Ezekiel 46

Ezekiel 46:1-18-The PRINCE’S SACRIFICE 

Here is a quick review about the gates: Commoners had access only to the outer North/South Gates to the outer area while the Priests had access only to the inner North/South Gates to the inner area.The INNER East Gate was always closed except on the Sabbath and New Moon Holidays. No other gate was to be opened at this time. The OUTER East Gate was permanently closed due to God's Glory. (Ezekiel 43:1-5, 44:1-3). Therefore, no one could enter the OUTER East Gate directly.  See Diagram 1.

                                                        Diagram 1

                                                    

The Prince was the only one permitted to enter through the INNER East Gate Vestibule with His sacrifice-(This is not to be confused with the fellowship area in Ezekiel 44:3-OUTER East Gate Vestibule from the inside of the Temple). Interestingly, there is no High Priest explicitly mentioned in all of Ezekiel 40-48, but a ruler can be identified as a High Priest too according to Acts 23:5.  One of the first things we notice in verse 1 is that the East Gate was between the outer and inner area. This was the place where the Prince would offer the DOA sacrifice to God. He was the mediator  between Israel and God. Verse 2 may be connected to Revelation 15:5-8. We see Christ commanding His seven angels to pour out bowls filled with His blood. His blood is combined with the martyrs (this is their sacrifices). This is similar to how the Prince combined His sacrifice with the people in Ezekiel 45:16-17, 22. Christ poured His blood along with the martyrs' blood. Their blood will be upon  the guilty in Matthew 23:32-36, 27:25, and Acts 5:27-28. Remember at the DOA, the High Priest placed blood on the Mercy Seat seven times in Leviticus 16:14-19. 

SIDE NOTE: When comparing Revelation 15:5-8 to Ezekiel 46:2, in Revelation, we see angels dressed in priestly linens carrying out the blood. As mentioned earlier, it is proposed that the Zadok Priesthood are the same priestly angels throughout Revelation. Their name means "righteous ones," they have an unknown origin (Hebrews 7:3), and they are considered elect (Mark 8:38; 1 Timothy 5:21; Matthew 22:30; Mark 12:25; Luke 20:36; Zechariah 12:8). As we can see there are similarities between elect angels and elect people. 

 The Prince shall put together a large sacrifice for the new Israel. This is Jesus offering Himself as the perfect, acceptable sacrifice before God. In reality, Christ is the Prince, the Zadok Priest-The Order after Melchizedek, and the DOA sacrifice simultaneously. The DOA sacrifice is able to reach the Altar where the Prince can't go. Notice that, Jesus (in the Holy Place in Revelation 1) enters the Father’s throneroom -The Holy of Holies of Heaven (Revelation 4-5), not as a High Priest from the Holy Place, not as a Lion, not as a strong tree rooted in David, but as a slain Lamb. In addition, we see the details more laid out in Revelation 15:5-8 where Christ's blood is given to the 7 angels with bowls. Judgment is poured on Apostate Jerusalem while Christ's sacrifice enters the Holy Places (Revelation 8:5). In the Most Holy Place- the former empty room in Ezekiel 41-we now see the Ark of the Covenant present in Revelation 11:19. The angels bring it to the Holy of Holies-NOT Christ. The angels intermediaries puts His blood on the Mercy Seat. This shows that God the Father accepted His sacrifice.  See Chart 1 for the Prince's sacrifice. 

            Chart 1

Prince’s Day of Atonement Sacrifice for 70 AD Ezekiel 45:18-46:8
Holiday	Appointed Time	Type of Sacrifice
(1) New Year’s Day	1st Day, 1st Month	Sin Offering- One Bull to cleanse the Sanctuary
(2) Full Temple Cleanse*	7th Day, 1st Month	Sin Offering- One Bull for those who sin through error/ignorance and to cleanse the Temple
(3) Passover	14th Day, 1st Month	Sin Offering- One Bull for the Prince and all the people
(4) Unleavened Bread	15th-21st Days, 1st Month	Burnt Offering-For each day-7 Bulls, 7 Rams, and 1 Male Goat
(9) Feasts of Booth (FOB)	15th-21st Days, 7th Month	Burnt Offering-For each day-7 Bulls, 7 Rams, and 1 male Goat
(11) Sabbath	Weekly-7th day	Burnt Offering-1 Ram and 6 Lambs w/ increase in Grain offering for each
(12) New Moon	Monthly	Burnt Offering- 1 Bull, 1 Ram, and 6 Lambs w/ increase in Grain offering for each

