Chapter 7
The Millennial Temple
"Describe the temple to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the pattern. 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." (Ezekiel 43:10-11)
In 1996, I began an in-depth study of Ezekiel chapters 40-48 which culminated in building a scale model of the temple shown to Ezekiel. My model, pictured above, is scaled to 1/16th inch per cubit. A cubit is somewhere between 18 inches and 24 inches. To date, this temple has not yet been built, and it is often referred to as the coming "Third Temple." Solomon's temple was the first, while Ezra and Nehemiah's temple was the second (King Herod added onto this second temple).
Introduction
This model of the Millennial Temple is an ongoing study concerning the vision that was shown in tremendous detail to Ezekiel over 2,500 years ago. To date, this temple has not yet been constructed, but Scripture indicates that our generation will see it built in the land of Israel. The most exciting thing about this temple is that the glory of the Lord will be there, which is why the city is called Yahweh Shamah (The Lord is There). The knowledge of His glory in this temple will cover the earth like the waters cover the sea, and He shall reign over all the earth headquartered in this temple!
Since this is strictly a study of Ezekiel's vision of the temple (chs. 40-48), I will try to avoid speculation about what this temple may be like and only address the things that were shown specifically to Ezekiel. For example: there may be furniture in this temple similar to what was in the other temples (such as the Menorah, Table of Showbread, Ark of the Covenant, etc.). However, since these details were not shown to Ezekiel we will not address it in this study. It is a good thing to search God's Word and Spirit for answers, but the bottom line concerning many questions about issues during the millennium is that "the Messiah will teach us His ways" and we need to wait on His timing as both Micah 4:1-3 and Isaiah 2:2-4 declare:
"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. 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. He shall judge between the nations, and shall 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."
Before beginning this study it is necessary to address a common teaching regarding a temple being built in Israel. Many Christian's teach and believe that the next temple to be built in Jerusalem Israel will be one in which "the man of sin" or "the Antichrist" will enter into and defile by declaring himself to be God. These beliefs are supported mainly from one verse in Second Thessalonians 2:4, which states that the man of sin "sits as God in the temple of God showing himself that he is God."
There are two different Greek words that are translated as "temple" in English. One word "hieron" is used by Paul when referring to an actual building made with wood and stones. The other word "naos" is used when referring to the spiritual temple of God which refers to His people. The word "naos" is the one used in this 2 Thessalonians 2:4 verse, and therefore is NOT talking about a physical temple.
Doug Fortune, in his article "Antichrist Revealed" writes:
Beginning with the Book of Acts, after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, through the Book of Revelation, the word naos is used ONLY referring to people as the temple not made with hands. When referring to the physical temple building the word hieron is used. Of course, throughout the Book of Revelation, the word naos is used, as that Book is the REVEALING of Jesus Christ, and He is revealed in the MIDST of the Lampstand, the CHURCH (Revelation 1:20). Why then is there so much confusion when 2 Thessalonians 2:4 speaks of the man of sin seated in the NAOS of God, “...which temple (naos) YE ARE...”(1Corinthians 3:17). Why are we looking for a man seated in a building yet to be built in the Middle-East, when we should be looking in the mirror? As the man of sin, the Adam nature is revealed and "the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of His mouth and bring him to an end by His appearing at His coming.” or “the brightness of His coming” (2 Thessalonians 2:8) as some translations read.5
The New Covenant addresses first spiritual matters and secondarily natural matters (Likewise the Old Testament speaks first to natural things and second to spiritual things). Therefore, 2 Thessalonians 2:4 is NOT referring to an actual physical temple. Even if there is another "temple building" built in Jerusalem before Ezekiel's temple, it has nothing to do with the construction of Ezekiel's temple discussed in this study, because the Messiah Yahoshua (Jesus) will be responsible for building the Millennial Temple. Zechariah 6:12 and 13 is clear that the Messiah (and not unredeemed Jews) will build the Lord's temple:
The apostle Paul speaks of mankind as God's temple often. A few examples include 1 Cor. 3:16, 1 Cor. 6:19, and Eph. 2:21. Now that we have established that Second Thessalonians 2:4 is referring to the "temple of mankind," rather than an actual physical temple in Jerusalem, we can interpret the rest of this verse: The temple of mankind, (or the arm of the flesh/self) rises up and declares itself as God, instead of submitting to the will of God. Relying upon our own strength and understanding to accomplish God's purposes is one of the meanings of "the abomination of desolation" spoken of by Jesus and Daniel. Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus, is one foreshadow of the "abomination of desolation" and "the man of sin" at the end of the age. First John 3:18,19 describes how Judas is a perfect example of the "man of sin" or "son of perdition":
The antichrist comes out from among us (the temple of God) just like Judas came out from among the disciples of Jesus, yet he was not manifested (made known) until the end of Jesus' ministry. Likewise, "the man of sin" who has been among us for the past 2,000 years just like Judas, will be made known (manifested) now at the end of this age in a more obvious manner. This Judas spirit, which is the selfishness in all of us, is being dealt with by God.
Without the mercy and grace of God, we are all capable of being like Judas. Only by God's mercy can our eyes be opened so we can see that acting in our own strength will only lead us to betray the Lord no matter how much knowledge we have about Him. Judas had tremendous knowledge ABOUT Jesus, and that He was the Messiah, but he never developed an intimate passionate love relationship with Him or cried out for His mercy and grace. If he had, the Lord would have forgiven him, just like he forgave Peter who also betrayed him. Instead, Judas tried to force the hand of Jesus to be king when it was not yet His time to be king. Judas Iscariot wanted the kingdom to come and wanted to rule and reign with Jesus, but he didn't understand that the Cross (death to our own strength) is the only way to obtain true life in the kingdom of God (Matt. 16:25). Any time we refuse the Cross (death to selfishness) we will always end up betraying the Lord too.
