Good things usually take work; sort of a prelude to wonderment, if you will. God was showing Ezekiel the finished product when he was taken to the future Jerusalem. In our last post, we looked at some of the physical changes that had to occur before the temple Ezekiel saw was put into place. Today, let’s look at other preparations needed for this temple.

The prophet Daniel gives us one clue to when the preparation for this temple and the Promised Kingdom in which it will be utilized will occur. He seems to state that from the end of what is called The Tribulation Period to the beginning of this Promised Kingdom is a period of 45 days (Dn 12:11-13). There has been much speculation what this is supposed to mean, but it would make sense that there is a need for a time of preparation, or a prelude as I called it earlier. So, what will occur during this 45-day period. A lot actually:

·       The angels will be judged (1Co 6:3; Mt 25:41)

·       The survivors will be judged (Mt 25:31-46)

·       Assignments for the saints will be set in motion (Dn 12:13; Jr 30:9; Mt 19:28)

·       Nations, property, and laws will be established for the next 1000 years (Zc 14:17-21)

·       The temple is built (Ek 43:6-7; Zc 6:12-13).

The first question is whether 45 days is enough time to do all of that? Well, the simple answer is God can do anything. Some may think that a lame answer. Yet, it is true. However, let’s think about this. The number of people assisting are numerous, plus you will have angels helping as well. All these things will likely occur simultaneously. So, yes, I think even with our limited reasoning and understanding, 45 days is enough time to get all these things accomplished.

Who all will be part of the Millennium and experience all these wonderful things? The beginning of the Millennium will be almost like the antithesis of the earth after The Receiving (also called the Rapture). At this time, all those who have not accepted Christ as their Savior are removed. Two groups then enter the Millennium. One group is composed of those who were alive at the time of Christ’s return and who had accepted him as the hope for their future by placing their faith in him. They enter the Millennium in their current human bodies.

The other group is composed of those who are part of what is known as the first resurrection. These enter the Millennium in glorified bodies and will consist of the following: (1) those who returned with Christ when he came to destroy the Antichrist and bind Satan (Rv 19:14); these are considered the church, i.e., those from Christ’s resurrection until The Receiving who put their faith in him; (2) those who put their faith in Christ, their Messiah, prior to his resurrection (Dn 12:1-1); these are resurrected after Christ’s return and before the start of his reign (Rv 20:4); (3) those martyred for their faith during the Tribulation period; these also are resurrected after Christ’s return and before the start of his reign (Rv 20:4).

Can we know for sure that this will be a literal temple and Ezekiel’s vision not just allegory? I think there are at least two reasons we need to consider before we just dismiss this and ignore it.

1.      The detail provided about the temple is so great. It sort of reminds us of the detail God gave to Moses about the tabernacle. We know that was a real structure. Why give such detail if the whole thing is just allegory? Detail seems to imply actuality.

2.      The reason for this vision of the temple implies actuality. Remember, Ezekiel’s thoughts at this time were about the temple in Jerusalem, the sacrifices no longer being performed, and what all of that meant for himself and his people going forward. God is showing Ezekiel the future to give him hope. Hope gives purpose and resolve. Hope must be something tangible. Allegory can never provide hope because it is not tangible. God was giving Ezekiel hope. Therefore, the temple was something tangible.

Now, if this is tangible and real, the next question is why. Why would there need to be a temple with sacrifices? After all, didn’t Christ abolish the need for this? We have covered this previously, but I think it is worth repeating here. The sacrificial system will be a demonstration of what death means and how it creates separation. In one sense it is a visual aid—a very graphic one—and will show the seriousness of the consequence of one’s disobedience. As we stated above, the first resurrection brought those dead, and who had put their faith in Christ their Messiah, back to life. There is no record of another resurrection of the righteous, so death of the righteous is likely abolished during this time. A theocracy is re-established. Since Christ will be physically present, there is a need for cleansing for worship of a holy God. The sacrificial system demonstrates this need for holiness and purity in the presence of someone holy (Ek 43:26; Zc 13:1). This will also fulfil God’s promise to Israel that they as a nation will lead the world in worship of the one true God.

