Chapter 44
Now, to start this chapter, it gets even more confusing. Ezekiel is taken to the east gate, which has been shut. Since God entered by this gate, it is shut and remains shut. However, in vs 3, the prince can sit there in that area (the vestibule?) and eat before the Lord. MSB note says this prince is not Jesus. He does not say where Jesus is at this time. But this prince, mentioned some 14 times in Chapters 44-47, is not Jesus. Then MSB speculates on who he is and what his duties are. This is the only place this prince is mentioned, so far as I know. There is nothing like this in Revelation. In vs 4-8, the glory of God is still in the temple, as viewed this time from the front of the temple. God again lists Israel's abominations against him, including letting unclean, uncircumcised in body or heart, enter into the temple area. In doing so, they broke covenant with God, and profaned the temple, with these foreigners. They have also not taken care of the things of the temple dedicated to God. They have done this wrong in the past, and it is to be corrected. This is sounding like instruction for proper worship on the return from exile. Which would make the prince whomever is ruling the returning exiles. But this does not fit with "all the scattered", which would include Israel, being brought back.
I just cannot make anything fit. Continue reading. Continue studying. It will be clearer each time, and completely understood when it happens.
Through vs 14, God says the Levites must bear their punishment for leading Israel astray with their idols. Somehow, they are to do all the ministering and sacrificing, but not actually come near God. Perhaps this assigns all the menial work of the temple to Levites NOT descended from Zadok?
Could be, since vs 15 starts this way:
15 "But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept the charge of my sanctuary when the people of Israel went astray from me, shall come near to me to minister to me. And they shall stand before me to offer me the fat and the blood, declares the Lord GOD. [Eze 44:15 ESV] This reads as if the descendants of Zadok, whom God has kept true to Himself through all the history of Israel, will be the only ones who perform sacrificial duties. Is there a clue to what these sacrifices are about in the story of Zadok and his descendants? A good study.
2025 - Vs 10 says that all the Levites besides the sons of Zadok are in fact to be punished. The punishment seems to be removal from the office that does the actual sacrificing of animals presented to God, and instead they will do the washing up, the cleansing, they will do the actual slaughtering of the sacrifices brought in but they will not come near the altar, nor use the holy utensils associated with the sacrifices. In the tent of meeting, as I recall, only the sons of Aaron - the Aaronic priesthood, could actually approach God, and the rest of the tribe of Levi did all the associated work....and made their living from it. It was this position that they abused, and found ways to make add'l money by presiding over sacrifices to idols - since they could go near God's altar to offer sacrifices there. Only the sons of Zadok had remained true to God, and He has preserved them for this Millennial Temple. Zadok figures prominently in the insurrection of Absalom, when David was forced to flee the city. Zadok helped bring information to David during this time. If you do a search for Zadok in the OT, there are 50 mentions in 54 verses. That is a lot. There is one mention in Matthew, but it does not look like the same Zadok.
Hmm...Wouldn't it be nice to have a sort of running biography of Zadok's life, along with the reward that it brought to his descendants. A heritage that will pass all the way into the Millennial.
Many rules, very similar to, if not exactly like, the original rules for Levites are renewed. Must marry virgins only - so they will marry and presumably have children - they can't go near dead bodies, they are required to teach the people the difference between clean and unclean. They must observe all the appointed feasts. Just as in the days of Moses and Aaron, it seems. I don't see how this can be the Millennial Kingdom. It also cannot be heaven, or the new Jerusalem. (2020-Right. It just about has to be Trib and Great Trib). I don't know what, or when this was all to take place. But I just cannot see a way to fit it into the post tribulation time with all these rules. I am back to thinking this vision was of a Temple offered at Jesus' first appearing, had he been accepted then. If he had, there would not have been a crucifixion. He would not have died. So sacrifices would have to have continued, until whenever that ultimate sacrifice was made for all...or Jesus might not even have had to die, as God said in 43 that He would stay there forever, and accept these offerings. If this is the case, it is no wonder at all that God's punishment of those who reject Christ is so severe. He needn't have died...I hope this speculation is not blasphemous. I am thinking this was a temple that could have been, but never was, and never will be. It doesn't have to "fit". It seems also to be for the exclusive use of the Jews. Therefore, it would need to come before the Age of the Gentiles began, or we have to redefine exactly when that Age started. In this scenario, it would have to start at the death of Christ. (2020-You know, these all seem like valid avenues to explore. Valid possibilities. A temple that never was and never will be, because the Jews rejected it. A temple for Trib and Great trib so the covenant with Israel - separate from any other covenant - can finally be realized. Or the New Temple, not made by human hands that has come down from heaven. These three are all worth exploring and that whole "what fits here and what does not" approach might distill down into a pretty solid interpretation about this temple.
2022 - I may be getting out of order, but look at vs 9!
9 "Thus says the Lord GOD: No foreigner, uncircumcised in heart and flesh, of all the foreigners who are among the people of Israel, shall enter my sanctuary. [Eze 44:9 ESV]
This temple is for the exclusive use of the Jews. This covenant - the Millennial Covenant that is fulfillment of a previous covenant - Sinai? Mosaic? - is exclusively between Christ and the Jews. In ESV the connector is "and", but look here at the KJV:
9 Thus saith the Lord GOD; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that [is] among the children of Israel. [Eze 44:9 KJV]
Clearly an "or". So. If you are uncircumcised in flesh - that is, you are NOT a Jew, or not circumcised in heart, but you are AMONG the Jews. Unsaved Gentiles,perhaps who have been circumcised, but unconverted.
If this is what this means, then these living Gentiles were not judged at the Sheep and Goat! Had they been judged and found unsaved, they would have been sent to the pit! So these bypassed that judgment...BECAUSE they are not Jews! ONLY Jews are judged at the Sheep and Goat judgment!
(or...one might argue that it just means no Gentiles or unsaved will be allowed to serve as priests in this temple. But you still have to account for them being there.)
2024 - This is post rapture. All the saved Gentiles are gone. Those saved since are likely uncircumcised. FURTHER, this clearly says that circumcision is back on the table! You must have that sign in the flesh that you are a child of Abraham in order to enter this Temple. There is no way to read that other than to say the Mosaic Law is back in full force and effect at this time, in this Temple.
2022 - Oh my! This is quite interesting. How did I never realize this?
17 And it shall come to pass, [that] when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, whiles they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within. [Eze 44:17 KJV]
Why? Linen is made from the fibers of the flax plant. It does not come from an animal.
Wool, of course, is made from the hair of various kinds of sheep.
Aaron's clothing, back in Exodus, had to be linen.
One minor reference in MSB note on vs 17 says that the wool would make the priests sweat, and sweat would be unclean...Is that the only reason? Well...it is certainly the reason, all you have to do is read the next verse:
18 They shall have linen turbans on their heads, and linen undergarments around their waists. They shall not bind themselves with anything that causes sweat. [Eze 44:18 ESV]
Am I the only one who didn't know?