CHAPTER 40

(574 B.C.)

EZEKIELS VISION OF THE TEMPLE (THE MILLENNIAL SANCTUARY)

¹In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and brought me thither. (In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, concerns itself with the first invasion of Jerusalem by Babylon, which occurred in 605 B.C. During this invasion, the city was partly destroyed and many of the people were carried away captive. The city was further devastated in 597 B.C. and finally burned and desolated in 586 B.C.)

²In the Visions of God brought He me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south. (The events of Chapters 40 through 48 concern things in the Kingdom Age, when Christ will Personally rule from Jerusalem. This will immediately follow the Battle of Armageddon and the Second Coming of the Lord.)

³And He brought me thither, and, behold, there was a Man, Whose Appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in His Hand, and a measuring reed; and He stood in the Gate. (If we compare the descriptions given in Ezek. 1:26-27, Dan. 10:6, and Rev. 1:15, the Man Whose Appearance was like the appearance of brass is Christ. Personally, He will give the Prophet the information regarding the coming Glory and Grandeur of restored Jerusalem and the Temple.

With a line of flax in His Hand, and a measuring reed, speaks of Righteousness.)

THE EASTERN WALL AND GATE

⁴And the Man said unto me, Son of man, behold with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and set your heart upon all that I shall show you; for to the intent that I might show them unto you are you brought hither: declare all that you see to the House of Israel. (Son of man, behold with your eyes, and hear with your ears, portrays the Truth that all given concerning dimensions, portrayals, and specifications have a Spiritual reference, with all pertaining to Christ.

The carnal heart will see little blessing in these tedious statements and measurements, and consequently will reap little! However, the Spiritual Heart will dig and probe that these nuggets of Spiritual Gold may be brought to the surface [Col. 2:3].)

⁵And behold a wall on the outside of the House round about, and in the Mans Hand a measuring reed of six cubits long by the cubit and an hand breadth: so He measured the breadth of the building, one reed; and the height, one reed. (A reed represents nine feet. It is interesting that the Tabernacle had no wall, nor did the Temple, or at least no wall that was an essential part of the Sacred Structure. Here, however, the wall constitutes an integral portion of the whole, and was designed to make a separation between the Sanctuary and the profane place. This wall encloses the square in which will stand the Sacred Palace.)

⁶Then came He unto the Gate which looks toward the east, and went up the stairs thereof, and measured the threshold of the Gate, which was one reed broad; and the other threshold of the Gate, which was one reed broad. (In the construction of these three Places of Worship, nothing is left to mans taste or imagination. Everything, even in the matter of measurements, was commanded by God, and, as stated, holds great Spiritual Meaning.

For instance, the phrase, And went up the stairs thereof, pertains to Gods Plan of Salvation. Even though the number of steps is not given here, they are mentioned in Verses 22 and 26 concerning the Northern and Southern Gates as being seven.

Seven is Gods number, implying perfection, completion, and totality. Such is Gods Salvation, afforded by Christ Jesus and offered freely to man.)

⁷And every little Chamber was one reed long, and one reed broad; and between the little Chambers were five cubits; and the threshold of the Gate by the Porch of the Gate within was one reed. (These are actually guard-chambers intended for the Levite sentinels who stood guard over the House. It is not that guards are needed; they are for decorative purposes only! Nevertheless, the Spiritual Application is appropriate. The Child of God is ordered to watch and to pray [Mk. 13:33].)

⁸He measured also the Porch of the Gate within, one reed.

⁹Then measured He the Porch of the Gate, eight cubits; and the posts thereof, two cubits; and the Porch of the Gate was inward. (Christ is the One Who measures; as the Lord of Glory, He is Perfect in His design.)

¹⁰And the little Chambers of the Gate eastward were three on this side, and three on that side; they three were of one measure: and the posts had one measure on this side and on that side.

¹¹And He measured the breadth of the entry of the Gate, ten cubits; and the length of the Gate, thirteen cubits. (This is the Eastern Gate to the Temple; it is nearly twenty feet high.)

¹²The space also before the little Chambers was one cubit on this side, and the space was one cubit on that side: and the little Chambers were six cubits on this side, and six cubits on that side. (This area or space immediately before the little Chambers most likely was to enable the guardsman, by stepping beyond his cell, to observe the happenings in the Gate without interrupting those coming and going. Spiritually speaking, what kind of guard do we have which observes what goes in and what comes out? Nothing should be allowed to enter that stains, corrupts, pollutes, or spoils.)

¹³He measured then the Gate from the roof of one little Chamber to the roof of another: the breadth was five and twenty cubits, door against door. (If the Guard Chambers are scrutinized this closely, as to measurement and direction, then the significance should not be lost upon us. To guard our mind, which is the doorway to our spirit, in order that defilement not enter, can be done only as the Believer places his Faith in Christ and what Christ has done for us at the Cross. In essence, Christ must not be separated from the Cross, and we speak of its benefits [Rom. 6:3-5; 8:1-2, 11; I Cor. 1:17-18, 23; 2:2; Gal. 6:14].)

