Trinities

CONT., page 8

 

EZEKIEL’S TEMPLE

 

There is considerable confusion, wonder, and opinion as to what Ezekiel’s temple might be or represent.  Some hold it to be literal, while others regard it to be figurative or spiritual.  The dimensions provided in Ezekiel 40 through 47 certainly do not correspond to any of the previous temples; and the temple is in fact distinctly different in many ways, including religious practices and procedures.  There is no laver, no table of showbread, no lampstand, no altar of incense, no veil, and no ark of the covenant.  The only items that are there are the altar for burnt offerings that is in the inner court, and a single and unique wooden altar in the holy place.  And in contrast to previous temple altars located in the inner court that were supposedly approached from the south by a ramp, this altar is approached from the east (Ezekiel 43:17), and there are steps that in prior temples were forbidden (Exodus 20:26).  In addition, quite uniquely a river flows eastward from the threshold of the temple, where no river has ever flowed before.  Also, its ever-increasing flow is entirely unnatural and unrealistic, along with the trees that continually bear fruit and their leaves are for healing, as well as the fact that the water goes to the sea and those waters are healed. 

 

We will look at some of the specifics of the chapters that deal with the eastern gate.  But before we do, as indicated by what you just read, you will see that Ezekiel’s temple is indeed a representative type of that which was to be.  It will never be built as a natural stone temple, as many Christians and Jews alike suppose.  And in fact, as you will see, for the last 2,000 years it has been in the process of fulfillment.  But just like the natural tabernacle and temples, it too has been a shortfall!  In addition, it too will have to be torn down and replaced.  Despite the hopes and promises of those structures in past times, they all failed and were torn down.  And this spiritual temple will follow the same inevitable fate. 

 

Why would it be otherwise with this one?  It too is of this earth, and we repeatedly read that the things of this world are passing away.  It is the spiritual that we must have—that which is from Jerusalem above.  And as you will see, the weakness and failure of this temple comes because it still relies upon natural man—the spiritual being given to natural man.  This has been the problem since the Garden, including the last 2,000 years of the church.  As has been proven time and time again, this mix of heavenly and earthly is guaranteed failure!  You will be amazed at all you are about to read and learn here.  Let us now look at the specifics of these highly relevant and revealing chapters regarding the eastern gate.

 

In Ezekiel 43:1, Ezekiel was led to the eastern gate located on the outer wall.  The fact that it is the outer gate is proven in the preceding chapter, verses 15-20.  Ezekiel 43: 2-4 continue:

 

. . . 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.  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.  And the glory of Yahweh came into the house by the way of the gate facing toward the east.

 

Before proceeding any further, let me tell you what is about to unfold, for we will be taken on a journey that successively leads in and out of the temple.  What you just read in chapter 43 takes us to the outer east gate.  But what you will find is that there is also an east gate on the inner wall that encompasses the inner court.  In the following diagram, you can see the general layout of Ezekiel’s temple.  You will notice that there are three pairs of gates:  an inner and outer north gate, an inner and outer east gate, and an inner and outer south gate.  There are no west gates.  You will also notice that there is an outer court and an inner court, where the altar was located.  In this diagram, our beginning location at the outer east gate is marked with a red arrow.  Also, there is a gold line, showing that “the Glory of the God of Israel” passed through the east gate.

 

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After going to that outer gate facing east as we just read, next we will be taken into that inner court.  Then in chapter 44, verses 1-2, we are taken back to the outer gate facing east.  Then in verse 4 we are taken through the north gate back to the inner court.  Next, in chapter 46 we briefly go to the outer court; and in chapter 47, verse 1, we go back into the inner court.  Finally, we go back through the north gate and around to the outer east gate.  So to summarize the places and chapters in this journey we see:

 

1.     Outer east gate (43:1-4)

2.     Inner court (43:5f)

3.     Outer east gate (44:1-2)

4.     Inner court (44:4f)

5.     Outer court (46:21f)

6.     Inner court (47:1)

7.     Outer east gate (47:2f)

 

So remember, we go out, . . . in, . . . out, . . . in, . . . out, . . . in, . . . out!  I hope this helps in what are already a most difficult five, and even nine chapters to understand.  Also to help, as you see at the beginning of the next paragraph, anytime we are about to change locations, this is marked by a parenthetical notation that is based on the above enumerated key.  Furthermore, we will repeat the diagram in a smaller version, marking the locations and the journeys.  Let us continue.

