Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 37-41 GNT, Ch. 42 NKJV

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Thoughts

Starting in chapter 40 and continuing to the end of the book (chapter 48) Ezekiel is given a vision of a future temple and future Jerusalem.

The New Temple and New Jerusalem

The temple Ezekiel describes is much, much larger than the previously existing Temple. At more than 12 square miles, it’s larger even than the entire city of Jerusalem that had existed before the Jews were taken into captivity, which had an area of just over 6 square miles. In Ezekiel’s vision, the city was between three- and four thousand square miles.

So we know that this vision has yet to be fulfilled. And there are several things in the vision that bring up many questions. For example: animal sacrifices again take place in the temple. Why? The sacrifice of Jesus was the last sacrifice needed to bring forgiveness of sin, so why are sacrifices needed in this new temple? 

When Will This Be?

Another question is the most obvious one to me: When will this temple be built? There are two primary theories. 

1) It won’t. Ezekiel’s vision was not a description of a literal temple, but was an apocalyptic vision. It was symbolic and primarily mystical. The vision was full of imagery that was familiar to people of the time. This vision was another reassurance from God to His people that their captivity was not permanent, and that He would again bless them and be in their midst in an even greater way than ever before. 

2) Because of the specific details given of the temple in Ezekiel’s vision, of course it will be built, and it will be during the millennial kingdom, the 1,000 year reign of Jesus here on planet Earth after His return.

Which Will It Be?

Obviously, we don’t know if or when this temple will be built. What I do know is that if God says something, it will be done. I’m not going to worry about it, and I’m certainly not going to second guess Him. But if pressed, I would go with the second theory. I believe that this temple will be built during the Millennial Reign of Jesus, that thousand year period after His Second Coming.