The Ezekiel Third Temple Myth

[Mr. M]

Ezekiel 40:1 In the twenty-fifth year of our captivity, at the beginning of the year,

on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was captured,

on the very same day the hand of the Lord was upon me; and He took me there.

Even as the Temple of David and Solomon was being destroyed, the Lord gave the 

prophet Ezekiel a complete vision for the one to replace it, in chapters 40-43.

Here are the final instructions:

Ezekiel 43:

10 Son of man, describe the temple to the house of Israel, that they may be

ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the pattern. 

11 And if they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design

of the temple and its arrangement, its exits and its entrances, its entire design and all its ordinances,

all its forms and all its laws. Write it down in their sight, so that they may keep its whole design

and all its ordinances, and perform them. 12 This is the law of the temple: The whole area

surrounding the mountaintop is most holy. Behold, this is the law of the temple.

Those who returned from the captivity had been given the design for a new temple, which

they did not put forth the necessary effort to perform. Two prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, had

to prod them to even build what would fall short of the previous temple, for which the elders mourned.

Later, a worldly king would build up the temple mount and the adornments of the temple that the 

apostles bore witness, and were told that it would be taken apart stone by stone.

Please note the foreshadowing:

The apostles brought forth the vision for the Lord's Holy Temple "not made with hands, but 

with the hearts of faithful men". From this vision, man has built up a religious edifice that we

bear witness to today. This religious "temple" will be destroyed, as judgment will begin with the

house of God in Christ. The faithful are not of this world, or of a temple made by men.

Hebrews 12:

22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,

to an innumerable company of angels, 

23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven,

to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect.

[WilliamL]

Zechariah 14:20 In that day “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” shall be engraved on the bells of the horses. The pots in the LORD’s house shall be like the bowls before the altar. 21 Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness to the LORD of hosts. Everyone who sacrifices shall come and take them and cook in them. In that day there shall no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.

Micah 4:1 But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. 2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Isaiah 60:6 The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD. 7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.

[George]

Honestly ... Mr. M ... the belief in the 4th Temple (aka Ezekiel's Temple) is whether or not you believe there is a Millennial reign of a 1000 years.  If you don't ... then you have to then explain how the Davidic covenant has been fulfilled ... as promised to David ... and later in Luke where God tells Mary that Jesus will sit on the throne of David (Luke 1:32) when its complete fulfillment is only accomplished when a government is established on this earth.  (Isaiah 9:6-7)

Is it literal?  and what you are referring to in Hebrews is a Heavenly Jerusalem ... which the Bible tells us is AFTER the 1000 years aka Rev 20-22.

Be blessed as you study His Word!

[WilliamL]

12 minutes ago, George said:

what you are referring to in Hebrews is a Heavenly Jerusalem ... which the Bible tells us is AFTER the 1000 years aka Rev 20-22.

Paul said it already existed in his time:

Galatians 4:25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— 26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.

[Mr. M]

1 hour ago, George said:

Honestly ... Mr. M ... the belief in the 4th Temple (aka Ezekiel's Temple) is whether or not you believe there is a Millennial reign of a 1000 years.  If you don't ... then you have to then explain how the Davidic covenant has been fulfilled ... as promised to David ... and later in Luke where God tells Mary that Jesus will sit on the throne of David (Luke 1:32) when its complete fulfillment is only accomplished when a government is established on this earth.  (Isaiah 9:6-7)

Is it literal?  and what you are referring to in Hebrews is a Heavenly Jerusalem ... which the Bible tells us is AFTER the 1000 years aka Rev 20-22.

Be blessed as you study His Word!

I most certainly believe in a 1000 year reign of the house of David. This pertains to his throne, not a temple. I am not going to post the entirety of 2 Samuel 7, but here is what I would like to point out.

11 And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the Lord telleth thee that he will make thee an house.

bayit, not a temple, a ruling dynasty, and a throne of judgment that rules on earth. How can you ask about the fulfillment? You already show how with citing Luke 1:32 & Isaiah 9 fulfilled in Christ!

Hebrews 3:

3 For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. 4 For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. 5 And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, 6 but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.

A house of judgment, not of sacrifice

Isaiah 2:

Now it shall come to pass in the latter days
That the mountain of the Lord’s house
Shall be established on the top of the mountains,
And shall be exalted above the hills;
And all nations shall flow to it.
3 Many people shall come and say,
“Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
To the house of the God of Jacob;
He will teach us His ways,
And we shall walk in His paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth the law,
And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4 He shall judge between the nations,
And rebuke many people;
They shall beat their swords into plowshares,
And their spears into pruning hooks;
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
Neither shall they learn war anymore.

