Part 19 (2/2)
follows. ”Until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high.” This is the same future outpouring of the Spirit of G.o.d. Up to now it has not been.
The Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost came to form the body of Christ, but this outpouring in connection with Israel has another significance.
We read, therefore, in the above pa.s.sage what will happen when this outpouring has come to pa.s.s. ”And the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest. Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.
And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and a.s.surance forever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” It is a description of the Kingdom to come, when Israel has found rest and when all the earth will receive the blessing, when righteousness will have given peace, lasting peace to the world.
[35] See ”The Prophet Joel,” by A. C. G., where this interesting and important chapter is explained in full.
[Ill.u.s.tration: GROUND PLAN OF EZEKIEL'S TEMPLE]
A. The Temple House, xli.
B. Altar of Burnt Offering, xliii:13.
C. Inner Court.
D. Gates to Inner Court, xl:28.
E. Separate Place, vli:10.
F. Hinder Building, xli:12.
G. Priest's Kitchens, xlvi:19.
H. Chambers for Priests, xlii:1.
I. Chambers, xl:44.
K. People's Kitchen, xlvi:21-24.
L. Gates into Outer Court, xl:6.
M. Pavement, xl:18.
N. Chambers in Outer Court (30) xl:17.
O. Outer Court.
---------------Temple Stream
THE GROUND PLAN OF THE TEMPLE.
THE MILLENNIAL TEMPLE AND ITS WORs.h.i.+P. THE LAND AND ITS GLORY.
Chapters xl-xlviii.
The final nine chapters of this book form the climax of the great prophecies of Ezekiel; they belong to the most difficult in the entire prophetic Word. Once more the hand of the Lord rests upon the seer and in the visions of G.o.d he is brought into the land of Israel. In the very beginning of this grand finale we learn therefore that the visions concern the land of Israel. Let us remember that after the fall of Jerusalem had been announced to Ezekiel (chapter x.x.xiii:21), his prophetic utterances and visions concern the future when Israel is to be regathered and restored to the land. The previous two chapters dealt with the last invasion of the land of Israel and the complete overthrow of Gog and its hordes. The vision contained in this last section follows after Israel's final deliverance. So much is clear as to the time when the prophecies of these eight chapters will be accomplished. They have not been fulfilled in the past, certainly not in the remnant which returned under Zerubabbel and Ezra. Nor have these prophecies been fulfilled since then. All is future. Only when the Lord has gathered Judah and Israel, when He has established His glorious Kingdom in their midst and delivered His people and the land from the last invader, will this last vision of Ezekiel become history.
This disposes then at once of the different modes of interpretation employed by so many expositors of this book. These are the following:
1. The theory of interpretation which looks upon the vision of these chapters as fulfilled in the return of the remnant from Babylon. One of the expositors who follows this line stated that these visions are ”an ideal representation of the Jewish state about to be restored after the captivity.” It does not need much argument to show that this mode of interpretation is erroneous. The temple which the remnant built does in no way whatever correspond with the magnificent structure which Ezekiel beheld in his vision. The fact is, if this temple is a literal building (as it a.s.suredly is) it has never yet been erected. Furthermore, it is distinctly stated that the glory of the Lord returned to the temple and made His dwelling place there, the same glory which Ezekiel had seen departing from the temple and from Jerusalem. But the glory did not return to the second temple. No glory cloud filled that house. And furthermore no high priest is mentioned in the wors.h.i.+p of the temple Ezekiel describes, but the Jews after their return from Babylon had high priests again. Nor can the stream of healing waters flowing from the temple as seen by Ezekiel be in any way applied to the restoration from the Babylonian captivity. Expositors who follow this mode of interpretation claim that all has been fulfilled and that there is nothing in store for Israel in the future. It is the most superficial method and totally wrong.
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