"One of the most neglected portions of prophetic scripture is the temple vision recorded in the final chapters of the book of Ezekiel. But this vision is one that the church can no longer afford to ignore because it is also divinely linked to both the Sabbath and the Jubilee. As a depiction of the end-time church it illustrates what the church, spiritual Israel, is to become under the final outpouring of the
Holy Spirit.
The temple vision of Ezekiel 40 to 48 was given to the prophet during a time of national calamity.
That Ezekiel's temple typifies the empowered, end-time church is shown in many ways throughout the vision. For example, the articles that are measured and cleansed in this temple are the same articles measured in the Revelation given the Apostle John—the temple, the altar and the inner court along with those worshiping there (Revelation 11:1, 2).
And, the commission of John to measure the temple is the same directive given to Ezekiel. Both Ezekiel's and John's commissions symbolize the judgment or measurement of the end-time church and confirm the testimony of the Apostle Peter that judgment begins at the house of God (I Peter 4:17 and Ezekiel 9:6).
Recall from Malachi that the Lord will “suddenly come to his temple.” Why? To measure and purify it in the refiner's fire, so that it will be ready as the lovely bride of Christ to meet her groom.
That Ezekiel's temple describes the Spirit-filled church of the latter rain is shown in many ways. Here is a brief summary of some of them:
Clearly, God's people will become more intelligent at the end of time in regard to the Sabbath, the sanctuary and the final atoning work of Christ."
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The temple vision of Ezekiel 40 to 48 was given to the prophet during a time of national calamity.
That Ezekiel's temple typifies the empowered, end-time church is shown in many ways throughout the vision. For example, the articles that are measured and cleansed in this temple are the same articles measured in the Revelation given the Apostle John—the temple, the altar and the inner court along with those worshiping there (Revelation 11:1, 2).
And, the commission of John to measure the temple is the same directive given to Ezekiel. Both Ezekiel's and John's commissions symbolize the judgment or measurement of the end-time church and confirm the testimony of the Apostle Peter that judgment begins at the house of God (I Peter 4:17 and Ezekiel 9:6).
Recall from Malachi that the Lord will “suddenly come to his temple.” Why? To measure and purify it in the refiner's fire, so that it will be ready as the lovely bride of Christ to meet her groom.
That Ezekiel's temple describes the Spirit-filled church of the latter rain is shown in many ways. Here is a brief summary of some of them:
- Ezekiel's vision parallels the sealing of the 12 tribes of spiritual Israel in Revelation 7 and 14:1-5. Unlike in the original distribution of the land under Joshua in which larger tribes received larger land allotments, in Ezekiel's temple vision the land of Israel is divided equally among the tribes indicating that their populations are the same. This mirrors the equal number of sealed ones in Revelation's description of the 144,000, 12,000 in each of the 12 tribes.
- The pure, beautiful woman that appears in Revelation 12 also symbolizes this remnant church—spiritual Israel. Her victorious demeanor, her crown of 12 stars, her wedding gown of sunlight with the moon under her feet, symbolize her purity and the victory of her 12 spiritual tribes over sin, the fruit of the atonement of Christ by the infilling of the Spirit.
- The promise of the latter rain immediately precedes the temple vision in the final verse of Ezekiel 39, indicating again that this temple describes the Israel of God under the latter rain. "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name; . . .Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which . . . have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there. Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD" (Ezekiel 39:25, 28, 29).
- The glory of God returns to this temple, (see Ezekiel 43:1-12), not to the Mosaic model. This portends a transition from the early rain to the latter rain which means great grace. But because it is a rain of truth, it also means judgment, especially in regard to the Sabbath. Unlike in the Mosaic tabernacle and Solomon's temple, in this temple the eastern gate is open on the Sabbath but shut on the six working days, indicating that the true observance of the Sabbath and all that this entails is central to the true worship of Jehovah in the end-time, Spirit-filled church (Ezekiel 46:1-4).
- In the Mosaic service on the Day of Atonement, the sin offering of the people is a goat while the sin offering for the High Priest is a bull (see Leviticus 4 and 16). In Ezekiel's temple the only sin offering for the atonement is a bull. This teaches that the final atonement is for the priesthood. This is the final generation of sacred history, and points to the fulfillment of God's original plan for his people—to make them a royal priesthood. This is only possible through the anointing power of the Spirit. Ezekiel's temple depicts a royal priesthood empowered with a double anointing of the Spirit—that of both priests and kings.
- In Ezekiel's temple a fresh water spring flows miraculously from inside the sanctuary, increasing from a small stream to a mighty river in the span of one mile (Ezekiel 48). That the water in this river makes salt water fresh and gives life wherever it flows shows that this is no ordinary water, but is a symbol of the miraculous regenerative power under the latter rain of the Holy Spirit.
- And finally, the new name given to Jerusalem in Ezekiel's vision, “The Lord is There” in chapter 48, points us to the fullness of the Presence. The Lord is There is an epitaph that has its counterpart in the name The Lord Our Righteousness, both of which point to the gathering of spiritual Israel under the latter rain, the New Covenant church, the seed of Abraham by faith. “And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this [is] his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land” (Jeremiah 23:4-8).
Clearly, God's people will become more intelligent at the end of time in regard to the Sabbath, the sanctuary and the final atoning work of Christ."
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