This past Sunday was Palm Sunday or as some refer to it as the day of Christ’s Triumphal Entry. It was a day of fulfilled prophecy (Zc 9:9) and Jesus stated that if the people and the children didn’t praise him at this time, the very rocks would cry out (Lk 19:40; Hk 2:11). So the expectation was set, but what happened? It seemed to all fizzle once Jesus reached the temple on his donkey ride. This is where the real hype should have escalated. The temple was where kings were anointed and proclaimed (2Ki 11:12). Why did the hype all fizzle out? What greeted Jesus at the temple? Bleating of sheep and goats, the mooing of cattle, the chaos of people buying and selling. No one at the temple was looking for a king. The Jewish leaders were nowhere to be seen.

The people who yelled and sang “Hosanna,” were not saying it because of who Jesus was, but because they thought Rome was now going to be defeated. Their oppressors would be vanquished, and they would have peace. The word “hosanna” was a cry meaning, “save us.” Yet, when Jesus entered the temple grounds, he knew they needed a deeper salvation than being freed from Roman oppression. Their temple was not ready to receive him as king. They were not spiritually minded at all! All around him he saw greed and extortion. The people had to exchange their money for the temple shekel and the exchange rates were exorbitant. The merchants here were not here for helping travelers to obtain their sacrifice, but to extort money from them for that sacrifice. And who controlled all of this? The Jewish leaders who were the ultimate ones getting rich off the people’s misery. They, too, were not really interested in helping their citizens worship God, but they saw the people beneath them and a means to make money from them. They were using the Law to justify their extortion of the people. Helping the people experience God in their lives was the farthest thing from their minds.

Also, the outer area was called the Court of Gentiles. This was the only place a non-Jew could worship God. But how could they? There were people, animals, vendor stands, all creating so much noise and chaos that they could not have an encounter with God. It seemed the Jewish leaders wanted Gentile proselytes, not so they could encounter God, but for the sake of extorting them as well. The temple had evolved into a place where God could not be worshipped. No wonder this caused Jesus’ ire against them.

Jesus knew immediately that they were not ready for a king. They definitely needed saving, but not from Rome. Or that was not their immediate need. They needed true salvation: being saved from their sin. Jesus knew he needed to work on their hearts before anything else would or could be meaningful. Therefore, he drove out the merchants, moneychangers, and animals and reprimanded the Jewish leaders for their greed and unrepentant hearts. Did they heed or try to understand what Jesus was doing? No. They asked what authority he had to do what he did (Mk 11:28). That means they had no understanding of who Jesus was and only had animosity for him. They had no repentant heart and dared anyone to question their motives. Even though they knew their motives were not pure, they believed their traditions were more important than the reasons behind why their traditions had been established. They were meeting the “letter of the Law” but not the “spirit of the Law.” Jesus knew that, and that is why he was ultimately arrested and crucified and not crowned king. He knew they first needed redemption, so he willingly submitted himself to that end.

What about us today? Are we really worshipping God or are we going through the motions? Were you excited about celebrating Palm Sunday or were you anxious for the service to be over so you could do what you really wanted to do for the rest of the day? Were you, like the Jewish leaders, going through the motions to appease your conscious trying to convince yourself that you are doing your best? Or are you realizing that you first need to get your heart in line with God so that your actions will be a result of you following God’s will, not a façade to give the appearance you are on God’s side?

Let’s take the time this season to fully understand why Jesus cleansed the temple. And to realize that he wants to do the same for us today. After all, we are now God’s temple (1Co 6:19). Have we polluted it and filled it with things that should not be there? Are we trying to justify what we have filled it with rather than asking  God what he wants us to have there?

Let’s take the time and make our temples holy. It is only then that God can use us in the way he desires. Let’s also make our temple a house of prayer and praise to the One True God. Then, and only then, can Jesus be on the throne of our hearts.

____________

Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

It seems it always helps when you experience something new to also have something familiar with which to reference. This is what Ezekiel experienced. In previous posts we discovered that his thoughts were on the temple since he was in captivity in Babylon. God gave him a vision of a new temple that would be established in the future. While many things were new and different, it had a feeling of familiarity at the same time.