¹⁴He made also posts of threescore cubits, even unto the post of the Court round about the Gate. (These posts are ninety feet high, and are different than the little short posts mentioned in Verse 10. I think the Holy Spirit does not desire this post of ninety feet height to be contrasted with the little post of only three feet height [Vs. 9]. To serve in any capacity in the Kingdom of God is of utmost significance. As one is needed, the other is also needed!)

¹⁵And from the face of the Gate of the entrance unto the face of the Porch of the Inner Gate were fifty cubits. (The fifty cubits are seventy-five feet. This comprised the whole length of the Eastern Gate, from the outer entrance to the inner exit.)

¹⁶And there were narrow windows to the little Chambers, and to their posts within the Gate round about, and likewise to the arches: and windows were round about inward: and upon each post were palm trees. (Similar windows existed in the Temple of Solomon [I Ki. 6:4]. It is notable that the only type of trees mentioned as being a part of the decoration of the Millennial Temple is the palm tree. This tree symbolizes rest.)

OUTER COURT

¹⁷Then brought He me into the Outward Court, and, lo, there were Chambers, and a pavement made for the Court round about: thirty Chambers were upon the pavement.

¹⁸And the pavement by the side of the Gates over against the length of the Gates was the lower pavement.

¹⁹Then He measured the breadth from the forefront of the Lower Gate unto the forefront of the Inner Court without, an hundred cubits eastward and northward. (The Hebrew word for pavement suggests ornamental pavement. The pavement of the Outer Court was called the lower pavement to distinguish it from that laid in the Inner Court, which stood at a higher elevation.)

THE NORTHERN GATE OF THE OUTER COURT

²⁰And the Gate of the Outward Court that looked toward the north, He measured the length thereof, and the breadth thereof.

²¹And the little Chambers thereof were three on this side and three on that side; and the posts thereof and the arches thereof were after the measure of the first Gate: the length thereof was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.

²²And their windows, and their arches, and their palm trees, were after the measure of the Gate that looks toward the east; and they went up unto it by seven steps; and the arches thereof were before them. (There will be no West Gate, for the Messiah, when seated on His Throne within the Temple, will face the East; the worshippers will enter by the North and South Gates and stand before Him; behind Him will, perhaps, stand the Cherubims of Glory.

The seven steps, as we have explained, denote perfection, totality, completion, and universality; seven is Gods Number and applies to Christ Himself.)

²³And the Gate of the Inner Court was over against the Gate toward the north, and toward the east; and He measured from Gate to Gate an hundred cubits. (The distance is identical from the north, east, and south: 150 feet.)

THE SOUTHERN GATE OF THE OUTER COURT

²⁴After that He brought me toward the south, and behold a Gate toward the south: and He measured the posts thereof and the arches thereof according to these measures.

²⁵And there were windows in it and in the arches thereof round about, like those windows: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.

²⁶And there were seven steps to go up to it, and the arches thereof were before them: and it had palm trees, one on this side, and another on that side, upon the posts thereof. (All three Gates, east, north, and south, have seven steps leading up from the outside of the outer wall. Actually, the design of the Temple area is very simple, forming a square, with the dimensions identical from all entrances. This portrays the exactness, perfection, and harmony of Gods Salvation Plan, exemplified in Christ, Who is Perfect from every side. In fact, any way one looks at Christ, one sees nothing but perfection. If one comes through the South Gate, it is identical to that which leads through the North Gate; therefore, whichever one enters, there is no confusion. What a beautiful picture of True Bible Christianity!)

THE INNER COURT GATES AND WALLS

²⁷And there was a Gate in the Inner Court toward the south: and He measured from Gate to Gate toward the south an hundred cubits.

²⁸And He brought me to the Inner Court by the south Gate: and He measured the south Gate according to these measures;

²⁹And the little Chambers thereof, and the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, according to these measures: and there were windows in it and in the arches thereof round about: it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad.

³⁰And the arches round about were five and twenty cubits long, and five cubits broad.

³¹And the arches thereof were toward the Outer Court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof: and the going up to it had eight steps. (There were eight steps that led to the South Inner Gate, whereas there were seven that led to the North Outer Gate. Gods Number, which is seven, cannot be improved upon, and is not meant to be improved upon; therefore, the number eight, respecting the steps that lead to the Inner Court, should be added to the seven, totaling fifteen.

This corresponds to the Pilgrim Psalms, or Songs of Degrees or Ascents, which were fifteen. They are Psalms 120 through 134. They were supposed to have been sung, one upon each step, by the choir of Levites, as they ascended first into the Outer and then the Inner Court of Solomons Temple.

These Songs of Degrees symbolize the Spiritual Journey of every Believer. The first Psalm of each group speaks of distress and trouble [Ps. 120, 123, 126, 129, 132]; the second Psalm of each group speaks of trust and deliverance by God [Ps. 121, 124, 127, 130, 133]; the third Psalm of each group speaks of Blessing and Triumph upon Zion [Ps. 122, 125, 128, 131, 134].)

³²And He brought me into the Inner Court toward the east: and He measured the Gate according to these measures.