 

Image 2 (2.–In)  After going to the outer gate facing east in chapter 43, Ezekiel was then lifted up by the Spirit and brought into the inner court, which is were the altar is located, and “the glory of Yahweh filled the house” (vs. 5).  Verses 6-7 continue:

 

Then I heard one speaking to me from the house, while a man was standing beside me.  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.”

 

Then in verse 12, Yahweh speaking from the house added:

 

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.

 

After saying this, the measurements of the altar were set forth, as well as its purification procedure.  (3.–Out)  We will comment about this altar shortly, but let us now go to chapter 44.  Here we read in verses 1-2:

 

Then He brought me back by the way of the outer gate of the sanctuary, which faces the east; and it was shut.  Yahweh said to me, “This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, and no one shall enter by it, for Yahweh God of Israel has entered by it; therefore it shall be shut.”

 

Description: Macintosh HD:Users:gary new:Desktop:temple_floorplan_03_no_line.jpg First, this “outer gate . . . which faces the east, and it was shut” spoken of here, is the same gate addressed in 43:2-4.  (You will notice in the diagram the gate is now shut.)  Note the similarities of these descriptions.  There we read, “the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the way of the east.  . . .  And the glory of Yahweh came into the house by the way of the gate facing toward the east.”  Chapter 44, verses 1-2, then affirm that which had taken place in the previous chapter—“for Yahweh God of Israel has entered by it; therefore it shall be shut.”  This closure is further confirmed in Ezekiel 47:2, which will be addressed shortly, where we read, “He brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate by way of the gate that faces east.”  Here again, the way to get to the outside of the closed east gate was to now go out the north gate and around to it.  Again, the outer east gate is the one that has been closed because Yahweh God of Israel entered through it.

 

Now, a side comment is necessary here.  Christians and Jews alike make a big to-do that the eastern gate in present Jerusalem is likewise closed.  And, they quote these verses in Ezekiel 43 and 44 as though they are a prophecy about and relevant to that gate, when in fact that gate has nothing whatsoever to do with Ezekiel’s temple.  Then they wrongly postulate that Yahshua will return and pass through that gate once again.  Well, that might make great drama akin to “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” but the reality is that both are fiction.  How can anyone take a prophecy regarding Ezekiel’s temple, and apply it to a gate possibly rebuilt by the Romans around 520 AD, and the Muslim Ottomans sealed off in 1541?  That gate has absolutely no relationship whatsoever to the east gate of Ezekiel’s temple!  If it did, where is the rest of the temple?  (More on this shortly.)  Man once again proves that his thinking is natural, and not heavenly. 

 

In this regard, Paul clearly stated that natural Jerusalem is Hagar, and is in slavery—the bondwoman according to the flesh (Galatians 4:22-25).  But Jerusalem above, who has been barren up to now (no one has yet to enter into immortality except Yahshua) is the fulfillment we MUST have.  So why should anyone look to natural Jerusalem/Hagar with any hope whatsoever regarding the kingdom of heaven or the coming of Immanuel?  They would all be sorely disappointed and die waiting for the fulfillment of their false expectations.  Again, they are natural men performing natural thinking—attempting to work the kingdom out in the flesh.

 

(4.–In)  With the outer east gate now shut, in Ezekiel 44:4 we are told that Ezekiel returns by way of the north gate to, evidently, the inner court; and again the glory of Yahweh filled the house.  Temple duties are then addressed in the remainder of chapter 44, as well as in 45.

 

Next, the inner gate facing east is addressed.  In Ezekiel 46:1, we read that which Yahweh spoke to Ezekiel:

 

“Thus says the Lord Yahweh, ‘The gate of the inner court facing east shall be shut the six working days; but it shall be opened on the sabbath day and opened on the day of the new moon.’ ”

 

Then in verse 12 we read Yahweh’s continuing instruction:

 

“When the prince provides a freewill offering, a burnt offering, or peace offerings as a freewill offering to Yahweh, the gate facing east shall be opened for him.  And he shall provide his burnt offering and his peace offerings as he does on the sabbath day.  Then he shall go out, and the gate shall be shut after he goes out.”

