Blog 027 - Ezekiel's Temple Vision
Posted on October 09, 2022
Ezekiel’s Temple Vision
Image credit - Pexels cottonbro
Ezekiel chapters 40-48
Reading and studying scripture without some guiding principles of interpretation could be likened to sailing a boat on the high seas without a rudder. When it comes to prophetic scripture, we might add the effects of a storm to this analogy! If we do not take a systematic and holistic approach to reading scripture; the difficulty is exacerbated.
Ezekiel chapters 40-48 provide us with an outline of a 'future' new temple in great detail. This section of scripture is seldom taught in church or discussed in conversation. This might be because many Christians do not read the Old Testament prophetic books or it might be because we find this passage difficult to interpret or apply to our Christian walk some 2,500 years after the book was written - Ezekiel dated 592-570 BC.
Assuming the reader is familiar with the literal, moral, contextual, typical, symbolic and allegorical principles of interpretation; I have found the following basic principles particularly helpful when reading prophetic books such as Daniel and Revelation and also when dealing with prophetic passages from the Major and Minor prophets:
Scripture interprets scripture:
This style of interpretation demands and assumes a systematic and holistic approach to reading the bible. It ensures that we make sound deductions based on an understanding of any verse, chapter or book within the context of the whole of the bible.
Literal interpretation:
If LITERAL sense makes GOOD sense, then seek no OTHER sense, lest you end up with NONSENSE. Very often, the literal interpretation of the plain text provides us with the simple truth and avoids unnecessary complexity.
Revelation 20 v 1-9 NIV
The Thousand Years
1 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.
4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
The Judgment of Satan
7 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulphur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
In the passage above, the term "a thousand years" or "the thousand years" is mentioned six times in seven verses! It is somewhat of a stretch to say this should be interpreted as symbolic or allegorical. If, on the other hand, this is interpreted in a literal sense, it supports the notion of a future one thousand year reign of Christ on this earth. In the context of Revelation 20, this is where we can easily visualise Ezekiel's temple vision; literally and in the future.
History & Archaeology
In terms of historical and archaeological records, it is beyond dispute that the temple described in Ezekiel 40-48 has never been built - as yet. A literal interpretation of this prophecy supports the Pre-millennialist view of a literal 1000-year reign of Christ on this earth as outlined in Revelation 20.
If pressed; how do you interpret this passage and how will you explain your interpretation to Ezekiel when you meet him?
To find out more about this magnificent temple complex and why the sacrificial system can and will be reintroduced for Israel (not the Church) during the Millennial Reign of Christ on earth, click READ MORE