I'm curious to hear some amillenial and/or preterist perspectives on the significance of the Temple Ezekiel prophesied.
I have a general inclination to see it as symbolic of the church, but haven't studied it much.
Can I get a survey of perspectives people have?
Ezekiel's Temple
Ezekiel's Temple
Pastor Josh Coles, Aletheia Christian Fellowship
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Re: Ezekiel's Temple
I am not very smart. Which specific passages are you talking about?anochria wrote:I'm curious to hear some amillenial and/or preterist perspectives on the significance of the Temple Ezekiel prophesied.
I have a general inclination to see it as symbolic of the church, but haven't studied it much.
Can I get a survey of perspectives people have?
Re: Ezekiel's Temple
Compare the overall measurements with those given in 1 Kings. Ezekial was describing the temple that Solomon built. Since preterists sincerely believe that "all things written" were fulfilled before the generation passed away that was standing there listening to Jesus, I do not see the temple having any significance beyond its destruction in 70 AD.anochria wrote:I'm curious to hear some amillenial and/or preterist perspectives on the significance of the Temple Ezekiel prophesied.
I have a general inclination to see it as symbolic of the church, but haven't studied it much.
Can I get a survey of perspectives people have?
preteristmouse
Re: Ezekiel's Temple
My understanding was that the specifications for the temple in Ezekiel differ both from Solomon's temple and Herod's temple.
Also, why would Ezekiel's prophecy about Solomon's Temple after the fact? In other words, what was the fulfillment of his prophecy?
Also, why would Ezekiel's prophecy about Solomon's Temple after the fact? In other words, what was the fulfillment of his prophecy?
Pastor Josh Coles, Aletheia Christian Fellowship
Visit the Aletheia Discussion Forums
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Re: Ezekiel's Temple
IMO, Ezekiel 40:4 clearly shows that the next 8 chapters are specifically addressed to Israel. Like He did through many of the prophets, God uses the graphic description of the things most holy to the Jews to cause them to repent and follow His law.anochria wrote:My understanding was that the specifications for the temple in Ezekiel differ both from Solomon's temple and Herod's temple.
Also, why would Ezekiel's prophecy about Solomon's Temple after the fact? In other words, what was the fulfillment of his prophecy?
preteristmouse
Last edited by mtymousie on Thu Jan 29, 2009 5:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Ezekiel's Temple
I am pretty sure you mean Ezekiel 40:4 and the following eight chapters.
I believe that the temple described by Ezekiel would have been built, had the Jews in exile exhibited complete repentance for their former sins (see Ezek.43:10-11). As it turns out, there were only a small remnant among the exiles that even cared enough to return to Jerusalem from Babylon, suggesting a deficiency in the zeal for which God was looking. Therefore, the Jews who ended up returning were limited in human and financial resources. As a result, the temple that actually got built was not the temple that could have been, which probably never will be built (Ezekiel never actually predicts that his temple will someday be built. He simply describes the temple as he saw it in the vision). It is not the first time that Israel failed to receive the blessings that God intended for them, due to their failure to meet the conditions.
On the other hand, Josh, I agree that there is intentional symbolism of the church here (just as there was in the pattern given to Moses for the tabernacle). That symbolism serves its purpose with or without the plans for the physical temple actually being implemented. Some parts of the vision (e.g., the ever-growing river proceeding from the temple threshold, in chapter 47, which corresponds with Joel 3:18, Zechariah 14:8 and John 7:37-39). Discovering the meaning of much of the symbolism is something of a challenge, however.
I believe that the temple described by Ezekiel would have been built, had the Jews in exile exhibited complete repentance for their former sins (see Ezek.43:10-11). As it turns out, there were only a small remnant among the exiles that even cared enough to return to Jerusalem from Babylon, suggesting a deficiency in the zeal for which God was looking. Therefore, the Jews who ended up returning were limited in human and financial resources. As a result, the temple that actually got built was not the temple that could have been, which probably never will be built (Ezekiel never actually predicts that his temple will someday be built. He simply describes the temple as he saw it in the vision). It is not the first time that Israel failed to receive the blessings that God intended for them, due to their failure to meet the conditions.
On the other hand, Josh, I agree that there is intentional symbolism of the church here (just as there was in the pattern given to Moses for the tabernacle). That symbolism serves its purpose with or without the plans for the physical temple actually being implemented. Some parts of the vision (e.g., the ever-growing river proceeding from the temple threshold, in chapter 47, which corresponds with Joel 3:18, Zechariah 14:8 and John 7:37-39). Discovering the meaning of much of the symbolism is something of a challenge, however.
Re: Ezekiel's Temple
His temple with Jesus CHrist as the cornerstone and us Jew and Gentile believers as the lively stones - THE CHURCH! Shhhhhhh, don't tell the dispensationalists that though; they get rather upset that there return to the types and shadows in their 1,000 year millennial kingdom has already been fulfilled in Christ...shhhhhh.anochria wrote:My understanding was that the specifications for the temple in Ezekiel differ both from Solomon's temple and Herod's temple.
Also, why would Ezekiel's prophecy about Solomon's Temple after the fact? In other words, what was the fulfillment of his prophecy?