 

So, we read that the inner gate facing east, the gate leading into the court of the sanctuary where the altar is located and provides passage into the sanctuary, is closed for six days, but is opened on the seventh day, the sabbath.  I hope you understand this, for it will be quite important when we see what Yahweh is telling us regarding all of this. 

 

(5.–O-Court)  Still within the temple, in Ezekiel 46:21-24, Ezekiel was then led into the outer court.  There he is taken to each of the four corners of the court where there are smaller courts, or “boiling houses,” where the sacrifices of the people are boiled. 

 

Briefly, here we find a testimony to the Remnant.  These corners of the outer court are like testimonies to the corners of the field for the poor and needy (Leviticus 23:22), the corners of a man’s beard that could not be trimmed (Leviticus 19:27), and the corners of Yahshua’s garment, which when people touched they were healed (Matthew 9:20, 14:36; Numbers 15:37-40).  It is a remnant of the whole.

 

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(6.–I-Court)  Next, in Ezekiel 47:1, Ezekiel is led back into the inner court.  Here we read:

 

Then he brought me back to the door of the house; and behold, water was flowing from under the threshold of the house toward the east, for the house faced east.  And the water was flowing down from under, from the right side of the house, from south of the altar.

 

This “threshold of the house toward the east” is the threshold of the door of the temple per se.  The water comes from there, flows past the south side of the altar, and then obviously onward and under the closed inner east gate.  We can assume it is closed since they continually pass through the north gate.  Thus, you will notice in the diagram that this gate is closed.  Also, you can see the origin and course of this water, shown in blue.  Additionally, you will note what we have seen before—that the “right side” is indeed the south.  It is interesting that in Solomon’s temple, south of the altar was the vast bronze sea with its twelve bronze oxen supporting it.  Now the sea, or laver, is missing; and from that area the water is freely flowing out of the inner court, under the inner east gate, and under the outer east gate.  (Here again we see another evidence that this temple is not natural but spiritual.)

 

Description: Macintosh HD:Users:gary new:Desktop:temple_floorplan_07_no_line.jpg (7.–Out)  Finally, continuing with verse 2 of Ezekiel 47, we read the concluding leg of this journey where we go back to where we began, back to outside of the outer east gate:

 

He brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate by way of the gate that faces east.  And behold, water was trickling from the south side.

 

So, the water originating from the inner court now makes its exit under this outside eastern gate.  What we are getting ready to read is very much so key to understanding what this temple’s fulfillment truly is, and what is expected in that fulfillment.  Here now are verses 3-5 in a more literal translation, laid out measurement by measurement:

 

When the man went out toward the east with a line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he led me through the water, the waters of the soles. 

 

Again he measured a thousand and led me through the waters, the waters of the knees. 

 

Again he measured a thousand and led me through, the waters of the loins. 

 

Again he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not ford, for the water had risen, waters of swimming, a river that could not be forded.

 

When I began examining these chapters in Ezekiel, I had no idea what this temple was prophesying or representing.  It was far too complicated to understand.  And it was not until I considered these three verses that its representation became evident. 

 

In past writings, I have often considered this water to be the latter rain, and this can indeed still be relevant.  But there was one item here that could never be computed into that consideration—the four successive measurements of a thousand cubits each.  Finally, on this occasion I had to consider what these 4,000 cubits meant.  First, I wondered if maybe they were relative to upward higher dimensions, but immediately dismissed that prospect.  Then I asked the frank question that if they were in fact representations of four 1,000-year periods of time, where would they lead?

 

Hereupon, relative to the church that began 2,000 years ago, we see that 1,000 years of waters of the soles, and 1,000 years of waters of the knees, would take us to where we are today.  Well, that indeed made sense.  Essentially all translations of verse 3 say that it was water “to the ankles.”  But the Hebrew word they translate as “ankles” literally means “end.”  And the end is not the ankles, but instead the souls of the feet.  And we know that the souls or feet represent kingdom rights.  This is evidenced in that Abraham was given everything the souls of his feet had touched, and Yahshua washed the disciple’s feet.  And in Ezekiel 43:7, which we recently read, Yahweh declared, “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.”  Christianity did indeed receive the rights to the kingdom of heaven on earth.