This temple is also different from what the Jews had up until this time. I’m sure this was not lost on Ezekiel who had trained to be a priest, but who never served because of his captivity. Also, certain Jewish feasts are observed, but not all. Passover (Pesach), Unleavened Bread (Matzah), and Firstfruit (Bikkurim) will be held to represent the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, now their King. The altar for sacrifices in front of the temple is still present to help the people see what their King did for them by taking their sins onto himself and accepting their punishment, i.e., death. They will have a visual representation of this. Passover will also be a celebration, not of God gathering them from Egypt into their Promised Land, but from gathering Jew and Israeli from all countries of the globe back to Israel and into his Promised Kingdom.

Inside the temple there is only the altar of incense, which represents the prayers of the people going up to their King. Coals from the altar of judgment are placed on the altar of incense to represent prayers of thanksgiving to their King for the payment he made in their place. The laver is gone, because their King is the one who purifies and is present with them. The menorah is gone, because their King is the light of the world and is present with them. The table of shewbread is gone, because their King is the bread of life and is present with them. The ark of the covenant and mercy seat are gone because their King now dwells in the Holy of Holies and is physically present with them. Celebrating the feast of tabernacles, or Sukkot, will be a celebration of their Messiah, their King, now physically dwelling with them. So, you see, there are many similarities to what the Jews once had, but also key significant differences. These differences are what is key and the answer to our question of why.

Does this get you excited? I hope it does. It will be a wonderful time—a time more wonderful than any current words can express. Prepare yourself. Put your faith in the one who will be the only one who can accomplish such things for us, the one who will become the King of kings, and still be the hope of our future.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

Before we talk and contract Jews and Gentiles in the future, we need to understand some of the differences in futuristic views held by many. The next era following our present time on this earth has been termed the Tribulation Period. There are four main world views of apocalyptic literature, like the book of Revelation, and then there are three main theological views of the future concerning the Millennium (or the earthly reign of Christ), although there are minor variations of these as well.

There are some who view the content of Revelation strictly from a historical perspective: all, or most, of the prophecies in the book have been completely fulfilled in the past. Proponents of this tenant believe all the descriptions in Revelation are referring to the downfall of the Roman Empire during and after the time of the apostle John, the book’s author.

Others are known as preterists and also believe that all, or most, of the prophecies in Revelation have occurred in the past but that they were prophesying the destruction of Jerusalem. Therefore, all the prophecies had to be fulfilled by the end of 70 AD.

Then, there are others who believe the majority of the prophecies within the book of Revelation should be interpreted more from an allegorical perspective. The prophecies and visions which John wrote about were not literal but communicate a moral or theological lesson about God and how he works in the lives of Christians and non-Christians in all phases of earth’s history. This is what makes the book relevant for each and every person no matter in which period of earth’s history they live.

The fourth category is known as the futurist view. People with this view believe that all the events from chapter four onward are in the future, describe events that will occur after the Rapture of the Church and during the Tribulation and Great Tribulation Periods, and beyond. The prophecies and visions the apostle John saw and spoke about are to be taken literally as much as possible, except where it is evident that the apostle is speaking metaphorically. For example, when John states that Satan was bound in the Abyss for one-thousand years with chains so he could not escape, the futurists’ view is that the removal of Satan from the earth for one-thousand years would be literal but the chain would be metaphorical in that God will prevent Satan from being released. He is chained in the sense he cannot escape but not in the sense that God was using a physical chain that would restrain him for this prescribed period of earth’s history. Or, at least, this is not literal in our view of a chain as we know that could not hold a spiritual being; yet, God was using something which John interpreted as a chain or the concept of such.

