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RETURN TO SYLLABUS
EZEKIEL 43 AND 44
LESSON #37
THE RETURN OF THE GLORY OF GOD
v MEMORY VERSE: ZECARIAH 13:1
v WE DISCOVERED IN EZE 10 THAT THE GLORY OF GODDEPARTED FROM SOLOMONS TEMPLE BECAUSE OF IDOLS INSIDE THE TEMPLE. THE GLORY OF THEPRESENCE OF GOD HAS NOT DWELT IN A BUILDING SINCE THEN.
v NOW WE DISCOVER IN EZE 43 THAT THE GLORY OF GODWILL RETURN TO THE JEWISH TEMPLE IN THE MILLENIAL KINGDOM.
v READ EZE 43:1-5 (EZE 44:4-8) THE GLORY RETURN S
Ø THE GLORY OF GOD RETURN S TO THE TEMPLETHROUGH THE EASTERN GATE OF THE TEMPLE.
§ THIS IS NOT THE EASTERNGATE TO THE CITY.
· JESUS CHRIST ENTERED THE EASTERNGATE TO THE CITY ON PALM SUNDAY, ONE WEEK BEFORE THE RESURRECTION.
· JESUS CHRIST WILL AGAIN ENTER THEEASTERN GATE OF THE CITY AT HIS SECOND COMING.
Ø THE GLORY OF GOD RETURN S TO THE MILLENNIALTEMPLE BECAUSE OF THE PRESENCE OF JESUS CHRIST.
§ JESUS CHRIST HAS COME TORULE HIS KINGDOM. HE WILL BE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
v READ EZE 43:6-12 THE THRONE OF THE KING
Ø THE LORD SAYS THAT HE WILL DWELL IN THE MIDSTOF HIS PEOPLE FOREVER. (7)
§ WHAT CONTRAST DOES EZEKIELEMPHASIZE BETWEEN THE TEMPLE OF EZEKIELS DAY AND THE MILLENNIAL TEMPLE?
· REMEMBER THAT THE GLORY OF GODLEFT HIS PEOPLE BECAUSE OF SIN AND IDOLATRY. GODS PRESENCE CANNOT DWELL WHERE THEREIS SIN.
· IN THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM, THEJEWS WILL BE BORN AGAIN. THEIR SINS WILL BE FORGIVEN. THEREFORE, CHRISTS PRESENCEWILL BE WITH THEM FOREVER. HE WILL NEVER LEAVE THEIR PRESENCE AGAIN.
§ IN EUROPE KINGS ANDEMPERORS BUILT CASTLES IN THE MOUNTAINS HIGH ABOVE THE PEOPLE THEY RULED.
· EVEN THOUGH OUR LORD IS FARSUPERIOR AND WORTHY TO BE ELEVATED HIGH ABOVE HIS PEOPLE, THE BIBLE SAYS HE WILL DWELL INTHE MIDST OF HIS PEOPLE.
¨ HIS PEOPLE WILL SEE AND WORSHIP HIM FACE TOFACE.
¨ HE WILL LIVE ON THE SAME LEVEL AS HIS PEOPLE.
¨ HE WILL BE ACCESSIBLE AND APPROACHABLE.
Ø THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM AND THE LAW (11-12)
§ GOD DIVIDED ALL HUMANHISTORY INTO 7 PERIODS OF TIME. EACH OF THESE 7 PERIODS ALTERNATES BETWEEN A PERIOD OF LAWAND A PERIOD OF GRACE, A PERIOD OF LAW AND A PERIOD OF GRACE, ETC. FOR EXAMPLE:
· 1.THE AGE OF SIMPLICITY
¨ IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN GOD MADE A COVENANTWITH MAN (CALLED THE EDENIC COVENANT GEN 1:28-29 GEN 2:15-19)
¨ THIS WAS A PERIOD OF LAW BECAUSE MANWAS TOLD NOT TO EAT OF THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL.
