Ezekiel 41:1-26
Q.1. What description was Ezekiel given for this new Temple? Why was there no veil mentioned in relation to the Holy Place? – (Ezk.41:1-14)
Ezekiel was given the exact measurements of all the walls, which are a rod of six large cubits [3.2 m.] thick (Ezk.41:1). The width of the entrance into the Most Holy Place was described (Ezk.41:2). Continuing on, Ezekiel was shown the Most Holy Place which measured 20 cubits [10.67 m.] square (Ezk.41:4). The priests’ quarters were separated from the Temple by a 20 cubit [10.67 m.] paved inner courtyard (Ezk.41:10). The priests’ quarters were 1 rod [3.2 m.] thick with thirty side-rooms constructed on each floor of the three stories (Ezk.41:5-6). The buildings were terraced – Each floor was wider than the one below it as it rose higher. A spiral staircase at the side of the temple led from floor to floor. (Ezk.41:7). What is described, is an architectural marvel, with decorations of palm trees and cherubim with two faces (Ezk.41:18-20). The Temple towers over the rest on a raised terrace, one rod higher than all around (Ezk.41:8). Ezekiel was also given descriptions of rooms in a substantial building west of the sanctuary that was 90 by 70 cubits [48 metres x 37.3 metres] with walls 8 ¾ feet [2 ½ metres] thick (Ezk.41:9-12). The Temple itself was 100 cubits [53.3 metres] square (Ezk.41:13-15). Earlier sanctuaries were rectangular. The Holy Place and Holy of Holies, housing the Ark of the Covenant, was 9 m square. This makes the Millennial Temple almost double in size, with King Jesus as its centre.COMPARISONS: the Tabernacle tent in the wilderness had been 13.6 m. x 4.6 m. with an enclosure of 46 m. x 23 m. Solomon’s Temple was about 55 m. x 27 ½ m. and – Solomon overlaid the whole house with gold … inside and out (1 Kgs.6:21-22); The Post-exilic Temple was built on the same site but lacked Solomon’s adjoining stunning palace, all of which took the Queen of Sheba’s breath away (c.f. 1 Kgs.10:4-7; Ezra 3:10-13; 6:14-15); King Herod beautified this Temple and extended it over 15 hectares [36 acres] on the Temple Mount. The Holy Place was about 18 m. x 9 m. and Holy of Holies housing the Ark of the Covenant was 9 m square. This was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. (c.f. Lk.21:5-6).
Q.2. How is the interior of the Temple decorated? What is the only furniture in the Temple? What is its purpose? – (Ezk.41:15-26)
What was described by the Heavenly guide, suggests that the Temple will be grand, and exquisitely beautified with ornate emblems of life – palm trees and cherubim (Ezk.41:15-20). In the Holy Place there is a wooden altar that stands 1.6 m. high and is just over 1 m. square [over eight times the size of the original one]. It is the only piece of furniture in or around the temple. The Heavenly guide declared that it is – the table before the Lord (Ezk.41:22). This corresponds to a New Testament name given to the Lord’s Supper (c.f. 1 Cor.10:21). Later Ezekiel was told by the Lord that the Davidic prince will – … eat bread before the Lord … (Ezk.44:3). The Lord also promised the priests of Zadok that – they will enter My Holy Place. They will come near to My table to serve Me and do what I charge them to do (Ezk.44:16). It may also be for burning incense to produce fragrance in the Temple – you shall make an altar as a place for burning incense; you shall make it of acacia wood … This is the table that is before the Lord (c.f. Ex.30:1; Ezk.41:22). We as believers have access to the Lord Jesus, since the veil of the temple was torn when Jesus died (c.f. Mt.27:41). There is no Ark of the Covenant, because King Jesus has made the Old Covenant obsolete since He entered the Heavenly Temple – with His own blood … once for all having obtained eternal redemption (c.f. Heb.9:12 c.f. Heb.8:1-2, 6-7, 13). He will be the Bread of Life (c.f. Jn.6:35, 48), and the Light of the World (Jn.8:12), eliminating the need for the table of showbread and the light of the candelabras.