The concluding chapters of the prophetic book of Ezekiel are
among the most hotly debated in all of Scripture. Many differing and
conflicting interpretations have been proposed by scholars, each according to
his own school of eschatological thought. Are these chapters, which describe a
great temple, speaking figuratively or literally? Do they refer to a time now
past, or to a future state?
The opportunities for controversy are manifold, and a mere
consideration of the chapters themselves, in isolation, is insufficient to
provide all the answers. For instance, this temple description occurs at the
end of a book heavy with symbolism, yet contains precise details and
measurements suggesting a more literal approach. There are mysteries in
chapters 40-48, as well — who is the ‘prince’ or leader involved in the temple
worship?
Neither the figurative nor the literal approach to these
chapters is adequate to explain every detail, unravel every mystery. However,
it is not necessary for us to know all the answers in order to understand the
passage properly. Despite the potential for controversy, Scripture does supply
us with enough information to answer the main questions associated with the
passage, which are as follows:
1. Is the temple and its worship literal, or figurative?
2. Do these things take place at a time now past or
at some point in the future?
3. If the time is future, does it involve the
millennial kingdom of Christ on earth, or the heavenly state?
4. In any case, what is the purpose of the
sacrifices described?
Let’s consider these issues and attempt to provide some
sound and scriptural answers.
Though this temple appears in a highly symbolic book, there
is much reason to believe that it is an actual, physical reality, and not a
merely spiritual phenomenon.
·
Firstly, this temple building is described in
precise detail, rather than loose symbolic terms. The exact measurements of the wall, the court and
the sanctuary,
as well as all the other elements of the construction, are provided for the
reader. What would be the point of such an exercise, if the place does not
actually exist?
·
Furthermore, the description is intensely visual.
Such painstaking, point-by-point consideration invites comparison, not to
purely symbolic visions such as the four
beasts seen by Daniel or the scarlet
woman of John’s apocalypse, but to the pattern provided to Moses for
the original Tabernacle —
an unarguably literal building.
·
Most importantly, Ezekiel is told to describe
the temple he has seen to the people of Israel, and if they are ashamed and
repent, to show them the exact plans and measurements. Why? “So that they may
observe all its laws and all its statutes and carry
them out”.
If the temple is only figurative, this is a nonsensical
statement. But if it is literal, all difficulty is removed.
It would seem that the main reason some scholars assume
Ezekiel’s temple to be symbolic is that the literal view seems to present
theological problems, making it more convenient to spiritualize the building
and all it contains. But spiritualizing cannot answer the logical and textual
objections listed above. Nor can it provide a clear interpretation of all the
supposed symbols involved in the dimensions and features of the temple, only
subjective speculation.
On this basis a literal interpretation is preferable even
though it may not supply all the answers.
Historical or Future?
For reasons of architecture, topology and theology, it would
appear that Ezekiel’s vision of the temple concerned the future, not any past
or contemporary edifice:
·
Architecturally, the dimensions provided in
chapters 40-48 do not correspond to any of the pre- or post-exilic temples —
Solomon’s, Zerubbabel’s, nor even Herod’s. Furthermore, the overall design is
markedly different from those of the historical temples.
·
Topologically, Ezekiel’s temple features a
river flowing eastward from the threshold of the temple out to the
Jordan Valley, whereas no river flowed from, through, or even past the temples
of Biblical times. Also, the surrounding geography described by Ezekiel is different
from that of Israel today or at any point in the past. Great changes have taken
place, consistent with the topological alterations associated
with the Lord’s second coming.
·
Theologically, the mode of worship and priestly
service followed in Ezekiel’s temple, though it parallels that of the Mosaic
economy in numerous details, has never been carried out by Israel at any time
in the past. The situation described in the land is an idyllic theocracy never
before experienced by the nation.
Most significantly, this temple contains the glory
of God. Jewish rabbis agree that the glory of God departed from Solomon’s
temple just before it was destroyed, and that neither Zerubbabel’s temple nor
Herod’s expansion ever contained such glory before the destruction of 70 A.D.
Therefore, if the glory of God will return as Ezekiel
prophesied, it must be to some other, future temple.
To be continued in Part 2
RJA
Republished by permission of the author
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