Ezekiel 41-42

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Ezekiel’s Vision of the Millennial Temple - part 2

The details of Ezekiel’s Temple emphasize that it is not a symbolic description of the present Christian church.
The details of Ezekiel’s Temple emphasize that it is a literal description of the future Millennial Temple.

In chapter 40 we saw that the Temple in Ezekiel’s vision does not correspond to any Jewish temple that has already been built in history, including Zerubbabel’s smaller Temple, and the Temple built by Herod which was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. Can you identify two characteristics of the Temple described here in Ezekiel that would make it uniquely different from the Millennial Temple?
Some Christians believe that the Temple in Ezekiel’s vision represents the Christian Church today. List some of the reasons that make this view difficult to support biblically.
Describe the topographical changes that will take place when the Lord returns. What causes these changes? Where are the predictions of such changes to the land given in Scripture? Will these changes affect the location and arrangement of the millennial temple complex?

There is no ark seen in Ezekiel’s Temple, nor is any veil described to block the way into the inner sanctuary. These items will not be needed in the Millennial Temple.
The basic problem with the view that the Temple of Ezekiel’s vision represents the Christian church is that it assumes that God has no plans for a restored Israel in the future, and that there is no future earthly kingdom of Christ known as the Millennium. In this view, therefore, there can’t be a future literal temple in Jerusalem in the literal land of Israel. However, Romans 11 does predict a restored Israel in the future and Revelation 20 does predict a literal earthly, 1000 year kingdom of Christ when He returns. And remember, these predictions were made after the Church had already been formed!
Ezekiel 38:19 and Zechariah 14:4-10 describe the actions of earthquakes, when mountains, valleys and plains will be moved, leveled and/or raised. Yes, these topographical modifications could affect the exact location and arrangement of the millennial temple complex.

In answer 1 (above), it is noted that there will be no need for an ark or a veil in the Millennial Temple. Discuss the reasons that these two items will not be needed in the temple at that future time.

Would you like to stand on the present Temple Mount in Jerusalem and contemplate the fulfillment of the prophecies given to Ezekiel in his visions? Pray that the Lord would make it possible, if it is His will, for you to travel to Israel to see and experience the land of the Bible – past, present and future!

“The north chambers and the south chambers . . . are the holy chambers where the priests . . . shall lay the most holy offerings – the grain offering, the sin offering, and the trespass offering – for the place is holy.” From Ezekiel 42:13-14