Ezekiel's Temple- a Picture

[Gail]

Here is a video showing what the temple Ezekiel described looks like:

 

 

[8thdaypriest]

Good picture Gail.  Thanks. 

SDA exegesis relegates Ezekiel's Temple to "what might have been" IF Israel had returned fully to the LORD. 

What do you believe it symbolized?  Or is it going to be reality one day?

[phkrause]

That was pretty interesting. Reading the next few chapters, it seems that this was to be the building or rebuilding of the temple! This is 25 years after Babylon had taken them into captivity and had destroyed the temple. Than again, being that it was a vision, it might've been symbolic of something else?? There's a professor at AUC, that is very versed in D&R, maybe he has some insight to Ezekiel! Also maybe Kevin knows what this could be?

[Gail]

I would love more information on this particular temple in the vision, what reason the vision was given to Ezekiel and what it represents. It could have shown "what might have been," as Rachel mentioned. It surely was beautiful.

[JoeMo]

If one follows Ezekiel through to the end of the book, it's easy to think that he might be describibg the Temple to be built in Jerusalem after the second Coming or maybe even after the Millennium.  The description of the river in Chapter 47 seals it for me.  But that's just my opinion.

[Gail]

That's a thought. I thought that Revelation says that there won't be a temple in the new earth because God Himself would be there. But I am interested in that river, too.

[8thdaypriest]

The New Jerusalem does not come down from Heaven to earth, until AFTER the Gog/Magog Battle.  That leaves a lot of time between the redeemed returning to the earth (to "rebuild the waste places") and the "rest of the dead" being raised as "nations in the four corners of the earth", and the NJ finally coming down to the earth which has been cleansed of all sin. 

Where do the redeemed of Israel worship during all this time? 

Isaiah described people from "the nations" coming up to "the House of the LORD" to worship and to learn "His ways".  (Isaiah Cpt 2)

I personally believe that Ezekiel's Temple will be this "House of the LORD". 

 

[8thdaypriest]

I think we all agree that the earthly Tabernacle was symbolic of Christ, and of what He would be - and do.  It was also symbolic of Heaven itself - the "true Tabernacle", symbolic of what is going on in Heaven. 

In 41:22 the alter in the "inner court" is "of wood".  This is not the Alter of Incense inside the first apartment.  This is the alter in the court.  QUESTION:  How could they burn sacrifices on an alter made of wood?  This is one place where I see symbolism.  The alter "of wood" may represent the wooden cross. 

Just a thought....

 

[8thdaypriest]

I noticed that the Alter of Sacrifice is cleansed for 7 days. 

43:26  "'Seven days you shall make atonement for the alter and purify it, and so consecrate it.  v.27  'When these days are over it shall be, on the eighth day and thereafter, that the priests shall offer your burnt offerings and your peace offerings on the alter; and I will accept you,' says the LORD."  

Jesus ascended to Heaven 40 days after His resurrection.  Ten days later the Spirit was poured upon the waiting disciples.  Could it be that Jesus ascended, was welcomed joyously for 2 days, then entered upon the 7 days of consecration, finally beginning His ministry as High Priest on the 8th day, which would have been Pentecost. 

Jesus took people with Him when He returned to Heaven.  They became priests. 

44:9 is very interesting. 

"Thus says the LORD, 'No foreigner, uncircumcised in heart or uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter My sanctuary, including any foreigner who is among the children of Israel.'"

If the Temple REPRESENTS "Heaven itself" then this would fit.  No one "uncircumcised in heart" could (or will) enter Heaven itself.  And no one in mortal flesh could/will enter there.  Those who enter Heaven must have immortal spiritual bodies - circumcised bodies - without MORTAL flesh.  I believe this applies to Heaven, AND to the New Jerusalem.

[8thdaypriest]

In Chapter 45, the LORD gives commands concerning the division of LAND.  Land for the prince, land for the priests, and land for the people.  This makes it seem like a REALITY, in "the land". 

In 45:17, "the prince" acts as a priest.  "He shall prepare the sin offering, the grain offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offerings, to make atonement for the house of Israel."

INTERESTING!!  Jesus is the Anointed Prince of Israel.  He offered Himself - as the sacrifice.

