Apocalypse Journal

In the past I have mostly focused my bible study on NT doctrine, and so most of my eschatological understanding comes from the teachings of other... for a while I've had this conviction that I need to do my own study, and I've probably put it off for longer than I should have. I'm going to start with "Ezekiel's temple" or Ezekiel 40; why? Idk.

EZEK40, 41,42
-Ezekiel specifies the date the hand of the Lord was upon him. I'm sure that's important, somehow. Anyway, this takes place during the Babylonian captivity between the first and second temple periods.
- 'a high mountain with a southern slope that has a structure that resembles a city'. Remarkable. Was/is this an existing structure/mountain? In my mind it is reminiscent of the City of Petra in Jordan. What is the significance, if any?

-Who is the 'man with an appearance like bronze? (Jesus/an angel?). He is measuring "the temple". There are several sections of the temple measured with their respective measurements. Some studies suggest these are symbolic numbers and that this is a symbolic temple: while others say these are physical dimensions of a brick-and-mortar structure- and those people are split on whether this is a future temple or a temple that Israel simply failed and lost the opportunity to build. I don't intend to get into the details of the dimensions at this time, although I will note the order the Lord led Ezekiel through the temple.

The Wall
The East Gate
The Outer Court
The North Gate
The South Gate
Inner Gates and Inner Court
Inner court
Inside the temple
Outside the temple
Stuff in the Temple.
Priest chambers (outer court)
Total complex dimensions.

-The portico's of the outer gates face the temple, while those of the inner gates face outward. There are (8) tables for sacrifices- burnt/sin/guilt offerings located at the inner gate porticos.
-There are chambers for "those who keep charge" (facing north) and for priests (facing south) inside the inner gates.
-the inside of the temple seems what one would expect. An inner/ outer sanctuary and most holy place. Except there are doors and no veils. There is also "the table that is before the Lord" altar of wood, in the sanctuary.
-The actual structure of the temple; however, is remarkable. Each level going upward is wider than the previous level of the building (3 levels w/30 rooms). I remember, a suggestion with evidence that this wasn't possible (for men) with the construction capabilities of that time- they said it would require steel beams for something like that to be stable. This may or may not be true, but I think it's worth investigation.
-The priests eat the offerings in the chambers in the court. They had garments to wear while they ministered, which they could not wear outside the areas where they ministered.
-apparently the temple complex is either 500 "cubits" or "reeds". Working out to be either a square mile or 1/8 sq. mi. which I remember a remark about this temple not being able to fit on the temple mount in Jerusalem (if that structure is even actually the Temple Mount, and not Fort Antonia).

Ezek 40,41,42 second reading,
-Ezekiel says that he is in the land of Israel, but instead of specifying where, he gives a description of the location. Perhaps he had not been there before or it is different.
This was perhaps, a foolish remark. The absence of the 'holy things' and the laver are particularly noteworthy, considering the possible implications.

Ezek 43,44,
- “Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place for the soles of My feet, where I will dwell among the Israelites forever." (It is very inconvenient that the hebrew rendered "forever" has multiple meanings... ugh)
-God is offended by the "prostitution and funeral offerings" of his people, and the kings attaching their house to the temple.
-Ezek 43 contains instructions for the construction of the altar and proceedures for the sacrifices. The Priests are descendants of Zadok. These appear to be ritual sacrifices and ritual priests, and it does not appear to be metaphorical in any way.
- The east gate is to remain shut, and only "the prince" can go there. This instruction likely holds symbolism.
-This is what the Lord GOD says: No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and flesh may enter My sanctuary. This word from God feels very loaded.
-there is a lot of rebuke going on against Israel, and particularly the levites- except for the descendents of Zadok. While there is no doubt "types and shadows" involved with worldly temples- this description of the temple is not talking about a "temple in heaven" or a plain metaphor for a "spiritual temple"...

It seems evident to me at this time that (at one point in time, at least) Israel was intended to build this very literal structure and carry out the ordinances literally. This scripture is not "just a metaphor".