· 2.THE AGE OF CONSCIENCE
¨ BECAUSE ADAM AND EVE BROKE THE FIRSTCOVENANT, GOD MADE A NEW COVENANT WITH THEM, (CALLED THE ADAMIC COVENANT IN GEN 3:14-21).
¨ THIS WAS A PERIOD OF GRACE WHERE MANSCONSCIENCE WAS TO GUIDE HIS ACTIONS.
· 3.THE AGE OF SELF-GOVERNMENT
¨ BECAUSE MANS CONSCIENCE DID NOT DO AGOOD JOB OF GUIDING MANS ACTIONS, SIN BECAME PREDOMINATE IN SOCIETY. GOD DESTROYEDTHE WORLD IN THE FLOOD OF NOAHS DAY. THEN GOD MADE A NEW COVENANT WITH MAN, (CALLEDTHE NOAHIC COVENANT IN GEN 8:21-22 GEN9:1-17).
¨ THIS WAS A PERIOD OF LAW WHERE MANSACTIONS WERE TO BE GOVERNED AND CONTROLLED BY NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS.
· 4.THE AGE OF PROMISE
¨ BECAUSE HUMAN GOVERNMENTS ARE NEVER PERFECT,THEY TOO FAIL TO CONTROL MANS TENDENCY TO SIN. THEREFORE, GOD MADE A NEW COVENANTWITH ABRAHAM, (CALLED THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT IN GEN 12, 13, 15, 17, AND 22).
¨ THIS WAS A PERIOD OF GRACE WHERE GODMADE HIS PROMISES TO ABRAHAM UNCONDITIONAL. WHETHER ABRAHAM OBEYED GOD OR NOT, GOD WOULDBLESS HIM ANYWAY.
· 5.THE AGE OF LAW
¨ BECAUSE GODS OVERWHELMING LOVE FAILEDTO PERSUADE MAN TO OBEDIENCE, GOD MADE A NEW COVENANT WITH MOSES, (CALLED THE MOSAICCOVENANT IN EXO 19-31).
Ø THIS WAS A STRICT AND DETAILED SET OF RULESTHAT WERE TO SHOW MAN GODS STANDARDS.
¨ THIS WAS A PERIOD OF LAW WHERE GODSBLESSINGS DEPENDED ON HOW WELL MAN KEPT THE LAW.
Ø THIS PERIOD COVERS MOST OF THE OLD TESTAMENTFROM THE BOOK OF EXODUS TO MATTHEW.
· 6.THE AGE OF GRACE
¨ BECAUSE MAN WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE LAW, GODMADE A NEW COVENANT THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST, (CALLED THE NEW COVENANTIN HEB 8:7-10).
¨ THIS IS A PERIOD OF GRACE AND THEPERIOD IN WHICH WE LIVE TODAY.
Ø THIS PERIOD WILL LAST UNTIL THE SECOND COMINGOF JESUS CHRIST.
· 7.THE AGE OF MESSIAH
¨ THIS IS THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM OF JESUSCHRIST ON EARTH FOR 1,000 YEARS.
Ø GOD WILL DEMONSTRATE WHAT IT WILL BE LIKE TOLIVE WITH JESUS CHRIST AS KING AND HOW ALL THE PREVIOUS AGES FAILED TO MAKE MAN RIGHTEOUS.
¨ THIS WILL BE A PERIOD OF LAW BECAUSETHE BIBLE SAYS CHRIST WILL RULE WITH A ROD OF IRON. (REV 2:27)
Ø THE LAW FOR THE KINGDOM PERIOD CAN BE FOUNDIN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT IN MAT 5-7.
§ WITH THIS UNDERSTANDING OFTHE DIFFERENT PERIODS OF HISTORY, NOTICE EZE 43:12.
· THIS VERSE MENTIONS THE LAWOF THE HOUSE. EACH PERIOD OF HISTORY HAS CERTAIN RULES THAT GOVERN MANSACTIONS IN RELATIONSHIP TO GOD. GOD ESTABLISHED THESE RULES FOR EACH PERIOD OF TIME IN THECOVENANT THAT COVERS THAT PERIOD OF TIME.