This concept of Jesus and the Heavenly Holy of Holies can be found in Hebrews 9:11-12, 24-28. There are four potential theories:

• Theory One- The Greater and More Perfect Tent is Christ's Body and the Holy of Holies is the Cross.
• Theory Two- The Greater and More Perfect Tent is just Heaven. This happened at the Ascension.
• Theory Three- After the Ascension, Christ immediately poured His blood on the mercy seat in the Heavenly Holy of Holies.
• Theory Four- After the Ascension, Christ  poured His blood on the mercy seat in the Heavenly Holy of Holies in 70AD.

Theory One and Two Weaknesses-This forces an unfair figurative interpretation on the text. It doesn't work because it ignores the context of Hebrews Chapter 3 and 8. Hebrews 3 and 8 describes a Spiritual Temple in Heaven. This was the structure that was exposed to Moses in order to build the Tabernacle initially, so a figurative interpretation would not work.

Theory Three Weakness-After the Ascension, Jesus couldn't enter the Father's Presence immediately. He had to wait for the right time (just like the High Priest) in 70AD to present his sacrifice in the Heavenly Holy of Holies (Hebrews 9:11-12, 24-28, Psalm 24:7-10, 118:19-21). In Hebrews 9:8-10, which is a Post-Cross passage, shows that there is still a restriction into the Heavenly Holy of Holies. If everything was completed at the Cross, why the restriction? Hebrews was written between 63AD-66AD, so it makes sense that it would be fulfilled in 70 AD. The Temple (representing the Old Covenant age) had to be destroyed. Notice the accessibility language in Revelation 11:19, 14:13, 1 Corinthians 15:58, and Revelation 15:5-8.

Theory Four makes the most sense because the Temple was destroyed in 70AD. This made Old Covenant practice impossible. Although Hebrews 9 was written in the past tense while the Old Covenant was still functioning, the Author of Hebrews encouraged his readers to have confidence and live like everything was fulfilled already (Hebrews 10:19). Furthermore, The OT DOA sacrifice consisted of two phases, but was still considered one sacrifice. Likewise, the crucifixion and the DOA in the Heavenly Holy of Holies is one sacrifice.

Further examination of verse 2 shows that the Prince waited at the post of the gate. He was not a priest to deliver the DOA sacrifice directly (2 Chronicles 6:12-13; 1 Kings 8:14,22; 2 Kings 11:14,23:3; 2 Chronicles 29:29; 2 Chronicles 23:3,13; 2 Chronicles 34:31). The wicked kings of Israel disregarded this Priest/King distinction such as Saul in 1 Samuel 13 and Uzziah in 2 Chronicles 26:16-20. Jesus was fulfilling the Law the way it was intended to be. He could only wait outside and worship with the people. During this time, the priests brought the Prince's sacrifice before God. From His view, Prince Jesus was able to stand at the inner court at the end of the gateway. He was able to see the people of the land and the priests simultaneously. The people of the land were worshiping at the gate are presumed to be "The Great Multitude" in Revelation. This appears to be a recreation of a Heavenly Triumphant Entry with the "Great Multitude" shouting praises to Christ. Both our located in the outer courts. This is before the 70 AD trial in Matthew 25:31-46. Like mentioned earlier in Hebrews 9:11-12, 24-28, Christ is approaching the Heavenly Holy of Holies in order to put forth His blood on the Mercy Seat on the Ark of the Covenant in Revelation 11:19. In the evening, the East Gate will shut after His sacrifices are accepted (Christ was sacrificed during the evening time). In Verse 4, seven animals are sacrificed perhaps one for each day of the week (symbolizing a new creation or emphasizing Christ's death as a daily practice for believers). In Verse 5, a grain offering (increased in comparison to the Old Covenant) was given to show our gratitude for our work and possessions. The phrase “as one is able to give” suggests that God gives the Prince the opportunity to fully express His love without limits.  Alternatively, it means that the Prince can only give based on harvest availability. Some seasons were scarce and some were plentiful. These are freewill offerings, which was seen in both Solomon's and Hezekiah's Temple ceremonies. In comparison to the Law’s version of these sacrifices (See Numbers 15 and 28), we notice that these portions and offering sizes are a lot bigger in this passage. They are a lot bigger because they are “adding more atonement” in order to fit the Gentiles into the new Israel/New Covenant. See Chart 2

 Chart 2

In verse 6-7 (see Mosaic version of Sabbath in Numbers 28:9), the Prince sacrifices 8 animals with an enlarged grain offering. Eight is symbolic of the resurrection/new beginning. Verse 8 states that the Prince will exit the same way He came in-the side porch/vestibule area. In verses 9-10, the people were allowed to walk around the outer north/south gates in order to see the Temple area. They were permitted to walk past the altar, the inner area where the priests worked, and the closed outer east gate. Symbolically, Jesus was imitating King David from Psalm 42:4. It is presumed that Jesus was redeeming the dead saints and glorifying their bodies. In verse 11-12, the phrase “as one is able to give” is again repeated. See the above explanation. The Prince has a choice to give any additional sacrifices to God as a freewill offering). He can either give a burnt offering (complete devotion to God) or a peace offering (fellowship with God). Peace offerings were often given to inaugurate Temples (See Leviticus 9:4, Leviticus 18, Leviticus 22; 1 Kings. 8:63-64, 2 Chronicles 30:22,  2 Chronicles 31:2; and Ezekiel 43:27). Personally, it is not farfetched that the Prince gave both sacrifices. It is consistent with His character.

In Verse 13, we still have an obligation of daily service (the phrases “morning by morning” and “This is a perpetual stature” suggests this) to the Lord. In Exodus 29:38-42 and Numbers 28:3-10 it says that two lambs are to be offered as a sacrifice every day; one in the morning and one in the evening WITH A DRINK OFFERING (no mention of it being a forever ordinance). Interestingly, in Ezekiel 46:13-15,only ONE lamb is to be offered every day; in the morning WITH NO DRINK OFFERING, and this is a FOREVER ORDINANCE (See Lamentations 3:23). The Drink offering is completely missing. Jesus is the other lamb that was offered in darkness and poured out for our sins. No drink offering is needed. He is drinking with His Bride at the supper of the Lamb in 70AD (Matthew 26:29; Luke 22:18). Through the Holy Spirit, we have fellowship with Jesus daily (See Matthew 27:45, Mark 15:33, Luke 23:44). The Morning sacrifice foreshadows Revelation 22's light. See also Romans 13:12. See Chart 3.

Chart 3

Commoner’s sacrifice Post-Day of Atonement Ezekiel 46:13-15
Type of Daily Sacrifice	Type of Sacrifice	Status
Daily Morning	Burnt offering-1 Lamb w/no drink offering	Active
Daily Evening	-	Inactive

In verse 16, after the DOA sacrifice, the adoption process for the resurrected saints and living saints will be finalized (Isaiah 53:10). The Zadok Priesthood will be extended to both kinds of saints-living and dead- because Heaven and Earth mirror each other. Whatever he gives His children, they will keep it forever. His inheritance goes to His family, not His servants. The servants were the wicked rulers of Israel in Ezekiel 45:8-9. After the Year of Liberty/Jubilee (every 50 years), in 70 AD, everything went back to Prince Jesus. Satan was disarmed as Old Covenant ruler. Christ successfully was given back the Kingdom to present to His Father (1 Corinthians 15:24-28). He will give all of his inheritance to all God's children (John 10:28-30; John 15:15; Romans 8:15-17; Matthew 21:43).

Ezekiel 46:19-24-The Boiling Places for Offerings

In verse 19-20 (see also parallel section in Ezekiel 42:13; John 6:53-55), this is talking about Sanctification and Holy Communion: the boiling off of the flesh, feeding the spiritual life, having fresh fellowship (not stale), reflecting, and digesting on Heavenly truths. These kitchens are only for the Zadok Priests to feed on the sacrifices. The Levites did the prep-work. In verse 21-24, we find out that there are 4 more kitchens. These kitchens were located in the outer area of the temple for the commoners. The people could eat some of the sacrifices and fellowship with one another. This represents God's provision and care.