Day 244, September 1 Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Ezekiel 40:1-43:17
Amazing Grace
For the sake of today’s Bible study, imagine that you are an unfaithful marriage partner. You have hurt your spouse over and over again by running to your many lovers. You add criminal acts to your insatiable lust. Now you are imprisoned for life for breaking the law.
Time after time, your partner sends ministers to try to talk some sense into you, but you will not listen. Now there is no hope. You have lost everything—your reputation, family, children, job, and your house. Nothing is left.
One day your spouse comes to visit you. You are offered complete forgiveness and freedom. Also, your marriage partner talks about building you a castle, taking you home, and offering you a glorious future. You could live in a palace with ornate furnishings and beautiful gardens on a majestic, peaceful estate, without fear of any trouble. Only one thing is required—true repentance. You may have all these things if you are genuinely sorry and turn away from your sins to God for his forgiveness.
This situation is similar to what Israel experienced. Assyria and Babylon conquered Israel and Judah and exiled them to their lands. By this time, most of Judah had been in exile for twenty-five years and Israel for over one-hundred and sixty years (first under Assyria and now under Babylon). They were to serve a life sentence of seventy years in Babylon for their endless worship of idols (prostitution) and wickedness. God promises that after these years, he will restore her.
Now, after only twenty-five years, the LORD is already making plans for Israel’s glorious future. A person knows when he is forgiven when fantastic plans are being made, which include him. This is mercy and grace. Only one thing is required for God to share those plans with Israel—genuine repentance (Ezekiel 43:9-11). Apparently, Israel does repent, because we have the plans for Israel’s new temple written in our Bibles.
What will the new temple be like? We know the size and the layout and some of its contents from today’s Bible reading (see pictures and diagrams of the temple and altar).This will be a glorious temple because God will dwell there with his people (Ezekiel 43:5). There will be no need for the Ark of the Covenant to represent God because he and his throne will be there (Ezekiel 43:7).
When will Ezekiel’s temple be built?
That is a good question—theologians are not unanimous on this subject. Did God intend for the Jewish people to build it upon their return to their homeland? If so, why didn’t they do it? Will they make it later, before or during the one-thousand-year reign of Christ? Here are two views.
The Post-Exile View
Some Bible scholars believe the plans for Ezekiel’s temple were potential and conditional upon her repentance and complete obedience.In Ezekiel’s record, there is a significant amount of specific details with present-day names. This seems to indicate a near fulfillment for building the temple.
Later, during the exile, Israel does repent. Still, many Jewish exiles don’t return to their land, even when given three opportunities. For this, Israel accepts God’s second-best—the rebuilding of Solomon’s temple. Ezekiel’s glorious temple will be built in a future day.
We know a temple will be present during the Millennial reign of Christ because sacrifices will be offered there (see Zechariah 14:7-21). This is probably Ezekiel's temple.The Millennial View
One might ask if the plans are for a millennial temple, why does God share it with the Israelites now? In Bible prophecy, future hope is often linked with present hope. A present prophecy is partially fulfilled with the hope of future glorious fulfillment. In this view, Solomon’s rebuilt temple serves as present hope, and the plans for Ezekiel’s temple serve as their glorious hope.
Israel was in exile and despair. Whichever view is correct, the sharing of this plan brings them encouragement. God has not cast his people aside forever, and he has not forgotten them—he is making plans for their future! (see more about Ezekiel's temple here)
Although most of us are not Jewish, God has not forgotten us, either. Everyone who turns from his sin to the LORD for forgiveness will have spiritual life, peace, God’s blessings, and a glorious future. God has provided this through the death, burial, and resurrection of his Son Jesus Christ. He died so we might have life. Will we trust him for our salvation and our future today? (more...)
End Notes: The Bible Knowledge Commentary of the O.T., edited by Walvoord and Zuck, ©1985, p.1309.
Discussion Questions
What great amazing grace has God shown you? Give a testimony here.
How can we get God’s best and not settle for second-best?
Focus Verses
1Peter 1:3-5 (NIV)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
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Looking Ahead: It's a New Day for Israel in our Next Lesson when she turns to God from her sins. We can have forgiveness, too, and experience a new day. Find out more in our Next Lesson.
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