¨ THEREFORE, EZEKIEL SAYS THAT THE LAW OFTHE HOUSE IN THE MILLENNIUM IS HOLINESS. CHRIST RULING IN THE MIDST OF HIS PEOPLE,USING A SYSTEM OF STRICT LAW, MEDIATED BY HIS GRACE AND MERCY WILL PRODUCE A HOLY SOCIETY.
v EZE 43:13-18 THE AWARENESS OF SIN IN THE MILLENNIUM
Ø THIS PASSAGE GIVES US DETAILS ABOUT THECONSTRUCTION OF THE ALTAR FOR BURNT OFFERINGS.
Ø HOW DOES THE PRESENCE OF THE GLORY OF GODMAKE PEOPLE IN THE MILLENNIUM AWARE OF THEIR SIN?
§ THE PRESENCE OF THE GLORYOF GOD.
§ THE PERSONAL PRESENCE OFJESUS CHRIST.
§ A STRICT LEGAL SYSTEM THATEMPHASIZES HOLINESS.
§ SEVERE PUNISHMENT FORBREAKING CHRISTS LAW:
· DEATH FOR THE REBELLIOUSINDIVIDUAL.
· NO RAIN FOR REBELLIOUS NATIONS.
§ THE DIMENSIONS OF THE ALTAROF BURNT OFFERING IN THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM IS MUCH LARGER THAN THE ALTAR OF BURNTOFFERING IN THE OLD TESTAMENT TABERNACLE OR IN SOLOMONS TEMPLE. THEREFORE, THE LARGESIZE OF THIS ALTAR AND THE ANIMAL SACRIFICES WILL MAKE EVERYONE AWARE OF CHRISTSSACRIFICE FOR SIN:
· THE HEIGHT OF THE ALTAR IN THETABERNACLE WAS 4 ½ FEET HIGH.
· THE HEIGHT OF THE ALTAR INSOLOMONS TEMPLE WAS 15 FEET HIGH.
· THE HEIGHT OF THE ALTAR IN THEMILLENNIAL KINGDOM WILL BE 20 FEET HIGH (17 ½ FEET ABOVE THE GROUND).
¨ MAN WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MISS THE GOSPELMESSAGE OF WHAT THE CRUCIFIXION COST CHRIST, AND HOW MUCH MAN NEEDS A PERSONALRELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST.
v EZE 43:19-27 DETAILS CONCERNING ANIMAL SACRIFICES
Ø WE HAVE DISCUSSED HOW THESE ANIMAL SACRIFICESARE DONE AS A MEMORIAL OF CHRISTS SACRIFICE.
§ THE MEANING OF THE ANIMALSACRIFICES:
· 1. THE BURNT OFFERING THATREPRESENTS MANS FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD THROUGH THE OFFERING OF A BLOOD SACRIFICE. (LEV1) (EZE 40, 43, 45)
· 2. THE SIN OFFERING THATREPRESENTS THE SACRIFICE OF BLOOD THAT COVERS MANS SIN NATURE. (LEV 4) (EZE 40, 43)
· 3. THE TRESPASS OFFERING THATREPRESENTS THE SACRIFICE OF BLOOD THAT COVERS MANS PERSONAL ACTS OF SIN. (LEV 5)(EZE 40)
· 4. THE PEACE OFFERING THATREPRESENTS THE PEACE MAN HAS WITH GOD THROUGH THE BLOOD SACRIFICE. (LEV 3) (EZE 43, 45)
· 5. THE MEAL OFFERING THATREPRESENTS THE COMANIONSHIP MAN HAS WITH GOD THROUGH SACRIFICE. (LEV 2) (EZE 45)
v READ EZE 44:1-3 THE GATE OF THE PRINCE
Ø THERE IS MUCH DISCUSSION CONCERNING THEIDENTITY OF THE PRINCE.
