Ezekiel 40

INTRODUCTION

Picture yourself as a Jew in the exile. You lost your home, your family, and even questioning your faith in the midst of God’s promises. You are traumatized and broken by the events that have transpired. All hope seems loss. Then Ezekiel the Priest says that you will inherit a new Temple and a new land with more responsibility added to you. More responsibility that you couldn’t fulfill the first time, which is why you are exiled in the first place. And get this, it is all invisible. This would have not gone well for Ezekiel by simply telling the Jews their inheritance was invisible. However, that’s not the case. Thankfully, our God is very descriptive about the measurements and dimensions of the Temple. We have a basis to compare the old Temple and old land to these new promises. Since the Jews were involved in the construction, they would be familiar with the size of the Temple and the land. When Ezekiel was telling the Jews about these measurements, it blew their mind. These new promises were going to exceed all expectations of reality. It would be a larger than life experience. Also, keep in mind that Ezekiel is describing a spiritual reality in  Old Testament Terms. The simple answer is this is the Tabernacle/Temple of Heaven that was revealed to Moses/David. This Temple prophecy was fulfilled in 70AD and continues to be built until the end of history. Heaven and Earth is slowly merging together until the whole Earth is Christianized.

 

Ezekiel 40:1-16=MAN’S SEPARATION FROM GOD AND HIS INABILITY TO SAVE HIMSELF. This time is exactly the same day Jesus enters Jerusalem on the donkey (The Triumphant Entry) many years later. The time was on the 10th day of the first month of this 25th year of the exile. Depending on which calendar you used, the first month is the month of the Passover and the 10th day of the first month is the day when the Passover lamb was selected for the sacrifice (10th of Abib-March/April). If using the 10th of Tishri calendar (September-October), this would be the day of preparation before the Day of Atonement (DOA) sacrifice. This aligns with Jesus’ sacrifice as the Passover Lamb and the DOA goats. In addition, notice that Ezekiel says that God brought him to the City (Jerusalem is not mentioned by name because it is an afterthought), on the 10th of the month. Interestingly, this was the day that Jesus entered Jerusalem and was "chosen" as the Passover lamb. Three days later Jesus was killed and was resurrected. This vision occurred on the 14th year after Jerusalem was attacked. The number fourteen symbolizes deliverance in the Bible. This shows us that Jesus’ death delivered us from condemnation. It will be a day defined by Grace upon Grace (5x5=25).

 Ezekiel is placed on a high mountain indicating a vision experience. This is similar to John in Revelation 21:10. There is no literal high mountain to make sense of a literal interpretation. Symbolic interpretations can have physical details just like dreams can have physical details. Here begins the Heavenly Temple of God. Everything is measured according to God’s standard.  Ezekiel 40:4 and Ezekiel 42:15-20 parallels the measurements of the temple area-interior. Throughout the passage we will see multiples of 5 in addition to 3's and 7's.  Also, notice the 6+1 (6 with an emphasis of 7-like the Sabbath ) and four square measurements of perfection (25 X 4=100). See Diagram 1 for a layout of the Temple.

                                                            Diagram 1

In Verse 5, there is a wall separating  access to the Heavenly Temple. Unclean things could not enter it. The 6 cubits are an added dimension of a cubit/handbreath. This can be considered a visual representation of the Sabbath (6+1, emphasis on the one). This measurement is a Spiritual 7^th. An added dimension to reality. This is the angel’s measurement (See Revelation 21:17). All these measurements for this Temple make up the size of a giant cube. The Holy of Holies is cube shaped-1 Kings 6:20 The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high, and he overlaid it with pure gold. He also overlaid an altar of cedar. God’s Temple will be an expanded version of the Holy of Holies symbolically. The majority of the numbers are multiples of Fives (Grace). Lastly, we also notice that there were palm trees in the Temple. These palm trees represent paradise in Eden, growth, abundance, victory, and triumph (See 1 Kings 6:29, Psalm 92:12-15, Song of Solomon 7:7-8, Psalm 128:2-3; Galatians 5:22).

 

Ezekiel 40:17-28= GOD’S PLAN OF REDEMPTION FOR MAN– We also noticed that the gates had gate keepers/ guards (Levites) to be mindful what came into the Temple (1 Chronicles 9:22-24, 2 Chronicles 23:19, 1 Chronicles 26:15). In Ezekiel 8, we know that there was idolatry happening near the North Gate. The Jews failed in their responsibility as gatekeepers similar to Adam failing as a gatekeeper for Eden. God’s plan is to redeem mankind as a diverse priestly nation in a world-wide manner. 

