Reading:  Ezekiel 46-48

Posted:  September 19, 2014

Continuing the thought from yesterday about when this temple should exist, whether immediately following the exile, or sometime in the future:   Today's reading resembles the vision of John in Revelation 22, where he saw a throne room with the river of the water of life flowing from the throne room.    This, however is not that city, because the city described in Rev 22 has no temple....nor would it need one, because the entire place is holy.  There is no need for most of what occurs at the earthly temple, such as sacrifice and preparation of sacrifice.   The sacrifices in heaven will be of a different nature.   The 24 elders that surround the throne continually lay down their crowns and cry "Holy"!   The sacrifice in heaven will be one of praise and adulation.   To consider that we would bring in an earthly lamb and kill it for any reason is ridiculous.   This would be happening in the presence of God himself, who has already identified himself as the "Lamb of God".

Could it be that this city should have been marked out centuries ago?   And, if it had, would earthquake have opened up the underground streams to make a river flow from temple mount down to the dead sea?   Is it possible that God never intended for the Dead Sea to remain dead this long?    I have been to Jerusalem, and seen the temple mount.   When Herod was enlarging it, they had to bridge over a small stream that flows underneath the city.   Using a series of arches, they accomplished the task.   The stream is too small to be the one spoken of, but Israel is situated on a fault line, and God could easily have made that stream into a constant flow of fresh water.   

I'm not qualified to say one way or the other, but I think it demands more study.   This idea could really change the way we interpret the last 2,000 years.    It will not, however change the story line.   Jesus comes in the fullness of time, and graces us with His presence.   His sacrifice at the temple that is in existence at that time is counted at worthy for all time for the forgiveness of sin.   No further sacrifice for sin can ever be made.

Perhaps what we see is symbolic.  For instance, the stream starts small but becomes very large, and blesses everything that it touches.   That could stand for Christianity.  Maybe the 12 trees bearing

fruit are 12 regions or kingdoms that have existed...I don't know..

Chapter 46, beginning with verse 16:   The prince may give a part of what is his to his children, and it becomes theirs forever.   However, if he gives it to his servants, it will eventually revert back to the prince.    In John 15 Jesus says "I no longer call you servants, because servants do not know the Master's business, instead I call you friends".   The implication is that we are closer than servants.   We are ingrafted branches, we are now children of God, part of His family and eligible for his inheritance.   One chapter earlier, in John 14:27 Jesus says "my peace I give to you.  I do not give as the world gives."   That's right, the world gives and takes away.  But Jesus gives and it stays with us.   We are His children, and His peace is our inheritance.  And it will not be taken from us.

In Chapter 48 the aliens living in the land who have children are to be considered "native-born Israelite's".   I think this is instructive, because it tells us that God does allow people to be "in grafted" which is exactly what you and I are.   We have been "adopted" by God, and therefore in His eyes, we are spiritually Israelite's.   That doesn't mean anything on the kingdom of earth, but it will be enormously significant in heaven.    It may also help explain the connection we feel to Israel, and our deep need to support that country.

Reading Ezekiel has left us with some unanswered questions, but that is part of being a disciple.  As we read and discuss we will continue to grow in our understanding and our practice.

Blessings,

PR