The new Temple that is shown to Ezekiel, is different and bigger than the one Solomon built, and these plans were never referred to in the rebuilding of the Temple after the Israelites returned from Babylonian captivity. This new Temple will be built in the Millennial kingdom...
(Ezekiel 40:1-4) In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was taken, on that same day the hand of the Lord was upon me and He brought me there. 2 In the visions of God He brought me into the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain, and on it to the south there was a structure like a city. 3 So He brought me there; and behold, there was a man whose appearance was like the appearance of bronze, with a line of flax and a measuring rod in his hand; and he was standing in the gateway. 4 The man said to me, “Son of man, see with your eyes, hear with your ears, and give attention to all that I am going to show you; for you have been brought here in order to show it to you. Declare to the house of Israel all that you see.”
Besides seeing the future Temple, Ezekiel was told about how the a right relationship would be established between the Lord and Israel. This will happen - when during the Tribulation, the Israelites will realize their sins and recognize from the signs (the judgments on the earth) that Jesus was and is their Messiah. They will then believe and turn to Jesus. And after the Armageddon battle, Jesus will take all believers into the Millennial kingdom and fulfill all of the Israelites' covenants.
In the following chapters of this last vision, there is some speculation that "the man" who is giving Ezekiel this "tour" is the Lord Himself (the pre-incarnate Jesus); but we are never clearly told one way or the other.
From the following verses, it does look to me like the man was just an angel, because while the man led Ezekiel to the gate, the Lord approached Ezekiel from the other direction, and it was then that Ezekiel fell to his face. And while the Lord spoke to him, the man was still standing beside him....
(Ezekiel 43:17) Then he led me to the gate, the gate facing toward the east; 2 and behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the way of the east. And His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory. 3 And it was like the appearance of the vision which I saw, like the vision which I saw when He came to destroy the city. And the visions were like the vision which I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell on my face. 4 And the glory of the Lord came into the house by the way of the gate facing toward the east. 5 And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house.
6 Then I heard one speaking to me from the house, while a man was standing beside me. 7 He said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell among the sons of Israel forever. And the house of Israel will not again defile My holy name, neither they nor their kings, by their harlotry and by the corpses of their kings when they die, 8 by setting their threshold by My threshold and their door post beside My door post, with only the wall between Me and them. And they have defiled My holy name by their abominations which they have committed. So I have consumed them in My anger. 9 Now let them put away their harlotry and the corpses of their kings far from Me; and I will dwell among them forever.
10 “As for you, son of man, describe the temple to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the plan. 11 If they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the house, its structure, its exits, its entrances, all its designs, all its statutes, and all its laws. And write it in their sight, so that they may observe its whole design and all its statutes and do them. 12 This is the law of the house: its entire area on the top of the mountain all around shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house..."
13 “And these are the measurements of the altar by cubits (the cubit being a cubit and a handbreadth): the base shall be a cubit and the width a cubit, and its border on its edge round about one span; and this shall be the height of the base of the altar. 14 From the base on the ground to the lower ledge shall be two cubits and the width one cubit; and from the smaller ledge to the larger ledge shall be four cubits and the width [p]one cubit. 15 The altar hearth shall be four cubits; and from the altar hearth shall extend upwards four horns. 16 Now the altar hearth shall be twelve cubits long by twelve wide, square in its four sides. 17 The ledge shall be fourteen cubits long by fourteen wide in its four sides, the border around it shall be half a cubit and its base shall be a cubit round about; and its steps shall face the east.”Without a doubt it was the Lord speaking in verses 7 to 9 (above). Notice that the Lord spoke in the first person. Verses 10 to 17 could still have been the Lord speaking, or maybe the man (the angel) picked up where he left off. Because...
Beginning at verse 18, it looks like "the man" (the angel) continued the tour again for a while. Even though this NASB version capitalizes the pronoun "He", the "he" now speaks in the third person.
(Ezekiel 43:18) And He said to me, “Son of man, thus says the Lord God, ‘These are the statutes for the altar on the day it is built, to offer burnt offerings on it and to sprinkle blood on it..."
Right up until chapter 47:13, the man (the angel) continued to say "thus says the Lord God..." After the man showed Ezekiel the river (of life), he is not mentioned again.
The Lord then spoke to Ezekiel and ended the vision by explaining how the covenants (His promises to the Israelites) would be fulfilled in the Millennium, and how the land was going to be divided among the twelve tribes.
From this we see:
- if this was an angel, angels could look like a man with the appearance of bronze (Ez.40)
- if this was an angel, angels can describe things in great detail (Ez.40-47)
Personal experience: if angels can act as tour-guides, then I'm curious when we ask God for directions in life - if He sometimes uses angels to lead and/or block our way. We may never know how many times angels and/or demons are involved in our experiences. But we CAN know that when we depend on God, we can trust in Him.
For many years now, whenever I ask God for directions or help in making decisions, I ask Him to either open or close doors as He sees fit. And then, using what wisdom I have been given - I take a step forward. If it is not meant to be, God will block my path somehow.
I began praying this way, back when I considered going out on the mission field. My parents and I had asked God that if we were to go to Puerto Rico, He would make it happen and open those doors. And if we were not meant to go, He would shut those doors!
Well, those doors opened in miraculous ways, so there should have been no doubts about it being God's will. But once we got there - suddenly we had doubts! Things did not go very smoothly - at all. And so we struggled for a few months, wondering what God really had in mind! WAS it really God's will for us to be there???
We should have realized that those doubts came from "Satan". It finally dawned on me - wherever we are - we need to do God's will - and then we will be in God's will ! ! ! Once I realized this, I had such peace about being where I was at that very moment in my life!
Today's takeaway: we can have peace when making decisions in life - big or small...
(James 4:13-17) Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” 14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” 16 But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. 17 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.
(James 1:5-6) But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
(Philippians 4:6-7) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
(Jeremiah 29:11-13) “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
(Psalm 23:1-6) The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
(Psalm 119:105-106) Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 106 I have sworn and I will confirm it, that I will keep Your righteous ordinances.
(Psalm 5:8) O Lord, lead me in Your righteousness because of my foes; make Your way straight before me.
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