Ezekiel 43:7 and 44:9 are very clear that "no foreigner uncircumcised in heart or in flesh shall enter My sanctuary." Therefore the antichrist will never be entering this temple. With the understanding that this Millennial Temple will not be "defiled by the Antichrist," let's now take an honest look at what was shown to Ezekiel. As this study will show, Ezekiel was given a very detailed description of what Messiah's temple will look like and the functions within it.
This study will be broken down into 5 sections:
1. Jewish Temple History: A look at the previous "abiding places" of the Lord throughout mankind's 7,000 year lease on planet earth.
2. Photo Description of Ezekiel's Temple: Several pictures of this scale model to look at the actual physical characteristics of the Millennial Temple clearly detailed in Ezekiel chapters 40-48.
3. Temple Floorplans: A more detailed "blueprint" look at some of the many specific measurements given to Ezekiel for this future temple.
4.
Millennial Temple Order of Services: The ordinances, statutes
and laws specified for the Millennial Temple to function according to
God's desires. This includes: the duties of the Levites & priests,
the specifics of the sacrifices & offerings, and the worship system
set up according to the Feasts of the Lord. Other temple logistics that
were shown to Ezekiel will also be studied, such as: the consecration
of the altar, those allowed in the temple, temple economics, and the ordinances
for the prince.
5. Israel's Land Divisions: Maps of the specific area of land in the Middle East that Ezekiel declares will be allotted to the nation of Israel. This section will also detail the Holy Portion of the land where the temple and the city of Jerusalem (called "The Lord is There" - Yahweh Shamah) will be located.
Throughout this study we want to relate the significance and purposes of God for having the Millennial Temple on earth during the allotted 1,000 years (Rev. 20). The fact must be emphasized over and over again that WE God's children are His ultimate temple, and that all other temples are for the purpose of teaching us how to be the holy pure and undefiled dwelling place of the Great God Yahweh. He deserves nothing less than our best.
"You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:5)
1. Jewish Temple History
History really is His story (God's story); and Yahweh has chosen His story (history) to repeat itself. As Ecclesiastes 1:9 says:
"That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which it may be said, 'See this is new?' It has already been in ancient times before us."
So we can find clues to what God plans to do in the future by looking back at what He has done in the past. First Corinthians 10 and Hebrews 9 shows us that Old Testament Israel is a parable or mold for New Testament Israel. In other words, the Old Testament temples were examples, types and shadows of what we as "living temples" are to be as the completed product. Old Testament Scriptures are more than just stories of natural history, they are prophetic models pointing us to God's eternal purposes. The final purpose being: "Christ in us the hope of glory." (Col. 1:26)
"For you are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in you. The temple of God is holy, which temple you are. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God's" (1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 6:20). So we are God's temple created by God at a precise point in time for a specific purpose and destiny, and not evolved from other animals as the false science of evolution would teach. The scientific laws of thermodynamics clearly show that matter left alone will tend towards disorder and decay rather than the incredible unity and order found in mankind and our universe.
This section will step through a pictured timeline of "temples" or "houses" or "abiding places" where the Lord has allowed His glory to manifest. These Seven abiding places of the Lord include: 1) the Garden of Eden, 2) the Tabernacle of Moses, 3) the Temple designed by David and built by Solomon, 4) the Temple built by Ezra, Nehemiah, & Herod, 5) the person of Yahoshua (Jesus) the Messiah, 6) the Millennial Temple, and 7) the Bride of Messiah.
The dates shown in this timeline are intentionally not exact dates, but rather are listed to show a general time period for each dwelling place of Yahweh in His-story. The Scriptures very clearly document a 7,000 year plan of God for mankind. This documentation can be found in: the Genesis genealogy records (Genesis 5 and 11), the Exodus records (Exodus 12:41), the accounts in Judges, and the Biblical history books. Scripture pinpoints exactly 6,000 years from Adam until now (with room for debate within about 50 years). Throughout the accounts of Noah, the Exodus, the Babylonian captivity and more, we find exact dates and numbers given in Scripture, and all for a purpose.
We are all ignorant about many of the deep truths found in the exact dates and numbers given throughout the Bible. However, 2 Peter 3:8 states very clearly that we should: "be not ignorant of this one thing, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years." This simple truth opens up the Scriptures for great understanding of the times in which we live. There are several Scriptures which point to "the third day" (2,000 years after Messiah) as the final 1,000 year millennial reign of Christ, or the "Day of the Lord" time of Rest. This study is not to prove that truth, but for further confirmation read: Heb. 4:3-4; Psalms 90:4,12; Gen. 1; Mark 9:2 and Matt 17:1-2; Hosea 5:15-6:3; Exodus 19:10-11; Luke 13:32; Mark 5:13; John 2:1-2; and Joshua 3:4.
First "Dwelling Place" of God
First "Dwelling Place" of God
The first "abiding place" of God with mankind was in the paradise He created for them in the beginning.
“The LORD God walked in the garden in the cool of the day.” (Genesis 3:8)
Second "Dwelling Place" of God
The second place where God allowed His glory to manifest to man was in the Tabernacle that He specified for Moses and the children of Israel to make for Him.
“The cloud covered the tabernacle, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” (Exodus 40:34)
Third "Dwelling Place" of God (First
Temple)
The tabernacle of David was the beginning of this third dwelling place. Although David was given the plans to build this temple, because he was a warrior and had shed much blood, it was his son Solomon (whose name means Rest/Peaceful) who actually built it.