 

To understand the waters of the knees, in 1 Kings 18:42 we see that Elijah prayed on Mount Carmel by crouching down and placing “his face between his knees.”  Prophetically and intercessorally, it is the same as Yahweh saying that He would place Moses in the cleft of the rock and he could not see (Exodus 33:22).  It is the same as Jeremiah being instructed to place a linen waistband in the cleft of the rock, it thereby becoming worthless (Jeremiah 13:4-7).  It is the same as wrapping the dead body of Christ in linen and placing it in the cleft of a rock (Luke 23:53).  Clearly, the face between the knees is the breach period of the Body of Christ, evidenced here with the waters of the knees.  So, the first 2,000 cubits of the waters of the souls/feet and the waters of the knees, are exactly the timing and experience of where we are today—the church receiving the kingdom rights, while hidden in the cleft of the rock.

 

Next, we see that the third-part 1,000 years of waters of the loins would take us through the Millennial Reign.  This would be the seventh day, even the day when the inner east gate could be opened.  First, let us note that this third part was also testified to by Elijah.  In verses 43-46 of 1 Kings 18, during the time his face was hidden in the cleft between his knees, seven times he sent his servant to look toward the sea.  Here again, just like the seven sprinklings of the blood or the seven-branched lampstand, this is Christianity.  After these seven times, the servant came back with the report of seeing a cloud the size of a man’s palm.  Thereupon, Elijah girded his loins and outran Ahab to Jezreel. 

 

We have noted that Christianity was supposed to get 3,000 years in order to fulfill the kingdom of heaven.  If they were successful, they would continue to make progress in this third part, gird up their loins in the waters of the loins, and succeed.  And as noted in previous writings, with this success they would have completed their labors and rested on the sabbath they have evidenced for 2,000 years—the eighth day, or Sunday.  The reason Christians call Sunday the sabbath is because, governmentally, if they could be successful with their 3,000 years, they would rest on the eighth day.  And as we see here, the seventh day would have been their waters of the loins, and their eighth day would have been their waters of swimming!  What are waters of swimming?  These are the waters where one is not connected to this earth anymore.  It is ascending alive, just as Yahshua did so on his fourth year as well.  His ministry was for three and a half years, and in His fourth year He did that which the Body of Christ would never do in their fourth 1,000-year period.  Remember, as went Christ, so goes the Body of Christ.  But, because they are earthly flesh men, they fail (e.g., lacking the power of resurrection); and Yahshua has to come and perform what they fail to accomplish.

 

It is most interesting that there is a Christian web page—which quite appropriately is chapter 7 from a book—that lays out the very thing we have been seeing here pertaining to Christianity’s foreshadowed success in their fourth-part sabbath.  Here, the author does a great job in describing the layout of the temple.  But, what he presents is still natural thinking, as he proposes that Ezekiel’s temple is the natural temple that will be built in the Millennial Reign.  Here is the link to the web page:  The Millennial Temple.”

 

In his work he lays out what he calls the “temple history,” and identifies what He calls the dwelling places of God.  Appropriately, there are seven of these—the seventh being Christianity’s eighth-day sabbath rest.  The first place is rightfully the Garden of Eden.  He then moves forward to the second place, which is 500 years of the tabernacle (1500 BC to 1000 BC).  The third place is 500 years of Solomon’s temple (1000 BC to 500 BC).  Fourth is 500 years of the second temple (500 BC to 0).  This now of course comes to the 2,000 years the church, the Body of Christ, which is the fifth (0 to 2000 AD).  The sixth dwelling place is the Millennial Reign, or what he thinks will be Ezekiel’s natural temple (2000 AD to 3000 AD).  And most interestingly, the seventh, the sabbath, which is in fact the eighth day of man, he calls the “Bride of Messiah.”  What he is saying is that the Body of Christ fulfills the Bride on what is actually the eighth day! 

