Ezekiel’s temple vision describes a restored Israel and a glorious temple. We are told about renewed animal sacrifices, and God’s Throne among the Israelites, “forever.” In chapters 40-48, we discover marriage is still a reality, children exist, and people still die.
So this begs the following questions…
- Do all of these aspects fit within the Biblical past, or the future?
- Is Ezekiel’s temple symbolic, literal, or something else?
- And who is the prince spoken of?
We are going to learn, Ezekiel’s temple vision does not describe a literal or figurative temple…
Instead, Ezekiel’s temple is a description of a glorious temple that might have been, a temple that could have been, if Israel repented of their continual sins and returned to God.
Unfortunately, the Israelites never repented, so this temple never became a reality, nor will it ever be built. We can be certain of this, as this interpretation does not cause conflicts with Scripture or leave us in doubt with many unanswered questions.
Let me cover the basis, and then I will explain the details…
Symbolic Temple
If Ezekiel’s temple is symbolic, then what is the meaning of chapter after chapter filled with precise measurements of the temple, its gates, courts, and altars? If the temple is symbolic, then why such details for something that is not real, and what do the details mean?
There has never been a good explanation for this, and Christians are always left confused with unanswered questions. However, when we have the proper interpretation of a Biblical subject, we are not left in a spiritual daze, rather we are uplifted and edified by Scripture.
Literal Temple
If Ezekiel’s temple is literal, then when did it, or when will the temple exist?
It could not have been in the past…
It could not have been Solomon’s temple, as that was already destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar before Ezekiel was carried into Babylonian captivity. Nor could Ezekiel’s temple be described as the one built under Zerubabbel, when the Israelites left captivity, as the dimensions do not match.
Regardless, in Ezekiel 43:7 God said, He will place His Throne and “dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever.”
“Forever,” without end.
Since God is not in Israel, we know Ezekiel’s temple never came to fruition.
However, what about a future temple?
Millennial Temple
Could Ezekiel’s temple be a future “Millennial temple?”
Absolutely not, for the following reasons…
Ezekiel 40-48 describes:
- Animal sacrifice
- Sin offerings
- Marriage
- Children
- Dead people
These constructs cannot exist during the Millennium. They are simply incompatible with Scripture, and by placing them within the Millennial time frame, they cause disastrous contradictions in God’s Word.
Let me show you…
No Sacrifices In The Millennium
Ezekiel 40-48 cannot discuss the Millennium, as Ezekiel’s temple describes sacrifice:
- “…they slew the burnt offering and the sacrifice,” – Eze 40:42
- “…eight tables, whereupon they slew their sacrifices,” – Eze 40:41
- “…the ministers of the house shall boil the sacrifice of the people,” – Eze 46:24
Animal sacrifices will not take place during the Millennium.
How can I be so certain?
Scripture explains,
“We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
Hebrews 10:10
Simply stated, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ replaced the animal sacrifices that were used to atone for our sins. Once Jesus was crucified, He became our unblemished lamb, the one and only sacrifice required to atone for our sins, (1 Peter 1:19).
Scripture provides us with even more details of this.
We are told, Jesus became the offering, the “one sacrifice for sins for ever.” “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified,” (Hebrews 10:1-4, 11-14).
Hey, we are sanctified through Jesus Christ, not animal sacrifice. That is what Hebrews 9-10 is all about. I am sure you noticed, Jesus did this once, for all time. That means, animal sacrifices are never coming back again.
So then, Ezekiel’s temple cannot refer to a future Millennial temple.
No Sin Offerings In The Millennium
Ezekiel 40-48 cannot discuss the Millennium, as Ezekiel’s temple describes sin offerings:
- “…goats without blemish for a sin offering,” – Eze 43:22.
- “…burnt offerings thereon, and to sprinkle blood thereon,” – Eze 43:18.
- “…to slay thereon … the sin offering and the trespass offering,” – Eze 40:39.
These various sin offerings are all tied to the Old Testament.
- Burnt offerings are found in Leviticus 1:3-17.
- Sin offerings are found in Leviticus 4:2-3, 13-35.
- Trespass offerings are found in Leviticus 5:6-13, 6:6, 7:1-2.
Once again, sacrifices and sin offerings will not take place during the Millennium. As you read the last nine chapters of Ezekiel, you will see how they closely resemble the old Mosaic law.
However, the New Testament explains, blood ordinances were nailed to the cross with Jesus rendering them obsolete, (Colossians 2:14).
Yet, there is another aspect we should be aware of…
The Prince
It is commonly thought, if Ezekiel’s temple was to exist during the Millennium, then “the prince” spoken of is symbolic of Jesus Christ.
However, this cannot be true for three primary reasons…
Read closely.
First: Ezekiel 45:22 says,
“And upon that day shall the prince prepare for himself and for all the people of the land a bullock for a sin offering.”
In the Old Testament, you prepared a sin offering to atone for your sins. Therefore, this would indicate the “prince” sinned, so the prince cannot refer to Jesus who was sinless, (2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 2:22).