§ SOME SAY IT IS JESUS CHRISTBECAUSE THE BIBLE CALLS CHRIST THE PRINCE OF PEACE.
· HOWEVER, THIS COULD NOT BE CHRISTBECAUSE EZEKIEL TELLS US THIS PRINCE OFFERS A SACRIFICE FOR SIN. (EZE 45 AND 46)
¨ BECAUSE JESUS NEVER SINNED, HE NEVER OFFEREDA SACRIFICE FOR HIMSELF.
Ø YES, HE OFFERED HIS LIFE AS A SACRIFICE FORSIN ON THE CROSS, BUT THAT WAS NOT FOR HIS OWN SIN. CHRISTS SACRIFICE ON THE CROSSWAS FOR OUR SINS.
§ PROBABLY THIS PRINCE WHOHAS A SPECIAL POSITION IN THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM IS DAVID.
· EZEKIEL TELLS US THAT THE EASTERNGATE OF THE TEMPLE WILL BE SHUT. WHEN CHRIST ENTERS INTO THIS NEW TEMPLE, THE GATE WILL BEPERMANENTLY CLOSED TO TRAFFIC. HOWEVER, THE PRINCE, PROBABLY DAVID, IS THE ONLY PERSON WHOWILL BE ABLE TO USE THIS GATE.
¨ THE SIGNIFICANCE IS THAT ONCE CHRIST DWELLSWITH HIS PEOPLE IN THE MILLENNIUM, HE WILL NEVER DEPART FROM THEM.
v EZE 44:9-31 THEROLE OF THE PRIESTS IN THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM
Ø READ EZE 44:9
§ NO STRANGER ORUNCIRCUMSISED IN HEART OR FLESH WILL BE ALLOWED TO MINISTER IN THE HOLY TEMPLE.
· WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BECIRCUMCISED IN HEART?
¨ READ ROM 2:29
Ø CIRCUMCISION OF THE FLESH WAS A SIGN THAT ONEWAS A JEW. HOWEVER, CIRCUMCISION OF THE FLESH DID NOT CHANGE A MANS HEART.
Ø CIRCUMCISION OF THE HEART IS THE CUTTING AWAYOF THE FLESH NATURE OF THE HEART. IT IS DYING TO YOUR SELF WILL AND SELFISH DESIRES. IT ISBEING BORN AGAIN.
§ BEING BORN AGAIN CHANGES APERSONS HEART AND MAKES HIM TRULY RIGHTEOUS.
· ACCORDING TO EZE 44:9, ONLY BORNAGAIN JEWS WILL BE PERMITTED TO BE THE PRIESTS IN THE JEWISH TEMPLE.
¨ THEY WILL SERVE THE PEOPLE (13)
¨ THEY WILL MINISTER LAW TO THE PEOPLE (14)
¨ ONLY THE FAITHFUL LEVITES WHO ARE THE SONS OFFAITHFUL ZADOC WILL MINISTER IN WORSHIP TO GOD. (15-16)
Ø READ EZE 44:17-18
§ THIS IS A VERY CURIOUSDETAIL BUT VERY SIGNIFICANT.
· THE PRIESTS MUST WEAR COTTON ANDNOT WOOL. WHY?
¨ WOOL WILL CAUSE THEM TO SWEAT.
Ø WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE?
§ MAN DOES NOT APPROACH GODBY THE SWEAT OF HIS BROW, (IN HIS OWN STRENGTH), OR THE WORKS OF HIS OWN HANDS.
§ MAN CAN ONLY APPROACH GODBY THE SWEAT OF CHRISTS BROW. REMEMBER THE DROPS OF BLOOD THAT CAME FROM HIS BROW INTHE GARDEN BEFORE THE CRUCIFIXION?