“The cloud filled the house of the LORD, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.” (1 Kings 8:10-11)
Fourth "Dwelling Place" of God (Second
Temple)
This temple was started by the political decrees of Cyrus and Darius, and built by Ezra, Nehemiah, Zerrubabel, and expanded later by Herod.
“Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given to me. And He has commanded me to build Him a temple at Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all His people? May his God be with him! Now let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel.” (Ezra 1:2-4)
Fifth "Dwelling Place" of God
The fifth "dwelling" of God in history is the one and only unique Son of God Yahoshua (Jesus) of Nazareth.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,and we beheld His glory… And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.” (John 1:1,14,32)
Sixth "Dwelling Place" of God (Third Temple)
The sixth major dwelling place of the Lord in His story will be the temple described in detail to the prophet Ezekiel which will serve God's purpose in discipling the nations for 1,000 years during the promised reign of peace on the earth.
“And the glory of the LORD came into the temple by way of the gate which faces toward the east. The Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the temple.” (Ezekiel 43:4-5)
Seventh "Dwelling Place" of God
The Seventh and final temple is the ultimate purpose of God in creating mankind, and that is for US to be His temple. This temple is the spiritually mature Bride of Christ or the New Jerusalem, where God's Spirit is able to FULLY dwell in man similar to the way He dwelt in our protégé Jesus.
“Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Col. 1:27) "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with man, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God... But I saw no temple in it (the New Jerusalem - Bride of Christ) for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” (Revelation 21:3,22) “To know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, that you may be filled with ALL the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:19)
Thus says the LORD, “Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist, Says the LORD. But on this one will I look: On him who is humble and of a contrite spirit and who trembles at My word." (Isaiah 66:1-2)
2. Photo Description of Ezekiel's Temple
This section will show eight different pictures of my scale model of Ezekiel's temple. The model scale is 1/16th of an inch equals one cubit. Each photo is labeled with numbers which coordinate with a brief explanation of the main components of the temple listed underneath the photo. Links will be made to these pictures throughout this study so the reader can see photos of the components being discussed. The Scripture reference, from the book of Ezekiel, is listed after each temple component.
2. Inner Court - 40:44,47
3. The Temple or Sanctuary - 41:1-26
4. Wall around the outside of the Temple - 40:5 (42:15-20, 45:2)
5. Fifty cubits of open space - 45:2
7. Outer Court Eastern Gateway - 40:6-16
8. Outer Court Southern Gateway - 40:24-27
9. Inner Court Northern Gateway - 40:35-37
10. Inner Court Eastern Gateway - 40:32-34
11. Inner Court Southern Gateway - 40:28-31
13. Four Kitchens (one in each corner of the Outer Court) - 46:21-24
14. Outer Court Chambers (30 total) - 40:17
15. Northern Priests Chambers in three story Galleries - 42:1-9
16. Southern Priests Chambers in three story Galleries - 42:10-14
18. Walkway of Northern Priests Chambers - 42:4
19. Walkway of Southern Priests Chambers is the same on the opposite side of temple - 42:11
20. East side Entrance of the Northern Priests Chambers - 42:9
21. East side Entrance of the Southern Priests Chambers is the same on opposite side - 42:12
22. Chamber where they wash the Burnt Offering - 40:38
23. Priest's Boiling and Baking Room - 46:19-20
24. Foundation of the Temple Side Chambers - 41:8
26. Wall of the Inner Court - 41:10
28. Altar of Sacrifice - 43:13-17 (40:47)
29. Water flowing east from under the south side of the temple - 47:1-12
In this photograph the Sanctuary Galleries have been removed and pushed towards the back so the inside can be seen.
(They have Cherubim & Palm Tree Carvings all around on the inside - 41:16-20)
31. Two Pillars - 40:49
32. Vestibule of the Temple - 40:48-49 (with windows, wooden canopy, and palm trees carved on the inside - 41:25-26)
33. Wall of the temple - 41:5
The Sanctuary Galleries have been removed in this Top View photograph of the Sanctuary.
34. Separating Courtyard - 41:13-15
35. Outer Wall of the Side chambers - 41:9
36. Terrace around the Galleries - 41:9-11
37. Two Temple Doors that were bi-fold with cherubim & trees carved
in them - 41:23-25
38. Sanctuary or Holy Place - 41:1-2
39. Wooden Altar or Table Before the Lord - 41:22
40. Inner Sanctuary or Most Holy Place - 41:3-4
3. Temple Floor Plans
This section gives the measurements and details of the: 1) Sanctuary, 2) Gateways, 3) Altar of Sacrifice, and 4) Priest's Chambers. The only measurements shown in these diagrams are the ones specifically given in Ezekiel 40, 41, 42, 43:13-27, and 46:19-24. Ezekiel gives all measurements for this temple in cubits. Therefore, all dimensions in these floor plans are given in cubits. One cubit equals 21 inches according to most accounts. (some history books record it at 18 inches).
1) Sanctuary (Top
View)
2) Gateways (Top View)
3) Altar of Sacrifice (Top and
Side Views)
4) Priests Chambers (Top View)
4. Millennial Temple Order of Service
Since there is going to be a physical temple built in the land of Israel, as the book of Ezekiel expressly shows, then there demands an order of service for what needs to be done in this temple. These ordinances, statutes and laws are specifically written out in Ezekiel chapters 43-46, and will now be shown in this section in the order written in Ezekiel:
1)
Ezekiel 43:18-27 specifies the ordinances for Consecrating
the Altar
2) Ezekiel 44:1-9 specifies the laws
of Admittance into the Temple
3) Ezekiel
44:10-31 shows ordinances for Ministers of
the Temple
4) Ezekiel 45:9-14 discusses laws of
Economics in the Temple
5) Ezekiel 45:13-16 specifies the Ordinances
for the Prince
6) Ezekiel 45:17-46:15 discusses the
Worship System in Keeping the Feasts
7) Ezekiel 46:19-24 discusses the Preparation
of Offerings
"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. This is the law of the temple: The whole area surrounding the mountain top shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the temple." Ezekiel 43:11-12
Are animal sacrifices in a future temple blasphemous towards the finished work of Jesus?