Ezek 45,46, 47,48
- I doubt these numbers for division of the land are symbolic either. They were supposed to have followed these instructions: as well as the economic instructions.
- Ch45 specifies, the sacrifices are to "make atonement for the people". Much to think on, there.
- Feasts, new moons, and sabbaths: Obviously God did not hate these things back in IS., only he hated that people were doing them without their heart being in him.
- The proceedures for the prince's offerings and the inner east gate are most interesting. No doubt full of symbolism.
-When the people of the land come before the LORD at the appointed feasts, whoever enters by the north gate to worship must go out by the south gate, and whoever enters by the south gate must go out by the north gate. No one is to return through the gate by which he entered, but each must go out by the opposite gate. This has to be symbolically loaded. Also reminiscent of 1kings13 a bit.
-Lots of parcel divisions... I think this really emphasizes the non-metaphorical nature of these passages. They were intended to build this temple and divide the land in accordance with these instructions.

So, I've heard a lot of teaching that this temple in Ezekiel is a metaphor for the church... I've even been to a church where the guidelines for the priests hair were applied as the guidelines for the church... but I just don't see that in these chapters. I'm going to go through the rest of Ezekiel for context, and I guess I'll see where to go from there.

Ezekiel 1-40 is mostly Israel's idolatrous past, their immanent judgement that was coming to them and the judgement of other nations that was coming. But there are also some good things in store for the future after the judgements.
I recorded an outline of what I thought were noteworthy things in ch 1-20; which I will finish up to ch.40 for future use.

Ezek1
-Ezekiel specifies the year of the vison and goes on to describe visions of angels and the glory of God.
-With Ezekiel's vision of the likeness of the Glory of the Lord including the likeness of a man sitting on a throne, I wonder why "the jews" found it offensive that the messiah could be God himself coming as a man... unbelief.
Ezek 3
-Eat this scroll/sweet as honey No doubt this ties Ezekiel to the Book of Revelation in people's minds. Also the "living creatures".
-The responsibilities of "the watchman" sure are weighty.
Ezek 4-7
I hope I never have to cook bread over burning poop... Ezekiel prophecies some pretty nasty stuff over Israel. Glad I wasn't there. There is a timeframe reference where Ezekiel is laying on his side.
Ezek 8-14
-God reveals the idolatry in Jerusalem, and the slaughter of the idolaters and the sparing of those who are grieved by it- people will be exiled, but eventually go back into the land. The glory of God departs from Jerusalem.
-Ezekiel is a sign to the people, but is ignored.
-False prophets are severely rebuked by God... he will destroy them proclaiming peace. The wall that is being whitewashed will be destroyed. Diviners will be destroyed.
-God's message to them is "repent" to the extent he warns them against seeking prophets out in their idolatry. Just repent.
- Four sore judgments: sword, famine, beasts, and plague.
Ezek 15
-The the vine is useless when it doesn't bear fruit. It gets cast into the fire for fuel. Jerusalem will become desolate, consumed and charred by the fire.
Ezek 16
-Jerusalem likened to an adulterous wife, worse than a prostitute.
-God will not be angry forever; he will establish an everlasting covenant
Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant. Then thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy sisters, thine elder and thy younger: and I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant. And I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord GOD.
Ezek 17, 18,19
-2 eagles and the vine parable and explanation
-There was a proverb going around Israel that God didn't like. "the fathers eat sour grapes and the childrens teeth are set on edge"... while I have no doubt that children can suffer worldly consequences from the actions of previous generations: god assures people that his judgement comes on them from the things they have done. Ultimately if they were to repent of their own sin, God would be with them. The circumstances inherited from previous generations aren't 'punishments' by which the sons bare the iniquities of their fathers.
-Ezekiel makes a lamentation for the princes of Israel that is like a parable.
Ezek 20
Israel's idolatrous history.

