What Is Not Present in Ezekiel’s Temple? (Special Lectures) 12

What Is Not Present in Ezekiel’s Temple? (Special Lectures) 12

Ezekiel 44:1-4

Speaker: Reverend Philip Lee

Service: Moriah, 2nd Service

Date: November 1, 2020

Objects not found in Ezekiel’s Temple

There are several objects that are not present in Ezekiel’s Temple. First, the veil that separates the most holy place from the holy place is not present in Ezekiel’s Temple. If there was a veil it would block us from going into the most holy place. Thus, the absence of the veil shows us how accessible the “most holy place” is for all of us. Secondly, the altar of incense is not present in Ezekiel’s Temple. The altar of incense signifies prayer but because we will meet God face to face in the Kingdom of God there is no need for prayer. Thirdly, there is also no for the “bread of the presence” because we will meet our Lord Jesus Christ who is the “bread of life.” There will not be a “golden lamp stand” in Ezekiel’s Temple and lastly, the “Ark of the Covenant” that is in the “most holy place” is not found in Ezekiel’s Temple. Why are there no golden lampstands and no Ark of the Covenant in Ezekiel’s Temple?

The Golden Lampstand in other temples

This golden lampstand is found in all other temples in the Bible. First, there was one golden lamp stand in Moses’ Tabernacle (Exod 25:31). It was made out of one piece of gold that was hammered and shaped into one lampstand. Secondly, in Solomon’s Temple there are ten golden lampstands in two rows of five (1 Kgs 7:49). This golden lampstand ultimately signifies Jesus Christ and it demonstrates how the revelation about Jesus Christ becomes brighter and brighter and clearer. We can also understand this as the time of the coming of Jesus is drawing nearer. Thus the light is brighter. Therefore, the ten golden lampstands in Solomon’s Temple is much brighter than the single lampstand in Moses’ Tabernacle. Jesus is the “light” itself. Therefore, all of this signifies that the light of Jesus Christ is nearer for Jesus Christ is the light of the world (John 8:12, 9:4-5). Why is the golden lampstand not present in Ezekiel’s Temple?

Why The Golden Lampstand is Not Found in Ezekiel’s Temple?

Ezekiel’s Temple foreshadows the world that is to be restored. Therefore, in Ezekiel’s Temple the “Lamb,” Jesus Christ our “Lamb” becomes a lamp for us. So first, there is no need for a visible lamp, for Christ Himself is the lamp (Rev 21:23). Thus we no longer need a golden lampstand. Secondly, there is no need for the lampstand because God’s glory will shine bright and bring light forever (Rev 22:5). God’s glory did come to other temples however, the presence of God’s glory at that time were transient. But in Ezekiel’s Temple which foreshadows New Jerusalem, the glory of God that dwells in there will be forever for the glory of the Lord filled the house (Ezek 44:4). The outer gate of the sanctuary which faces east in Ezekiel’s Temple will be shut and never be opened again because the Lord God entered by it (Ezek 44:1-2). This means that God’s glory will never leave again and His glory will remain in the sanctuary forevermore! Therefore we can see that there is no need for a visible lamp for God’s glory will shine brightly forever Although we may be suffering for a little while God is promising us that He will transform our lives into a life of a glory that shines brightly (2 Cor 3:18).

There is no Ark of the Covenant in Ezekiel’s Temple

The Ark of the Covenant is not found in Ezekiel’s Temple because everything in the Ark of the Covenant was fulfilled through Jesus Christ’s ministry. Apostle John saw that heaven was open and he saw the Ark of the Covenant in the temple of God (Rev 11:19). In Ezekiel’s Temple there is no Ark of the Covenant but how is it that God showed Apostle John the Ark of the Covenant in the temple of God? When God showed the temple there was no temple in it for the Lord God and the Lamb are its temple. So when the Apostle John was shown the temple he saw the Lord who is the temple Himself and the Ark of the Covenant. This Ark of the Covenant was already fulfilled by the ministry of Jesus Christ (Rev 21:22). There is no temple so there is naturally no Ark of the Covenant either. So Jesus Himself is the temple.

How was the Ark of the Covenant fulfilled through the ministry of Jesus Christ?

There are three objects in the Ark of the Covenant, the two stone tablets of the Covenant, the “budded rod” of Aaron and there was a “golden jar of manna” (Heb 9:4). First, the two stone tablets have the “Ten Commandments” inscribed on it which can be summed up in one word, “Love.” Commandments 1-4 says “love God.” Commandments 5-10 says “love your neighbor.” This is referring to Jesus Christ who is “love” itself. Love is about giving for if we really love something then we give unconditionally. Jesus loved us so much that He gave up His holy body on the cross for our sake. And that is why Jesus Christ is, love itself. Secondly, the “budded rod of Aaron,” signifies our Lord of resurrection. Just like the dead wood “budded” our Lord actually rose from the dead. Manna signifies our Lord Jesus Christ and the eternal bread of life (John 6:49-51). Therefore we can see that the Ark of the Covenant was fulfilled by Jesus Christ for in the New Jerusalem there is no temple because God and Jesus is the temple itself. So in Ezekiel’s Temple there is no Ark of the Covenant. Although Apostle John saw the Ark of the Covenant, he saw how everything was fulfilled by Jesus Christ. Therefore, both the “golden lampstand,” and the “Ark of the Covenant” is not present in Ezekiel’s Temple. What relevance does that have to our life today?

Conclusion: God’s history of redemption will be fulfilled according to His Covenants. The summation of the entire book of Ezekiel is a proclamation of Jehovah Shammah which means “The Lord is there” (Ezek 48:35). Thus, Jehovah Shammah was proclaimed at the end of the book of Ezekiel. Secondly, the name of the city from “that day” shall be “The Lord is there.” The phrase, “that day” is referring to “the day” when the people are set free from Babylonian captivity and return to Jerusalem. Redemptive historically, ultimately “this day” would be the second coming of our Lord so that we can leave this fallen world which is like a spiritual Babylon and enter into the New Jerusalem at the second coming of the Lord. So from that “day” shall be the “Lord is there” Jehovah Shammah.

God will visit and bring us back from captivity, so let us truly hold on to this covenant so that God’s covenant Jehovah Shammah will also be fulfilled in our lives as well (Jer 29:10). We will be brought back because God has spoken and He will fulfill His good words (1 Chron 16:15). Living according to the Word of God is the secret to success and prosperity (Deut 29:9). So until the day of transfiguration, let us hold unto the Words of the covenant, the mysterious Word of the history of redemption so that we can be prosperous in all that we do so that our darkness will transform into the bright light of God’s glory.