One truth about the 1,000 year reign of Messiah that is often hard for believers today to understand is that there will be animal sacrifices in this coming Millennial Temple. As we will see, Ezekiel is quite clear about this. If you believe that the book of Ezekiel is inspired prophecy from God, then there is no alternative but to understand that what Ezekiel saw over 2,000 years ago will come to pass in a literal sense. This is NOT blasphemous to the finished work of Jesus' blood on the cross, but rather it is a reminder of His ultimate sacrifice for all of humanity.
Since 1998 when I first published this Millennial Temple information on the internet, I have received more questions on this one issue of animal sacrifice than anything else. Therefore, I want to take some time to establish the truth of this matter of sacrifice and atonement. The bottom line fact is that Jesus (Yahoshua) is the ONLY sacrifice that can take away our sins and give us eternal life. Hebrews 10:4 is clear that "it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins." The 11th verse in this same chapter declares that animal sacrifices "can never take away sins." So, the blood of bulls and goats have NEVER taken away sins for anyone past present or future! There is a wrong concept in many people's minds that animal sacrifices, during the Old Covenant before Jesus came, took away peoples sins - but this is not true. The saints who lived before Messiah came were saved by FAITH (Rom. 4:3) just like us today. The animal sacrifices were a "shadow of good things to come" pointing forward to the blood of Messiah Yahoshua (Jesus). It has always been about Jesus, and not animal sacrifices. Likewise, in the coming Millennial Temple the animal sacrifices will point backward to the Blood of Jesus, which is our only forgiveness for sin.
God told the Old Covenant believers to sacrifice animals to give them a point of reference in which to base their FAITH since the Messiah had not yet come. Hebrews chapters 7-10 explains how the Old Covenant sacrifices were copies and replicas of what Jesus did for us on the cross. After explaining the meaning of the blood sacrifices in chapters 7-10, Paul explains in Hebrews chapters 11-12, that it is by FAITH we please God and appropriate His promises for us, and not by the works He commands us to do. The works that we do out of obedience are merely expressions of the faith, which is in our hearts.
During the millennial reign of Jesus Christ, the animal sacrifices will be object lessons that look BACK in remembrance of what Jesus has done for us, similar to the way that the Old Testament sacrifices looked FORWARD to what He would do. These sacrifices in no way take away our sins. Only faith in the finished work of the shed blood of Jesus can take away sins. Everything done in this temple points us to Jesus, because all things can be summed up in Jesus "in whom dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." (Col. 2:9)
Now that we have established that animal sacrifices
are not blasphemous to the finished work of Jesus; let's take a look
at all of the incredible details that were shown to Ezekiel regarding
the order of services for this millennial temple which to date has
not yet been built.
1) Consecrating the Altar (43:18-27)
(Click
here and see #28 the altar of sacrifice)
Since there is going to be a physical temple built in the land of Israel, as the book of Ezekiel expressly shows, then there demands an order of service for what needs to be done in the temple. These ordinances, statutes and laws are specifically written out in Ezekiel chapters 43-46, and shown below in the order written in Ezekiel:
The sacrifices to consecrate the altar involve an eight
day process:
Day 1) Bull of the Sin Offering - blood is placed on: the four
horns, the corners of the ledge and rim around it. Then burn the bull
in the appointed place of the temple.
Day 2) The altar is cleansed in the same way as the bull above,
but also with:
- A kid of goats for a sin offering
- A young bull for a burnt offering with salt
- A young ram for a burnt offering with salt
Day 3-7) The same process is done as on day 2 to make atonement
for the altar, purify and consecrate it.
Day 8) The priests can now offer the people's burnt offerings
and peace offerings on the altar and the Lord will accept the offerings.
In the same way that the blood of the bulls and goats are only a representation of the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made for our sins, the natural animal sacrifices that will be offered in this temple will only be a reflection of the sacrifices that are already in their hearts. Hebrews 13:15 says, "Let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name." The sacrifice that God really desires is praise and thanksgiving from our hearts. "But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased" (Heb 13:16). 1Peter 2:5 describes believers saying, "...you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." The Psalmist realized that it was not animal sacrifices or grain offerings which was God's final purpose, but rather having God's law within our hearts (Ps. 40:6-8). Micah also realized this when he wrote:
"With what shall I come before the Lord and bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams or ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you: To do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God" (Mic. 6:6-8).
We conclude therefore, that the animal sacrifices and other offerings which are given in the Millennial Temple will serve as object lessons for the spiritual sacrifices of a heart that is pure, cleansed and sanctified in praise and thanksgiving to Yahweh God. Walking daily in justice, mercy and humility are the sacrifices which God really desires from us.
2) Admittance into the Temple (44:1-9)
"And the glory of the Lord came into the temple by way of the gate which faces toward the east" (Ez 43:4).
