Ezekiel 40: 1 – 49
The 5th Temple Or Is It 3
1 In the twenty-fifth year of our captivity, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was captured, on the very same day the hand of the LORD was upon me; and He took me there. 2 In the visions of God He took me into the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain; on it toward the south was something like the structure of a city. 3 He took me there, and behold, there was a man whose appearance was like the appearance of bronze. He had a line of flax and a measuring rod in his hand, and he stood in the gateway.4 And the man said to me, “Son of man, look with your eyes and hear with your ears, and fix your mind on everything I show you; for you were brought here so that I might show them to you. Declare to the house of Israel everything you see.” 5 Now there was a wall all around the outside of the temple. In the man’s hand was a measuring rod six cubits long, each being a cubit and a handbreadth; and he measured the width of the wall structure, one rod; and the height, one rod. 6 Then he went to the gateway which faced east; and he went up its stairs and measured the threshold of the gateway, which was one rod wide, and the other threshold was one rod wide. 7 Each gate chamber was one rod long and one rod wide; between the gate chambers was a space of five cubits; and the threshold of the gateway by the vestibule of the inside gate was one rod. 8 He also measured the vestibule of the inside gate, one rod. 9 Then he measured the vestibule of the gateway, eight cubits; and the gateposts, two cubits. The vestibule of the gate was on the inside. 10 In the eastern gateway were three gate chambers on one side and three on the other; the three were all the same size; also the gateposts were of the same size on this side and that side. 11 He measured the width of the entrance to the gateway, ten cubits; and the length of the gate, thirteen cubits. 12 There was a space in front of the gate chambers, one cubit on this side and one cubit on that side; the gate chambers were six cubits on this side and six cubits on that side. 13 Then he measured the gateway from the roof of one gate chamber to the roof of the other; the width was twenty-five cubits, as door faces door. 14 He measured the gateposts, sixty cubits high, and the court all around the gateway extended to the gatepost. 15 From the front of the entrance gate to the front of the vestibule of the inner gate was fifty cubits. 16 There were beveled window frames in the gate chambers and in their intervening archways on the inside of the gateway all around, and likewise in the vestibules. There were windows all around on the inside. And on each gatepost were palm trees. 17 Then he brought me into the outer court; and there were chambers and a pavement made all around the court; thirty chambers faced the pavement. 18 The pavement was by the side of the gateways, corresponding to the length of the gateways; this was the lower pavement. 19 Then he measured the width from the front of the lower gateway to the front of the inner court exterior, one hundred cubits toward the east and the north. 20 On the outer court was also a gateway facing north, and he measured its length and its width. 21 Its gate chambers, three on this side and three on that side, its gateposts and its archways, had the same measurements as the first gate; its length was fifty cubits and its width twenty-five cubits. 22 Its windows and those of its archways, and also its palm trees, had the same measurements as the gateway facing east; it was ascended by seven steps, and its archway was in front of it. 23 A gate of the inner court was opposite the northern gateway, just as the eastern gateway; and he measured from gateway to gateway, one hundred cubits. 24 After that he brought me toward the south, and there a gateway was facing south; and he measured its gateposts and archways according to these same measurements. 25 There were windows in it and in its archways all around like those windows; its length was fifty cubits and its width twenty-five cubits. 26 Seven steps led up to it, and its archway was in front of them; and it had palm trees on its gateposts, one on this side and one on that side. 27 There was also a gateway on the inner court, facing south; and he measured from gateway to gateway toward the south, one hundred cubits. 28 Then he brought me to the inner court through the southern gateway; he measured the southern gateway according to these same measurements. 29 Also its gate chambers, its gateposts, and its archways were according to these same measurements; there were windows in it and in its archways all around; it was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 30 There were archways all around, twenty-five cubits long and five cubits wide. 31 Its archways faced the outer court, palm trees were on its gateposts, and going up to it were eight steps. 32 And he brought me into the inner court facing east; he measured the gateway according to these same measurements. 33 Also its gate chambers, its gateposts, and its archways were according to these same measurements; and there were windows in it and in its archways all around; it was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 34 Its archways faced the outer court, and palm trees were on its gateposts on this side and on that side; and going up to it were eight steps. 35 Then he brought me to the north gateway and measured it according to these same measurements— 36 also its gate chambers, its gateposts, and its archways. It had windows all around; its length was fifty cubits and its width twenty-five cubits. 37 Its gateposts faced the outer court, palm trees were on its gateposts on this side and on that side, and going up to it were eight steps. 