 

That which he lays out here is truly the test of Carmel as to who will be the Bride and enter into immortality!  And if Ezekiel’s temple was fulfilled, not in the natural way as this man expects but in the spiritual, he would be right.  But the very fact that he is still looking to the natural, his hopes will fail, just as Christianity as a whole has failed. 

 

Let us briefly examine two more testimonies of this failure and its consequences.  We already see the great significance of Tabernacles for today.  Also, we have noted that Yahweh propounds contradiction riddles.  Regarding these riddles, in The Key To Their Understanding, Page 5, we find that the books of Samuel and Kings reveal or represent Christianity, while the books of Chronicles reveal or represent the two Remnant.  Keeping this in mind, we find that when Solomon’s temple, a type of the Millennial Reign, was dedicated appropriately during Tabernacles, in Christianity 1 Kings 8:66 the people were sent home “on the eighth day,” which would have been the twenty-second.  But in contrast, in Remnant 2 Chronicles 7:10 the people were sent home “on the twenty-third day of the seventh month,” after the eighth day.  Thus we see that in Christianity Kings the people did not participate in the great eighth day when Yahshua promised that from one’s “innermost being will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38).  But in contrast, in Remnant Chronicles the people did participate.  Therefore, evidenced here we find that on Christianity’s great eighth day, their sabbath, they would not enter into Yahweh’s culminating rest.  Rivers of living water (deep enough in which to swim) would not flow from them and they would have to depart from the temple on that eventful day.  And in contrast, the Remnant experience that great eighth day, and with time cut short, even early.

 

In like testimony, in Luke 13:6-9 Yahshua told a parable where a man had a fig tree, which is prophetic of Christianity, and for three years it brought forth no fruit.  These would be the fifth, sixth, and seventh days of man—the three-part period Christianity is supposed to receive.  He therefore instructed the gardener to cut it down.  However, instead the tree was to be fertilized and left alone for the next year—Christianity’s eighth-day sabbath rest.  But if it did not produce fruit the following year, it was to be cut down.  Though these two testimonies are slightly different in the way this is accounted, the outcome is the same—rejection and loss!

 

This is why today we so desperately need for Yahweh to have mercy, cut time short, and establish His true Remnant Bride now, take her to heaven, make her one flesh with Him, and return to rule and reign on this earth in the Millennium, the seventh day.

 

Thus we see that those 4,000 cubits of water flowing from the temple were a testimony of what the 4,000 years of the Body of Christ would be if they were successful.  This was the key I needed so as to be able to see what Ezekiel’s temple truly represented. With the highly unique testimony of this river—beginning in the temple inner court and flowing under the two closed east gates, increasing with increments of four units of 1,000 cubits each, flowing to the sea and healing it, and the trees continually producing fruit and the leaves for healing—it was quite obvious that this temple was not literal stones, but solely prophetic.  And let it be added here, if Christians were indeed successful with their 3,000 years, as well as their eighth-day sabbath rest, then the outcome would indeed be that the dead (the sea) would be healed, their fruit would be endless, and their leaves would bring healing.  BUT, they have failed for 2,000 years, and would continue to fail if given more time!  Therefore, Yahweh has to cut their time short from 3,000 years to 2,000 years, and perform on the seventh day, the loins day, what they would totally fail to accomplish—bringing forth the required fruits of the kingdom.

 

Do you see then that Ezekiel’s temple evidences what the Body of Christ, Christianity, would be IF they were successful?  This river, as well as other clear testimonies, most certainly attest to this.  It is written, “knowledge is easy to one who has understanding” (Proverb 14:6).  Having this understanding of what Ezekiel’s temple truly is, we can see the meaning of other like testimonies found in this temple, some of which we will now address. 

 

Let us begin with the very important testimony of the outer gate facing east being closed.  In Ezekiel 44:1-2 we read:

 

Then He brought me back by the way of the outer gate of the sanctuary, which faces the east; and it was shut.  Yahweh said to me, “This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, and no one shall enter by it, for Yahweh God of Israel has entered by it; therefore it shall be shut.”