Because the Lord enters the temple by the eastern gateway, no man shall enter the temple by this gate, but it shall be closed (44:2). The "prince" is the only one who is allowed at certain times to enter into this eastern gateway by the vestibule of the gateway to sit and eat bread before the Lord. The prince will be discussed further in section 5) Ordinances for the prince. Everyone else must enter by either the northern or southern gates and, "whoever enters by way of the north gate to worship shall go out by way of the south gate; and whoever enters by way of the south gate shall go out by way of the north gate. He shall not return by way of the gate through which he came, but shall go out through the opposite gate. The prince shall then be in their midst." Ezek 46:9. This is symbolic of being changed from glory to glory - 2Cor 3:18. Every time we come into the presence of the Lord we are changed more into His likeness, and we leave different than when we came.
Yahweh God told Ezekiel, "mark well who may enter the house and all who go out from the sanctuary." He then explains to Ezekiel the abominations that Israel has done in the past by allowing "foreigners, uncircumcised in heart and flesh" to be in His house and therefore defile it and break His Covenant. Therefore, the only people allowed into the temple will be those who are saved/redeemed or "circumcised in heart." The unsaved or unredeemed who are "uncircumcised in heart" may never enter the temple.
"Thus says the Lord God: No foreigner, uncircumcised in heart or uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter My sanctuary, including any foreigner who is among the children of Israel." Ezekiel 44:9
3) Ministers of the Temple (44:10-31)
Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His Holy Place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart. Who has not lifted up His soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of His salvation. This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face. Psalm 24:3-6
Although all saved or redeemed people will be allowed to enter the temple, not every person is allowed to minister in the inner court or in the Sanctuary. The Levites will be the ones who are called to be in charge of the temple. And not all Levites will have the same duties, rather the Levites will be broken up into: 1) Gatekeepers, 2) Ministers of the House (Nethinim) and 3) Priests. The "Prince" will also have ministering duties which will be discussed later. A brief description for the services of these three types of Levites is listed below:
1) Gatekeepers:
The Levites who went astray from Yahweh after idols will be gatekeepers
of the temple. They will not be allowed to enter the Holy of Holies
or come near any of Yahweh's holy things. There are six main gateways
in the Millennial Temple. (Click
here to see a closeup of a gateway) Each gateway has six gate chambers
with windows in each gate chamber. Most likely, these gatechambers will
serve as "checkpoints" for people when they enter the temple
and when they leave the temple to be sure that only redeemed people
are admitted into the temple and that only the priests are admitted
into the Inner Court.
Because the knowledge about God's glory in this temple will cover the earth, many people will be coming here from all over the world to seek the God of Israel and His glory. The outer court gatekeepers may share some of the responsibility of ministering to these inquiring people and telling them about the way to be saved through faith in Yahoshua (Jesus) the Messiah of Israel and the world. The city "Yahweh Shamah" will also serve this purpose to help disciple the nations.
2) Ministers of the House (Nethinim):
The Levites who went astray from Yahweh after idols will also be the
ministers of the temple. They will slay the burnt offerings and the
people's sacrifices. They will stand before the people to minister to
them, but they will not be allowed to enter the Holy of Holies or come
near any of the Lord's Holy things. They will be responsible for keeping
charge of the temple, for all its work and for all that has to be done
in it.
Although it may seem like an honor to minister before the people today, during the millennial reign of Christ the highest honor will be to minister before Yahweh God and not the people. Ezekiel infers that because certain Levites taught the people wrongly to worship before their idols that they shall "bear their iniquity and not minister to Me as priest, nor come near any of My holy things, nor into the Most holy place, but they shall bear their shame and their abominations which they have committed" (44:13).
These ministers of the temple will probably be responsible for preparing the meals that will be cooked and served in this temple at all of the Feasts of the Lord. In each of the four corners of the outer court there are large kitchens (Click here and see #13 kitchen locations). These large kitchens indicate that the outer court will serve as a dining place for the meals that will be prepared from the animal sacrifices. The annual Passover celebration has always required that each family bring a lamb for sacrifice and then eat it as a meal. Jesus (Yahoshua) upgraded Moses' Passover to the Lord's supper just before His crucifixion. During the millennium, the Passover (Lord's Supper) will be upgraded again to The Marriage Supper of the Lamb which will be celebrated annually in this temple.
3) Priests:
Certain Levites shall be the temple Priests. These will be known like
the "sons of Zadok" who were faithful to Yahweh when all of
Israel went astray. They will offer to the Lord the fat and the blood
of the sacrifices. They will stand before the Lord and enter His sanctuary
to come near to the Lord and minister to Him. Ezekiel lists several
laws and ordinances which concern the priests:
- They shall wear linen garments (turbans on their heads and trousers on their bodies) when entering the inner sanctuary. They shall not wear any wool or anything causing them to sweat. Then they shall leave these garments in the holy chambers when leaving to sanctify the people.
- They shall keep their hair well trimmed (not shaved or long).
- They shall not drink wine when entering the inner court.
- They shall not have a wife who is divorced or widowed (unless she is a widow of a priest), but rather take virgins of Israeli descent.
- They shall teach people the difference between the holy and unholy and discern between the clean and unclean.
- They shall stand as judges in controversy.
- They shall not defile themselves by coming near a dead person, (except for father, mother, son or daughter, brother or unmarried sister). After he is cleansed, count 7 days and offer a sin offering for him in the sanctuary and then he may continue to minister before the Lord.
- They shall have no land possession in Israel "for I, the Lord, am their possession."
- They shall eat the grain, sin, and trespass offering. Every dedicated thing in Israel shall be theirs.
- They shall receive the best of every sacrifice or firstfruits offering.
- They shall not eat any bird or beast that died naturally or was torn by wild animals.
