon Bible scholar, as follows:

The prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 40-48) describes in great detail a temple in Israel that is much too large to fit on the present Temple Mount site. The Temple of Ezekiel proper measures about 875 feet square, and it sits in the middle of a large consecrated area (See inset in diagram below). Ezekiel's temple is also very different in many details from any previous temples that have existed in Israel (or elsewhere). Therefore most Bible scholars believe there will one day exist in the Holy Land a Fourth or "Millennial" Temple.


Features Unique to Ezekiel's Temple
1.No wall of partition to exclude Gentiles (compare Ephesians 2:14) The Gentiles were previously welcome in the Outer Courts, but excluded from the inner courts on pain of death.

2.No Court of Women (compare Galatians 3:28 (Outer Court and Inner Court only)

No Laver (see Ezekiel 36:24-27, John 15:3)

No Table of Shewbread (see Micah 5:4, John 6:35)

No Lampstand or Menorah (see Isaiah 49:6, John 8:12)

No Golden Altar of Incense (Zechariah 8:20-23, John 14:6)

No Veil (Isaiah 25:6-8, Matthew 27:51)

No Ark of the Covenant (Jeremiah 3:16, John 10:30-33)

If the prince is the messiah...why would Jesus offer a sacrifice when he was perfect and never sinned?

Ezekiel 46
20 Then said he unto me, This is the place where the priests shall boil the trespass offering and the sin offering, where they shall bake the meat offering; that they bear them not out into the utter court, to sanctify the people.

This sounds like more than just a memorial to me. It sounds like this offering is actually accomplishing something. I could be wrong though!

 

[JM]

I see that in Ezekial there is mention of a prince that offers a sin sacrifice in the Temple. Ive heard that most if not all Christians and Jews believe these verses (Ezekial 40...or there about) are messianic verses pertaining to the 3rd (millennial) Temple. Who is this prince and why would he offer a sin sacrifice? If Jesus was the once-and-for-all sacrifice, why would the sin sacrifice be brought back? And who is the prince if not the messiah?
Thank you for your response!

You have the answer in your question brother Ringo. Jesus Christ is the once and for all sacrifice for sin typified in the old Mosaic covenant. There will be no future Temple.

Yours in the Lord,

jm

 

[Ringo123]

Then what temple is it???

 

[JM]

Jesus, The True Temple | Allsufficientgrace

 

[JLR1300]

After reading Hebrews I don't see how we can think God will start up the sacrificial system again....

Hebrews 10 says
10 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. 4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins....
.......9 Then he (Jesus) said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first (covenant) to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest (Jesus) had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy....

......“Their sins and lawless acts
I will remember no more.”

18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary."

He who offers an animal sacrifice prior to Jesus' sacrifice anticipates and appreciates what Christ will do... He who offers an animal sacrifice subsequent to Jesus' sacrifice belittles and insults Christ.

 

[skypair]

He who offers an animal sacrifice prior to Jesus' sacrifice anticipates and appreciates what Christ will do... He who offers an animal sacrifice subsequent to Jesus' sacrifice belittles and insults Christ.

"Not one jot or tittle shall in any wise be removed until all be fulfilled." All will not be fulfilled until the end of the Millennial Kingdom in which all will be either brought into Christ or destroyed "with great noise and .. a fervent heat." 2Pet 3:10

Ezek 40-46 and many other promises will be fulfilled and can be fulfilled only by Christ coming again in glory to receive His earthly kingdom. Fie on those who don't believe the Bible!

skypair

 

[thankfulttt]

I see that in Ezekial there is mention of a prince that offers a sin sacrifice in the Temple. Ive heard that most if not all Christians and Jews believe these verses (Ezekial 40...or there about) are messianic verses pertaining to the 3rd (millennial) Temple. Who is this prince and why would he offer a sin sacrifice? If Jesus was the once-and-for-all sacrifice, why would the sin sacrifice be brought back? And who is the prince if not the messiah?
Thank you for your response!

The idea of a third Temple only works if Ezekiel's Temple is not the second Temple. Ezekiel says over and over again that the sons of Zadok will be in charge of the temple he describes. As it turned out, the sons of Zadok were in charge of the second temple. Have not see any proof that the second Temple was not Ezekiel's described Temple.