No need for a temple, just faithful judges, as intended long before David desired to build one.

Edited October 23, 2023 by Mr. M

[George]

5 hours ago, WilliamL said:

Paul said it already existed in his time:

Galatians 4:25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— 26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.

I was referring to the New Jerusalem ...

[George]

4 hours ago, Mr. M said:

You already show how with citing Luke 1:32 & Isaiah 9 fulfilled in Christ!

So he established this already?  There's been a government of which He was ruling?  And He sat on the Throne of David?

4 hours ago, Mr. M said:

No need for a temple, just faithful judges, as intended long before David desired to build one.

The Temple of Ezekiel is 9 chapters long ... do you believe it's allegorical?  He lays out so many details that physical so many details in fact that you can map it out.  The variances of the dimensions very from scholar to scholar but it's never been fulfilled.

[Retrobyter]

5 hours ago, WilliamL said:

Paul said it already existed in his time:

Galatians 4:25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— 26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Shalom, WilliamL.

Sorry, but Galatians 4 is NOT talking about the New Jerusalem. It is talking about OLD Jerusalem on Mount Zion (Har Tsiown) being compared to Mount Sinai! One absolutely MUST be careful and thorough in one's reading and understanding of Scripture!

[Mr. M]

9 hours ago, George said:

The Temple of Ezekiel is 9 chapters long ... do you believe it's allegorical?  He lays out so many details that physical so many details in fact that you can map it out.  The variances of the dimensions very from scholar to scholar but it's never been fulfilled.

I addressed this in the OP.

On 10/22/2023 at 10:12 AM, Mr. M said:

Ezekiel 43:

10 Son of man, describe the temple to the house of Israel, that they may be

ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the pattern. 

11 And if they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design

of the temple and its arrangement, its exits and its entrances, its entire design and all its ordinances,

all its forms and all its laws. Write it down in their sight, so that they may keep its whole design

and all its ordinances, and perform them. 12 This is the law of the temple: The whole area

surrounding the mountaintop is most holy. Behold, this is the law of the temple.

I can re-post, but I can't make you read it. No prophecy is for personal interpretation. The temple of Ezekiel's vision is the detailed instructions for the second temple, which those commissioned to build failed to execute. It is the temple that should have awaited the coming of the Prince of Peace. The first temple was commissioned by David and built by Solomon for Israel. The second temple was commissioned by Cyrus, king of Persia. It was not built for Israel, it was built for all nations. But what did the Prince find upon His arrival?

Isaiah 56:

6 “Also the sons of the foreigner
Who join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him,
And to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants—
Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath,
And holds fast My covenant—
7 Even them I will bring to My holy mountain,
And make them joyful in My house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
Will be accepted on My altar;
For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
8 The Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says,
“Yet I will gather to him
Others besides those who are gathered to him.”

If you think that the government of Israel is going to build Ezekiel's temple, I wish you well as you wait. I will post a more in depth look at Cyrus's temple tomorrow, and I may be finished. You just may have to wait for the Tishbite.

9 hours ago, George said:

So he established this already?  There's been a government of which He was ruling?  And He sat on the Throne of David?

Ah, so you will not believe it until you see it. Until that day, let this sink down into your ears.

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 

Romans 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

Romans 5:17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

Luke 11:20 But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.

I could do this all night, but I do actually need to get some sleep. Tomorrow, Cyrus's temple and what would have, could have been....

Edited October 24, 2023 by Mr. M

[WilliamL]

12 hours ago, Retrobyter said:

Shalom, WilliamL.

Sorry, but Galatians 4 is NOT talking about the New Jerusalem. It is talking about OLD Jerusalem on Mount Zion (Har Tsiown) being compared to Mount Sinai! One absolutely MUST be careful and thorough in one's reading and understanding of Scripture!

No, he is comparing Jerusalem in heaven above being contrasted with "OLD Jerusalem on Mount Zion on earth." The latter representating the Old Covenant, and the Jerusalem above representing the New Covenant.

12 hours ago, George said:

I was referring to the New Jerusalem ...

See the answer above. The heavenly Jerusalem was and is the New Jerusalem, because it could not and did not exist until the advent of the New Covenant.