38 There was a chamber and its entrance by the gateposts of the gateway, where they washed the burnt offering. 39 In the vestibule of the gateway were two tables on this side and two tables on that side, on which to slay the burnt offering, the sin offering, and the trespass offering. 40 At the outer side of the vestibule, as one goes up to the entrance of the northern gateway, were two tables; and on the other side of the vestibule of the gateway were two tables. 41 Four tables were on this side and four tables on that side, by the side of the gateway, eight tables on which they slaughtered the sacrifices. 42 There were also four tables of hewn stone for the burnt offering, one cubit and a half long, one cubit and a half wide, and one cubit high; on these they laid the instruments with which they slaughtered the burnt offering and the sacrifice. 43 Inside were hooks, a handbreadth wide, fastened all around; and the flesh of the sacrifices was on the tables. 44 Outside the inner gate were the chambers for the singers in the inner court, one facing south at the side of the northern gateway, and the other facing north at the side of the southern gateway. 45 Then he said to me, “This chamber which faces south is for the priests who have charge of the temple. 46 The chamber which faces north is for the priests who have charge of the altar; these are the sons of Zadok, from the sons of Levi, who come near the LORD to minister to Him.” 47 And he measured the court, one hundred cubits long and one hundred cubits wide, foursquare. The altar was in front of the temple. 48 Then he brought me to the vestibule of the temple and measured the doorposts of the vestibule, five cubits on this side and five cubits on that side; and the width of the gateway was three cubits on this side and three cubits on that side. 49 The length of the vestibule was twenty cubits, and the width eleven cubits; and by the steps which led up to it there were pillars by the doorposts, one on this side and another on that side.”
The book of Ezekiel has 48 chapters It began with the man being selected by God Almighty to be His spokesperson. The Lord through Ezekiel pronounced judgments against the nation of Judah and its principal city Jerusalem because of their sins. The end result would be that the city of Jerusalem would be destroyed and the nation of Judah would cease being a nation. Our Holy Adoni Yahweh then declared His Judgments against the foreign nations that surrounded and caused injury to the Israelites. Finally, the prophet proclaimed God’s message of hope in declaring that He would bring back His people again to the land and would be their only God again.
It would appear that the book should have ended with chapter 39. The historian Josephus made this interesting statement, ‘Ezekiel left behind him in writing two books concerning these events.’ Is it possible that chapters 40 through 48 were this second book? Regardless, our Precious Holy Spirit wanted these passages included in His Holy Word. When you first read about the Israelites traveling to the Promised Land in the Talmud you see the culmination in the establishment of a Temple where the Lord God’s Presence can dwell and be worshiped.
Throughout their ordeals as a nation the Jews have recognized three Temples - They were:
1. Solomon’s
2. Herod’s
3. Messiah’s
When you look at the bible you derive a different count. Our Wonderful Father has always wanted to hang out and be with us – to dwell with us. Think on that for awhile and that fact is amazing. The Holy Creator God likes us and wants to live with us. Wow1. We read this in the book of Exodus chapter 15, “17 You will bring them in and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which You have made for Your own dwelling, the sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established. 18 “The LORD shall reign forever and ever.” This first dwelling place was a temporary home for our Lord’s presence. Once in the land then a permanent structure could be built.
The first Temple was built by king David’s son Solomon as the book of 2 Chronicles chapter 3 tells us, “Now Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.”
Our Holy Father approved it. He showed His acceptance by doing something Glorious as we read in 2 Chronicles chapter 7, “1 When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. 2 And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’s house. 3 When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying: “For He is good, for His mercy endures forever.”
If you have been with us since chapter 1 of the book of Ezekiel you have witnessed the destruction of this Temple. The Glory of the Lord’s Presence left His earthly home. In His Faithfulness and Mercy our Lord allowed His people to return to their land by influencing the world ruler Cyrus to give the order. We read in the book of Ezra chapter 5 that the Israelites built a new temple, “1 Then the prophet Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophets, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them. 2 So Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak rose up and began to build the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and the prophets of God were with them, helping them.”
We now move hundreds of years into the future to the New Testament, to the time of our Master, Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The foreign ruler of the land at this time was a guy by the name of Herod. In order to try to please the Jews he went on a massive building spree. He enlarged the Temple mount and the Temple itself, thus giving record as this remodeled Temple being credited under his name. In 70 AD the Roman army destroyed the city and this remodeled Temple.
