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Ezekiel 40-47 : When Does This Take Place
In Ezekiel, chapters 40-47, is this a future setup of what has to happen with Israel as nation in the future? What is the period?
This passage, as you know, describes a temple and temple worship that has obviously not yet existed. Several details from this passage seem to place it in the future kingdom age. This is called the thousand year reign in Revelation 20 and it refers to the time when Jesus Christ returns to the earth and rules on it for a thousand years. It is the period after the time of tribulation and before the destruction of the earth and heavens and the creation of a new heaven and earth. Here are some reasons I place it in the kingdom age.
- The temple described here is larger and greater than any previous temple--even grander than the temple of Solomon. It must belong to a grand age like the kingdom age.
- It is a time of peace on the earth. According to Ezekiel 47:22-23 [22] And it shall come to pass, that ye shall divide it by lot for an inheritance unto you, and to the strangers that sojourn among you, which shall beget children among you: and they shall be unto you as born in the country among the children of Israel; they shall have inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel.
[23] And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourneth, there shall ye give him his inheritance, saith the Lord GOD.
See All..., the strangers (foreigners) that are born among the Israelites shall have an inheritance with Israel among the tribes of Israel. - A prominent person in this passage is called the prince (Ezekiel 44:3It is for the prince; the prince, he shall sit in it to eat bread before the LORD; he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate, and shall go out by the way of the same.
See All...; 45:7
See All..., 16-17, 22; 46:2
See All..., 4, 8, 10, 12, 16-18; 48:21-22
See All...). Ezekiel is writing about the same time as Daniel who speaks of "Messiah the Prince" (Daniel 9:25Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
See All...). This refers to Jesus Christ and He is most likely the prince in Ezekiel. Christ is called the "Prince of Peace" in Isaiah 9:6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
See All..., the "Prince of life" in Acts 3:15And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
See All..., and "the prince of the kings of the earth" in Revelation 1:5And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
See All.... Acts 5:31Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
See All... says that God has exalted Him "with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour." The thousand year reign is when Christ rules on the earth (see also Psalm 2:6-12 [6] Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. [7] I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. [8] Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. [9] Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. [10] Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. [11] Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. [12] Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
See All...). This is evidently the time of Ezekiel 40-48. - We know that it is not referring to the time of the new earth (which occurs after the great white throne judgment) because of the prominence of the sin offering in this passage. The sin offering is mentioned 14 times in Ezekiel 40-48. But God says that righteousness dwells in the new heavens and the new earth (2 Peter 3:13Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
See All...). That is, there will be no sin in the new earth. However, we know from other passages that there will still be sin during the kingdom age. Those born during this time will still have a sin nature and will even rebel against Christ when Satan is loosed for a little season at the end of the thousand years (Revelation 20:7-9 [7] And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, [8] And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. [9] And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
See All...).