³³And the little Chambers thereof, and the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, were according to these measures: and there were windows therein and in the arches thereof round about: it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad.

³⁴And the arches thereof were toward the Outward Court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the going up to it had eight steps.

³⁵And He brought me to the north Gate, and measured it according to these measures:

³⁶The little Chambers thereof, the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, and the windows to it round about: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.

³⁷And the posts thereof were toward the Outer Court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the going up to it had eight steps. (The same minute specifications are again repeated, as if to show that all parts in this Divinely-fashioned edifice are of equal moment and, therefore, symbolize Christ.)

³⁸And the Chambers and the entries thereof were by the posts of the Gates, where they washed the Burnt Offering. (The Sacrifices included the Whole Burnt Offering, which spoke of Christ giving His all.)

TABLES FOR PREPARING THE SACRIFICES

³⁹And in the Porch of the Gate were two tables on this side, and two tables on that side, to slay thereon the Burnt Offering and the Sin Offering and the Trespass Offering.

⁴⁰And at the side without, as one goes up to the entry of the north Gate, were two tables; and on the other side, which was at the Porch of the Gate, were two tables.

⁴¹Four tables were on this side, and four tables on that side, by the side of the Gate; eight tables, whereupon they killed their Sacrifices.

⁴²And the four tables were of hewn stone for the Burnt Offering, of a cubit and an half long, and a cubit and an half broad, and one cubit high: whereupon also they laid the instruments wherewith they killed the Burnt Offering and the Sacrifice.

⁴³And within were hooks, an hand broad, fastened round about: and upon the tables was the flesh of the offering. (Actually, three types of Offerings would be offered here, the Burnt Offering, the Sin Offering, and Trespass Offering. There were twelve tables in all, eight on which the Sacrifices were placed, and four for placing the instruments employed in killing the animals.

Although reinstituted, as under the Old Covenant, the Sacrifices do not now take away sin any more than they did then [Heb. 10:4]. The Sacrifices are merely symbolic, and are meant to portray the Great Sacrifice made by Christ at Calvary. This is to never be forgotten; the daily offering of the Sacrifices will be a constant ritual, so that the entire world will never forget.

That which saved man, the shed Blood of Jesus Christ at Calvary, did not come cheaply or easily; therefore, it is thought of so highly in the Mind of God, and rightly so, that the never-ending repetition of Sacrifices will constantly be offered as an ongoing reminder.)

CHAMBERS OF THE SINGERS

⁴⁴And without the Inner Gate were the Chambers of the singers in the Inner Court, which was at the side of the north Gate; and their prospect was toward the south: one at the side of the east Gate having the prospect toward the north. (The singers, whose worship will accompany the Sacrifices, portray the Truth that the great price paid at Calvary brought eternal joy to the human heart, and is ever to be expressed accordingly. Therefore, the Truth is evident here that if the Church goes further than Calvary, it loses its way with God. As well, if Calvary is ever lifted up as the focal point of mans Redemption and Sanctification, which it most certainly is, then great joy always accompanies this great Truth [Rom. 6:3-14].)

BUILDING FOR THE PRIESTS

⁴⁵And He said unto me, This Chamber, whose prospect is toward the south, is for the Priests, the keepers of the charge of the house. (The indication is that this Chamber is exclusively for the Priests.)

⁴⁶And the Chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the Priests, the keepers of the charge of the Altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto Him. (The two Chambers mentioned in Verses 45 and 46 both pertain to the Priests. Those in Verse 45 face toward the south and are for those in charge of the Temple. The one facing north is for those having charge of the Altar.)

THE PORCH OF THE HOUSE

⁴⁷So He measured the Court, an hundred cubits long, and an hundred cubits broad, foursquare; and the Altar that was before the House. (The cubit was about 18 inches long. The Great Altar was situated in the very center of the four squares, and is 18 feet square. The Revelation of all of this testifies to the interest of God in His People. He will rebuild His Sanctuary among them; and He has informed them of this fact, and of its details, as a testimony of His Faithful Love, and as a Message to their hearts and consciences. Therefore, the Prophet was commanded to show these things to the House of Israel [Vs. 4].)

⁴⁸And He brought me to the Porch of the House, and measured each post of the Porch, five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side: and the breadth of the Gate was three cubits on this side, and three cubits on that side.

⁴⁹The length of the Porch was twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits; and He brought me by the steps whereby they went up to it: and there were pillars by the posts, one on this side, and another on that side. (The Most Holy Place, specified in Verse 4 of the next Chapter, is larger than the Porch of the House, or entrance, thus signifying that Gods Grace is far greater than anything that could be brought to it. Consequently, this fact illustrates a great Spiritual Truth. In this building and its dependencies, the measurements of foundations and the posts have great importance; for the one word expresses stability, the other, permanence.

In the Bible, the posts of the door mean the whole House as an erect structure, and they figure its strength. This is imitated in the massive stone door-posts of the Egyptian Temples. If, therefore, the posts of the door shake, the whole House shakes.

In this House of Jehovah, all the foundations will be of like measure, signifying its Great Strength, which is Christ.)