Today I want to share with you a message entitled “Ezekiel’s Temple: the pinnacle of faith.”
What is Ezekiel’s Temple? God never commanded that this temple be built. He showed the vision of this temple to Ezekiel. And when you compare its vision to that of the vision that Apostle John received in Revelation of the New Jerusalem, you can see that they are very similar. Thus, Rev. Abraham Park said that the Ezekiel’s Temple is the blueprint of the New Jerusalem.
Both are located on top of Mt. Zion, the highest spiritual mountain.
Ezekiel 40:2 (NASB95) — 2 In the visions of God He brought me into the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain, and on it to the south there was a structure like a city.
Revelation 21:10 (NASB95) — 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
New Jerusalem is the bride of Christ
Revelation 21:9 (NASB95) — 9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
Revelation 21:2 (NASB95) — 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
Thus, Ezekiel’s Temple and New Jerusalem are both showing us the model of the true church.
Is church the bride of Christ? Not yet…we are betrothed to become His bride.
2 Corinthians 11:2 (NASB95) — 2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.
We are on our way to being the bride. That is the highest point…the pinnacle of faith is to become the bride of Christ. How can we get to that level… pinnacle.
1. Three stages and 25 steps to get to the top
Mt. Zion is the highest peak, and Ezekiel’s Temple is built to Mt. Zion. But to get to the top of Ezekiel’s Temple where the sanctuary is, you must go up even more.
(1) 7 steps to the outer court
Ezekiel 40:26 (NASB95) — 26 There were seven steps going up to it, and its porches were in front of them; and it had palm tree ornaments on its side pillars, one on each side.
(2) 8 steps to the inner court
Ezekiel 40:27 (NASB95) — 27 The inner court had a gate toward the south; and he measured from gate to gate toward the south, a hundred cubits.
Ezekiel 40:31 (NASB95) — 31 Its porches were toward the outer court; and palm tree ornaments were on its side pillars, and its stairway had eight steps.
(3) 10 steps into the sanctuary (temple)
Ezekiel 40:49 (ESV) — 49 The length of the vestibule was twenty cubits, and the breadth twelve cubits, and people would go up to it by ten steps. And there were pillars beside the jambs, one on either side.
7 steps + 8 steps + 10 steps = 25 steps in total
2. Redemptive-historical meaning of 3 stages and 25 steps
Matt 21:33- 43 records the Parable of the Landowner. Jesus talks about 3 stages of redemptive history.
Matthew 21:33 (NASB95) — 33 “Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard and put a wall around it and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and rented it out to vine-growers and went on a journey.
Time of servants (slaves) – OT
Matthew 21:34–36 (NASB95) — 34 “When the harvest time approached, he sent his slaves to the vine-growers to receive his produce. 35 “The vine-growers took his slaves and beat one, and killed another, and stoned a third. 36 “Again he sent another group of slaves larger than the first; and they did the same thing to them.
Time of Son – NT
Matthew 21:37–39 (NASB95) — 37 “But afterward he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 “But when the vine-growers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ 39 “They took him, and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
Time of owner (Father) – ET
Matthew 21:40–43 (NASB95) — 40 “Therefore when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?” 41 They said to Him, “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end, and will rent out the vineyard to other vine-growers who will pay him the proceeds at the proper seasons.” 42 Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, This became the chief corner stone; This came about from the Lord, And it is marvelous in our eyes’? 43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it.
(1) OT – Old Testament
OT is characterized by the number ‘7’ (7 steps) because the basic activity of faith was to keep the sabbath which is the 7th day.
In this era, God built temples as building structures… God wants to meet with His people.
Acts 7:48 (NASB95) — 48 “However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says:
(2) NT – New Testament
NT is characterized by the number ‘8’ (8 steps) because we are now keeping the Lord’s Day which is the 8th day. 8 is the number of re-creation. The 8th day celebrates the Resurrection of Christ which brought us new life… a new beginning.
In this era, God wanted to have His temples in the hearts of people.
1 Corinthians 3:16 (NASB95) — 16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
John 2:19 (NASB95) — 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
Jesus came to give us faith so that we may be saved.
1 Peter 1:9 (NASB95) — 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
(3) ET – End times
Matthew 16:27 (NASB95) — 27 “For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds.
This era is characterized by the number 10 (10 steps). 10 is the number of fullness.
Ephesians 4:13 (NASB95) — 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
In this era, God wants us to bear fruits. When the owner returns He will give the vineyard to workers bearing fruits.
Fruits = actions
God wants His temple to be the covenant community.
Ephesians 2:20–22 (NASB95) — 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
Ephesians 4:1–3 (NASB95) — 1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:4–6 (NASB95) — 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
Now, God wants our faith to be perfected as Abraham’s…
James 2:21–22 (NASB95) — 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;
When we get to the pinnacle…the highest point, then we have become the bride of Christ.
Revelation 19:8 (NASB95) — 8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
Zion Church is now in her 25th year…like the 25 steps, you have endured well. Now, I pray, as you are doing…please bear fruits worthy of your calling.
Let us be a church that is worthy to be called bride of Christ.
Proverbs 31:10 (NASB95) — 10 An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels.
Proverbs 31:15 (NASB95) — 15 She rises also while it is still night And gives food to her household And portions to her maidens.
Luke 12:42 (NASB95) — 42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time?
Proverbs 31:17 (NASB95) — 17 She girds herself with strength And makes her arms strong.
Ephesians 6:14 (NASB95) — 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Strength of the bride of Christ is the Word of God.
Proverbs 31:22 (NASB95) — 22 She makes coverings for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Revelation 19:8 (NASB95) — 8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
Proverbs 31:30 (NASB95) — 30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
I believe Zion Church is this kind of church…thus a church that is fit to become the bride of Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:58 (NKJ) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
AMEN.