 

Here again, we see a case of ignorance and blindness on the part of Christians (and Jews).  What did that passage just say?  Did it say that the gate would be closed until the Son of God would pass through it?  That is what Christians tell us, and they even make this claim regarding a gate the Roman’s built in a city that is Hagar.  That gate is closed in Ezekiel for one reason:  Yahweh God of Israel has entered by it”!  He never passed through that Roman gate.  And whatever gate He did pass through can NEVER be opened again!

 

How can Christians claim Yahshua is coming through that gate AFTER it is already closed?  They claim that He is coming again to go through it a second time (when it was not even built until 520 AD).  But, that passage clearly states:  “This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened”!  That natural gate in Jerusalem is an inaccuracy in many ways, like unto acclaimed Catholic relics of the actual cross upon which Yahshua was crucified.

 

So, what is Yahweh really telling us here?  And when and how will Yahshua return?  That true eastern gate was closed when God became flesh and Yahweh/Yahshua walked through it by coming to this earth as a man and fulfilling His role as Savior.  Remember, this entire temple is spiritual; and as we saw with the ark of the covenant, the east is death!  He came early and died for man and then left, leaving the kingdom of heaven in the hands of the Body of Christ; and that closed gate attests to Yahshua’s completed work as Savior.  “It is finished!”  It is closed!  Thus, Ezekiel’s temple, the work of the Body of Christ, was in fact initiated when 2,000 years/cubits ago He passed through that spiritual gate.  And, as Jews and Christians await the reopening of that Jerusalem eastern gate, they are in fact proposing re-crucifying the Son of God!

 

In further confirmation of this representation of the Body of Christ, on the seventh day in Ezekiel’s temple, who is it who passes through the inner eastern gate?  Is it Yahshua and His Bride?  No!  It is the Body of Christ.  In Ezekiel 46:12 we read:

 

When the prince provides a freewill offering, a burnt offering, or peace offerings as a freewill offering to Yahweh, the gate facing east shall be opened for him.  And he shall provide his burnt offering and his peace offerings as he does on the sabbath day.  Then he shall go out, and the gate shall be shut after he goes out. 

 

There is common agreement that for many reasons this prince who passes through the gate facing east is not Yahshua; but who he is is debated.  However, knowing what we now know, the answer to this question is clear and confirming.  Of course we know that Yahshua is identified as the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).  Also, in Daniel 9:25 He is identified as “Messiah the Prince.”  Now, if Christ came and thereupon was formed the Body of Christ; then is it not equally true that His coming as Prince means that the Body of the Prince also followed?  Very much so.  In fact, in Daniel 9:26, Yahshua’s followers are specifically called “the people of the Prince.”  Therefore, this explains who this mysterious prince is in Ezekiel.  He is an affirmation of this temple being the Body of Christ.  He is the Body of Christ.  Furthermore, we see in this sabbath entry that if they could be successful, they would receive the waters of the loins and enter the inner court through the inner east gate on the seventh day.  But they will not.  More will be said concerning this shortly.

 

One other like affirmation of the prince being the Body of Christ is seen in Ezekiel 44:3.  In verses 1-2, we see the second trip to the now-closed outer east gate.  While at that gate, verse 3 tells us regarding the prince:

 

 “As for the prince, he shall sit in it [the closed east gate that is a type of Yahshua’s coming and death] as prince to eat bread before Yahweh; he shall enter by way of the porch of the gate and shall go out by the same way.”

 

So, the prince is to eat his bread on the porch of the closed east gate that testifies to Yahshua’s coming to this earth and laying down His life.  Is that not yet another clear evidence as to the identification of the prince with the Prince—being the Body of Christ?  Very much so!  Eating that bread is the same as eating His flesh—identifying with His death.  And fittingly, the porch was on the inside of the temple (Ezekiel 40:7-9), inside this kingdom work.  (Another excellent and very thorough analysis of Ezekiel’s temple with many images, including this porch, can be seen here.  Though again, this is Christian commentary that is natural.)

 

Another evidence that Ezekiel’s temple is the Body of Christ is that the only piece of furniture in it is the altar.  Though it is not stated that the altar is bronze, that is the element from which other altars were made, and bronze is consistently the element that is identified with Christianity. 

