What Ezekiel's Temple Vision is Really About

Ezekiel sees the Lord as he tours the New Temple. 

Ezekiel 43:1–2 (ESV) Then he led me to the gate, the gate facing east. 2 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory.

Having been shown the Temple by guided tour and seeing it in totality, the prophet now experiences the point of all of it. God's glory being made manifest among His people. As the prophet beholds this vision of restoration he is reminded that this God of restoration appears in the same way as He did when He was involved in Israel destruction.

Ezekiel 43:3–5 (ESV) And the vision I saw was just like the vision that I had seen when he came to destroy the city, and just like the vision that I had seen by the Chebar canal. And I fell on my face. 4 As the glory of the LORD entered the temple by the gate facing east, 5 the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the temple.

This is a unique way of stipulating that God never changes, His people do and the results are based on their actions. Rebellion against God yields wrath not because God changes but because of who He is. Restoration when we are disciplined for sin comes to us not because God changes but because that is who He is - a restoring, gracious Lord. Some struggle with God's choosing Jacob over Esau, or loving Israel and hardening Pharaoh. But it is not simply an act of agency on God's part as we understand agency. It is the revelation of God's nature from different angles. The wicked flee, the penitent falls on his face. We reveal Him in both repentance and rebellion.

Ezekiel is given from the Lord in this chapter the reason for his vision of the temple. God says: 
Ezekiel 43:10–11 (ESV) “As for you, son of man, describe to the house of Israel the temple, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and they shall measure the plan. 11 And if they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the temple, its arrangement, its exits and its entrances, that is, its whole design; and make known to them as well all its statutes and its whole design and all its laws, and write it down in their sight, so that they may observe all its laws and all its statutes and carry them out.

The revelation of where God dwells in glory is a call to repentance and grace. Imagine that! When God shows up, He shows up to bring us back. I read a commentator who made the incredible point that all the images of this temple (which match no other in scripture) are really "types" and "shadows" of Christ. Consider the emphases in the description: The number three, representing His death, burial, and resurrection. The number eight, representing a new beginning after a 7-day week; Jesus is our new beginning. The palm trees and lions engraved on the walls (41:18–20), Jesus was heralded with palms on the way to Jerusalem, and He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. The emphasis on doors throughout the structure; Jesus is the door that leads to life. The altar of sacrifice, pointing to the final sacrifice offered by Christ. The reference to the year of jubilee in Ezekiel 40, which points to the ultimate day of freedom when our bodies are redeemed from the enslavement subjected to us by Adam (Romans 8:23).

And who made the first move in this whole experience? The Lord. He came and found Ezekiel and revealed himself in types and shadows so that when we meet Him ourselves, the glory of the Lord will fill our lives. 

Finally, Ezekiel comes to the altar. About this, the Lord states that after a bull is offered on the first day, male goats are offered for the ensuing seven days. 
Ezekiel 43:25–27 (ESV) For seven days you shall provide daily a male goat for a sin offering; also, a bull from the herd and a ram from the flock, without blemish, shall be provided. 26 Seven days shall they make atonement for the altar and cleanse it, and so consecrate it. 27 And when they have completed these days, then from the eighth day onward the priests shall offer on the altar your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, and I will accept you, declares the Lord GOD.”

The prophet is able to offer sacrifices to God because the Temple has come and the altar has been purified. In Christ, we have a purified altar on which to offer God praise and worship. We behold His glory as we realize He has brought us near to Himself. 

Thank you, Lord. You are full of Grace!

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