Aug 1960 - Q & A

Question :

(a)Is Ezekiel's temple millennial ?

(b)If millennial, who are the builders ?

Answers (a)(1): Yes. It seems incredible that instructions so elaborate and particular should be given concerning a temple which was never to be erected. The house built by the Remnant which returned from Babylon did not answer to the prophecy of Ezekiel. Nor should the vision be spiritualized to deprive it of literal fulfilment. Its fulfilment awaits the millennial reign.

(a)(2): Yes, it is the temple of the Millennium. In this house or sanctuary God says that He will dwell for ever (Ezekiel 37. 26-28; 43. 1-9). The words for ever" are the rendering of the Hebrew word Olam which means time undefined; it may mean eternity or it may mean time, the end of which is concealed.

(b)(1): "The Man whose name is the Branch ... shall build the temple of the LORD" (Zechariah 6.12). But as in the cases of the Tabernacle and the Temple which Solomon built human instrumentality may be used. A reading of Ezekiel 43.10-12; Isaiah 60; and Zechariah 6.15 would suggest that both the Israel people and the Gentiles will contribute. Observe the specific reference to the making of the altar in Ezekiel 43. 18.

(b) (2): The Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, will be the Builder of the millennial temple Behold the Man whose name is the Branch and He shall grow up out of His place, and He shall build the temple of the LORD: even He shall build the temple of the LORD and He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His throne and He shall be a priest upon His throne and the counsel of peace shall be between them both" (Zechariah 6.12, 13). How He will build the temple is not told us. It may well be that as Moses made the tabernacle and its vessels, and Solomon built God a house (Acts 7. 44, 47), which they did by the bands of others, so may the Lord build the temple in the coming day. But as we are not told how He will build the temple of Jehovah, it is well not to go beyond the things that are written.

Questions:

(c)Who is the Prince mentioned in the closing chapter of Ezekiel ?

(d)Why are sacrifices for sin, etc., offered, seeing Hebrews 10.12 ,says, When He (Christ) had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever.

Answers :

(c)(1). Ezekiel 46. 16-18 seems to indicate that the prince will be a human being, and Ezekiel 34.23, 24 and 37. 24, 25 identify the prince as David. The conception of a prince reigning and leading under the absolute authority of the great King need not surprise us in view of the fact that in the eternal state there will be the kings of the earth (Revelation 21.24).

(c)(2): As to who the prince is, of say Ezekiel 45.17-25, this presents a very difficult 9uestion. In verse 17 it speaks of the prince's part to give burnt offerings, etc., and that he shall prepare the sin offering, and the meal offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings, to make atonement for the house of Israel." If this were done for others and not for himself it might not present a great difficulty. I say this because of what I shall immediately say about David, the' king of Israel. But when we come to verse 22 we read, "And upon that day " (the day of the passover) shall the prince prepare for himself and for all the people of the land a sin offering. It is said of the coming millennial times, that I the LORD will be their God and My servant David prince among them (Ezekiel 34 24) Again My servant David shall be king over them" and "David My servant shall be their prince for ever (Ezekiel 37. 24-25) This is David raised from the dead, and appointed king and prince over Israel under King Messiah in the coming reign of Christ over the earth for a thousand years (Revelation 20.6). One cannot think that David, raised from the dead in an unsinning state, will need or have anything to do with a sin offering. It is possible that as David reigns under the Lord, so there may be a prince of his royal house who will be the prince of Ezekiel 45.17-25, etc. This is as far as one can go with one's present knowledge in seeking an answer to who is the prince of these chapters in Ezekiel.

(d)(1): There can be no doubt about the once-and-for-ever character and value of the sacrifice of Christ. During the Millennium God will be dwelling in a material house with which will be connected much of ritual service. It does not seem incompatible that there will be a law of sacrifice in operation which will emphasize and commemorate what has been secured by the sacrifice of Christ.

(d)(2): This is an important question and one that should be borne in mind when considering the question of why sin offerings will be offered in the temple in the Millennium. If sin offerings could not take away sins in the past, then neither will they take away sins in the future. That seems a patent conclusion to reach as to the value and effect of the shedding of the blood of bulls and goats. Paul speaks in Romans 3.25 (R.V.) of the passing over of the sins (not the remission of sins," A.V.) done aforetime, in the forbearance of God." And again he writes of the Lord's death being for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant" (Hebrews 9.15). There could be no bringing in those who were forgiven by God in the past into the blessedness of the eternal inheritance by the blood-shedding of bulls and goats. What then did that blood-shedding effect? The atonement made by that shedding of blood resulted in God forgiving such as had sinned and adjusted their heart-condition to God who dwelt in the tabernacle or temple, and as forgiven by Him they could enter upon the service of God in connexion with that sanctuary which was of this world (Hebrews 9.1), which is contrasted by the apostle with the sanctuary and true tabernacle which the Lord pitched, not man (Hebrews 8.1, 2; 9.11). When God again dwells in a temple built on earth, of this creation (in contrast to what is " not of this creation," Hebrews 9.11), and there is a material altar, then there will be material sacrifices of slain beasts, sacrifices which cannot take away sins in perpetuity, and which will be offered again and again. These sacrifices will adjust the hearts of the offerers to God who will dwell in the midst of Israel, as of old. But in contrast to these there will ever be the one Sacrifice which will put away men's sins for ever, whether in the past, now, or in the future, that Sacrifice is, thanks for ever be to God! that of the lone, and blessed for ever Victim of Golgotha.

unknown | Aug 1960
Question And Answer