King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Monday, September 09, 2024
Chapters: Ezekiel Chapters 40-42
Message: When Christ Returns
Hello My Friend,
I came across this post where a person was asking what happens to those in heaven in regards to marriages and family, but believes that no one will remember who they were to each other. Now, I cannot say that I know every answer as to what takes place when we are in heaven, but from the Scriptures I can account to what Jesus said in regards to marriage, [Matthew 22:29-30 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.]
I can also account to what the Scriptures say in regards to why we will be as the angels, [1 Corinthians 15:51-52 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.]
Then fittingly, I read this from Charles Spurgeon, [The condition of glorified spirits in heaven is that of nearness to Christ, clear vision of his glory, constant access to his court, and familiar fellowship with his person: nor is there any difference in this respect between one saint and another, but all the people of God, apostles, martyrs, ministers, or private and obscure Christians, shall all be seated near the throne, where they shall for ever gaze upon their exalted Lord, and be satisfied with his love. They shall all be near to Christ, all ravished with his love, all eating and drinking at the same table with him, all equally beloved as his favourites and friends even if not all equally rewarded as servants.]
Ezekiel, actually gives us an actual glimpse of what will take place when Jesus returns and reigns for a thousand years. After this, a new world will appear, one that all saved, born again believers of Christ will dwell forever. As we continue in the reading of Ezekiel, it has been twenty-five years since Judah was taken captive into Babylon, Ezekiel receives a vision from God, a beautiful temple to be set up in Jerusalem.
[Ezekiel 40:2-4 In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south. 3 And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate. 4 And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.]
[whose appearance was like the appearance of brass,] This is Jesus, and He wants Ezekiel to see the size of the new temple, which is enormous, and is said to be the size of the entire earth. It is also said that these last eight chapters of Ezekiel are by far the most difficult to understand, even Bible scholars pass it up, and the Jews will not even allow anyone to read it until they are thirty years old, even then, they vainly tell them that they are to wait for Elias to explain it when he comes. Well, Jesus said this, [Matthew 17:10-13 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? 11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. 12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. 13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.]
[and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee;] To get a better understanding of God’s Word, especially with something so complex, we do need to set our heart upon what God wants to show us, then ask the Holy Spirit to explain what it means. It was the purpose of God to show this to Ezekiel so that he could see it with his own eyes and take note of the explanation pertaining to every part of the building so that his own statements concerning it were accurate. He was to tell of what he saw to the house of Israel, meaning all who were members in the spiritual house of Israel. The temple itself measured about a hundred thousand square feet, then add everything from the outer and two inner courts and it is quite massive. The outer court would consist of little chambers and a porch.
[Ezekiel 40:5-7,9 And behold a wall on the outside of the house round about, and in the man’s hand a measuring reed of six cubits long by the cubit and an hand breadth: so he measured the breadth of the building, one reed; and the height, one reed. 6 Then came he unto the gate which looketh toward the east, and went up the stairs thereof, and measured the threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad; and the other threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad. 7 And every little chamber was one reed long, and one reed broad; and between the little chambers were five cubits; and the threshold of the gate by the porch of the gate within was one reed. 9 Then measured he the porch of the gate, eight cubits; and the posts thereof, two cubits; and the porch of the gate was inward.]
[And every little chamber was one reed long, and one reed broad;] Notice that every chamber measured the same size, it is probable that these chambers would be used to house those who would tend to the duties of the outer court of the temple. What this shows me is that regardless of whether or not one was faithful in their walk with Christ, everyone who receives Christ as their Saviour receives eternal life, [Luke 13:29-30 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. 30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.]
While some things written in the Bible are indeed more complex than others, we must not let it take away the simplicity of the Gospel, even though we read in this next passage about the first inner court, which also had little chambers in it, and how the daily sacrifices will be reinstated.
[Ezekiel 40:28-29,39,42 And he brought me to the inner court by the south gate: and he measured the south gate according to these measures; 29 And the little chambers thereof, and the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, according to these measures: and there were windows in it and in the arches thereof round about: it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad. 39 And in the porch of the gate were two tables on this side, and two tables on that side, to slay thereon the burnt offering and the sin offering and the trespass offering. 42 And the four tables were of hewn stone for the burnt offering, of a cubit and an half long, and a cubit and an half broad, and one cubit high: whereupon also they laid the instruments wherewith they slew the burnt offering and the sacrifice.]
[to slay thereon the burnt offering and the sin offering] These offerings were not a replacement of what Christ did, they were symbolic of His becoming the burnt, sin, and trespass offerings that replaced the need for these once and for all. These symbols being of the Mosaic ordinances are not at all taking the place of what Jesus has done on the cross. They are to be a reminder that Christ, is our Altar and Sacrifice, to whom we must look upon with all all our heart, by faith, and we will come from all four quarters of the earth to to do so, [Luke 13:28-29 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. 29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.]
What a day it will be when we get to see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, not to mention Noah, Moses, David, and Samuel, and just imagine the conversations we will have with Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel. Would you not want to ask them what they were thinking when they did some of the things they did? Well, let me tell you, none of those things will even be mentioned because they will not be remembered. We all got to the Kingdom of God the same way, our faith in the LORD. Ezekiel, is now taken to the chambers where the priests, singers, and ministers will stay while they are in their service.