Ezekiel 46:16-18 talks about inheritance.  The prince can give some of his property to his "servants", but it will return to him at the Jubilee.  Land given to "sons" of the prince, belongs to those "sons" forever.  Only "sons" retain their possession in "the land" belonging to "the prince".  Paul makes a point of calling us "sons" - not simply "servants". 

[8thdaypriest]

Only the "inner court" with the Alter of Sacrifice, and "chambers for the priests" is described in detail. 

Nothing inside of the Temple itself is described. 

The LORD told Ezekiel:  "Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell among the sons of Israel forever."

God the Father would be the One on the throne within the Temple.  The "Prince" would be Jesus.  The priests are "sons of Zadok" - meaning priests who have remained faithful.

Does this vision describe a literal Temple to be built on this earth, with literal animal sacrifices?  If it does - then this Temple really is the "Temple that might have been".  I absolutely DO NOT BELIEVE that the redeemed will offer animal sacrifices in the Kingdom of Messiah on the earth. 

But his vision IS the REASON why many believe that animal sacrifices will be continued in the Kingdom.    

Does this vision describe the ministry of Christ our Prince?  Yes - I believe so. 

Does this vision describe (in symbols) a future ministry of Christ - on this earth - after Israel redeemed is resurrected and returned to "the land".  I believe so. 

I believe that many from "the rest of the dead" will come to learn the ways of the LORD, after they are resurrected at the 8th millennium. 

[debbym]

In a little book by eg white, she describes the temple being placed outside of the New Jerusalem on the earth made new.  A place immemorial where the sacrifice of Christ is remembered, and it is filled with the glory of God and a place where all can come and enter and see. The throne of God remains in the city.  No, the temple is not the place of intercession any more.  Christ has laid aside His priestly role for eternity.  He remains the third member of the Godhead, and the Head of the human race.  He has a Dual identity forever.  There will be a temple in the country and the throne in the city, both glorious with the unspeakable glory of God.

[phkrause]

I'm in total agreement debbym. There really is no need for the Temple, at least as far as sacrificing is concerned, but probably will be used for worshiping.

[Gail]

Yes, all good thoughts!

The prince was supposed to give a free will offering of what he could afford. I thought this was weird, because I couldn't align Christ's being limited by what he could afford to offer with the prince.

[8thdaypriest]

19 hours ago, debbym said:

In a little book by eg white, she describes the temple being placed outside of the New Jerusalem on the earth made new.  A place immemorial where the sacrifice of Christ is remembered, and it is filled with the glory of God and a place where all can come and enter and see. The throne of God remains in the city.  No, the temple is not the place of intercession any more.  Christ has laid aside His priestly role for eternity.  He remains the third member of the Godhead, and the Head of the human race.  He has a Dual identity forever.  There will be a temple in the country and the throne in the city, both glorious with the unspeakable glory of God.

Could you provide the reference for that temple placed OUTSIDE of the New Jerusalem? 

I remember an early vision of the "new earth".  Don't know if this is the one you are referencing. 

Mrs White was shown a "Temple" where only the 144,000 were allowed to enter. 

Setting: First she and the saved go to Heaven, and then:

“With Jesus at our head we all descended from the city down to this earth, on a great and mighty mountain, which could not bear Jesus up, and it parted asunder, and there was a mighty plain (pg 17).  Then: the “great city with twelve foundations and twelve gates” came down from God out of heaven".  (pg 18)

Then:  “we began to look at the glorious things outside of the city” - “most glorious houses . . . “These were to be inhabited by the saints.”  They “met a company” with “a red border on their garments”.  These were martyrs.  (pg. 19)  They “had an innumerable company of little ones” with them.  “Mount Zion was just before us, and on the mount was a glorious temple.”  She saw “little ones climb or, if they chose, use their little wings and fly to the top of the mountains”.  “And as we were about to enter the holy temple, Jesus raised His lovely voice and said, ‘Only the 144,000 enter this place” and we shouted, ‘Alleluia’”.  
    This “temple was supported by seven pillars, all of transparent gold, set with pearls most glorious. . . .  I saw there tables of stone in which the names of the 144,000 were engraved in letters of gold.”  Then they went on to the city, where they went in to “supper” with Christ.  (Early Writings, pg 17-19, “My First Vision”)

This vision leaves me with a few questions.

