Apocalypse Sets Stage for Wonder
Seen a good movie lately? Don’t they all show how bad something gets before things turn around and become wonderful, setting the stage for good out of the chaos? There was prelude which occurred right before the vision God gave to Ezekiel (Ek 40-48). We see this prelude through the eyes of other prophets. Let’s explore that today.
The vision given to Ezekiel occurred in the twenty-fifth year of his captivity and the fourteenth year since the fall of Jerusalem (Ek 40:1). Therefore, enough time had passed which allowed Ezekiel to really think about his peoples’ future and what was possibly in store for them. God answered his thoughts by giving him a vision of a future temple which will be much different from any previous temple Ezekiel was familiar with. It is also interesting that this occurred in a month that would have had Ezekiel thinking about the temple in Jerusalem. This verse tells us his vision occurred on the tenth day of the first month of the year. This was either the first month of the Jewish calendar which would represent the day the lamb would be set aside for Passover to ensure it was without blemish and acceptable (Ex 12:1-6). Or, it would have been the seventh month of the Jewish calendar (and first month of the Babylonian calendar) and represent the normal Day of Atonement when the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies of the temple to appease for the sins of the people (Lv 16; 23:27). Either of these circumstances would have Ezekiel thinking about the temple.
Yet, when God first brought him to Jerusalem to see the temple, Ezekiel did not recognize where he was (Ek 40:2). He was on a high mountain which was unfamiliar to him. The vision and purpose of this high mountain had been given to Micah and Isaiah, where they state that in the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains and will be exalted above the hills and all nations will stream to it (Mi 4:1: Is 2:2). Isaiah further stated that every valley would be raised up and every mountain and hill would be made low, the rough ground will become level, and the rugged places made into a plain (Is 40:4). John the Baptist stated that this reference referred to the time of their coming Messiah (Lk 3:5). It is likely this will occur when the Great Earthquake happens as Christ touches down on the Mount of Olives (Zc 14:4-5; Rv 16:18).
There are three tectonic plates surrounding Jerusalem: Arabian plate, Sinai plate, and Gaza plate. In addition, there are three major plates which meet at the Afar Triangle in Somalia: the African plate, the Indian plate, and the Arabian plate. Then, there is a rift which travels from the Afar Triangle, up the Red Sea, through the Sea of Aqaba and up the Jordan basin. Then the Palmyra fold belt extends from the upper Jordan basin to the Euphrates River. The great earthquake which occurs will then release the tension from between all these junctures and create multiple, and huge, land transformations. The Mount of Olives will split in two (Zc 14:4), Jerusalem will split into three parts (Rv 16:19), and likely the Euphrates River will be channeled into the Jordan River making the waters of Dead Sea viable as it receives more fresh water into it and a channel is made for water to exit the Dead Sea into the Sea of Aqaba. In addition, water will flow out from Jerusalem (where the temple will be built) into the Dead Sea and around an escarpment into the Mediterranean Sea (Zc 14:8). This escarpment will form due to the earthquake which will push the area of Jerusalem and westward up and make a plain eastward. This escarpment will be from Geba, about five miles north of Jerusalem, to Rimmon, about thirty-five miles south of Jerusalem.
It is, therefore, understandable why Ezekiel did not recognize this mountain. God was showing him the future when God’s Millennial Kingdom will be formed, and Jerusalem will be situated on the highest mountain on the planet (Zc 14:10; Is 2:2; Mi 4:1). So, our coming Messiah will reign on high, both literally and figuratively. He will reign from the highest point on the planet and be King of kings—sovereign overall. This is going to be a glorious time. Don’t miss it!
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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens