Ezekiel 43-44

What an amazing read today.  First there is the return of the glory of the Lord to the temple.  And note that it is not just the shekinah; it involves the coming to the temple of the LORD Himself (43:7; 44:2).  Furthermore there is an altar of sacrifice and specific sacrifices carried out to consecrate the altar (43:18-27) that are said to “make atonement” (43:20, 26).  Another important thing to note is the existence of “the prince” who is different than the Messiah who enters through the Eastern Gate (44:1-3).  The “law of the temple” (43:12) includes a special place for Israel in a spiritually restored condition (44:4-9) as well as the priests descended from Zadok who oversee the worship (44:10-31; cf. 1 Kings 2:35 where Solomon made Zadok priest in place of Abiathar).

For many this does not seem appropriate, to have worship that is quite like it was in the Old Testament.  Can this be a temple connected to the time of the Messianic kingdom?  There are many Jews who believe the temple is Messianic but not Millennial.  However we believe that when the Messiah comes it will be to reign in a literal earthly kingdom.  This leaves us with only one view to consider today: that this temple is the one built by the Messiah, and that is present in the Millennium, the time of His earthly rule. What are some objections to this view?

·        Some argue that the atonement of Christ nullified the Old Testament sacrifices (Heb. 9:11-15; 10:1-4,8) so that it is wrong to see future sacrifices from a literal temple in Jerusalem.  In response to this let us first remember that the OT sacrifices never had any efficacy (Heb. 10:4).  They looked forward to the true Lamb of God.  Why can it not be that in the Millennium the sacrifices point back to the Lamb of God, even as the Lord’s Supper does now in the time of the Church (1 Cor. 11;23-26, remembrance)?

·        Some object that the old system was provisional and not to be restored for believers (Gal. 3:23-25; Col. 2:16-17).  But this assumes that the age of the Church is the last era in God’s plan which is not the case.  No one can guarantee that God has not indicated the presence of the Old in the next age.  Daniel’s prophecy certainly indicates that during the seventieth week there will be a return to issues that relate to pre-Church issues (Dan. 9:24-27).

·        Again an objection is raised that all believers are Abraham’s seed, members of the “Israel of God” (Gal. 6:16).  There can be no middle wall of partition.  But in answer let us note that while believers are Abraham’s seed spiritually, Gentiles never become Abraham’s seed naturally.  Gal. 6:16 refers to Jewish believers in the Church.  The Church is never called Israel!

Let us continue to think about these things tomorrow.  It is an important question in the matter of interpreting Ezekiel as well as having an accurate picture of the future reign and worship of the Christ.