1.  What "mighty mountain" was "parted asunder"?  Was this the Mount of Olives, directly across a small valley from Mount Zion where the Jerusalem Temple once stood? 

2.  The New Jerusalem is so large that it will entirely cover the land area promised to Abraham.  It will COVER Mt Zion.  If the City has descended, then the Temple of the 144,000 would be UNDER the Holy City.  It could not have stood on a separate Mt Zion - outside the City.  It's just not possible.  This makes me think is vision is symbolic - NOT literal.  

3.  Why was she shown "an innumerable company of little ones" with red arm bands?    Her vision is a view of the earth made new, and the context places her on the earth 1000+ years AFTER the Second Coming.  It would appear these child martyrs did not grow for 1000 years??  They are STILL CHILDREN when the redeemed return to the earth made new.  Another possibility is that humans will continue to reproduce.  (I don't believe that one.)  Another possibility is that children will be resurrected to continue their physical lives at the 8th millennium - along with all "the rest of the dead".  ( I believe that one.) 

4.  I do find the concept difficult - a Temple of the 144,000.  It seems to be a memorial Temple - sort of like a war memorial.  OK.  But the 144,000 are not being worshiped - just remembered, with their names inscribed in "letters of gold" on "tables of stone".   Could this "Temple" be symbolic of the Book of Life, wherein are written the names of the redeemed?  The Book of Life is the only place I know of, in Scripture, where names are written in Heaven.  I know that records of descent were maintained by the priests at the Temple in Jerusalem, at least until it's destruction in 70AD.  In that case, the 144,000 would symbolize ALL of the redeemed from the first "age" (Adam to the SC). 

 

[JoeMo]

On Sunday, January 24, 2016 at 10:37 AM, 8thdaypriest said:

In 41:22 the alter in the "inner court" is "of wood".  This is not the Alter of Incense inside the first apartment.  This is the alter in the court.  QUESTION:  How could they burn sacrifices on an alter made of wood?  This is one place where I see symbolism.  The alter "of wood" may represent the wooden cross.

Just a thought....

 

The altar of burnt offering in the wilderness was also made of wood.  See Exodus 27.

[Gail]

The altar might have been made of wood but I believe there was a screen on which the offerings were placed and burnt. That way the ashes fell through

[stinsonmarri]

Gail what you provided was extremely beautiful to see. However, as stated what truly would have been but Israel did not returned fully to YAHWEH. The reason for this vision and why it was on a larger scale was very simple. YAHWEH said HIS House was to be for all people. The Tabernacle was for a people that was travailing, Solomon's Temple was for Israel. They first had to truly settle into the land of Canaan and prove themselves of being worthy a priestly people of ELOHIM. Sadly, they fail and YAHWEH presented to Ezekiel a Temple to showed they must relearn what ELOHIM wanted them to do. They were to bring other nations to repent and come into the household of faith. YAHWEH had to show them by taking them to Babylon and Daniel witnessing to King Nebuchadnezzar who was saved, including his daughter. Dan Chapter 4 By failing they had Herod's Temple the king who belong to Esau family, and not Jacob the surplanter who over came to be Israel!

YAHSHUA became also upset because HE came as the only TRUE RE-PRESENTER of HIS FATHER in NAME and PRESENCE. HE was the LIGHT of the Temple and the priest and Pharisees disrespected HIM and HIS FATHER, in which HE could not take, and push over the money tables and false hope the priest had given Israel.  