"You shall give to the priest of the first of your ground meal, to cause a blessing to rest on your house." Ezekiel 44:30
4) Economics in the Temple (45:9-14)
Just like the previous temples were economic centers, the Millennial Temple will also serve as an economic center where the trading standards will be established with justice.
"Thus says the Lord God, 'Enough O princes of Israel! Remove violence and plundering, execute justice and righteousness and stop dispossessing My people.' You shall have a just ephah, and a just bath." Ezekiel 45:9
The ephah is the unit of measure for dry products such as grain or wheat or flour. The bath is the standard unit of measure for liquid products such as milk or oil. The shekel is the standard unit of measure in weight for precious metals such as gold or silver. The following chart shows these units of measure with their larger and smaller units of measurement.
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It is exciting to know that when the governments of the nations rest upon the shoulders of the promised Messiah Yahoshua (Jesus) that the economy will be established with God's order, justice and righteous judgment from this time forth even forever! (Isa. 9:6,7). Those who will rule with Jesus will be like Him in that they: "shall delight in the fear of the Lord. They shall not judge by the sight of their eyes, nor decide by the hearing of the ears; but with righteousness they shall judge the poor, and decide with EQUITY for the meek of the earth." (Isa. 11:3,4 paraphrased).
5) Ordinances for the Prince (45:13-17; 46:16-18)
The prince is given many privileges and duties in the Millennial Temple, and Scripture seems to imply that the resurrected king David will be the prince in this temple. In the context of the end of the age when Israel is gathered back together in their original land, Ezekiel 37:24-28 states:
"David my servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them. Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children's children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever... The nations also will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore."
Also, in the context of the millennial reign and the Covenant of Peace Ezekiel 34:23,24 says: "I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them -- My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I the Lord will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken."
Jeremiah 30:9 also speaks about king David reigning as king of Israel at the time when God brings back His people from captivity saying: "They shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will RAISE UP for them." Isaiah 55:3-5 says that David will be a future "leader and commander for the people" at a time when God makes an "everlasting covenant with you… for He has glorified you."
Hosea 3:4,5 is further confirmation that king David of old will be the eternal king over the nation of Israel: "For the children of Israel shall abide many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, without ephod or teraphim. Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They shall fear the LORD and His goodness in the latter days."
If we really believe in the resurrection, then it should not be hard to believe that God will bring king David of old back to earth to be the prince during the millennial reign of Christ. After all, God created us in the earth, from the earth and for the earth. So, it should not be a surprise when the saints who have lived before us start coming back for their earthly inheritance and rewards as Revelation 20:4-6 tells us: "they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years... they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years." Paul also encourages us that "if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep (have died) in Jesus. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first" (1 Thessalonians 4:14,15).
When Jesus came the first time there were several people who were raised from the dead to walk to earth again. Matthew 27:50-53 records: "And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many." So also in the days of Jesus' Second Coming there will be many more people raised from death to walk the earth again.
Yahoshua (Jesus) will be ruling over the entire earth, while David will only be the king of Israel. See Isa. 4:2, 11:1; Jer. 33:15 and Zech. 3:8, 6:12 and notice the key word "Branch" of David. It is Yahoshua (Jesus) the "Branch/descendant of David" who will rule as the head of all government during the millennium. Jeremiah 23:5,6 speaks of Jesus the son of David when it says: "Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, that I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely. Now this is His name by which He will be called: YAHWEH TSIDKENU - The Lord our Righteousness."
So the resurrected king David will be the prince and king of Israel, while Yahoshua (Jesus) will be the one good shepherd over ALL His people and the king of ALL the earth (Rev. 11:15, 19:15). David, the prince, will be responsible for giving special burnt offerings and peace offerings at the celebrations of each weekly Sabbath, monthly New Moons (beginning of each month), and all the yearly appointed feasts of the Lord (Ezekiel 45:13-17):
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1/6th of an ephah from a homer of wheat
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1/6th of an ephah from a homer of barley
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1 bath of oil
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1 lamb from a flock of 200
When the Lord returns to this temple, He will enter through the inner court eastern gate and then it will be shut where no man can enter through it, "because the Lord God of Israel has entered by it; therefore it shall be shut. As for the prince, because he is the prince, he may sit in it to eat bread before the Lord. He shall enter by way of the vestibule of the gateway, and go out the same way." Ezek. 44:2,3. David will worship at this gate and eat bread before Yahweh and then leave by the same vestibule. The priests will prepare his burnt offerings and peace offerings as described above "to make atonement for the house of Israel" (45:15, 17). Atonement, which is a temporary covering for sins, can be made by men who intercede for others, but forgiveness is a complete cleansing of sins only by the life of Jesus.
Ezekiel also gives details for the land inheritance laws for the prince. The prince will inherit all of the land on the east side and the west side of the Holy Portion. This land stretches from the Mediterranean Sea to the west side of the Holy Portion and from the Dead Sea to the east side of the Holy Portion (Click here to see map). The prince is allowed to give any of his land inheritance to his sons and it shall become their possession. However, if he gives some of his land inheritance to any of his servants it shall be theirs only until the year of liberty (Year of Jubilee - which comes every 50 years), then it gets returned to the prince. Also, the prince is not allowed to take away the people's land inheritance so that "none of My people may be scattered from his property" (46:18).
6) Worship System in Keeping the Feasts (45:17 - 46:15)
"It shall be the prince's part to give burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings at the feasts, the New Moons, the Sabbaths, and at all the appointed seasons of the house of Israel." (45:17)
Ezekiel is shown the manner of worship in the Millennial Temple, which is governed by the Feasts of the Lord outlined in Leviticus 23. The Feasts of the Lord are the very heart and soul of God's worship system. Below is a list of the days that Ezekiel specifically mentions to honor with special sacrifices and worship:
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1st day of 1st month: Cleanse the Sanctuary with a young bull. The priest puts the sin offering blood on: temple doorposts, four corners of the altar, and gateposts of the inner court gateways.
