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Ezekiel's Temple
A beautiful temple is described in the book of Ezekiel, starting with
chapter 40. This temple, often referred to as Ezekiel's temple, is not one that
is built by human hands. Nor is it even a physical structure in any sense
commonly understood. Once this is grasped, it follows that the sacrifices
mentioned have very real but symbolic meaning. Consider certain passages of
scripture, beginning with Ezekiel 43:04-07, by which we know that God Himself
will dwell there forever ...and forever ...and forever:
And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the
way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east. So the spirit took me up,
and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled
the house. And I heard him speaking unto me out of the house; and the man
stood by me. And he said unto me, Son of man, 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 for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more
defile...
A stream flows from this temple and becomes a great river too great to pass
over. This river has healing power. It is "living water". A River of Life is
described. [Ezekiel 47:01-12]. This scarcely suggests temple architecture that
is visible to the naked eye.
Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the
house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house
eastward...
Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river
that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a
river that could not be passed over.
The fish that swim in this River of Life are healed. Jesus told his
followers to be "fishers of men." Men are compared to fish on several occasions
in the New Testament. I think it no accident that several of the apostles were
fishermen. Ezekiel speaks of such fish (vs.47:9):
And it shall come to pass, that every thing that
liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and
there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come
thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the
river cometh.
Stephen (Acts 7:47-50) reminded those who were fixing to stone him to death
that God didn't live in a house built of human hands when he referenced a
passage in Isaiah 66 by saying:
But Solomon built him an house. Howbeit the most
High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, 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? Hath not my hand made all these
things?
We read in Ezekiel 43:07:
And he said unto me, Son of man, 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 for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of
Israel no more defile...
We should understand that this temple is where God dwells in the midst of His
people forever. Where is the place of His throne? In our hearts. This is what
the Lord God wants to take up residence forever. He's not about to limit his
eternal residency to some manmade project made of sticks and stones.
Paul shared the same understanding and on several occasions clearly
identified the temple of God as being those who believe in Christ Jesus. He let
us know that such are the temple of God. Peter shared this same insight and
called believers the "living stones" of this temple and noted that Jesus Christ
is the chief corner stone that the builders rejected, thereby referencing the
prophecy of rejection of the Messiah found in Psalm 118:22. From 1 Peter 2:4-6
we read:
As you come to him, the living Stone -- rejected by
men but chosen by God and precious to him -- you also, like living stones, are
being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual
sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says:
"See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and
precious cornerstone, and one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
Jesus is the architect and builder of this temple. It is no coincidence that
he was a carpenter by natural trade. He is still in the construction business.
He identified this temple not built by hands when He identified himself as the
corner stone -- the first Living Stone -- of this majestic building when he said
[Luke 20:17-18 (refer to Psalms 118:22)]:
And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that
is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head
of the corner? Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on
whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
So what temple did Ezekiel see? He saw a temple not built by human hands.
He saw a temple that has been under construction for the last two thousand years
as God has been fashioning living stones into the building blocks of this
majestic structure. This temple is nearing completion. Jesus said that the
gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world and that then the end
will come. Soon the last stone will be fitted into place. Soon the Glory of
the Lord will fill the temple.
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