[Ezekiel 40:44-47 And without the inner gate were the chambers of the singers in the inner court, which was at the side of the north gate; and their prospect was toward the south: one at the side of the east gate having the prospect toward the north. 45 And he said unto me, This chamber, whose prospect is toward the south, is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the house. 46 And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him. 47 So he measured the court, an hundred cubits long, and an hundred cubits broad, foursquare; and the altar that was before the house.]
[which come near to the LORD to minister unto him.] The priesthood, symbolizes the mediation between God and man, Christ being the Mediator. The monarchy symbolizes Christ’s sovereignty, the people are symbolized as the saints of God, and the location symbolizes their inheritance. These ordinances are intended to symbolize the dwelling place of Jesus among His people. Once we accept Christ as our Saviour we are a part of the priesthood, and therefore ought to be ready and eager to serve Him no matter what position He gives us, [1 Peter 2:5-6 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.]
Wow! Before we knew Christ as our Saviour we were confined to the chains that sin held us down to. However, if we have truly and honestly accepted the Gospel of Christ with all of our heart, then we are a part of the royal priesthood. Now, after the man showed Ezekiel the two inner courts of the temple he took him inside the temple to show him the holy and most holy place. Remember, the most holy place is the innermost room where the Holy Spirit dwelt, but there is something different in this temple that was not in the others, there were chambers inside.
[Ezekiel 41:1,4-6 Afterward he brought me to the temple, and measured the posts, six cubits broad on the one side, and six cubits broad on the other side, which was the breadth of the tabernacle. 4 So he measured the length thereof, twenty cubits; and the breadth, twenty cubits, before the temple: and he said unto me, This is the most holy place. 5 After he measured the wall of the house, six cubits; and the breadth of every side chamber, four cubits, round about the house on every side. 6 And the side chambers were three, one over another, and thirty in order; and they entered into the wall which was of the house for the side chambers round about, that they might have hold, but they had not hold in the wall of the house.]
[chambers were three, one over another,] In other were, the inside of the temple was three stories high where the rooms were. This gives a foreshadow of the number of churches in Gospel times, especially in the latter day when there will be large conversions, and room enough for all converts, just as there are many mansions in heaven for all the saints, there will be room enough for all in the New Jerusalem, [Revelation 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.]
Apparently this building was a separate building within the temple, another building is described, known as the separate place, [Ezekiel 41:12-13,18-20 Now the building that was before the separate place at the end toward the west was seventy cubits broad; and the wall of the building was five cubits thick round about, and the length thereof ninety cubits. 13 So he measured the house, an hundred cubits long; and the separate place, and the building, with the walls thereof, an hundred cubits long; 18 And it was made with cherubims and palm trees, so that a palm tree was between a cherub and a cherub; and every cherub had two faces; 19 So that the face of a man was toward the palm tree on the one side, and the face of a young lion toward the palm tree on the other side: it was made through all the house round about. 20 From the ground unto above the door were cherubims and palm trees made, and on the wall of the temple.]
[the building that was before the separate place] This is the holy of hollies, which was originally separated from the holy place by a veil. That veil was torn in half from the top down the exact time that Jesus died on the cross, [Matthew 27:50-51 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;]
[and every cherub had two faces;] This is the same image Ezekiel saw when God spoke to him when He first gave him these visions. The face of the man is symbolic of those who were redeemed by the blood of Christ, and the face of the lion are symbolic of the strength of the Gospel that His minsters have to do their work in defending the Gospel. The closer we get to Christ’s return the more difficult it will be to reach people with the Gospel, [2 Timothy 3:12-13 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.]
Christ’s saints have always suffered persecution for their faith, Old Testament saints were frequently put to death, or exposed to the persecutions of men, which often resulted in death. Early New Testament saints have been put to death for their faith and martyrdom is on the rise again in many countries. The death of God’s saints is noted through all the ages, but we are more than conquerors through our faith in Christ because we will be with Christ always and forever in His Kingdom. Now, the man showed Ezekiel the outer court before the holy place, the holy of hollies, and where the priests would eat.
[Ezekiel 42:1,12,14 Then he brought me forth into the utter court, the way toward the north: and he brought me into the chamber that was over against the separate place, and which was before the building toward the north. 13 Then said he unto me, The north chambers and the south chambers, which are before the separate place, they be holy chambers, where the priests that approach unto the LORD shall eat the most holy things: there shall they lay the most holy things, and the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; for the place is holy. 14 When the priests enter therein, then shall they not go out of the holy place into the utter court, but there they shall lay their garments wherein they minister; for they are holy; and shall put on other garments, and shall approach to those things which are for the people.]
[there shall they lay the most holy things,] The meat (bread), sin, and trespass offering, which all Christ’s saints lay before Him, are a picture of Christ, who is the most holy thing. Jesus, is the bread of life, He sustains and keeps us safe in this world. He is the atonement for our sin, and the one and only sacrifice needed to redeem our soul once and for all. He is also the blood that gives us life and sustains our soul for the new world, [John 6:35,37-38,40 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [Ezekiel 40:3 And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.]
Today’s Prayer: God, How glorious it is to enjoy freedom from sin, thanks to the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus Christ, on my behalf. My life, once enslaved to sin, now enjoys the freedom from what held me captive to Satan’s bondage. Lord, Watch over us, protect us, keep us looking for Christ’s return as we prepare for the battle we will face for our faith. We know that we need not fear because You are with us and will see is through for eternity. Let us keep serving You with love and thanksgiving, looking forward to that blessed day when we get to live with You in heaven and later in new Your new Kingdom. I pray this in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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