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7th day of the 1st month: Do the same as day one above for everyone who has sinned unintentionally. This will make atonement for the temple.
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Passover: on the 14th day of the 1st month prepare a bull for a sin offering.
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Feast of Unleavened bread: from the 15th-21st of the 1st month prepare each day 7 bulls and 7 rams for a burnt offering and a kid of the goats for a sin offering. And prepare a grain offering of one ephah (with one hin of oil) for each bull and one for each ram.
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Feast of Tabernacles: from the 15th-21st of the 7th month do the same sacrifices and offerings as the Feast of Unleavened bread listed above.
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Sabbath: Once a week on the Sabbath the prince shall offer:
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6 lambs: with the grain offering (as much as desired) with 1 hin of oil per ephah.
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1 ram: with the grain offering of 1 ephah with 1 hin of oil.
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The inner court east gate will be shut all week long except on the Sabbath when it will be opened for the prince to enter and stand in the vestibule by the gatepost. The priests will prepare the required burnt offering and sin offering for the prince who will worship at this gate every Sabbath, and then the gate will remain open for the rest of the day. The people of Israel shall worship the Lord at the entrance of the east gateway on the Sabbath day.
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New Moon: Once per month at the beginning of each month (at the new moon) the prince shall offer:
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1 young bull: with the grain offering of 1 ephah with 1 hin of oil.
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6 lambs: with the grain offering as much as desired with 1 hin of oil per ephah.
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1 ram: with the grain offering of 1 ephah with 1 hin of oil.
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And the people shall worship like they do on the Sabbath day.
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Festivals & Appointed Feast Days:
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for bulls: the grain offering is 1 ephah with 1 hin of oil.
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for lambs: the grain offering is as much as desired with 1 hin of oil per ephah.
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for rams: the grain offering is 1 ephah with 1 hin of oil.
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And the people shall worship like they do on the Sabbath day.
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Voluntary Offerings: The prince may offer voluntary burnt or peace offerings whenever he desires. The east gate will be open for him during the sacrifice and then shut when he is done. The offerings will be prepared just like on the Sabbath day.
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Daily Morning Sacrifice: Every morning a burnt offering shall be prepared "as a perpetual ordinance" which includes:
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One year old lamb: with 1/6th of a ephah of grain offering and 1/3rd of a hin of oil to moisten the flour.
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Although our entire lives should be an expression of worship, we can see that there are special times that Scripture has ordained for corporate celebrations of worship in honor of Yahweh. These appointed Feasts are for the purpose of changing us more into God's image thus giving Him glory. Ezekiel 46:9 tells the worshippers at the appointed Feasts not to leave by the same gate that they entered. Likewise, every time we come in worship to offer our lives as a sacrifice to the Lord we will be changed from glory to glory and not leave the same way that we entered.
7) Preparation of Offerings (46:19-24)
Since the Cross of Christ (laying down our lives for the sake of others) is so central in the life of a believer, it should be no surprise that the Millennial Temple is set up for physical offerings such as grains and oils and animals. These offerings typify the spiritual sacrifices we offer to God. One example of a spiritual sacrifice from Psalm 27:6 is joy and praise: "I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing; yes I will sing praises to the Lord."
Jesus' ministry was focused on the cross. He was constantly talking about his purpose of going to the cross and admonishing his followers to "take up their cross and follow him" (Mark 10:21). Jesus did not only die on a cross; he lived the message of the Cross daily. He was always laying down His life for the sake of others. A selfless life of sacrifice for others is the Cross which Jesus taught and lived.
The apostle Paul's message and mission was also the Cross (Gal. 6:14) and he was determined to make his focus "Jesus Christ and him crucified" (1 Cor. 2:2). Therefore Paul could say in Gal. 2:20:
"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me"
Just like the entire life of the believer revolves around the Cross, the entire Millennial Temple is set up for the purpose of sacrifice with the altar in the very geometric center of the temple. At each of the four corners of the temple outer court there are kitchens. Each kitchen has rows of stones around their courts with cooking hearths all around the rows of stones. These are the kitchens where the ministers of the temple boil the sacrifices of the people in the outer court. (See #13 in the Pictures section for the kitchen locations)
There is also a place in the Priest's Chambers where the priests can prepare the offerings so that they don't have to bring them out into the outer court. This is where the priests boil the trespass offering, and sin offering, and bake the grain offering. This chamber is on the north west side of the Priest's Chambers. (Click here and see #23 the priests boiling/baking chamber).
The place where the sacrifices are first prepared is in the inner court northern gateway. There are eight tables in the vestibule of this gateway where they slay the burnt offerings, sin offerings and trespass offerings. There are tables for slaughtering the animals and for the flesh of the sacrifices, and there were also tables for laying the instruments with which to slaughter the offerings. Hooks were fastened all around the area, probably used for hanging the instruments of slaughter and flesh of the sacrifices. (Click here and see #25 the sacrifice preparation area)
The cross of Messiah was not a pretty sight. During an age of peace, the sacrifices in the Millennial Temple will be a needed reminder of the high price that was paid for our redemption. It will also be a constant reminder that if we desire to be like Jesus there is a sacrifice to make. Although salvation is a gift from God, conformity into the image of Christ as a mature son of God will require that we make some sacrifices. If Jesus is our example, how can we expect to be in His image and yet ignore the daily sacrifices that it takes to be like Him?
