EZEKIEL 40-48 by M. C. W.

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Apr 8, 1889

By M. C. W.

A CORRESPONDENT requests an explanation of the last nine chapters of Ezekiel, as to whether they refer to a temple which is to be built in the last days.

The following reasons will show most conclusively that this temple was not to be built in any period subsequent to the opening of the Christian dispensation, or, in other words, no such temple is ever to be built:—

1. In the temple and its service mentioned by Ezekiel, the Levites serve as priests. See chapters 42:46; 43:19; 44:15. But when Christ was crucified and ascended on high, the law of the priesthood changed. Levi was no longer priest; but Christ became "a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedek." Heb. 7:11-17. Please read these carefully. Also verses 22-24, which read as follows: "By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death; but this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood." The margin of verse 24 reads, "But this man [Christ] because he continueth ever, hath a priesthood which passeth not from one to another," or, as the Revised Version (margin) reads, "hath a priesthood that doth not pass to another." When the priesthood of Christ ends, there is no more probation. That priesthood and the everlasting gospel are contemporary. Christ is the great High Priest (Heb. 8:1), and the gospel is his gospel. Mark 1:1. And though "an angel from Heaven preach any other gospel, . . . let him be accursed." Gal. 1:8.

2. In the service of Ezekiel's temple, burnt-offerings, sin-offerings, and trespass-offerings of bulls and goats were to be made. Eze. 40:39; 43:19-25. But since our Lord Jesus Christ suffered death, the offerings of beasts, as acceptable to God, forever ceased. Their offering was but a symbol of faith in Christ, shadows pointing toward the substance. If they had been effectual or necessary, they would "not have ceased to be offered." Heb. 10:3. So when Christ came as the Sacrifice to which all others had pointed, he said, "Sacrifice and offering [of beasts] thou [God] wouldst not, but a body thou hast prepared me." Verse 5. Those offerings were past forever; "for by one offering He [Christ] hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." Verse 14. Again, "But this man [Jesus] after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever sat down on the right hand of God." Verse 12. To go back to the sacrifice of bulls and goats as effectual for the cleansing of sin, is a denial of Christ as Saviour; "for it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins." Verse 4.

3. In the temple-service presented by Ezekiel, no "uncircumcised in flesh" could enter into the sanctuary of the Lord. Eze. 44:7-9. But since Christ died upon the cross of Calvary, there is neither circumcision, nor uncircumcision; neither the circumcision of the flesh nor the uncircumcision of the flesh availeth aught so far as acceptance with Christ is concerned. 1 Cor. 7:19; Gal. 6:15.

It matters not whether a person is circumcised or uncircumcised, Jew or Gentile, if faith is possessed, he is accepted of Christ. Gal. 5:6; 3:26-29. Therefore the sanctuary of Ezekiel cannot be instituted in the last days; for, if it could, it would overthrow the work of Christ in uniting in one fold all who are his.

4. All the work presented by Ezekiel, if faith fully performed, would have the blessing of God, in fact, his very glory would be manifested as a sign of approval, and his life-giving power would be present to heal. Eze. 43 and 47. But as the offerings and services would be against the gospel of Christ since he was high priest, and as God has blessed this dispensation with the glory that excelleth (2 Cor. 3), therefore the sanctuary of Ezekiel could not exist at the same time. God could not approve of beasts as sin-offerings when Christ was pleading his own precious blood.

Certainly the above reasons (and more might be offered) are sufficient to show that the temple of Ezekiel cannot; under God's plan, be set up in the last days. But it is asked, "What does it mean? When is it to be built?" We reply, Never. God offered it to Israel through the prophet on conditions. Those conditions are stated in the following verses (Eze. 43:9-11):—

"Now let them put away their whoredom, and the carcasses of their kings, far from me, and I will dwell in the midst of them forever. Thou son of man, show the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the pattern. And, if they be ashamed of all that they have done, show them the form of the house, . . . and all the laws thereof; and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them."

But were they ashamed? Let another, a contemporary prophet, reply (Jer. 6:15-19):—

"Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush; therefore they shall fall among them that fall; at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the Lord. Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken. Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them. Hear, O earth; behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it."

The prediction of Jeremiah shows how Israel of old heeded the blessings which God would have given them as revealed by Ezekiel.

But will not the prophecy be fulfilled? No; for Israel failed to comply with the conditions. A similar prophecy is found in Jer. 17. There the Lord promised that if Israel would turn and keep his Sabbath, they would be greatly prospered, and Jerusalem "would stand forever." Verses 21-25. But they failed to meet the conditions, and thereby forfeited the blessing and lost their place and nation. The principles on which God ever deals with peoples and nations is thus stated in Jer. 18:7-10:—

"At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; if that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; if it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them."

Israel turned from the Lord, and the sanctuary and its blessings offered through the prophet Ezekiel were never given.

Another thought in this connection concerning the prophecies of the Old Testament pertaining to Israel. The New Testament declares that all who have faith in Christ are of the true Israel; and that the prophecies concerning Israel and their blessings can only be understood in the light of the New Testament. For proof of this, take one text among many from the epistles of Paul (Eph. 3:3, 5, 6):—

"How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery;" "which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel."

Certainly this is conclusive testimony. We hope that our readers will lay it up in their hearts and minds, that they may not be moved by the delusive age-to-come theories now leading away so many unstable souls. The word of God is yea and amen in Christ Jesus.

EZEKIEL 40-48.