This is the Most Holy Place

The Lord begins to tell the house of Israel what he wants for their future. They are twenty five years into captivity and Ezekiel has a vision of a temple, much larger, much more magnificent than anything they had seen. And in this temple there is provision for singers, musicians, and in Ezekiel 41:4 “the most holy place”. The Lord has, and still does desire to be there with his people. And while Ezekiel is told in Ezekiel 40:4 “tell all that you are seeing to the house of Israel.”, this temple has never been built. While some are looking for the third temple, Ezekiels temple to be built, we as Christians, have accepted the final sacrifice, Jesus Christ crucified, his blood for us and his resurrection from the dead opening for us in Hebrews 4:16 “Therefore let us approach with confidence to the throne of grace, in order that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need”.

Tell All That You Are Seeing

Ezekiel 40:1–4
After the siege and burning and destruction of the temple and all of Jerusalem, after the people were scattered in exile, after the years of false prophets saying Israel would be restored quickly, they are well into their seventy years of exile in Ezekiel 40 :1 “In the twenty-fifth year of our exile … the hand of Yahweh was on me”. The Lord now brought Ezekiel, “in visions … to the land of Israel … on a very high mountain, and on it … a city” in Ezekiel 40:2. And as the Lord has always done, he begins to show things to come. However, at the return with Ezra the second temple was not built to Ezekiel’s vision because “According to the great sages of Israel, it is a positive commandment for the people of Israel to rebuild the Holy Temple conforming to the dimensions, characteristics and attributes of the Second Temple”.¹

So, the command to them in Haggai 1:1–11 to build God’s house would be understood by them to be according to the design in I Chron 28:19

Ezekiel’s temple, has not been built yet. And it will be built in Israel, but some believe, not on the current temple site in Jerusalem because Ezekiel doesn’t name Jerusalem or reference the former temple. What we can say is, “the structure of the Third Temple will necessitate vast topographical changes in the environs of the Jerusalem. This Temple will differ drastically in size from its predecessors”.¹

We can also say that the Lord sent this messenger to tell “the house of Israel” in Ezekiel 40:3 “a man … the appearance of bronze” and he began to speak and measure the city and said in Ezekiel 40:4 “you were brought here in order to show you this; tell all that you are seeing to the house of Israel”. Some respected scholars of our day dismiss this vision as vivid metaphors only meant to encourage the exiles, others believe this was only a conditional possibility of blessing if Israel and Judah would repent and follow the Lord (which expired and will never be fulfilled). It is clear this is not the millennial temple because Jesus was the final sacrifice so there is no further need for animal sacrifice. So, it remains to be seen whether the Lord will bring to pass this plan for the third temple.

There Was a Wall on the Outside of the Temple

Ezekiel 40:5–16

The Outer Courtyard There Were Chambers

Ezekiel 40:17–27

There Were Porticos All The Way Around

Ezekiel 40:28–37

There Were Chambers for Singers

Ezekiel 40:38–49
Every area of ministry from the high priest to the keepers of the temple have their designated tasks and their designated chambers. These times of gathering were coordinated in their procession and were often for many participants. These all required food, clothing, and a place to meet the biological needs we all have. And, from the time of David on, there was always this inclusion of the singers, the musicians because these times were not always simply solemn sacrifice, but also times of great praise as in

2 Chronicles 5:13 And it was the primary duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard with one voice, to praise and give thanks to Yahweh. And when a sound from the trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments of song was raised to Yahweh—for he is good, because his loyal love is everlasting—then the house, the house of Yahweh, was filled with a cloud.