More future promises from God

 Read Ezekiel 47.

During the thousand years that Christ will reign on earth, the Temple will be rebuilt, the Levites will again serve, and memorial sacrifices will take place.  The angel that has guided Ezekiel in this vision since chapter 40 took him outside the Millennial Temple.  There the prophet was given a view of God's blessings related to the future of the land of Israel.

Water began to flow from the Temple that was only ankle deep.  Every 1,000 cubits the water increased in depth until it became an impassable river.  It flowed from the south side of the Temple, down the Kidron Valley, into the Jordan River Valley (Arabah), and into the Dead Sea.  This same prophecy is corroborated in two other books.  Joel 3:18-"And in that day the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the streambeds of Judah shall flow with water; and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the LORD and water the Valley of Shittim."  Zechariah gave even more information as he saw the river flowing both toward the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean.  "On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea.  It shall continue in summer as in winter." (Zechariah 14:8)

The rest of this chapter provides a glimpse into God's benefits and blessings for Israel.
1. The Dead Sea will become fresh water. (vv.8-10)
This large body of water that is saltier than the ocean has no life in it.  But in that day it will be teeming with fish.  Fishermen will occupy the shoreline.

2. The land will become fruitful. (v.12a)
With such abundance of fresh water, the dry desert areas will be rich with agriculture.

3. The leaves will become medicinal. (v.12b)
This statement is not explained.  In some way, the leaves from those fruit trees will have a healing property to them.

4. The land will be divided again. (vv.13-23)
God's promise to Abraham was made based upon "two unchangeable things" (Hebrews 6:13-18): His unchangeable word (Number 23:19) and His unconditional covenant (Genesis 15).  That promise according to Ezekiel 47:14 will still be in place during the Millennium.  The land will be divided once again among the 12 Tribes.  Even non-Jews, who may desire to live in Israel, will be welcomed (v.22).

The LORD indeed has many wonderful things in store.  Our future is as bright as the promises of God.  The fulfillment of His promises is dependent upon God's faithfulness.  The enjoyment of His promises is dependent upon our faithfulness.

 

He is God of planning and Order

 Read Ezekiel 46.

The LORD of heaven is the God of order.  As the Apostle Paul wrote, "For God is not a God of confusion but of peace," "But let all thing be done decently and in order" (1 Corinthians 14:33, 40).  This is true of how He wants things organized and even how worship is to be conducted.  Therefore, He is not a God of disorder and neglect.

Reading of the various offerings at the Temple may not be the most inspiring material for us today.  However, overarching all these instructions is the fact of God's attention to every detail.  He cares about the days things are to be accomplished.  He is explicit in the use of gates to be shut and opened.  He has the traffic flow of how the people were to go in and out (vv.9-10).  The types and amounts of offerings are provided.  Instructions are given concerning inheritances of property in Israel (vv.16-18).  The locations of the kitchens and cooking instructions are all here (vv.19-24).

What a Bible reader learns quickly is that God is not watching us from a distance, but is up-close and personal.  He did not create elements and allow chaos to take over.  He has a plan and expects us, as stewards of His property, to manage things in ways that please Him.

And, He has a plan for our lives.  As someone once said, "God does not make junk."  "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10)

 

2 moral requirements of Leaders

 Read Ezekiel 45.

What a future is in store for the nation of Israel!  Under a new covenant and a restored relationship with God, the Jews will worship at a new Temple in Jerusalem.  During this millennial reign of Christ on earth, land will be designated for the priests.  The area will be approximately 8 1/2 miles by 6 1/2 miles.  Here they will live and serve.

Turning from spiritual service, this chapter addresses civic leadership also.  Two issues are raised.

1. God demands honesty. (vv.7-12)
The governmental leaders, the princes, are scolded for oppressing the people, instead of serving them.  They abused their power and authority in using violence to rule.  They abused their position for personal gain through dishonest dealings.    The LORD requires honest business transactions and accounting by using exact weights and measures.

2. God demands purity. (vv.21-22)
David, the prince (see chapter 34), will have a special role in this new earthly kingdom.  He will join with the people in presenting offerings for his own sin.  

Those types of character and moral requirements are not just for leaders.  Being right with God and treating others rightly is expected of everyone.  "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

The good news of personally knowing Jesus is that the text does not end there with condemnation.  When one places their eternal faith in Him, life-change takes place.  "But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God." (1 Corinthians 6:11)

 

 

God is in the Details

 Read Ezekiel 44.

As the formal priesthood will be active for Israel during the Millennium, God has promised that the sons of Zadok will be in charge (v.15).  The exactness of the Temple's future structure and the naming the family of those who will serve underscores again how literally this prophecy will be fulfilled.

Moses' brother Aaron was appointed by the LORD to be the first high priest.  He was of the tribe of Levi and his tribal family of Levites ministered on behalf of all the other tribes of Israel.  In this chapter, the reinstituted priesthood will also be led only by those descendants of Levi.  But over 2400 years have passed since this promise was made.  The Jews have been scattered throughout the world.  With intermarriage and time, it seems impossible that a Jew could actually prove they belonged to any specific tribe of Israel.  But that is not a problem for God.

An obvious example is found in the book of Revelation.  In chapter 14, during the Great Tribulation, Jesus will stand on Mount Zion and with Him will be 144,000 evangelists.  Who are these proclaimers?  Revelation 7 identifies them.  There will be 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes of Israel.  These, then, are Jewish tribulation believers who physically are descendants of those exact tribal families.  This can only be attributed to the omniscience of God.

