Ezekiel's Temple

It’s seem within the description in Ezekiel 42 there’s a holy and common area

So he measured the area on all four sides. It had a wall all around, five hundred cubits long and five hundred cubits wide, to separate the holy from the common.

CORRECT

INCORRECT. The modern versions (based upon corrupted manuscripts) have substituted cubits for "reeds". THAT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN ACCURACY!

Ezekiel's Temple is A MILE SQUARE, not 875 feet square (as I mentioned some believe). That is huge. Here is how we arrive at the correct size:

EZEKIEL 42
15 Now when he had made an end of measuring the inner house, he brought me forth toward the gate whose prospect is toward the east, and measured it round about.
16 He measured the east side with the measuring reed, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about.
17 He measured the north side, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about.
18 He measured the south side, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed.
19 He turned about to the west side, and measured five hundred reeds with the measuring reed.
20 He measured it by the four sides: it had a wall round about, five hundred reeds long, and five hundred broad, to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place.

Strong's Concordance
qaneh: a stalk, reed
Original Word: קָנֶה
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: qaneh
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-neh')
Definition: a stalk, reed

Brown-Driver-Briggs
קָנֶה noun masculine Genesis 41:5 stalk, reed; —
a. measuring-rod, קְנֵח הַמִּדָּה Ezekiel 40:3,5 (6 cubits long, see אַמָּה) Ezekiel 42:16 (twice in verse); Ezekiel 42:17,18,19.
b. unit of measure, reed (of 6 cubits, as Assyrian ‡anû) Ezekiel 40:5 (twice in verse) + 10 t. 40,42, + ׳מְלוֺ הַקּ Ezekiel 41:8 full reed (emphatic).

Easton's Bible Dictionary - Cubit
Heb. 'ammah; i.e., "mother of the arm," the fore-arm, is a word derived from the Latin cubitus, the lower arm. It is difficult to determine the exact length of this measure, from the uncertainty whether it included the entire length from the elbow to the tip of the longest finger, or only from the elbow to the root of the hand at the wrist. The probability is that the longer was the original cubit. The common computation as to the length of the cubit makes it 20.24 inches for the ordinary cubit, and 21.888 inches for the sacred one. This is the same as the Egyptian measurements.

REED, MEASURING (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)
mezh'-ur-ing (qeneh ha-middah):
In Ezekiel's vision of the temple a "man" (an angel) appears with a "measuring reed" to measure the dimensions of the temple (Ezekiel 40:3; 42:16). The reed is described as 6 cubits long, "of a cubit and a handbreadth each," i.e. the cubit used was a handbreadth longer than the common cubit (see CUBIT; WEIGHTS AND MEASURES; TEMPLE). In the Apocalypse this idea of a measuring reed reappears for measuring the temple (Revelation 11:1) and the holy city (Revelation 21:15,16, "a golden reed"). The thought conveyed is exactitude in the dimensions of these edifices, symbolic of the symmetry and perfection of God's church.

So, based upon this information:

1 reed = 6 x 21.888 inches = 131.328 inches/12 = 11 feet (approx)

500 reeds x 11 ft = 5,500 feet = 1.041667 miles
[approx 1 mile, or according to some (as below), one and one-seventh mile]

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary
16. five hundred reeds—the Septuagint substitutes "cubits" for "reeds," to escape the immense compass assigned to the whole, namely, a square of five hundred rods or three thousand cubits (two feet each; Eze 40:5), in all a square of one and one-seventh miles, that is, more than all ancient Jerusalem; also, there is much space thus left unappropriated. Fairbairn rightly supports English Version, which agrees with the Hebrew. The vast extent is another feature marking the ideal character of the temple. It symbolizes the great enlargement of the kingdom of God, when Jehovah-Messiah shall reign at Jerusalem, and from thence to the ends of the earth (Isa 2:2-4; Jer 3:17; Ro 11:12, 15).

that was a good read thanks for the info and i enjoyed looking into that word translation. they probably used a actual plant reed at a set length was their measuring device