There are three major views of the one-thousand-year reign of Christ on earth in the future, known as the Millennium: Premillennialism, Amillennialism, and Postmillennialism. The reason for the Millennium determines one’s main view of its importance and if it will be literal and actually occur. I believe the Premillennial viewpoint is the more accurate one for the following three reasons:

1. The Premillennial view allows the Bible to be broken into dispensations or periods of time where God deals with mankind for a specific purpose. Most of these dispensations have been about Israel as prophesied by the Feasts of Israel; yet, only four of these feasts have been fulfilled (Pesach or Passover – death of Christ; Matzah or Feast of Unleavened Bread – Christ’s sinless death and burial; Feast of Bikkurim or First Fruits – Christ’s resurrection; Shavuot or Pentacost – Holy Spirit uniting all believers, both Jew and Gentile, into his fold).  Since the current age is about God bringing Gentiles into his fold, there must be a time when He works with Israel as a nation again to fulfill the remaining feasts (Rosh Hashanah or Feast of Trumpets, Yom Kippur or Day of Atonement, and Sukkot or Feast of Tabernacles).  The Tribulation is a time when He can begin doing that once all current Christians have been taken out of the picture. God can then remember his covenant, which is the theme of the original Rosh Hashanah (Feast of Trumpets): to ask God to remember His covenant with Israel. These points would speak against the view of Amillennialism which does not even believe in the existence of a Millennium or in a special period of time that is any different from the current time in which one lives.

2. The Rapture is an event that allows all current Christians to be removed from the earth to allow God to focus on Israel, as well as the remaining Gentiles on earth. This event also fits well into an analogy of a Jewish bridegroom coming for his bride: she did not know when he was coming so she had to be prepared at all times; he went to where she was and brought her back to his home. A shout or call (e.g. by shofar) would be made to alert the bride and her attendants (SS 3:11). Christ’s church has been equated to, or alluded to, the bride of Christ who has been set apart for Him (2Co 11:2, Ep 5:22-23; Hb 10:10; Ja 4:4; Rv 19:14). These points would speak against both Amillennialism and Postmillennialism as both do not believe in a Rapture or not one that occurs before the Tribulation starts. If the Tribulation is about God remembering His covenant with Israel, then the Rapture could not occur after the Tribulation begins.

3. Because Satan took the world from mankind and is currently the ruler of it (Mt 4:8-9), Christ must take the current world back, re-establish his theocratic kingdom and reverse the curse that resulted from Adam’s rebellion so Christ can show He alone is sovereign. Therefore, the Millennium is a key period of future history that must occur. This point would also speak against Amillennialism since a literal Millennium would be necessary to prove Christ’s sovereignty over Satan. It also speaks against Postmillennialism as it would be necessary for Christ to reign on the earth with its curse removed to prove His sovereignty.

The time in which everyone currently lives will continue until the full number of Gentiles have accepted Christ as their Savior (Ro 11:25). That time will end at what is known as the Rapture or being “caught up” where believers receive a glorified body (Jn 14:1-3; 1Co 15:51-53; Pp 3:20-21; 1Th 4:17; 1Jn 3:1-2). This will occur before the Antichrist appears and the Tribulation Period begins (2Th 2:2-3). It appears the time shortly before the Antichrist comes on the scene will be marked by teachers teaching false doctrine that will lead many astray (2Pt 2:1-3); however, it seems that the beginning of false teachings will occur even prior to the Rapture – even in the present day (Ju 1:4). These “teachers” will have no scruples (Ju 1:8), and their ungodly acts will only escalate after the Rapture and prior to Christ’s second coming (Ju 1:15). Any of these peddlers of false information could be labeled “antichrist” (1Jn 2:22; 2Jn 1:7) because their teachings are against Christ. However, scriptures indicate that there will be one individual who will culminate the spirit of deceit and lead the world in rebellion against God (2Th 2:9-10; 1Jn 2:18). Once the Rapture occurs, there will no longer be any Christians on the earth for a time. Even the restraint of the Holy Spirit will be removed (2Th 2:7).

These events sets Israel up for God to work with them as a nation again and for every nation to be evangelized and make a final decision of their relationship with Christ. You don’t have to wait to do that. You can do that now. Have you? Do you want to? Just talk to him. He’s waiting – always waiting – just for you.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens