What exactly was Ezekiel's vision in these chapters? Was it the New Jerusalem of Revelation 21 or just a representation of the heart of the believer that has now been cleansed and is the dwelling place of God.

If it is the latter then why does he get such a detailed vision of a temple? Perhaps it is both?

CT theologians, I would like to hear your thoughts.

Thanks.

P.S. Or maybe he is seeing the building of a literal temple that will occur before the Millennium.......just kidding.

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Ryan Barnhart - Pastor of OGBC
Husband to a beautiful wife, Father to two beautiful girls
Student at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary - B.D.

"I confess to you, that if I can but live and die serving the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by Cannibals or by worms. And in the Great Day my Resurrection body will rise as fair as yours in the likeness of our risen Redeemer." - John Paton

This isn't any answer, but a related question. Has anyone read the relatively recent "The Temple and the Church's Mission" by Beale? I know there's a big section on Ezekiel 40-48 in that volume.

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Todd K. Pedlar
member, First Congregational Church, (CCCC) Cresco, IA
http://inprincipiodeus.solideogloria.com
http://puritanwisdom.blogspot.com

"As God did not at first choose you because you were high, He will not now forsake you because you are low."
John Flavel in Keeping the Heart



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I made a detailed study of these chapters about a year ago, and forgot most of my conclusions, but it is clear that the passages are highly metaphorical and allegorical. The building, as we occasionally note, would be a physical impossibility in this world. I would have to study the original languages and write up a dissertation to have everything straight, but I think that most of the aspects of Ezekiel's temple are depictions of the church (not church building) in heaven.

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[b]Timotheus, servant of the Lord[/b]
[(Timothy Merkel - Ellicott City, MD - Trinity Reformed Presbyterian Church)]
[i]Ye who are the warriors of God
And of the law of God
Hope in God, believe in God,
And in God you shall ever triumph[/i]

I am glad you asked this. I am going through Ezekiel and got to chapter 40 today and was wondering the same thing. I hope we get some food for thought.

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Traci
Lynnwood OPC
"I have taken all my good deeds, and all my bad deeds, and cast them through each other in a heap before the Lord, and fled from both, and betaken myself to the Lord Jesus Christ, and in him I have sweet peace."--David Dickson

Read Calvin and this

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Richard
CofE
UK

Looking at Ezekiel in the latter portions of it you see some interesting similarities with the new covenant period and the book of Revelation;

Ezekiel- 33 The watchman/blood upon your head Acts18:6
"" " - 34 The Good Shepherd Jn. 10
- 36 The New Heart/Covenant Heb. 8
- 37 Resurrection of the dry bones Rom.9-11 Rev.20:4-6
38-39 Gog and Magog Rev. 20:8
40-48 The temple with the living waters Eph.2 Rev. 22
Depending on which end time chart you are using, some have seen significance with the First resurrection on REV. 20 and those attacked by Gog and Magog as the Elect remnant of Israel,with the gentiles being grafted together with them to form the Israel of God growing together as the new temple. I like many of the idea's but I am still trying to see if they match, or not

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Anthony D'Arienzo
Sunday School Teacher
Hope Reformed Baptist Church:
Medford, N.Y.

I would hold that it this is strictly an Old Covenant symbolic vision concerning the end of the Babyonian Exile. There is still "circumcision in the heart and flesh", references to ancient Jewish Currency, and animal sacrifices given "to make atonement for the house of Israel".

See The Past Fulfillment of Ezekiel's War

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Scott Kessler
Covenant Community OPC
Staunton, VA
Covenant Theology
Christian Skepticism
Christianity In History

One may find benefit in consulting Patrick Fairbairn's commentary on Ezekiel, where he provides some important preliminary remarks to these chapters. He maintains what he calls the Christian-spiritual view, but which is really just a consistent typological approach to Israel's covenant institutions.

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Yours sincerely,


"Illum oportet crescere me autem minui."

I am going to invite scorn and ridicule: I would not be surprised if it would be a literal building. No, don't worry, I don't hold to the reinstituted sacrifices.

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J. B. Atken
John Knox PCA
Layman, M.A. student at Louisiana College

In his excellent commentary, William Greenhill sees this as a prophetic elucidation of the New Testament Church, "The Church of Christ, under the Gospel".

Remember that the most basic outline of the prophecy of Ezekiel is "The Glory departing, and the Glory returning". The final chapters show the glory returning in the coming of the Prince, Messiah, the Lord Jesus.

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Rev. Todd Ruddell
Pastor, Christ Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church (RPCGA)
Wylie, TX
www.christcovenantreformedpc.org

Our best marks can contribute nothing to our justification, ...that is proper to faith. Faith cannot lodge in the soul alone, and without other graces; yet faith alone justifies before God.--G. Gillespie

Using e-sword's free commentaries helps sort out the tricky passages and it's easy to use.

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Conscience may lash us, but it cannot replenish a languishing life. Conscience may be God's word and minister to you, telling you of your faults and your follies and your destitution. It may point out, but it will never supply you. Christ must give you new life. Hart has well expressed it: "He to the feeble and the faint, His mighty aid makes known; and when their languid life is spent, supplies it with His own." - J. K. Popham