We then have the correct Temple that will be built and the Messiah Himself will do this in the restored Jerusalem. He will restore everything in a new way after His Second Coming. “12 Then speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, saying: “ Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He shall branch out, and He shall build the temple of the LORD; 13 Yes, He shall build the temple of the LORD. He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule on His throne; So He shall be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”’
1 In the twenty-fifth year of our captivity, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was captured, on the very same day the hand of the LORD was upon me; and He took me there. 2 In the visions of God He took me into the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain; on it toward the south was something like the structure of a city. 3 He took me there, and behold, there was a man whose appearance was like the appearance of bronze. He had a line of flax and a measuring rod in his hand, and he stood in the gateway.4 And the man said to me, “Son of man, look with your eyes and hear with your ears, and fix your mind on everything I show you; for you were brought here so that I might show them to you. Declare to the house of Israel everything you see.”
Have you ever thought this, why is the bible wasting our time with the listing of dates such as what we read in verse1, “1 In the twenty-fifth year of our captivity, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was captured, on the very same day the hand of the LORD was upon me; and He took me there.” When you do a little research you come to find out that this point in time was very significant. For one thing we find out that this vision occurred on April 19, 573 BC. More than 12 years had passed since Ezekiel’s last vision that was described in chapter 33.
We will be reading how our Precious Master decorates His House with Palm Trees. The time listed in verse 1 is the 10th of Nissan. For Jews it is the time where they select their Passover Lamb. For us Gentiles we know this date as Palm Sunday. Our King, Lord, and Savior presented Himself as the Messiah to the nation on this day. We will be reminded of this great day when we worship at His Temple and see the palm leaves of this wonderful time.
Look at the place where it was given, 2 In the visions of God He took me into the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain; on it toward the south was something like the structure of a city.” The book of Isaiah chapter 2 has this to say on this point, “2 Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it. 3 Many people shall come and say, “ Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.”
So Who Is this person measuring the Temple? 3 He took me there, and behold, there was a man whose appearance was like the appearance of bronze. Bronze is always represented as something strong. He had a line of flax, which was a linen cord and a measuring rod in his hand, and he stood in the gateway.’ The rod was used to measure shorter distances and the cord to measure longer ones.
Who do you know in the bible that was in the building occupation? Let me give you another hint, He Was a carpenter? He knows His Way around blueprints. Yes, it is our Lord Jesus Christ.
His purpose was to have Ezekiel inform the Israelites of His coming Temple, ‘4 And the man said to me, “Son of man, look with your eyes and hear with your ears, and fix your mind on everything I show you; for you were brought here so that I might show them to you. Declare to the house of Israel everything you see.”
So how do we know that this person is our Lord and Master? He doesn’t make it a mystery but reveals Himself to us in the preceding chapters.
Ezekiel 43, 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. No more shall the house of Israel defile My holy name, they nor their kings, by their harlotry or with the carcasses of their kings on their high places.”
Please notice that this Man says that the Temple is the place of ‘His Throne and the place of the soles of My Feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever. Measuring denotes ownership. Our Holy God owns the Heavens and the earth.
Ezekiel 44, “1 Then He brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary which faces toward the east, but it was shut. 2 And the LORD said to me, “This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter by it, because the LORD God of Israel has entered by it; therefore it shall be shut.’
The Man identifies Himself. He Is The Lord! He Is our God. He Is The Lord Jesus Christ. Here is where He will dwell for the 1000 years of the Millennium.
5 Now there was a wall all around the outside of the temple. In the man’s hand was a measuring rod six cubits long, each being a cubit and a handbreadth; and he measured the width of the wall structure, one rod; and the height, one rod.
The measuring in detail of the Temple and its area made clear to the exiles that the Temple was not just some pipe dream but was in effect an actual reality. A measuring rod was six cubits long or around 20.5 inches. The first thing to be measured was the wall. The new Temple will be protected from the outside world. Not everyone will have access. In Psalms chapter 57 we read about who can enter, “1 LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? 2 He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart; 3 He who does not backbite with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor does he take up a reproach against his friend, 4 In whose eyes a vile person is despised, but he honors those who fear the LORD; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change; 5 He who does not put out his money at usury, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.” Those who can enter to meet and worship our God are those who are humble and whose hearts are right.
6 Then he went to the gateway which faced east; and he went up its stairs and measured the threshold of the gateway, which was one rod wide, and the other threshold was one rod wide. 7 Each gate chamber was one rod long and one rod wide; between the gate chambers was a space of five cubits; and the threshold of the gateway by the vestibule of the inside gate was one rod.
