[Partial Version] The Tale of Two Ezekiels: Fulfilled or Future Temple?

Figurative Present or Literal Future?

Let's all just admit, that NO ONE, reads ezekiel. Just like Leviticus. I mean, I know I never took time to read it. But seeing that we have people out there that actually think and teach that Ezekiel’s Temple Vision exists to physically be built someday, we gotta address this.

Now, what happens if this is NEVER resolved?

Well it results in this odd position of Christians believing that sometime in the future end of days during the kingdom of Christ's reign on earth, another issue altogether, people will be offering “memorial” animal sacrifices in honor of Christ, along with the reinstitution of the Old Covenant Mosaic Law despite everything The New Covenant teaches and what Christ has done…. Yeah… Thats a tall order of issues one position makes. So with that, we are taking a much necessary trip back to an intriguing exploration of the ancient scriptures and the enigmatic vision presented in the book of Ezekiel.

Ezekiel in His Vision

In these verses, we uncover a profound purpose behind the description of the Temple, one that goes beyond its physical construction and dives into the depths of human iniquities. So, grab a bite for this trip and let us embark on a journey of discovery as we unravel the actual meaning of Ezekiel's vision!

The Temple Complex in It's Cultural Context

A Figurative Interpretation of the Vision

In the book of Ezekiel, there is a remarkable vision of a temple described in chapters 40 to 48. This vision has captivated the minds of scholars and believers alike, leading to various interpretations throughout history. However, it is crucial to approach this vision with a figurative lens rather than a literal one, for the true meaning lies in its symbolic representation.

By shifting our perspective from a literal understanding to a symbolic interpretation, we can uncover profound insights that resonate with the overarching message of God's redemptive plan. It becomes clear that the purpose of the vision is not to outline a physical temple's construction or emphasize Jewish nationalism, but rather to convey a spiritual truth that goes beyond the physical realm.

The Illegitimacy of Futuristic Fabrications

Many speculative theories have emerged concerning a future secret rapture, a seven-year tribulation, and the construction of a third temple, etc. But they all deviate from the genuine intent of Ezekiel's vision and miss the point entirely. They fail to fulfill the primary goal stated in Ezekiel 43:10-12, which is to make the exilic Israelites ashamed of their iniquities. When this happens, then the israelites were to be told of the vision of this temple. Thats what the condition is according to the text. We all know the jews of that time didnt meet that requirement. Of all the places to start, we will at that point of his vision when we begin.

So, how does that fit into the historical context? Picture this: Ezekiel and his fellow Jews were in Babylon, far from their homeland, and their temple had been destroyed. It's pretty clear that the vision of the temple and all its intricate details were meant to inspire repentance and reflection on their wrongdoings.

Now, imagine trying to force futuristic and primary national interpretations onto a vision that was meant to evoke a response of repentance from the exilic Israelites. Doesn't that seem like we're disregarding the intended message? The vision should have made the Jews of Ezekiel's time feel guilty about their sins. So, any interpretation that doesn't bring forth a sense of guilt and desire toward repentance among them is well off in left field.

Unveiling the Symbolic Depths

To grasp the symbolic meaning of Ezekiel's vision, we must delve into the figurative language employed throughout the text. It becomes evident that the temple and the city described in the vision symbolize deeper spiritual truths rather than physical structures.

Scholars like Daniel I. Block (1997) and Moshe Greenberg (1983) have explored how the symbolic details in Ezekiel's vision point to spiritual themes of God's holiness, presence, and the restoration of His people. The vision was meant to give hope to the exiled Israelites, not provide a blueprint for a physical temple.

The author of Hebrews understood this, depicting believers as coming to the heavenly Mount Zion - the city Ezekiel portrayed. This shows the vision was meant symbolically, representing spiritual realities fulfilled in Jesus. The physical temple was merely a shadow of what was to come.

Guiding Principles for Interpretation

Let's start off from what we DO know.

1. It's a vision: As a vision in our case with Ezekiel, you're gonna see why it should not be interpreted in a literal or physical sense. The symbolic nature of the vision allows us to grasp its deeper spiritual meaning. But I'm also gonna show the failures and impossibilities of the literal position.

2. Temple teleonomy: The purpose of the temple is to illustrate God's dwelling with humankind. It's his way of showing that he is with his people, rather than emphasizing Jewish nationalism or Mosaic social order.

3. The exilic situation: Considering the historical context, the vision speaks to the exilic Jews' restoration to their land and the hope of a renewed relationship with God. Something Ezekiel already prophecied in a more literal sense in chapters 36 and 37.

I found lots of issues interpreting Ezekiel focusing on a strict Futurist

Dispensational - Zionist - Literal approach.

First off, you have a Vision on an Exalted Mountain. In Ezekiel 40:2, the vision takes place on a high mountain. While Mount Moriah, the location of the first and second Templesisaren't physically "high," the imagery of an exalted elevation lines up with the Messianic mountain described in Hebrews 12 other Scriptures from the start. This symbolism connects the vision to a gospel interpretation easy. This is echoed in the prophets, “Now it will come about that in the last days the mountain of the house of the Lord will be established as the chief of the mountains, & will be raised above the hills; & all the nations will stream to it” (Is2:2; cf Mic4:1-3, & Rev21:10)

The Prince(and more on him later)

In chapters 40-48, the all-important Mosaic High Priest is just plain absent if a literal restoration of the Millennial Temple and sacrificial system is being described. Instead, the Prince takes stage. Something The Mosaic Law that's supposed to be returning in the Millenial future doesnt allow. Could the Prince be Jesus, the New Covenant High Priest of Melchizedek's order (Heb 7)? Similar references in earlier chapters of Ezekiel and in Daniel associate the term "prince" with the Messiah.(Dan8:25,9:25-26). This highlights a Messianic function in Ezekiel's closing vision, pointing toward a non-literal, gospel-oriented fulfillment. But what if we take the literal route of the Prince? Well…… WHYYYY do we find........ Mentions of animal sacrifices if the vision is supposed to apply to a future time long after The New Covenant was established?

According to the dispensationalist viewpoint, the sacrifices in the millennial period wouldn't be meant for atonement. The sacrificial system would no longer be necessary because the blood of Christ has already fulfilled that purpose. Just as the Old Testament sacrifices looked forward to the future event of Christ's death, it is suggested that future millennial sacrifices would serve as a commemoration of Christ's past death.

However, the text of Ezekiel seems to present a different perspective. The various offerings in the temple are described as making atonement for the house of Israel (Ezekiel 45:17). This implies that the sacrifices are presented as a means of atoning for sins, rather than merely being a memorial. It raises the question of why God would replace the commemoration of Christ's death with animal sacrifices when He never found pleasure in them (Psalm 40:6; 51:16; Hebrews 10:6).

Something else I found was that Ezekiel's vision doesn't put the responsibility of preparing the sacrifices on the prince, as we might expect. Instead —————

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