That is correct. I will post the Hebrew and show you that *reed* is the correct reading.
מָדַ֛ד ר֥וּחַ הַקָּדִ֖ים בִּקְנֵ֣ה הַמִּדָּ֑ה חֲמֵשׁ־ [אֵמֹות כ] (מֵאֹ֥ות ק) קָנִ֛ים בִּקְנֵ֥ה הַמִּדָּ֖ה סָבִֽיב (Ezek 42:16, read from right to left)

חֲמֵשׁ־
ḥă-mêš- (five)

(מֵא֥וֹת)
mê-’ō-wṯ (hundred)

קָנִ֛ים
qā-nîm (rods or reeds, see Strong's 7070)

There has been a deliberate attempt to corrupt this narrative, since people did not want to believe that it was true.

Ekziel prophecy of the temple was after Solomon temple before the second temple, the Jews probably knew of the prophecy. did they build the second to spec. no the second was much smaller less elaborate.

Looks a little fishy among a lot of modern translations to be that much off from bible to bible.

I can over look possible small word translation like shall or will things that are close enough but these measurements among modern bibles contradicts each other vastly, makes you scratch the head which one is relatively close to a actual reed length

That is the explanation.
In the 25th year of their exile, God gave the Israelites Ezekiel's prophecy on how they were to rebuild the temple.

...describe the temple to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the plan. 11“If they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the house, its structure, its exits, its entrances, all its designs, all its statutes, and all its laws. And write it in their sight, so that they may observe its whole design and all its statutes and do them. - Ezekiel 43:10-11

A person will not find the golden measure of faith by looking at literal measure inches, feet, meters.

The proper conversion prescription for fining gold must be applied if we are to walk by faith the unseen eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Miles, inches, meters = residents. New creatures neither male not female Jew nor gentile. No walls no temple

The last few chapters of Ezekiel describe a temple that was never built. Some suppose that this is the famous third temple or millennial temple and many Christians see the building of this temple as a prerequisite for the return of Christ, thus making the temple a big deal. I have recently been reading NT Wright's commentary on the book of Revelation and some of Jeff Durbin's videos on postmillennialism and I think both have really important teaching that radically depart from most of the modern interpretations of the end (some of which are very wacky indeed!)

Wright argues that the temple is a shadow of a new reality which is Christ and the Church and that nothing in the new testament has anything to do with a third temple (so whether the jews build one is irrelevant as far as God is concerned). Durbin argues very persuasively that most of the tribulation, abomination that causes desolation, rapture and so forth, refer to events in the first century when God judged the jews and destroyed the second temple.

This leaves us with a problem: How do we explain Ezekiel's temple? So, let's see what the forum has to say!

A person will not find the golden measure of faith by looking at literal measure inches, feet, meters.

Prophesy is the foretelling of literal events, it is used to ring people to God as only god can predict literal events many years in the past and they literally come true

any:symbolic or allegorical interpretation strips away the intended purpose of prophesy. And makes it useless.

Both these writers you have mentioned are FANTASIZING instead of exegeting.

The only way to explain the existence of Ezekiel's temple is to accept it as the FOURTH TEMPLE which is built under the authority of God and Christ and is for redeemed and restored Israel. It must be seen in the light of the complete prophecy (supported by all the other prophets).

1. There is absolutely no doubt that according to Daniel, Christ, Paul, and John, there will be a third temple in Jerusalem during the Tribulation. It will be regarded by unbelieving Jews as the "temple of God," and it will be on the Temple Mount.

2. This temple will be desecrated by the Antichrist and used as a venue for him to proclaim that he is God. But before that he will make a deceptive covenant with the unbelieving Jews (who will believe that he is the true Messiah) to resume their temple sacrifices and oblations. There are already red heifers being raised in Israel. This temple will be destroyed during the Great Tribulation (or just before) and this is implied in the fact that it is an abomination to God because the Abomination of Desolation will sit in that temple.