Ezek 21
God is going to wreck Jerusalem- he will destroy the Ammonites utterly.
Ezek 22
God is going to wreck Jerusalem, using the vocabulary of metallurgy. Exploiting foreigners, widows and orphans is a big no-no in the law, promising the reward of the wrath of God, so they should not have been surprised.
Ezek 23
The Lord likening Israel and Judah to prostitutes and adulterous women.
Ezek 24
The day the king of Babylon lays siege to Jerusalem.
Ezekiel's wife dies. Ezekiel forgoes normal mourning customs as a sign to Israel- they will do as he has done.
Ezek 25
Ammon, Moab, Edom, phillistines- all about to experience judgement.
Ezek 26,27,28
Tyre... The lord has a lot to say against Tyre, and it's prince. This perhaps deserves it's own in depth study another time.
Ezek 29,30,31,32
Pharaoh and Egypt are getting wrecked. Nebuchadnezzar is coming for them too. This perhaps, also deserves an in depth study another time.
Ezek 33
God's message is still "repent". The survivors living in the ruins of Jerusalem think they are going to possess the land... but they are gonna die. There is also a good bit about putting the Lord's teaching into practice.
Ezek 34
So, Ezek 34 gets into prophecy that sounds alot like NT. God call's Israel's "shepherds" to account. He is taking away his sheep from the shepherds who have been wearing the wool, but not feeding the flock. He is even going to destroy the strong and fat sheep... so, it's not just "leaders" who are being held in account, but sheep that are too lean or too fat... these are probably "the rich". God promises to shepherd his own sheep. He will feed them, he will judge them with justice, he will deliver them.
He's going to make a covenant of peace, and rid the land of wild animals so that his sheep can rest.
Ezek 35
Ezekiel prophecies against Mount Seir... I have no idea who these people are. He also makes mention of Edom at the end. He's going to wreck them both. I should look up what this is and when it happened. But I think Edom was destroyed shortly after Jerusalem.
Ezek 36
Okay, the arrangement of Ezek 36 being after Ezek 34 is noteworthy. In 36 Ezekiel is prophesying to the mountains... To the LAND ITSELF. The land is a spoil and a mockery among nations- But God is going to turn things around and the people are coming back to the land. NOW... this was obviously written before the people came back into the land, and the second temple period began... So, I don't know if this is referring to that- or the modern restoration of the nation... or both.
Either way the people are coming back to the land. A lot of people don't like to say this can apply to a "physical" nation of Israel, but I think the reality that there are Israeli nationals that are Christians matters. Some of God's people live in the land.
There also may not be a modern application- and this could simply refer to the return of the people through Cyrus... but it seems a little awkward- god saying he will restore everything, and it will all be great, only to destroy everything again shortly therafter... and nobody was having his spirit in them and walking in his statutes until the second temple period was almost over... so... this needs another in depth look.
Ezek 37
The VALLEY OF DRY BONES prophecy... just in case you want to convert lovers of zombie-movies to christianity, the Lord gave Ezekiel the coolest sounding prophecy in the bible. Boring people will say this is just poetry. Sadducees are so sad-you-see.

The second part of 37 is God talking about how there is going to be ONE Israel, with ONE king- "my servant David", we are talking about JESUS now, establishing his covenant with them, and setting his sanctuary with them "forever". I am very familiar with Pauls teaching on "heavenly jerusalem/israel" - at the same time, this does not appear to be that. If this is post-resurrection as the flow of the chapter suggests, maybe this is the "millenial reign" then... but now were finally getting into prophecy that is more relevant to the topic at hand.
Ezek 38,39
The prophecy against GOG. Guess what? I don't have a clue about any of these ancient names for these ancient places, or whether or not this is a reference to ancient people, or modern people in an ancient land. There is a lot of work to do for me here.

So, before transitioning into the description temple and the division of the land, chapter 39 ends with the the Lord promising to restore the people to the land and pour out his spirit- all to his own glory...

And that's my rough outline/summary of the Book of Ezekiel! I think the key to understanding Ezekiel's temple is a fuller understanding of chapters 34-39, which I will work on, probably after looking at some of the other prophets.

Just for a quick reference.