But I say to you, ONE greater than the Sanctuary is here. Mat 12:6  Take these things hence; make not MY FATHER'S House an House of merchandise. John 2:16

I guess we do not truly understand that the story of Abraham and Issac is where the Temple of Solomon was built. It was Mount Moriah and the Temple was never inside the city! The name is actually MorI-YAH or the Hill of YAH! Once again we fail to realize that the Canaanites were called by YAHWEH first. This land was the left over of Eden and that is why it has been so important through out the Bible and where the Heavenly Temple that EGW saw will also ascend on this place to be called Mt. Zion. Many including the false Ashkenazi Jews who are not related to the Children of Israel, states that the Dome of the Rock is where the Temples were built. They themselves have made this claim and the Bible had already state that Israel would be disperse and their true seed lost due to their continue rebellion and the death of YAHSHUA through them. It is clearly proven even in historical account this place was a Roman fortress, then a Roman pagan temple, a Roman Catholic Church, then the Muslim made it their pagan temple. YAHWEH always condemn "high places," plush fresh water could not reach this height! The Temple was build below somewhere on the Southeaster side underneath the mound that was not build in ancient time! That is why they could have kept the Mound and the Dome of the Rock! They were not interested but the true Hebrew would have. The proof is they kept rebuilding it until AD 70 and the prophetic prophecy fulfil. These Zionist did not they just gave it to Islam!

"Strictly speaking it is incorrect to call an ancient Israelite a ‘Jew’ or to call a contemporary Jew an Israelite or a Hebrew." (1980 Jewish Almanac, p. 3)

These are the facts that are slowly coming out but not without critics! But the Bible stated even before Abraham was born!

ELOHIM shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall live in the tents of Shem, and Canaan shall be his servant. Gen 9:27

According to Entomology Diction that explain where words originated and how the English change the meaning for their advantage - enlarge (v.) mid-14c., "grow fat, increase" (intrans.); c. 1400, "make larger" but the Hebrew word "pâthâh" is to open and now we found: open (v) Old English openian "to open, open up, disclose, reveal," also intransitive, "become manifest, be open to or exposed to," from Proto-Germanic *opanojan (cognates: Old Saxon opanon, Old Norse opna "to open," Middle Dutch, Dutch openen, Old High German offanon, German öffnen). Now Strong mind you seem to cover up the true meaning of the word since he made his Dictionary after the mid 14 Century! A primitive root; to open, that is, be (causatively make) roomy; usually figuratively (in a mental or moral sense) to be (causatively make) simple or (in a sinister way) delude: - allure, deceive, enlarge, entice, flatter, persuade, silly (one).

Now I will be criticized again for some of my facts but the truth sometimes hurts! I give the historical facts that can be traced!

Blessings!

Edited January 26, 2016 by stinsonmarri

[phkrause]

Here's an interesting 3D trailer video of the 2nd temple:

http://www.jewishsoftware.com/default.asp?page=content&contentvalue=96

[Gail]

Beautiful! Now, that was the one that was destroyed in the year 70? I thought it had a curtain that was rent in two...

[phkrause]

On 8/10/2016 at 6:07 PM, Gail said:

Beautiful! Now, that was the one that was destroyed in the year 70? I thought it had a curtain that was rent in two...

You have to purchase the 75 minute DVD to see all that!!

[Aliensanctuary]

Following the description of Ezekiel's Temple is the description of the division of the land of Israel by tribes where the Temple has a centralized  location. From other OT references we might suspect that the Temple is the focus of the Kingdom of YHVH on Earth for a 1K year period where Israel rules the world with an iron rod and smashes its enemies like clay pots. At the end of the 1K years, Satan and his minions are released from their prison and subsequently overrun the Temple and the city from space, the Jerusalem. Upon the advent of the AOD during this time period, the entire world and its few survivors are about to be destroyed.

[Raphael]

Related to the question whether God's temple could or would be rebuilt on earth.. I've been watching Ron Wyatt's YouTube and other similar streamings and understand that after the true sacrifice of Christ's blood and life.. Not only was the temple curtain rendered in two but also the temple lost it's meaning and functionality..

By the way, I'm curious why are there no threads here on the amazing findings upon Biblical history, not to mention the red sea crossing, Saudi Arabia's Mt Horeb, correct Mt Sinai and multiple spots all Arabically named after Moses and particularly amazing discovery of the tabernacle right under Golgota and Christ's blood?

[Gail]

A number of years ago I inquired of an archaeologist about Ron Wyatt's claims. They were dismissed rather quickly. Things may be different now. 

[Aliensanctuary]

Mr. Wyatt is rather a huckster, it seems.