The size of the temple complex is something to consider. If you take a football field and put three end-to-end both in width and length, that would be about the size of it. That’s quite the size, isn’t it? However, the size of the temple itself didn’t change much from that of previous temples. The size of the entire tabernacle could almost fit inside the temple structure of Solomon’s temple, although the entire complex was much larger. Yet, the size of Solomon’s temple was basically equivalent to that of Herod’s temple and of the temple in Ezekiel’s vision. The size of the entire complex of each temple did increase with each successive temple.

The tabernacle, Solomon’s temple, and Herod’s temple had a bronze altar, a laver, a menorah, a table of shewbread, and an altar of incense. Herod’s temple did not have the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat as those were lost in Ezekiel’s day when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the temple. The temple in Ezekiel’s vision had only the bronze altar and the altar of incense. We discussed this briefly previously. All the other elements had been fulfilled by Christ: the laver represents the word of God which cleanses from sin (Ep 5:26). Christ is the living word of God (Jn 1:1) and is physically present. The menorah represents Christ as the light of the world (Jn 9:5), the table of shewbread represents Christ as the bread of life (Jn 6:35), the ark of the covenant represents Christ’s glory dwelling in the Holy of Holies (Ek 43:7), and the mercy seat represents Christ as the propitiation for sin and is already completed (1Jn 2:2). The bronze altar represents that atonement is still needed for those born, and the altar of incense represents the prayers of thanksgiving by those who have accepted Christ’s atonement for one’s sins and who is the hope of their future.

The bronze altar is arranged in a tier fashion and has steps leading up its eastern side. It is interesting that in Solomon’s temple this was a ramp instead of steps and was located on the southern side of the altar. This altar is quite large, being 10.5 feet high with its top being 21 ft sq. It would seem the priests will have to be quite strong to carry these sacrifices up these steps and get them close to the center of the altar.

It seems that the same sacrifices as previously made will now continue: burnt offerings, peace (fellowship) offerings, sin offerings, trespass (guilt) offerings, grain (meat) offerings. Why is this? Sacrifices are now needed for three basic reasons: (1) because a theocracy is re-established where sin must be dealt with when part of the sinless Trinity is physically present, (2) it seems death no longer occurs as there is no additional resurrection of the righteous dead mentioned in scripture, (3) sacrifices were always symbolic for they never took away sin and faith has always been required. All of these reasons help those born during this time to see their need for accepting Christ their King as their Savior and the Hope for their future.

It also seems that four of the seven feasts typically celebrated each year (Lv 23) will still be celebrated during this time: Pesach (Passover), Matzah (Unleavened Bread), Bikkurim (Firstfruit), and Sukkot (Tabernacles). While these have been fulfilled, these are still needed because these feasts represent the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, as well as his literal dwelling with his people. The other three are already fulfilled and are not needed: Shavuot (Pentecost) – the giving of the Holy Spirit; Rosh Hashanah (Trumpets) – God remembering his covenant with Israel (Tribulation Period), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) – God forgiving Israel of their sins (at Christ’s return).

As you can see, there will be many similar things that have been reshaped and slightly different. What is familiar has been reshaped for the needs of the new age. These things will help those who are already bound to their Messiah, their King, a new way to celebrate and worship him. These things will help those who need to make a decision about their King a way to understand their need to accept him. What is new will also be familiar.

This is going to be an amazing time. I hope you are making plans to not miss it. Something so wonderful should not be missed.

____________

Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

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.

____________

Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

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!