3. Ezekiel's temple must await the second coming of Christ, and the redemption and restoration of Israel.

EZEKIEL 37
21 And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land:
22 And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all:
23 Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwelling places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God.
24 And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.
25 And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.
26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.
27 My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
28 And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.

Here is a very clear and unambiguous reference to the temple which will be built within redeemed and restored Israel in the future. God's covenant of peace can be none other than the New Covenant (mentioned indirectly in chapter 36:24-27). "My sanctuary" and "my tabernacle" speak of that temple, and later on in the book of Ezekiel we see how the glory of the LORD enters into that temple (just as it did when Solomon finished building the first temple).

The book of Ezekiel does present an enigma to Christians, who know from the book of Hebrews that the temple and its sacrifices under the Old Covenant were abolished because of the finished work of Christ. The supernatural tearing of the veil within that temple occurred at the same time as Jesus cried "It is finished". But if we are wise we will leave the reconciliation of Ezekiel's temple with the New Covenant in God's hands and simply say that we will learn about it during the Millennium.

Your last paragraph should set alarm bells ringing. Waiting till the millennium for understanding indeed!

You really think that God has revealed every detail of the future to us and that there is not much to be learned later? In any event the people you have quoted are unwilling to accept Bible prophecy for what it is, so they put their own spin on it. Since I have quoted the relevant Scripture, you can take it or leave it.

BEWARE OF SCHOLAR WORSHIP!

True, but God conveys these literal events in figurative language. For example, in Isaiah 19:1

"see, the LORD rides on a swift cloud and is coming to Egypt, the idols of Egypt tremble before him and the hearts of the Egyptians melt within them"

does not mean that the Lord mounts a mighty surfboard and rides into Egypt on a cloud, nor does it mean that the hearts of the Egyptians literally turn to liquid inside them. Symbolism is used extensively in the bible and a failure to recognise this causes all kinds of confusion. When one reads of a beast rising from the sea in the book of Revelation, do you imagine large animals or do you suspect that perhaps the Lord is trying to make some non literal point?

You make some good points though literal is used extensively as well, which is used more figuratively or literally or symbolically would it matter if things are more of this or that?

Certainly most things in the bible are to be taken literally and we can be sure that on the important things: salvation, the love of God, prayer, faith and our relationship with God, the bible is crystal clear. On the end times, God has chosen apocalyptic language. It certainly leaves room for error and the test for us, is to still love each other, even if we disagree. God doesn't really care if we don't understand the end. I think it possible that it is a riddle, like a game, that God uses to keep us engaged with the scripture and His teaching. If He gave us all the answers, where would the fun be? His priority is that we are ready and are focused on living the life faithfully. That was Jesus' message in the letters to the Churches in Revelation 2 and 3. Our focus must never be on Ezekiel's temple! That's just for us to chat about and share ideas about on long winter evenings!

Hmm that’s very interesting on the reed translation, it seems there’s mass confusion on translating to today’s terminology just looking at a few on Ezekiel 45:2 I copied a few from bible hub.

Contemporary English Version
The temple will be on a piece of land 255 meters square, and the temple will be completely surrounded by an open space 25 meters wide.

Good News Translation
In this area there is to be a square plot of land for the Temple, 840 feet on each side, entirely surrounded by an open space 84 feet wide.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
In this area there will be a square section for the sanctuary, 875 by 875 feet, with 87 1/2 feet of open space all around it.

International Standard Version
A Holy Place is to be dedicated from this area in the form of a square measuring 500 by 500 cubits, with a 50 cubit buffer zone surrounding it.

there’s a lot of different interpretations out there and looking at the next verse Ezekiel 45:3 it’s get even more stranger across the top 40 bible translations.

that was a good read thanks for the info and i enjoyed looking into that word translation. they probably used a actual plant reed at a set length was their measuring device

Things I’ve noticed some say we are close because of this or that, it might look as such surely people during WW2 thought the end times was near. I think in a sense it’s probably wise not to be over indulge in such accounts for only God really knows when.

This leaves us with a problem: How do we explain Ezekiel's temple? So, let's see what the forum has to say!