The East Gate was the main approach to the Temple. It consisted of an outer and inner gate with an oblong passageway in between. At each end was a place set aside as a guard room [gate chambers]. There were seven stairs. The number seven is perfection. It is also noteworthy that the distance between the gate chambers was five cubits. Five is the number of covenant. There are five fingers to the hand which covenants are confirmed [shake on the deal] Are you starting to see the perfection and a meaning in everything our Lord does. What a Great Creator!.
8 He also measured the vestibule of the inside gate, one rod. 9 Then he measured the vestibule of the gateway, eight cubits; and the gateposts, two cubits. The vestibule of the gate was on the inside. 10 In the eastern gateway were three gate chambers on one side and three on the other; the three were all the same size; also the gateposts were of the same size on this side and that side. 11 He measured the width of the entrance to the gateway, ten cubits; and the length of the gate, thirteen cubits.
Have you ever been to the White House? If you have you are impressed on everything that you pass by but you are also transfixed on your ultimate destination, the House itself. When we have the opportunity in the future to come to His House, the Temple, we also will be in awe at everything we pass by as we approach but our main focus will be on His House. Why? - because we get to see Him! We get to bow down and worship our Precious King. It does not get any better than this. Wow!
12 There was a space in front of the gate chambers, one cubit on this side and one cubit on that side; the gate chambers were six cubits on this side and six cubits on that side.
Please note all the guard rooms. There will be angels stationed there. Picture with me passing through the gate with these awesome guards. You can’t tell me that you are not going to be high on emotions passing through every portal.
13 Then he measured the gateway from the roof of one gate chamber to the roof of the other; the width was twenty-five cubits, as door faces door. 14 He measured the gateposts, sixty cubits high, and the court all around the gateway extended to the gatepost. 15 From the front of the entrance gate to the front of the vestibule of the inner gate was fifty cubits.
Our Master designer takes the six cubits of the side rooms which equals 12 and adds them to the 13 cubits which is the breath of the gate [the inner corridor] to equal 25 cubits or 5 x 5 to keep the perfection. Notice the keeping of the multiple of 5. The whole purpose is to give the impression of a magnificent gateway which protects the way into the Temple precinct. I am impressed.
16 There were beveled window frames in the gate chambers and in their intervening archways on the inside of the gateway all around, and likewise in the vestibules. There were windows all around on the inside. And on each gatepost were palm trees.
The windows were perfectly placed in order to provide light and air. If you were sitting around listening to Ezekiel describe this construction in such details what would be your thoughts? Was it just a dream? The unique and lengthily specific details would give a different picture to these people.
17 Then he brought me into the outer court; and there were chambers and a pavement made all around the court; thirty chambers faced the pavement. 18 The pavement was by the side of the gateways, corresponding to the length of the gateways; this was the lower pavement. 19 Then he measured the width from the front of the lower gateway to the front of the inner court exterior, one hundred cubits toward the east and the north.
Have you ever gone to visit someone in the hospital that was very critical? After seeing the heartache of the person’s family members you might want to go off by yourself to regain control of your emotions. If you wanted some time alone, there are some side sitting areas. In each hospital you usually also have a chapel to go and pray. The chambers built around the outer court serves the same purpose. These are places set aside for worshipers to get away from the crowd for group prayer or other meeting purposes. You may want a place to meet some of your friends who may arrive at different times. You can say, ‘hey, I will meet you in chamber number three, then we can go see and worship our King together.’
20 On the outer court was also a gateway facing north, and he measured its length and its width. 21 Its gate chambers, three on this side and three on that side, its gateposts and its archways, had the same measurements as the first gate; its length was fifty cubits and its width twenty-five cubits. 22 Its windows and those of its archways, and also its palm trees, had the same measurements as the gateway facing east; it was ascended by seven steps, and its archway was in front of it. 23 A gate of the inner court was opposite the northern gateway, just as the eastern gateway; and he measured from gateway to gateway, one hundred cubits. 24 After that he brought me toward the south, and there a gateway was facing south; and he measured its gateposts and archways according to these same measurements. 25 There were windows in it and in its archways all around like those windows; its length was fifty cubits and its width twenty-five cubits. 26 Seven steps led up to it, and its archway was in front of them; and it had palm trees on its gateposts, one on this side and one on that side. 27 There was also a gateway on the inner court, facing south; and he measured from gateway to gateway toward the south, one hundred cubits. 28 Then he brought me to the inner court through the southern gateway; he measured the southern gateway according to these same measurements. 29 Also its gate chambers, its gateposts, and its archways were according to these same measurements; there were windows in it and in its archways all around; it was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 30 There were archways all around, twenty-five cubits long and five cubits wide. 31 Its archways faced the outer court, palm trees were on its gateposts, and going up to it were eight steps. 32 And he brought me into the inner court facing east; he measured the gateway according to these same measurements.