 

Also, in Ezekiel 43:18-27 we see that the consecration of this altar is a 1 – 6 – 1 pattern process.  Day 1 is a bull offering.  Days 2-7 are four different animal offerings each day.  And on day 8 and onward they could make burnt and peace offerings, and Yahweh says, “I will accept you.”  This burnt offering on the eighth day is the same testimony of waters deep enough in which to swim—both an ascending to God.  Obviously, if Christianity had been successful, this would be their ascension on the eighth day, their sabbath, the waters deep enough in which to swim.

 

And though this altar itself is not identified as bronze, bronze does appear in yet another attesting manner.  In Ezekiel 40:3, at the very beginning of this series of chapters on the temple, we read the description of the man who would measure this Body of Christ temple:

 

. . . 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. 

 

So, bronze Christianity is attested at the very outset of this entire temple revelation.

 

Also, providing possible foreshadowing testimony that this temple would fail, is the first statement made relative to the east gate in Ezekiel 43:1-3:

 

Then he led me to the gate, the gate facing toward east; 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.  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.

 

The vision Ezekiel was speaking of is that found in Ezekiel 9 regarding the judgment of Jerusalem.  In verse 2 we read:

 

Behold, six men came from the direction of the upper gate which faces north, each with his shattering weapon in his hand; and among them was a certain man clothed in linen with a writing case at his loins. And they went in and stood beside the bronze altar.

 

And in verse 9 we read:

 

Then He said to me, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is very, very great, and the land is filled with blood and the city is full of perversion; for they say, ‘Yahweh has forsaken the land, and Yahweh does not see!’ ”

 

This is the vision Ezekiel was comparing in likeness with the temple vision.  And worthy to note here as well concerning the people of the Prince—Christians—Daniel 9:26 states:  “the people of the Prince who shall come will destroy the city [Jerusalem] and the sanctuary.”  They corrupt and destroy the kingdom of heaven.  Frankly, this is the very reason Yahweh must have mercy on Christianity and cut their days short, come on the seventh day, and fulfill what they have failed to perform.  Instead of the prince, the Body of Christ, entering the east inner gate, it must be the Prince of Peace Himself!

 

Further regarding this prince vs. Prince and these two east gates, let us make some very important examinations and obvious conclusions.  In contrast to previous temple altars that were supposedly approached from the south by a ramp (not specifically stated in the scriptures), it is clearly stated concerning this altar:  “its steps shall face the east.”  Also, we noted that in prior temples steps were forbidden:  “you shall not go up by steps to My altar” (Exodus 20:26).  So what are we seeing here?  First, the steps facing east in this temple are a certain testimony that the outcome will be death.  We see this in the outer gate facing east, as well as the east side of the ark of the covenant that receives the blood.  In contrast to ramps that face south, these steps in violation of Exodus 20:26 facing east attest to death. 

 

And most importantly, we have seen the testimony that because Yahshua came the first time as a lamb, He had the authority to come again as King.  Knowing then that east is death, how could the prince even succeed in passing through that inner east gate on the seventh day?  It would mean death for him!  The only one who has paid the price so as to have the authority to pass through that gate on the sabbath is the One who laid His life down at the outer east gate.  By laying His life down at the outer east gate and defeating death, He alone can pass through the inner east gate and establish His Millennial kingdom.  Thus instead of the Body of Christ passing through the seventh-day sabbath gate and dying, Immanuel will come, pass through that second gate, and bring much needed life!

 

By way of further enlightening instruction concerning the priests who ministered to Yahweh, we find more confirming evidence concerning the Body of Christ.  In Ezekiel 44:20 we read:  “Also they shall not shave their heads, yet they shall not let their locks grow long; they shall only trim the hair of their heads.”  This is the same instruction for men found in 1 Corinthians 11:14.  Also, noted in the verse 15, hair is glory; and as Yahweh clearly spoke to me on June 18, 1994, He will not give His glory to the masculine Body of Christ, but to the feminine Bride.  This we see testified here in that these priests were forbidden to “let their locks grow long.”

 

Concluding this analysis of Ezekiel’s temple as the Body of Christ, let us look at one final and very clear statement specifically provided by the Holy Spirit.  We have repeatedly seen that the holy place and the holy of holies respectively foreshadow the 2,000 years of Christianity and the thousand years of the Millennial Reign of Immanuel and the Bride.  We have also seen that as has been the fate of the previous temples, so Ezekiel’s temple—Christianity—must be torn down.  And, this is precisely the message we find stated in Hebrews 9:1-9.