It reminds us again that the LORD is not distant in His dealings and care of people but is truly up-close and personal.  He is a God of details.  When Jesus taught His disciples not to fear, He said, "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.  But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." (Matthew 10:29-31)

 

2 indispensable elements of Worship

 Read Ezekiel 43.

Greater than the structure of the Millennial Temple is what Ezekiel saw next.

This visionary tour began in chapter 40.  An angel led the prophet through the facility and grounds, carefully providing the exact dimensions.  The entire area will be about the size of thirteen football fields.  But a building alone does not have any spiritual value at all. 

Merely describing the details is not inspirational reading today for most believers in Jesus.  However, for the Jews who had lost their Temple due to the Babylonian destruction, this vision gave them hope.  In addition, God had a spiritual purpose in mind.  The loss of the Temple had been due to their sin.  Revealing these building plans reminded them of their sin and shame (vv.10-11).  God will use that guilt to bring all Israel to repentance and to Himself. 

Now, two more elements will be added to bring about Israel's spiritual transformation.

1. The Glory of God. (vv.1-9) 
Ezekiel was allowed to witness the sight and sound of what will happen when this Temple is completed.  The glory of God will be visible.  The prophet saw it moving from the east to the Temple.  The movement of the glory of God will make a powerful sound.  In chapter 10, the presence of the LORD left the former Temple, but there is coming a day when He will return and fill this place.  God said, "This is the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the people of Israel forever." (v.7)

2. The Sacrifices for Sin. (vv.10-27)
To a believer in Jesus, this passage describing future sacrifices for sin makes no sense.  Hebrews 9:26 is clear concerning Christ's death on the cross.  "...he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself."  As John 1:29 states: "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"  No further sacrifices for sin are needed. 

In the Old Testament, sacrifices for sin never took away the sin.  They only covered the sin, looking forward to the time when Messiah would come (Isaiah 53).  Since the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, we commemorate that payment for our sin by celebrating the Lord's Supper on a regular basis "until he comes" (1 Corinthians 11:26).  When Jesus returns, it appears that in the Millennium, these sacrifices will serve only as memorial offerings to the Lord, looking back at the full and final debt that was paid.

The presence of God and the celebration of sins forgiven.  Now, that is worship!

Holiness requires a Difference

 Read Ezekiel 42.

In this vision of the future Temple in Jerusalem, the angel provided exact measurements that will be followed.  The walls, the gates, the doors, the rooms, the inner court, and outer court are all detailed.  Several times in this chapter the word "holy" is used.  The Hebrew word means sacred, consecrated, dedicated.  Something holy is set apart, dedicated to the LORD, and treated in a special manner because it belongs to God.

1. There will be holy chambers. (v.13a)
The priests will use these rooms to eat.  Because the meat will be that which was sacrificed to the LORD on the altar, the very room is to be treated as sacred.

2. There will be holy offerings. (v.13b)
The people will come with their animals they wish to give to the LORD as a sacrifice.  Since the offering for sin has been paid on the cross, such offerings in that future Temple would of necessity be ones of thanksgiving and celebration.  These offerings are to be treated as belonging to the LORD and handled in a prescribed, holy way.

3. There will be a Holy Place. (v.14a)
Within the Temple will be an area that is called holy.  This is where the sacrifices and offerings are made on the burning altar on behalf of the people.  This is not to be confused with the Holy of Holies.  The holiest of places was a smaller area behind a thick curtain that housed the Ark of the Covenant and the very presence of God.  That place was so holy that only the High Priest could enter and that only once a year.  When Jesus died on the cross, God tore the curtain of the Holy of Holies, allowing all access to Him (Matthew 27:51).  There is no mention of the Ark of the Covenant here.

4. There will be holy garments. (v.14b)
As the priests minister, they will wear special clothing that is not to be worn at any other time.

The main idea of declaring something holy is to separate it from common usage (v.20).  The Apostle Paul quoted the living God in calling upon believers in Jesus to live as a holy people.  There should be a noticeable difference in the followers of Jesus and everyone else.  "'Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.'  Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God." (2 Corinthians 6:17-7:1)

 

The bread of Life

 Read Ezekiel 41.

Ezekiel's visionary tour of the future Temple continued.  The three-story structure will include a surrounding gated wall with a spacious outer court.  Inside will be an inner court with many rooms for storage and priestly usage.  Details of the dimensions and, even some architectural features, are provided.  The one furnishing mentioned in this chapter is an altar referred to as "the table that is before the LORD" (v.22).

It is not clear how this table, or altar, will be used.  The size is larger than either the original "table of the bread of Presence" or "the altar of incense," as described in Exodus 25:23 and 30:1-2.  However, the name in verse 22 would seem to be in place of the first one.

According to Leviticus 24:5-9, the priest was to bake twelve loaves of unleavened bread every Sabbath day and place them on the table in two rows of six.  The number of loaves represented the tribes of Israel. The priest would then pour pure frankincense over them.  It was an aromatic "food offering to the LORD."  Symbolically, this served as a reminder that God provided for their physical needs, their daily bread.

Concerning daily needs, Jesus said, "Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'  For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:31-33)

But greater than meeting our temporary physical needs, Jesus came to meet our eternal spiritual need.  He taught His followers, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst."  "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.  I am the bread of life."  "I am the living bread that came down from heaven.  If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever." (John 6:35, 47, 51)