5. Israel's Land Divisions
"It shall be that you will divide the land by lot as an inheritance for yourselves, and for the strangers who sojourn among you and who bear children among you. They shall be to you as native-born among the children of Israel; they shall have an inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel." (Ezekiel 47:22)
This section shows the estimated land portion that is promised to Israel during the millennial reign of Jesus on earth. This information is derived entirely from Ezekiel 45:1-8 and 47:13 - 48:35. A few of the cities listed by Ezekiel do not exist today, and their exact historic location is uncertain. Therefore, the boundaries in the following map may not be exact, but they are relatively accurate based on the latest archeological and historical evidences.
In Numbers 34:1-12, the Lord spoke to Moses almost the exact same boundaries for the land of Canaan as was shown here to Ezekiel, even using most of the same cities as boundary markers. Some cross-referencing with Numbers 34 was used to derive the map boundaries.
The illustration below this map is a detailed blow-up diagram of the "Holy Portion" of the land. This Holy Portion is located in the center of Israel around the area of modern day Jerusalem and is pictured to scale on the map as well.
Holy Portion (Blowup from map above)
This diagram is a detail of the Holy Portion from the previous map.
Conclusions on Ezekiel's Temple
When Solomon built the Lord's temple, Second Chronicles
2:4 declared that it was for the purpose to:
1) burn sweet incense to the Lord,
2) put continual showbread before the Lord,
3) offer the morning and evening sacrifices, and to
4) celebrate the Sabbaths, new moons and appointed Feasts.
This Scripture then proceeds to declare, "this
is an ordinance FOREVER to Israel." Did God really mean FOREVER
when he spoke these temple purposes through Solomon? After all, the
temple of Solomon is no longer standing. How can these purposes be forever?
Ecclesiastes 3:14 says:
"I know that whatever God does, it shall be FOREVER, nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him."
Yes, these purposes will be fulfilled forever if we understand the principle that Yahweh's ultimate "temple" is Mankind. All other temples serve as a foreshadow of redeemed mankind being God's temple. All of the above listed purposes for Solomon's temple will be fulfilled in redeemed man. For example, we will offer prayers and intercessions as "sweet incense," and the "morning and evening sacrifice" will be our daily offerings of praise and thanksgiving from our hearts. The analogies and lessons that we can draw from the physical temples of God being compared to Mankind as Yahweh's temple are limitless. Likewise, the physical millennial temple is meant to be an object lesson for us to learn how to be the holy temple of Yahweh.
The 1,000 year period after Messiah returns will be an Age of Discipleship in learning the ways of the Kingdom (This can also be termed the Kingdom Age). The previous 2,000 years have been correctly termed an Age of Grace (or the Time of Salvation) where we have learned that the arm of the flesh cannot redeem us, but only faith in the finished work of the cross in the life of Yahoshua (Jesus) our Messiah. Now it is time for another paradigm shift similar to the paradigm shift that Jesus initiated when He came the first time to transition between the Age of Law into the Age of Grace. This time we will enter the Kingdom Age, where we will be learning from Jesus Himself the ways of the Kingdom and how to be the pure undefiled temple of the Lord. The fulfillment of "Christ IN US the hope of glory" (Col. 1:26) will be realized at the end of this 1,000 year period, just like the fulfillment of the Age of Law came at the end of that particular age (where Jesus was the fulfillment of the Law -Matt. 5:17). Similarly, the second coming of Yahoshua (Jesus) will bring a fulfillment of grace since we are ending the Age of Grace, and entering the Kingdom Age.
We are only just beginning the Kingdom Age. The fullness of the Kingdom will be realized 1,000 years from now. We have a lot to learn and be discipled in before we can have the fullness of God dwell in us which Ephesians 3:19 declares will be a reality:
"to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with ALL the fullness of God"
Therefore, the previous temples in history have been for the purpose of teaching us what it means to be the true "temple of God" not made with hands. Physical temples explain to us in a practical "hands on" manner how we become a holy and pure and undefiled place for God to dwell. The reason previous temples had to be destroyed (like Solomon's, & Herod's) was because of OUR (Mankind's) unfaithfulness to the Covenant that God has made with us, and not because Yahweh's purposes have been changed.
The Millennial Temple will not be any different than previous temples in its eternal purpose. It will serve the same eternal purposes by providing a natural object lesson for the spiritual reality that God will be working out in His true temple "not made with hands." We still have much to learn about what it really means to be God's dwelling place. To be exact, we will have one thousand years worth of discipling and perfecting.
Solomon ended his prayer of dedication for the temple in Second Chronicles 6:41,42 by crying:
"Arise, O Lord to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength. Let the priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, And let Your saints rejoice in goodness. O Lord God, do not turn away the face of Your anointed; Remember the mercies of Your servant David."
Then all of Israel worshiped Yahweh with sacrifices and said:
"For He is good, For His mercy endures forever!"
Likewise, let us continually offer the sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving! Let us rest in the mercy and goodness of our Friend Yahoshua (Jesus). He is our Savior, He is our Priest, and He will soon be King of all the earth ruling from His Millennial Temple!
John Schmitt's Model of Messiah's Coming Temple
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Pictured above is a different model of the same temple built by John
W. Schmitt. John has been studying and building models of Ezekiel's
temple for over thirty years.
These pictures, and more, can be found in his excellent book "Messiah's
Coming Temple."6
I came across John's book in late 1997, shortly after I had already finished my model in July of 1997. It was a wonderful confirmation to see that other Christians were also studying this yet to be constructed temple in Jerusalem Israel.