When going through the Old Testament Prophets, a lot of people use them to refer to future events when it's not necessarily appropriate to do so: That's something I really want to avoid- that's not to say that a fulfilled prophecy can't have future application, but I really want to peg which prophecies have been fully fulfilled once already. Then I can look at partial-non fulfillments and try to distinguish what is what.

Borrowed from wikipedia... but it will work for a quick reference for now.
539 BCE Jews allowed to return to Jerusalem, by permission of Cyrus
520 BCE Prophecy of Zechariahc.
520 BCE Zerubbabel leads the first group of Jews from captivity back to Jerusalem
516 BCE Second Temple consecrated
475 BCE Often associated with Xerxes I of Persia,[1
460 BCE Seeing anarchy breaking out in Judea, Xerxes' successor Persian King Artaxerxes sent Ezra to restore order.
332 BCE Alexander the Great conquers Phoenicia and Gaza.
332 BCE According to Josephus, Alexander visits Judea and seeks out the high priest Jaddus. He shows Alexander the prophecy of Alexander's own life and conquests found in the Book of Daniel.
167–140 BCE The Maccabean Revolt against the Greek Syrian Seleucid Empire, led by Judas Maccabeus, resulting in victory and installation of the Hanukkah holiday.
150 BCE–100 CE At some point during this era the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) is finalized and canonized. Jewish religious works that were explicitly written after the time of Ezra were not canonized, although many became popular among many groups of Jews. Later works that were included in the Greek translation of the Bible (the Septuagint) become known as the deuterocanonical books.
140–63 BCE The Hasmonean dynasty rules Judea. The Hasmonean kingdom expands outward to Idumea, Samaria, Perea, Galilee, and Gilead due to weakness and dissolution within the Seleucid Empire.
63 BCE Pompey lay siege to and entered the Temple, Judea became a client kingdom of Rome.
40 BCE–4 BCE Herod the Great appointed King of the Jews by the Roman Senate, replacing the Hasmonean dynasty with the Herodian dynasty.

