Ezekiel Chapter 43

Setting

Ezekiel 43 is a continuation of Ezekiel 40, Ezekiel 41 and Ezekiel 42.

Outline of this chapter

Verses	Topic
1-11	The return of the Glory of the Lord
12-17	The law of the house
18-27	Ordinances of the altar

The return of the Glory of the Lord

In Ezekiel 43:1-5, Ezekiel is still in the outer court, and is now being taken near the eastern gates, that lead outside of the temple area and the other gate that leads into the inner court. At that time, Ezekiel observed the Glory of the Lord coming from the east. He also heard the Lord's voice, which sounded like the roar of rushing waters. With the Lord's presence, the land was radiant with His glory.

Ezekiel makes the connection between what is revealed to him this time in contrast to the vision he had when God departed from the temple, Ezekiel 11:22-24. Unlike the first vision, Ezekiel does not observe all of the activity associated with the Lord's departure from the temple. Instead he observes the brilliance of the Lord's glory on His return to the temple via the eastern gates. At this sight, Ezekiel falls down on his face. The Spirit then lifted Ezekiel up and brought him to the inner court, but not into the temple. From his vantage point, he could see the Lords glory fill the temple, as he did with the tabernacle, and Solomon’s temple. It is important to point out that many over the centuries have believed and expected that the Lord would return through the walled up eastern gate now in Jerusalem. As indicated in Ezekiel 40:2, the city is now south of the temple area, as shown in the simple schematic to the right, and not surrounding the temple area as in the past. Now, the eastern gates referred to in these passages is in the temple area itself. As will be seen later, these gates will be shut because the Lord passed through them. Only one of the two eastern gates will be open for a special occasion.

In Ezekiel 43:6-9, Ezekiel hears the Lord speak to him from within the temple. The Lord confirms that this is where His throne is and that He lives among the Israelites forever. From that time forward, His name will never again be defiled by Israel or their kings, nor by their adulteries or by idols. In the past some Israelites would erected their homes and buildings next to the temple, and place worldly things next to Godly things. They did not consider the sanctity of those things dedicated to the Lord, by not showing the separation between God and the World (consider the chambers that only the priests in the line of Zadok could live in the millennial temple). This is why God judged them. Now, during the millennial reign of the Lord, they are to put away all these evil practices.

In Ezekiel 43:10-11, Ezekiel is now instructed by the Lord to describe the temple to the people. If they are ashamed of their sins, Ezekiel is to show them the design of the temple, its physical layout, and its regulations and laws. Ezekiel is to write these down so that the Israelites may be faithful in all things regarding the temple.

The law of the house

In Ezekiel 43:12-17, the whole mountain top on which the Temple is located is to be holy. In these verses, the measurements commence, this time with the altar. The altar is described to be rather large square, with four horns. There will also be stairs leading to the altar, extending from the altar toward the east gate leading into the outer court from the inner court.

Ordinances of the altar

In Ezekiel 43:18-27, the regulation for sacrificing burnt offerings and sprinkling blood upon the altar is given. In consecrating the altar they were to:

On the first day of the consecration of the alter, they are to:

Offer a one year-old bull as a sin offering to the priests

The family of Zadok, of the tribe of Levi, were chosen to come near to the Lord

They are to put the blood on the four horns and the four corners of the upper ledge and all around the rim to purify the altar
The bull is to be burnt in a designated area in the temple outside the sanctuary, which is the way the Lord instructed Moses, Exodus 29:14, and in several places in Leviticus

This all pointed to Christ being offered outside of the temple when He was crucified because the offering was a sin offering, Hebrews 13:11-13

On the second day of the consecration of the altar, they are to:

Offer a male goat without a blemish for a sin offering

In Leviticus 1:10, it was either a lamb or a goat, but since the Lamb has already been sacrificed, only a goat is called for

The altar is to be purified as it was with the bull
Next they are to offer a young bull and a ram, without blemish
The priests are to then sprinkle salt on the offering, them present them as a burnt offering to the Lord

For seven days they are to:

Provide a male goat daily for a sin offering
Provide a young bull and a ram without blemish
Make atonement for the altar and cleanse it, which dedicates it

On the eighth day:

The priests are to present their burnt offerings and fellowship (or peace) offerings wherein the person making the burnt offering could also partake of the offering on the alter
Then the Lord will accept the person making the offering

There are many arguments within the Church as to why a sacrificial system during the millennial reign of Christ is necessary since the entire sin issue was settled on the cross completely. As a result of the arguments, some feel that the foregoing verses in this chapter are allegorical. However, there is so much specificity in this as in the dimensions of the temple, that one cannot ignore the possibility of this being the regular practice that the Lord is instituting during His millennial reign. This would by no means diminish or take away the work of Jesus Christ on the cross to atone for the world's sin, but these practices would point back to that point in time, similar to the Old Testament saints' practice of sacrificial worship that pointed forward to the cross.

Two other points need to be made. First, since there will be longevity of life during the millennial reign of the Lord Jesus Christ, Isaiah 65:18-20, and Satan will be bound in the bottomless pit during that time, Revelation 20:1-2, so the concept of death, the horror and penalty of sin will be somewhat removed from the people living in those days. Just as the church has the commemoration of the Lord's supper, Mark 14:22-25, so the millennial saints will have this as their offerings to remember the Lord's work. Second, the need for such a memorial is evident by the final rebellion that will occur by an innumerable number of people in those days who will be seduced by Satan after his release from the bottomless pit, Revelation 20:7-15. When it gets to the point when the rebels surround the holy temple and city of God, that fire from the Lord will descend from heaven, and consume all of them. Thereafter, the second resurrection will occur and all who have not believed and called upon the name of the Lord, will appear before the great white throne judgment, and then they will be thrown into the lake of fire for all future eternity.


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