Ø THE PRIESTS OF THE SONS OF ZADOK WILL TEACHTHE PEOPLE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT IS HOLY AND WHAT IS NOT. (23)
v APPLICATION:
Ø WE HAVE LEARNED HOW THE MILLENNIUM WILL BE APERIOD OF STRICT LAW. IT WILL BE A TIME OF HOLINESS. SIN AND DISOBEDIENCE WILL NOT BETOLERATED.
§ DOES THAT MEAN MAN WILL NOTSIN IN THE MILLENNIUM?
· SIN AND EVIL COME FROM THREESOURCES TODAY.
¨ THE DEVIL, THE WORLD, AND THE FLESH.
· IN THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM, THEDEVIL WILL BE BOUND FOR 1000 YEARS. THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE WORLD WILL BE PERFECT.THEREFORE, THE ONLY SOURCE OF SIN LEFT WILL BE THE FLESH NATURE OF MAN.
· BECAUSE HUMAN BEINGS WILL STILLHAVE THEIR FLESH NATURE TO DEAL WITH, WHEN A PERSON SINS, THERE WILL BE AN ANIMALSACRIFICED FOR THAT SIN. HOWEVER, THE PERSON MUST ALSO REPENT OF THE SIN BEFORE THE ANIMALIS SACRIFICED.
§ BECAUSE OF THESE VERYSTRICT MEASURES, SIN AND CRIME WILL BE AT A MINIMUM. PEACE AND LOVE WILL ABOUND.
Ø IT IS INTERESTING THAT WE HAVE THE SAMEPOTENTIAL TODAY IN THIS AGE OF GRACE.
§ WE CAN BE BORN AGAIN ANDHAVE OUR HEARTS CHANGED (CIRCUMJCISED).
§ WE HAVE CHRISTSPRESENCE IN US.
§ WE HAVE THE GLORY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT GUIDING US.
§ WE HAVE JESUSAUTHORITY OVER SATANIC ATTACK.
§ WE CAN REPENT OF OUR SINSAND OBTAIN FORGIVENESS THROUGH CHRISTS SACRIFICE.
§ WE HAVE GODS WORDTEACHING US RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Ø BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL THESE ADVANTAGES TODAY,WE CAN HAVE A MAXIMUM OF PEACE AND LOVE IN OUR FAMILIES AND IN OUR CHRUCH SIMILAR TO THEENVIRONMENT OF THE MILLENNIUM. THINK ABOUT IT!
HOMEWORK
EZEKIEL 45 AND 46
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.v APPLICATION FOR EZE 43 AND 44
Ø WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING ASPECTS OF CHRISTIANVICTORY ARE LACKING IN YOUR LIFE TODAY THAT PREVENTS YOU FROM EXPERIENCING TRUE PEACE ANDLOVE?
§ YOUR HEART HAS NOT BEENCHANGED BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT BORN AGAIN.
§ YOU DO NOT LISTEN TO THEGUIDANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
§ YOU DO NOT TAKE AUTHORITYIN PRAYER OVER THE ATTACKS OF SATAN.
§ YOU DO NOT REPENT OF SINAND ASK GOD TO FORGIVE YOU.
§ YOU DO NOT KNOW GODSWORD, THE BIBLE, WELL ENOUGH.
Ø WHAT WILL YOU DO THIS WEEK TO HELP YOU REMEDYTHIS LACK IN YOUR LIFE?
v PREPARATION FOR EZE 45 AND 46
Ø READ THESE TWO CHAPTERS.
§ IN EZE 45:9-12, THE PROPHETTALKS ABOUT BUSINESS PRACTICES. WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS INCLUDED IN THESE CHAPTERS ABOUTTHE TEMPLE AND MILLENNIAL WORSHIP?
§ READ THE FOLLOWINGSCRIPTURES. THEN ANSWER THIS QUESTION, WHAT IS THE INHERITANCE OF THE BELIEVER IN JESUSCHRIST?
· MAT 19:29
· MAT 25:34
· ACT 26:18
· EPH 1:11
· HEB 6:12
· HEB 9:15
· 1PET 1:3-4
· REV 21:7
v MEMORY VERSE: COL 3:24
