1 Jul 2016, Ezekiel 40-42 以西结书 40-42, The Millennial Temple 千禧年中的圣殿

Posted on Jun 26, 2016 in Devotions, Ezekiel |

Scripture Reading  : Ezekiel 40-42

Theme                      : The Millennial Temple

 

In this vision, Ezekiel is given the dimensions of the third or millennial temple in Jerusalem. After the defeat of the anti-christ in chapters 38-39, God will return to earth and reign over the whole earth. This is God’s kingdom on earth, which Jesus preached about. The seat of His throne in this kingdom on earth is the new millennial temple. The temple complex is a square with each side measuring about 1,555m (42:15-20), for a total of about 2.4 million square meters. That is about the size of 340 football fields. It is also about twice the size of the current old city Jerusalem. The new temple will be huge and only a new terrain will be able to accommodate it.

The temple is very different from the Solomon’s temple, but also has some similarities. The whole temple complex is surrounded by a wall. There are 3 gates to the complex: east, north and south gates (40:5-27). Within the temple complex is the inner court where the inner temple, or Holy Place, is (41-42). The images of palm trees (Eze. 40:16) harkens back to the garden of Eden (God’s original kingdom on earth), just as images of trees in Solomon’s temple harkens back to Eden. God will fulfilled His promise to restore His paradise on earth.

Chapters 40-48 are literal descriptions of the new millennial temple, not symbolic. Symbolic language does not give detailed descriptions. A lot of linguistic gymnastics must be performed in order to interpret these chapters as symbolic.


Praying the Scripture

This vision proclaims the glorious mercy of God, who invites sinners into a relationship with himself and provides the means whereby that relationship can be expressed, though without contaminating his own holiness or endangering the life of his devotees. Because he longs for fellowship with humans he comes to dwell among them, though without sacrificing any of his glory. Ezekiel and his audience were privileged to learn this lesson through visionary revelation, but Christians recognize the ultimate expression of the divine desire in Jesus, who is not only the restored temple (John 2:19–22) but the physical manifestation of divine glory—full of grace and truth (John 1:14).[1]

[1] Block, The Book of Ezekiel, p. 590.

 
 

经文：以西结书40-42

主题：千禧年中的圣殿

 

在这个异象中，以西结获知耶路撒冷第三个或千禧年圣殿的面积。第38至39章中的敌基督被击败后，神要回到地上统治全世界。这就是神在地上的国度，是耶稣曾传讲的。祂在这个国度中的宝座之席就是千禧年中的新圣殿。圣殿的建筑是四方形，每面长1555米（42:15-20），共两百四千万平方米。这大约是340个足球场的面积。这也是至今旧耶路撒冷城的一倍。新圣殿很大，唯有新地形才能容纳这个建筑。

这个圣殿与所罗门的圣殿很不一样，却也有相同之处。圣殿的整个建筑有墙面围着，且有三个门：东门、北门和南门（40:5-27）。圣殿里有个内院，也就是内殿或至圣所的所在（41-42）。棕树的雕刻（40:16）让人回想起伊甸园（神在地上原有的国），就如所罗门殿中树的雕刻让人回想起伊甸园一样。神会兑现祂的承诺，在地上重建祂的乐园。

第40至48章是对新千禧年圣殿的字面性叙述，不是象征性叙述。象征性的言语是不会加入细节描述的。若要将经文辨为象征性的，读者需要展开大规模的语言曲折和辩解。


用经文祷告

这个异象宣告了神荣耀的怜悯。这位神邀请罪人与祂有亲密的关系，又提供能表达这种关系的管道，同时不玷污自己的圣洁或危害敬拜祂者的生命。由于神渴望与人亲密，祂降世住在人中间，荣耀却完全不受亏损。以西结和他的读者与听众能借着这个视觉性的启示学习者到这一点的确是件很荣幸的事，但基督徒要看见耶稣是如何全面展示了神的渴望——祂不仅是那重建的圣殿（约2:19-22），更是神荣耀的肉体化身，充充满满地有恩典有真理（约1:14）。[1]

[1] Block, The Book of Ezekiel,  p. 590.