Ezekiel 40-48 Is not a Future, Literal Third Temple

[Dylan569]

1. Chs. 40-48 are a vision (40:2), and this form of revelation commonly uses symbolism (such as the visions of Zechariah and Daniel).

2. Elements of the vision clearly run contrary to normal experience, such as the river that comes out of the temple and grows deeper as it flows, changing quickly from a trickle to an impossible flood several feet deep over the course of less than mile and a half.

3. The idea of this river appears again in the apostle John's vision of the New Jerusalem in Revelation, which is also a book full of symbolism (Rev. 22:1-2).

4. If the instructions of this vision pertain to some future temple, then this mandates animal sacrifices for the sins of the people (Ezek40:38-39, etc.). However, Christ has offered Himself once for all as the sufficient sacrifice for sinners, and all other sacrifices for sin have ceased (Heb. 10:10-18). The reply that the sacrifices in Ezekiel's vision will function as mere remembrances of Christ's work fails to take the text literally, for it says that these sacrifices will 'make reconciliation' or atonement for them (Ezek. 45:15-17).

From The 2014 Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible, Joel R. Beeke, General Editor

 

[Base12]

Great post @Dylan569 .

I believe Ezekiel's Temple was a conditional promise that was never fulfilled. God gave the Israelites a chance at Paradise on Earth, but they chose to stay with the lifestyle they knew.

The condition has been there all along, but for some reason most who study this topic seem to miss it...

Ezekiel 43:11
"And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, 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."

Ezekiel was to show them the plans only *if* they were ashamed and repented. We know what happened. The Israelites did not repent and thus, the plans were scrapped. The New Jerusalem in Revelation has similar themes of course, but as you already know, it is not the same.

Had Ezekiel showed them the details, he would have disobeyed a direct order from God.