Please note that there are eight steps in the inner court. Eight is the number of new beginnings. I also find it interesting that if you lived in ancient times and traveled to Jerusalem there were 15 Psalms that you prayed. Hymm…7 steps plus 8 steps to get to see our Messiah equals 15. What a coincidence!
33 Also its gate chambers, its gateposts, and its archways were according to these same measurements; and there were windows in it and in its archways all around; it was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 34 Its archways faced the outer court, and palm trees were on its gateposts on this side and on that side; and going up to it were eight steps. 35 Then he brought me to the north gateway and measured it according to these same measurements— 36 also its gate chambers, its gateposts, and its archways. It had windows all around; its length was fifty cubits and its width twenty-five cubits. 37 Its gateposts faced the outer court, palm trees were on its gateposts on this side and on that side, and going up to it were eight steps.
All that applied to the east gate was identical in the other three gates – north, south, and west.
38 There was a chamber and its entrance by the gateposts of the gateway, where they washed the burnt offering. 39 In the vestibule of the gateway were two tables on this side and two tables on that side, on which to slay the burnt offering, the sin offering, and the trespass offering. 40 At the outer side of the vestibule, as one goes up to the entrance of the northern gateway, were two tables; and on the other side of the vestibule of the gateway were two tables. 41 Four tables were on this side and four tables on that side, by the side of the gateway, eight tables on which they slaughtered the sacrifices. 42 There were also four tables of hewn stone for the burnt offering, one cubit and a half long, one cubit and a half wide, and one cubit high; on these they laid the instruments with which they slaughtered the burnt offering and the sacrifice. 43 Inside were hooks, a handbreadth wide, fastened all around; and the flesh of the sacrifices was on the tables. 44 Outside the inner gate were the chambers for the singers in the inner court, one facing south at the side of the northern gateway, and the other facing north at the side of the southern gateway. 45 Then he said to me, “This chamber which faces south is for the priests who have charge of the temple. 46 The chamber which faces north is for the priests who have charge of the altar; these are the sons of Zadok, from the sons of Levi, who come near the LORD to minister to Him.” 47 And he measured the court, one hundred cubits long and one hundred cubits wide, foursquare. The altar was in front of the temple. 48 Then he brought me to the vestibule of the temple and measured the doorposts of the vestibule, five cubits on this side and five cubits on that side; and the width of the gateway was three cubits on this side and three cubits on that side. 49 The length of the vestibule was twenty cubits, and the width eleven cubits; and by the steps which led up to it there were pillars by the doorposts, one on this side and another on that side.”
Whoa, wait a minute, what did we just read, ‘on which they slaughtered the sacrifices. 42 There were also four tables of hewn stone for the burnt offering, one cubit and a half long, one cubit and a half wide, and one cubit high; on these they laid the instruments with which they slaughtered the burnt offering and the sacrifice. 43 Inside were hooks, a handbreadth wide, fastened all around; and the flesh of the sacrifices was on the tables.’ They are going to slaughter animals in the Millennium?
The offering of sacrifices in the past was pointing to the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ. A future temple offering sacrifices would be a denial of the all sufficiency of His Precious once for all Sacrifice. So, what is this?
The Millennium system of worship will follow the restoration of Israel to her land and the resumption of her prominence in God’s Plan as described to us in the book of Romans chapter 11, “25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “ The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; 27 For this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.”
These sacrifices will reflect Israelite worship although there will not be a reinstitution of the Old Covenant.
We will be in our eternal bodies. They are required to offer burnt, sin and trespass offerings. Only the sons of Zadok will be allowed and offer the blood of the sacrifices. We read about the Lord’s selection of Zadok.in chapter 43, “19 You shall give a young bull for a sin offering to the priests, the Levites, who are of the seed of Zadok, who approach Me to minister to Me,’ says the Lord GOD”
Verses 47 and 48 begin to describe the Sanctuary. In these two verses we read about the vestibule of the Sanctuary so to a large extent they should be included with chapter 41’s description. We look forward to understanding our Lord’s Throne Room while here on earth. This is why we should not just fluff this off as boring but realize that this is something that we will observe for 1000 years as we worship the One who takes residence in this place. May we all give all praise, glory, and honor unto Him.