Next I'm going to look at Jerimiah; who overlaps with Ezekiel a bit.
Jer1: God calls Jerimiah to prophecy against Judah; there is a boiling pot (people of the north) that will be poured out on Judah- Judah will come against Jerimiah for his words; but he will have providence from God.
Jer2: All Israel will be judged for unfaithfulness and "prostitution".
Jer3: Judah saw what happened to Israel (the were taken by Assyria; God was punishing them for idolatry); and still Judah was idolatrous. Their return to God was only a pretense. God just wants everyone to repent so that he can make Israel great again, but they're not turning back to him.
There is also an interesting bit about the Ark of the Covenant:
“In those days, when you multiply and increase in the land,” declares the LORD, “they will no longer discuss the ark of the covenant of the LORD. It will never come to mind, and no one will remember it or miss it, nor will another one be made. Ezekiel's description of the "temple" agrees in that there is no Ark in the temple; but perhaps what is more fascinating is that "they will no longer discuss the Ark of the Covenant" That's a pretty big deal; because even now people discuss the Ark. Something bigger and better is going to be going on.
Jer4: Judah needs to repent. Because they will not repent, Jerusalem is going to be desolate. There is an allusion to Genesis 1 in this chapter that might be important. I remember that some preterists have said that "the heavens and the earth" specifically refers to the temple and Israel in prophecy; and while I'm not a preterist, I could see how someone could be led to believe this. At this point, I'm not really sure whether or not God is talking about the creation, or he is comparing the situation of that day when Jerusalem is judged to pre-creation disorder. But no doubt, this is why the preterists et. al. say that there is no literal "new heavens and new earth".
The last section of the chapter about "a woman in anguish as if she is giving birth to her firstborn" is also of interest.
Jer5: God cannot pardon the sin of Judah, and Jerusalem won't be spared. God won't let all the people be completely destroyed, but it will be a very thorough stripping of branches. A lot of people are going to be taken away. This kind of language also found in the Gospels.
Jer6: More of the same; God is raising up a people from the north to desolate Jerusalem. Judah is not turning to God.
Jer7: More of the same; judgement is coming. This time, there is more emphasis on the sacrifices- the sacrificial system is not doing Judah any good; God is concerned about his people being holy, and less about sacrifices.
Jer8: There is a prophecy about people bringing out the bones of the kings and "choosing life rather than death" I want to know what this refers to.
Judah will be taken captive- they will cry out in captivity.
Jer9: This chapter starts off talking about Judah and punishment for forsaking God and his law, but it takes it a little further. “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “that I will punish all who are circumcised with the uncircumcised— 26Egypt, Judah, Edom, the people of Ammon, Moab, and all who are in the farthest corners, who dwell in the wilderness. For all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.” God is making it known that he will deal with everyone.
Jer10: More talk about Jews AND Gentiles. Judgement for everyone.
Jer 11: Back to God's people specifically- they have broken his covenant. The people that tried to kill Jerimiah are gonna get it. Also I will note, that in this chapter is the second time God has told Jerimiah not to pray or make intercession for the people.
Jer12: This chapter starts with God's judgement against Judah; Jerimiah says of Judah:
You are near in their mouth
But far from their mind.
but the end of the chapter has what we are looking for:
Thus says the Lord: “Against all My evil neighbors who touch the inheritance which I have caused My people Israel to inherit—behold, I will pluck them out of their land and pluck out the house of Judah from among them. Then it shall be, after I have plucked them out, that I will return and have compassion on them and bring them back, everyone to his heritage and everyone to his land. And it shall be, if they will learn carefully the ways of My people, to swear by My name, ‘As the Lord lives,’ as they taught My people to swear by Baal, then they shall be established in the midst of My people. But if they do not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation,” says the Lord. So, now we are getting into talking about the return from captivity.
Jer13: God is going to destroy Jerusalem; Judah still not repenting. He says he will fill them with drunkeness and destroy them... that's interesting. Wine doesn't always = prosperity.
Jer14: Lying "prophets" prophecy peace. Sword and famine are coming instead.
Jer15: The Lord has made up his mind about Judah, and Jerusalem; those who repent in captivity can be brought back.
Jer16: The Lord tells Jerimiah: “You shall not take a wife, nor shall you have sons or daughters in this place." (that's how I feel about my own country sometimes...)
“Therefore behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “that it shall no more be said, ‘The Lord lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt,’ but, ‘The Lord lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north and from all the lands where He had driven them.’ For I will bring them back into their land which I gave to their fathers. Did/do people say this...? Anyway, we are talking about the return from captivity again.
16“Behold, I will send for many fishermen,” says the Lord, “and they shall fish them; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks. 17For My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from My face, nor is their iniquity hidden from My eyes. 18And first I will repay double for their iniquity and their sin, because they have defiled My land; they have filled My inheritance with the carcasses of their detestable and abominable idols.”
I have honestly never read this in Jerimiah before... maybe this explains the "fishers of men" that is somewhat boggling in the gospels... so, maybe this prophecy is getting into not only the initial return from captivity, but also further on into Jesus' time. There is also some stuff about Gentiles coming to god... Beginning or end of the church age? Both?
Jer17-20: Jerimiah prophecies against Judah. His ministry is quite unpopular, and he is treated badly. Judah does not repent.
Jer21: Jerimiah actually tells anyone who wants to repent to defect to Nebudchanezzar.... wow.
Jer22: Prophecies against the last kings of Judah. Jeconiah's bloodline cut off from the throne of David.
Jer23: 5“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; Some messianic prophecy, here. Also, there is a second emphasis on God bringing the people not "out of egypt" but out of captivity from these other places again. The LANGUAGE of this text is suggestive of a literal reign; but this is only a puzzle piece: and there's not really a timeframe given as to when the Messiah is the shepherd and when he is the king. The rest of the chapter focuses on false prophets... and there surely was a long time immediately after the initial return from captivity without prophets. "the silent years" before John the Baptist.
Jer24: Good and bad figs- redeemable and unredeemable people.
Jer25: Seventy years of captivity decreed. The desolation of Babylon decreed.