____________

Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

God tells Ezekiel to prophesy against the mountains of Israel (Ek 6:1). That seems like a strange thing to do, but God had a purpose. The mountains were where all the high places, i.e., the altars to other gods, were placed and worshiped. This practice went all the way back to King Solomon. Despite what the good king Solomon had done and the magnificent temple he had built for the worship of God, he also built these altars to other gods. Why would he do such a thing? Scripture tells us he had 700 wives and 300 concubines (1Ki 11:3). It was the custom in that day for another kingdom to give the daughter of their ruler as a bride to the ruler of another kingdom to seal the bond between their two peoples. Solomon built a huge empire, and he obviously used this custom to his advantage—and did it quite often. Yet, his wives began to complain because they were now in a place with different customs, and they missed their own rituals and customs. Rather than teaching them his ways and customs, and about his God, he let them have their way and he made for them altars to their various gods (1Ki 11:4-9). As you can imagine, the people’s attitude became, “if the king thinks such practices are allowable, then we can do the same.” At first, it was a mixture of worshipping God and these other idols. Yet, over time, the worship of God waned, and the worship of these idols increased. Why? Well, worshipping God had rules about refraining from certain practices. Yet, worshipping these false gods appeased their base instincts. They could let themselves go, have sex with women who were not their wives, have sex with other men, get intoxicated with wine and lust, and let go of all inhibitions. Of course, this led to all sorts of other problems, but the people did not see, or refused to see, the connection of their issues with their rejection of God. By the time of Ezekiel, some 300 years later, the temple was in much disrepair while the high places were still in full swing.

We can see in scripture the slow demise of the temple. Under king Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, Shishak, king of Egypt, attacked Jerusalem and took treasures from the temple back to Egypt (1Ki .14:25). Later, king Asa of Judah took all the remaining silver and gold from the temple’s treasury to Ben-Hadad, king of Aram in Damascus, to bribe him to go to war against Israel (1Ki 15:18). Later, king Ahaz also took silver and gold from the temple’s treasury, and may have taken gold off the temple itself, to bribe the king of Assyria to attack Damascus (2Ki 16:8). He also had a duplicate altar like he saw in Damascus put in place of the bronze altar in Jerusalem and put the bronze altar, originally in front of the temple’s entrance facing east, on the north side of the temple (2Ki 16:10-14). It seems he took the bronze from the lavers Solomon had made and the twelve-oxen base of the giant laver to make this altar (2Ki 16:17). Ahaz even dismantled some of the structures attached to the temple so as not to offend the king of Assyria (2Ki 16:18). He also took the furnishings of the temple and cut them in pieces, shut the temple doors, and set up altars at every street corner in Jerusalem (2Ch 28:24). King Hezekiah took the silver in the temple treasury and stripped gold off the temple doors and doorposts and gave it to the king of Assyria trying to bribe him to withdraw from Jerusalem (2Ki 18:16). As you can see, all the gold was already depleted from the temple’s treasury and so he resorted to more drastic measures to obtain the gold the king of Assyria demanded. Hezekiah’s son, Manasseh, built altars to other gods within the temple courtyard, put Asherah poles (i.e., phallic symbols) within the temple, had an image placed within the temple, and had living quarters constructed within the temple courtyard for the male shrine prostitutes which were now part of their worship rituals (2Ki 21:4-7, 23:7; 2Ch 33:7). So, you can see the temple lost its significance to the people and in the end was used for something totally against God, whereas it was originally built as something beautiful in which the people could worship God.

God stated he was going to put an end to these practices in a severe way. God would have king Nebuchadnezzar destroy all these high places, but it would not end there. Many would die by the sword. Those who did not die by the sword, would die by plague. When there are so many deaths at once, the other people cannot attend to bodies properly, so they breed plagues. Many will flee seeking to save their lives, but God states the plague would follow them. After all, animals and rodents are the ones who carry the plagues, and they are wherever the people are. Many would flee to Jerusalem, as cities had walls for protection, but God states this will not be a protection for them, but a death trap. Those inside Jerusalem would die from starvation because Nebuchadnezzar would surround the city and not let anyone in or out. Food supplies would dwindle, Jerusalem’s economy would collapse (Ek 7:12-13). Even the gold of the wealthy would become useless (Ek 7:19).

While we may chide them for their actions, can we really do that considering our own actions? They neglected their temple and worship of God. Are we not guilty of the same? Today, his temple is our bodies, as that is where the Holy Spirit dwells (1Co 3:16). Are we making it a pure place for him or are we crowding him out with other things. Yes, I think we have a lot to learn from Ezekiel and his message to his people. Let’s heed the message for ourselves as well. We can accomplish so much more with a guilt-free conscience.

____________

Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens