2 Chronicles 29-31: The Best Commentary on Ezekiel 40-48

                               2 Chronicles 29-31: The Best Commentary on Ezekiel 40-48.

Ezekiel 40-48 is one of the hardest, if not, the hardest section of the Bible.  Many schools of thought have proposed a wide array of interpretations.

Those who hold to a premil interpretation believe that during the 1,000 year reign of Christ (Revelation 20:3-5) believers will go back to OT sacrifices/along with a Physical Temple for memorial purposes (not atonement) in order to look back at Christ’s work. This is problematic for several reasons: First, no OT sacrifice can replace or be eaten side by side with the Holy Communion; second, we do not go from types then back to shadows (Colossians 2:16-17, Hebrews 10:1); third, Ezekiel 40-48 never used the word “memorial,” atonement is used instead (although found in its earlier chapters).

Amil and Postmil hold to a more figurative interpretation. They believe it is simply the mystical union of Christ and the Church or simply say Christ fulfilled it on the cross with no further clarity. It almost takes on a parabolic perspective. There is no agreed or official position between these two schools. This may seem appealing to accept, but it is an unsatisfying explanation.

Due to my conclusions from my personal studies, I have acknowledged that the Prince in Ezekiel 40-48 is Jesus (See Ezekiel 34:24, 37:24-25; Isaiah 9:6, 55:3-4; Zechariah 12:7-9; Jeremiah 30:8-9,21, 33:22; Hosea 3:5). In Hebrew, Prince is a general term for ruler, so it can refer to a king as well.  Notice that this imagery is similar to Solomon’s Temple Dedication Ceremony (1 Kings 6-8) and Hezekiah’s Temple Rededication Ceremony (2 Chronicles 29-31). So how do we make sense of Jesus being a Prince and offering OT sacrifices?

Figuratively, it makes sense that since Solomon and Hezekiah had the opportunity to dedicate the Temple, why not Christ?! This is somewhat plausible. But we know that Christ never dedicated a Physical Temple, so this has to be a Spiritual Temple. Logically, it is easy to explain it away in a very abstract, spiritual manner. However, I believe there is more to this passage then we think. The closest passage that supports this can be found in Hebrews 6:19-20, 9:11-12, 23-24 (see below). By reading Hebrews 6 and 9 carefully, and then later compare it to Hebrew 3 and 8, we can see that this is not simply an elaborate description of Heaven, but a Spiritual Temple in Heaven.

Now, we come back to Solomon and Hezekiah’s Temple Dedications, Ezekiel 40-48 parallels closely with Hezekiah’s Temple Re-dedication Ceremony in 2 Chronicles 29-31. Both passages in the OT focuses on ceremonial cleansing- everything this has been polluted by sin. Because Jesus is the King and High Priest, it makes sense that He had to fulfill Leviticus 16’s Day of Atonement Ceremony. Symbolically, Ezekiel 40-48 borrows Levitical imagery of sacrifices and purity that the Jewish reader is familiar with, and presents them as higher expressions of holiness in Ezekiel. When reading these passages, we have to approach the text carefully, not to read it too literally, too figuratively, and/or impose NT concepts that may be foreign to this particular text during that dispensation.

When Christ ascended into Heaven, he started his High Priest ministry. This is why we see Him in High Priest garments in Revelation 1 in the Holy Place. In Revelation 5, Jesus enters the Father’s throneroom-The Holy of Holies of Heaven, not as a High Priest, not as a Lion, but as a slain Lamb. Therefore, it makes sense in Hebrews 9:23 that it was necessary for Christ to start His purification process due to the presence of Satan and His wicked angels (33AD-66AD). Once the Spiritual Temple was purified/ The Church atoned in 70AD as stated in Daniel 9:24-anoiting the Most Holy Place (this passage is commonly confused with Christ’s Baptism-which would be anachronistic), Heaven slowly merges with Earth until it is fully Christianized at the End of History. This is why we see the Holy City coming down to Heaven in Revelation 21.

Hebrews 6:19-20 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that ENTERS into the INNER PLACE behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 9:11-12 11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (NOT MADE WITH HANDS, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

Hebrews 9:23-24 23 Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with THESE rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, NOW to appear in the presence of God on our behalf

 

 

 

Ezekiel 40-48-

Prince Jesus

Parallels

2 Chronicles 29-31-

Hezekiah

Ezekiel 44:10-31

Ordering of the Priesthood

2 Chronicles 31:1-21

Ezekiel 43:13-22

The Cleansing of the Altar

2 Chronicles 29:18

Ezekiel 43:13-27

The Cleansing of the Priesthood

2 Chronicles 23:5,15,31

Ezekiel  45:18

Cleansing on the 1st Day of the 1st Month

2 Chronicles 29:3

Ezekiel 45:20-14 days

Cleansing is doubled in days

2 Chronicles 29:17-

16 days

Ezekiel 45:10-17

Census Tax-Exodus 30:11-16

2 Chronicles 29:20, 31

Ezekiel 45:21-25

Most of the Sacrifices are in 7s

2 Chronicles 29:21

Ezekiel 46:4-12

Freewill Offerings

2 Chronicles 30:22

Ezekiel 45:22

Provision Acknowledged-Genesis 22:8

2 Chronicles 29:36

 

 








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