Sacrifices In The Millennial Temple

INTRO

We’ve got three more days in Ezekiel before we look at the final book in the major prophets—Daniel. I think the study of Ezekiel has created a new hunger for Scripture in students and for getting prepared for the end times.

Yesterday’s lesson was on the dimensions of the temple in Ezekiel 40—41. Jerusalem had three temples during its history. The first one was built by Solomon (1 Kings 6:1–9:9). This temple was destroyed and burned to the ground in 586 BC. In the minds of the captives in Babylon, they had no temple and therefore no hope. The second temple was built by Zerubbabel and was destroyed in 70 AD. Ezekiel brought hope to the people by describing not the second temple but rather the third or final temple that would be a part of the millennium. The millennial temple will be the place where Christ will dwell for his thousand-year reign after He returns.

TEACHING

Ezekiel 43:1-9: Ezekiel was led to the gate facing the east, where the Mount of Olives is, and, according to the prophet Zechariah (Zechariah 14:4), where Christ will return. There, Ezekiel saw the glory of God approaching. His voice sounded like the roar of mighty waterfall, and the earth shone with His glory (vv. 1-2). Ezekiel fell face down before God’s glory (v. 3). Remember that in chapters 8—11 the glory of God left the temple; His presence had departed from the Jews. In Ezekiel’s vision, God’s presence returned to Jerusalem. This will happen right after the seven-year period of the tribulation (three and a half years of peace followed by three and a half years of wrath) before Jesus returns. We are now in the current age, so none of this has begun yet. The glory of the Lord reentered the temple (v. 4). Ezekiel was then lifted up and taken into the temple, where the glory of the Lord filled up the temple (v. 5).

Mike Bennett outlines what will have to happen first, before God’s presence returns to the temple from Matthew 24:

• Religious deception (Matthew 24:4-5).
• Wars and rumors of wars (Matthew 24:6-7).
• Famines (Matthew 24:7).
• Pestilences (Matthew 24:7).
• Earthquakes will take place (Matthew 24:7).
• Persecution of followers of Christ (Matthew 24:9-10).
• Lawlessness (Matthew 24:12).
• The gospel of the Kingdom will be preached (Matthew 24:14).
• Jerusalem will be surrounded and the ‘abomination of desolation’ set up (Matthew 24:15; Luke 21:20).¹

Other signs include: the tribulation will threaten the existence of humanity (Matthew 24:21-22), signs will be seen in the heavens (Matthew 24:29), and Jesus will return with sound of a trumpet (Matthew 24:30-31; 1 Corinthians 15:52; Revelation 11:15).

In verse 6 the vision continued, and Ezekiel, still accompanied by “the man,” heard someone speaking directly to him. The speaker was God who said this temple would be the place where He would dwell with the Israelites forever and they would no longer prostitute His name with idols (vv. 7-8) (Psalm 132:12). God’s mercy and forgiveness would allow Him to dwell with them forever (v. 9).

Ezekiel 43:10–17: God then instructed Ezekiel to describe the dimensions of this temple to the people so they would be ashamed of their sins (v. 10). Ezekiel was told to reveal the holiness of the temple and that the top of the mountain and all that surrounded it would be especially holy (vv. 11-12). All that Ezekiel was told to lay out for the exiles had already been given to him in verses 13-18 (Ezekiel 40—42). Verse 13 begins the description of the altar for burnt offerings.

Note that the temple mount is presently held holy by Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Somewhere in this period, God will shake this up to return the mount to a place for His dwelling. The Old Testament, from Genesis through Malachi, points to the coming of the Messiah. The New Testament, from Matthew through Revelation, reveal the Messiah and point to His second coming. The millennial temple will bring both of these worlds, and the faith of the Jews and the faith of Christians, together somehow. It’s hard to process what that means exactly. That means Jesus will be at the millennial temple at the same time sacrifices will be made there. This will be in our time!

Ezekiel 43:18-27: These verses explain what the burnt offerings will be and how they will be offered. There will be areas preserved around the valley, that splits the Mount of Olives, with salt to use in these offerings. Verse 25 requires that the offerings will be offered for seven days.

CLOSING

Tom Constable says in Ezekial 44:1-9 we begin to see how you use the temple and in verses 10-31 how the priests were to use the temple.² Everything Ezekiel saw in these chapters happens in the millennial temple. And it looks like God has a picture for more than just us Christians.