 

 Ezekiel 40:28-37=DRAWING NEAR TO GOD-The inner court was only for the priests (2 Chronicles 4:9). Commoners would just drop off their sacrifices to the priests and leave. One thing we noticed from the outer court to the inner court is the number of steps. The outer court had seven steps while the latter had eight steps. This reminds us of the Psalms of Ascent (Psalm 120 to 134) and Genesis 28:12. It started in a foreign country in Psalm 120 and ended in God’s Temple in Psalm 134. That is 14 Psalms. Each step is getting closer to God. The progression is long and difficult. This represents the limited accessibility and Holiness of God. Again, we see the same imagery of abundance, fruitfulness, vitality, new beginnings, and victory.

 

 

Psalm 120: God’s Presence in Times of Tribulation
Psalm 121: Praising God
Psalm 122: Prayer for the Nation
Psalm 123: Waiting upon God’s Mercy
Psalm 124: God is my Deliverer
Psalm 125: A Prayer for God to Bless his People
Psalm 126: The Mighty Deeds of God
Psalm 127: God’s Blessing on Man’s Service
Psalm 128: The Joy of Obedience
Psalm 129: Desperation for God’s Help
Psalm 130: Repentance
Psalm 131: Surrender and Submission
Psalm 132: God’s Plan for His Elect
Psalm 133: Fellowship and Unity
Psalm 134: Praising God in His Temple

 

 

Ezekiel 40:38-43= THE PRICE OF RENEWED RELATIONSHIP-Here, as we progress closer to the Holy of Holies, it will be costly. We must approach God with clean hands as well as a clean heart. This is why the blood sacrifices were necessary to cover sin and be able to approach God. The altar will be explained in further detail in Ezekiel 43:13-27. Through Christ’s death, we are able to sit down and feast upon him. Christ brings us together in fellowship. In him, we are new creations. Christ is on display as a sacrifice on hooks (See Luke 14:27-29). This section parallels with Ezekiel 46:19-24.

 

Ezekiel 40:44-47=THE JEW’S DISOBEDIENCE AND THE NEW PRIESTHOOD-These chambers are where the priests worship and performed their service. Since this is a Heavenly vision, the Zadok and Levites here are angels described as Holy/Clean and un-Holy/Unclean human beings. God is using earthly images of the Old Covenant to explain the Heavenly Priesthood. The goal was always for Heaven and Earth to mirror each other. We see this example when God told Moses to construct the the Old Covenant order based on the pattern from Heaven. See Numbers 8:4; Acts 7:44. For me, these Zadok priests of the altar are the 24 elders in Revelation 4. They are revealed as angelic beings in Revelation, who represent the Heavenly reflection of the Old Covenant Priesthood (Hebrews 8:5, 9:23; 10:1; Exodus 25:9, 40, 26:30;1 Chronicles 24:3-19,25:6-31, 26:7-19, 28:19; Ezekiel 43:10; Colossians 2:17). They serve as intermediaries (wearing linen garments) for Christ during the Day of Atonement Ceremony. Furthermore, the reason these angelic beings are under the name of Zadok is that it describes the most holy manifestation of the priesthood, which is from the Line of Zadok (2 Samuel 8:17, 15:24-29). While the disobedient Levites-those who are in charge of the Temple- are similar to the High Priest Abiathar. He was treacherous during Solomon's reign, Zadok remained faithful (1 Kings 2:26; 1 Kings 2:35). Therefore, Zadok is a symbol of holiness and faithfulness while Abiathar is a symbol of unholiness and betrayal. We see this acted out later in Revelation 12 where we see Satan's angels as a symbol of Abiathar being cast out of Heaven. Due to the Levites’ (Apostate Jews/Apostate Angels in Revelation 12) disobedience, they have lost close fellowship with God. However, they were still allowed to serve in the Temple until the Great Tribulation in 66-70AD. See Revelation 11:1-2. Zadok is a name variant for Melchizedek. It means the Righteous Ones. 

When atonement was fulfilled in 70AD, the Order of Zadok, was extended to the resurrected and living saints of the New Covenant- a Zadok Priesthood on Heaven and on Earth. See Matthew 22:30; Mark 12:25; Luke 20:36; Zechariah 12:8;  Isaiah 1:25-26, 30:20-NKJV; Jeremiah 3:15-16;23:4; Daniel 12:3 for support. This prophecy is a figurative word picture written in Old Testament language in order to convey a New Testament idea to the contemporary Elect. They are not the exact representations of these events. Lastly, the room is measured and is squared (100 Cubits). This represents God’s approval and perfection. In verse 47, the altar will be explained in more detail in Ezekiel 43:13-21.

Ezekiel 40:48-49=RELIANCE IN GOD’S STRENGTH. As we continue to approach God through this Temple tour, we see symbolism related to Joel 2:17 and Matthew 23:35. When we are weak, God’s strength is revealed to us. He is holding us up like spiritual pillars. He is our foundation. See 2 Corinthians 12:9 This theme of strength is found in Ezekiel’s very name and the name of Solomon’s pillars in God’s Temple (1 Kings 7:21; Revelation 3:21).