Second: Ezekiel 46:16 says,
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“The prince give a gift unto any of his sons, the inheritance thereof shall be his sons.”
Jesus has never had, nor will He ever have children.
Third: The “prince” of Ezekiel is not a “priest,” while this prince can provide animals for sacrifice, he cannot perform the ministries of a priest himself. Yet, we know Jesus is “a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec,” (Hebrews 7:21).
Therefore, we can firmly conclude, the prince of Ezekiel is not Jesus Christ.
No Marriage In The Millennium
Ezekiel 40-48 cannot discuss the Millennium, as it discusses aspects of marriage:
- “Neither shall they take for their wives a widow,” – Eze 44:22
- “…which shall beget children among you,” – Eze 47:22
Marriage will not take place during the Millennium or in the Eternity.
Jesus told us,
“The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:”
Luke 20:34-35
Once we pass away and return to God, we no longer marry, as we are “equal unto the Angels” which are in Heaven, (Ecclesiastes 12:7, Luke 20:36). Marriage will have become a thing of the past.
Since there is no marriage in the resurrection, it means there is no marriage in the Millennium.
No Children In The Millennium
Ezekiel 40-48 cannot discuss the Millennium, as it discusses children:
- “…for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister,” – Eze 44:25
- “…which shall beget children among you,” – Eze 47:22
- “…the prince give a gift unto any of his sons,” – Eze 46:16
There will be no children in the Millennium or Eternity.
How can we be certain?
Jesus already told us, there will be no marriage in the resurrection, so that means there cannot be children in the Millennium.
When you really think about it, the sole purpose of children is for every one of us to be born, and live on earth, and to decide if we are going to accept, follow, and love God. That is the very purpose and meaning of John 3:16.
I do want to mention, Isaiah 11:6 does discuss children in the future. However, that is a metaphorical thought to explain how peaceful the Eternity will be, once God Himself comes to live with us on earth.
Lastly…
No Dead People In The Millennium
Ezekiel 40-48 cannot discuss the Millennium, as it discusses dead people:
- “…they shall come at no dead person,” – Eze 44:25
There will be no dead people during the Millennium.
How can I be certain?
- For those who pass away before the return of Jesus, “neither can they die any more,” as they are with God in an incorruptible body like “unto the Angels,” (Luke 20:36, Hebrews 9:27).
- For those who are alive when Jesus returns, “we shall be changed,” into our true body, which is our Heavenly body that never gets sick, old, or dies, (1 Corinthians 15:52-54).
So during the Millennium, people will not die, people will not get married, and people will not have children, as those are some of the former things that will have passed away.
Now it is true, at the end of the Millennium, those who refuse God will be destroyed…
However, we are not talking about the death of our natural body, as it will no longer exist. Instead, we are talking about the very destruction of our soul. Remember, once Jesus returns, “we shall be changed” into an incorruptible Heavenly body like “unto the Angels.”
This tells us, Ezekiel’s temple did not exist in the past, nor is it a Millennial temple.
What then was Ezekiel describing?
The Temple That Could Have Been
If we consider that Ezekiel’s temple was a grand vision of a conditionally restored Israel, then all makes sense.
The fact of the matter is, Ezekiel’s temple vision was dependent on Israel ‘putting away their whoredoms,’ and returning to God. If the Israelites repented and changed their ways, then Israel would have constructed the temple, and God would “dwell in the midst of them for ever.”
However, that never happened, so neither did the construction of Ezekiel’s temple.
Look what God told Ezekiel…
Ezekiel 43:10
Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern.
God is saying, tell the Israelites about the temple vision. Tell them about the plans I have for them if they repent.
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.
Did you follow that?
God said, if the Israelites were “ashamed of all that they have done,” then show them the design of the temple. Unfortunately, the Israelites were never ashamed, at least not enough to repent on a national level, which is why this grand vision never became a reality.
Now, had the Israelites repented, they would have seen the grand design of Ezekiel’s temple. They would have had the blueprints to construct it, and God would have lived with them, “forever.”
Summary
It is true, there is a temple in Heaven today, (Revelation 11:19). However, we are never told about a temple on earth during the Millennium, and we are specifically told, “I saw no temple therein” during the Eternity.
Do you know why?
“The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it,” (Revelation 21:22).
Therefore, we should not be looking for a physical temple at all…
In fact, in the New Testament, we are told that Christians are the temple. More specifically, Christians are even the pillars that hold up the temple, (1 Corinthians 3:16, Revelation 3:12). So we are not talking about a literal building, but a symbolic one in this case.
Now, when we consider Ezekiel’s temple vision, we know it cannot be literal or even symbolic, as such notions cause many Biblical contradictions. As we learned, there will be no marriage, children, or even death of our natural body during the Millennium.
Therefore, Ezekiel’s temple vision was an allusion to what might have been, had the Israelites repented and walked after God. Then and only then, would they have been shown “the form of the house” — the form of the temple — and have been able to construct it.