 

Here, the holy of holies is called the “holy place,” and the holy place is called the “outer tabernacle.”  Using the identifying terms we are familiar with in this writing, Hebrews 9:8-9 states:

 

The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy of holies has not yet been manifested while the holy place is still standing, which is a parable for the present time.

 

Do you understand what the Holy Spirit is revealing here?  The way into the Millennial Reign—the holy of holies—cannot be manifested until Christianity—the holy place, even Ezekiel’s temple—is still standing.  Christianity is clearly identified here as the “parable for the present time.”  That “present time” was most certainly at the time this passage was written, and has continued all the way to where we are today.  Again, this is clearly Christianity.  And as we have seen with regard to Ezekiel’s temple, and now here explicitly stated in Hebrews 9:8-9, Christianity has to be torn down, be cut short, so that the way into the Millennial Reign can be manifested.

 

Repeating what was said earlier, today, we desperately need for Yahweh to have mercy upon us, cut time short, and establish His true Remnant Bride now, take her to heaven, make her one flesh with Him, and return to rule and reign on this earth in the Millennium, the seventh day.  This vital fulfillment is most wonderfully attested to in Ezekiel 43:1-5 where our temple journey began.  There we read:

 

Then he [a man whose appearance was like bronze] led me [Ezekiel] to the gate, the gate facing toward the east; 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.  . . .  And the glory of Yahweh came into the house by the way of the gate facing toward the east.  And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of Yahweh filled the house.

 

You will recall that these were the first two steps in the list for our journey:  (1) going to the east gate, and (2) being lifted up by the Spirit and brought into the inner court.  In the following new diagram we see both of these set forth:  the glory of Yahweh coming through the east gate and filling the house, as well as Ezekiel being caught up by the Spirit and taken into the inner court.

 

Description: Macintosh HD:Users:gary new:Desktop:temple_floorplan_08_no_line.jpg This is the only time in all of these journeys in and out of the temple, where it was stated that Ezekiel was caught up by the Spirit.  Apart from (3.–Out) when he was “brought back” the same way, all the others were by walking from place to place.  One must therefore ask:  What specifically was Yahweh attesting to in this?

 

We have now gained sufficient understanding to know the answer to this question.  First, we clearly see that the glory of Yahweh passing through the east gate, and that gate being closed as a result, was fulfilled when Yahshua came to this earth and laid His life down for man. 

 

But remember, He came early, before the time He was to reign, and the east gate was closed—it was fulfilled!  So, when He comes again, when will that be?  Of course on the seventh-day sabbath.  And, in Ezekiel’s temple, when is the inner eastern gate to be opened?  Again, on the same sabbath.  Therefore, entering into the inner court from the east is a testimony of the Millennial Reign.  And what must take place at the outset of that reign?  The Bride is caught up into heaven, and returns to rule and reign with Immanuel.  Do you see that that is what is being attested here?  The only time Ezekiel is caught up by the Spirit is when he is transported from the outer eastern gate representing Yahshua’s coming, and into the inner court representing the Millennial Reign.  This looks to that day when the Bride will be caught up into heaven, be transformed, and return to rule and reign with Immanuel (even as Ezekiel was brought back to that gate).  If it had been His time to reign when He came 2,000 years ago, this is what would have taken place.  But He was early, and the fulfillment has to wait until the seventh day.  This is our hope today.

 

As a final word regarding this entire writing, of course there is much more that could be written about these all-important, impacting, and highly effectual and determining trinities.  But through this examination you should have a clear idea of how entirely relevant they are.  Again, knowing that Yahweh God Himself is a trinity, there is no doubt that His works and order would follow in the same pattern.  Today, we can be most glad that He is opening our eyes to see these truths, and can thereby take hope that He is indeed having mercy, is indeed cutting time short, and will in fact establish His Elijah, send the essential latter rain, and prepare the way for Immanuel to return to this earth to set up His kingdom.  Come quickly, Immanuel!

 

 

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