Many think Ezekiel Chapters 40-48 describe the Millennium period in Jerusalem. There are dimensions given to the temple that differ from the 1st and 2nd temples. Also, we know that when the new Jerusalem is brought down from heaven to earth, that the gates of the city are named after the 12 tribes of Israel. See Rev 21:
[SUP]10 [/SUP]And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, [SUP]11 [/SUP]having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. [SUP]12 [/SUP]Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: [SUP]13 [/SUP]three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.
Now compare this to Ezek 48:
[SUP]30 [/SUP]“These are the exits of the city. On the north side, measuring four thousand five hundred cubits [SUP]31 [/SUP](the gates of the city shall be named after the tribes of Israel), the three gates northward: one gate for Reuben, one gate for Judah, and one gate for Levi; [SUP]35 [/SUP]All the way around shall be eighteen thousand cubits; and the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE.”
So, Jerusalem becomes known from that day forward as "THE LORD IS THERE." What a wonderful place it will be and clearly this has not happened yet. I am not aware of the gates being named after the 12 tribes in either the 1st or 2nd temple. So, if both of the above passages are discussing the Millennium, and there is to be no death of the righteous during this period, how do you explain this?
Ezek 44:
[SUP]25 [/SUP]“They shall not defile themselves by coming near a dead person. Only for father or mother, for son or daughter, for brother or unmarried sister may they defile themselves. [SUP]26 [/SUP]After he is cleansed, they shall count seven days for him.
The "they" mentioned above are the Levitical priests. These priests are in Jerusalem. They serve in the temple. Thus they apparently will see the death of family in Jerusalem. Apparently there is still marriage during the Millennium which we know there is no marriage in the final eternal state. Further, if priests are allowed to defile themselves with a dead relative and they still need a 7 day cleansing period, they must not be in spiritual bodies thus they are subject to death too as they would be mortal.
Clearly there is a temple in Jerusalem after the future war(s) of Ezek 38-39. We see the temple mentioned some 38 times in Ezekiel Chapters 40 through 48. Isaiah sees a future temple too.
Isa 66:
[SUP]6 [/SUP]The sound of noise from the city!
A voice from the temple!
The voice of the Lord,
Who fully repays His enemies!
[SUP]15 [/SUP]For behold, the Lord will come with fire
And with His chariots, like a whirlwind,
To render His anger with fury,
And His rebuke with flames of fire.
[SUP]16 [/SUP]For by fire and by His sword
The Lord will judge all flesh;
And the slain of the Lord shall be many.
So, we have a temple during the millennium and after Christ returns, right?
However, we are told in Rev 21 that there will be no temple in the final eternal state.
[SUP]22 [/SUP]But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. [SUP]23 [/SUP]The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it.
So we have a physical temple with dimensions during the millennium, but no physical temple afterward. I get your point about the crying, but maybe there is no crying for the dead. During the millennium there is still marriage and there is still children being born, they just live a very long time as it was in the days of Adam until the flood.
For as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people,
And My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
[SUP]23 [/SUP]They shall not labor in vain,
Nor bring forth children for trouble;
For they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the Lord,
And their offspring with them.
God's people live as long as trees? Children will be brought forth? There are offspring?
Jesus teaches us clearly in Mark 12 that there is no marriage after the resurrection. Therefore the millennium must contain mortal beings.
[SUP]24 [/SUP]Jesus answered and said to them, “Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God? [SUP]25 [/SUP]For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.
It appears to me that the lack of crying happens after the millennium and applies to the final eternal state.