Ezekiel 40:38: “There was a chamber and its entrance by the gateposts of the gateway, where they washed the burnt offering.”

October 3rd, 2021 by Pastor Ed in devotional

The last 9 chapters of Ezekiel contain a very detailed vision of a new temple that will be in Jerusalem. There has been uncertainty among expositors for centuries of how exactly to interpret this vision. Some take it to be a vision of the temple found in heaven, but John says very plainly in his vision of heaven that he “saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple” (Rev. 21:22). Others take this to be the temple built by the Antichrist, who helps to bring peace to Israel before the Tribulation. But this seems unlikely as Ezekiel 43 clearly describes the glory of the Lord coming back into the temple. Interestingly, His Spirit enters from the very direction Ezekiel had seen Him leave in Ezekiel 10 and 11. A third interpretation is that it is speaking of an earthly temple that will be built during the Millennial Reign of Christ. Whether it is one of these 3 interpretations or some other one that God has not yet made clear to us, we cannot say with any certainty, but that sacrifices are being observed does raise some questions.

If this is a description of the Antichrist’s temple, then reappointed Jewish priests will probably offer the sacrifices right before and/or during the tribulation. But if they are being offered during the Millennial Reign of Christ, where Christ will actually be among them, what could they stand for, since Hebrews tells us that Jesus as High Priest:

does not need to offer sacrifices every day like the other high priests. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when he sacrificed himself on the cross. (Heb. 7:27)

Older expositors hold to the view that the sacrifices will serve as visible reminders of Jesus’ work on the cross, and will have no other purpose than to honor and memorialize Jesus’ death. Observing these sacrifices would be much like how we observe the Lord’s Supper today, which we do to remember and remind ourselves of Jesus Christ’s once-and-for-all sacrifice on Calvary (Hebrews 7:27). Whatever the correct interpretation may be, we can be certain that Jesus’ sacrifice never needs to be repeated. The Good News is that the penalty of sin has been removed once and for all time. Once Jesus was off that cross, He never had to go back again.

During the Civil War, a young Pennsylvania farmer, who had recently lost his wife, was drafted as a soldier. He was concerned for his children, not knowing who could support and take care of them. His neighbor came to him and said, “I’ve been thinking. You’re needed here at home, so I’ve decided to go in your place.” The neighbor was immediately called to the frontlines and was shot and killed in his very first battle. When the farmer heard the news, he went to find his friend’s body. On his tombstone the farmer carved the inscription: “He died for me.” When we accept Jesus as our substitute, we are accepting His death for us. The punishment for our misdeeds and sins has already been carried out on Jesus. He died for us.

“Come quickly, LORD, in Jesus’s name, Amen.”