The Millennial Temple: Levitical Caretakers and Zadokite Priests – Part 6

THE SHUT GATE Much of Ezekiel chapters 44 through 46 describe the priesthood, the sacrificial system that they will implement and related matters.  In 44:1-3 it is said that the outer eastern gate is to remain shut because it is through that entrance that the LORD God of Israel entered the temple (vv. 1-2; cf. […]

The Millennial Temple: the Altar of Sacrifice – Part 5

The altar of sacrifices’ design and statutes for its sanctification are given in Ezekiel 43:13-27.  The altar sits in the inner court before the temple proper (Ezek. 40:47).  The base is one-and-a-half feet high.  It is surrounded by a one-and-a-half foot wide trench or gutter with a nine inch high top edge, undoubtedly for draining […]

The Millennial Temple: the River of Life – Part 4

The many features that could never be created by man divulges the timing of the temple’s construction under the Messiah’s kingship. Nevertheless, some imagine that this temple was an offer only for Israel in Ezekiel’s day, and has no future fulfillment. The deniers have no excuse, for there is an element that is so marvelous […]

The Millennial Temple: the Glorious Messiah on His Throne – Part 3

THE SHEKINAH GLORY FILLS THE TEMPLE In Ezekiel 43:1-5 the prophet is directed to the gate facing the east to witness the returning glory of the LORD! This glory is the dwelling or nesting presence of the LORD, also known as the Shekinah. The Shekinah will enter through the eastern gate (v. 4), the same […]

The Millennial Temple: Her Design and Dimensions – Part 2

THE OUTER AND INNER COURTS Ezekiel chapters 40-42 concern the measurements of courts, porticos, gates, various rooms, the temple proper and a description of some instruments and furniture. The details are so specific and numerous that only some of the broader elements and highlights can be examined here. As Ezekiel begins his tour of the […]

The Millennial Temple: the Messiah’s House in Shiloh – Part 1

The Book of Ezekiel’s final nine chapters are among the most fascinating in all of Scripture. Despite this, they are all too often ignored by the majority of Christians. One of the reasons for this is that many students of Scripture simply do not know what to make of what they are reading. For the […]

The Millennial Jerusalem: YHWH-shammah

The LORD declared that the days are coming when Jerusalem is to be rebuilt from corner to corner (Jer. 31:38-39).  The first thing we should recognize about the millennial Jerusalem is that she is entirely holy.  To the west and south of the city in Jeremiah’s day and now lies the infamous valley of Ben-hinnom, […]

Wastelands in the Messianic Kingdom

BABYLON During the Messianic or Millennial Kingdom, not every place on earth is going to become more like Eden.  In addition to the marshes of the Dead Sea remaining salty and lifeless (Ezek. 47:11), some areas of the earth will become nothing but desolate wastelands.  One such notable wasteland is Babylon in modern day Iraq.  […]

The Premillennialism of Polycarp

Polycarp lived from about A.D. 65 to 155, and finds himself among the greatest Christians the world has ever witnessed.  He was a friend of and fellow pupil alongside Ignatius under the apostle John.  Archbishop James Ussher identified Polycarp as the angel of the church in Smyrna,[1] spoken of by Jesus Himself in Revelation 2:8.[2]  […]

The Premillennialism of Lactantius

Lucius Caelius Firmianus Lactantius was a theologian and the spiritual advisor to Constantine I.  He helped shape some of the emperor’s theology and even tutored his son Crispus.[1]  The father may have been given the name Lactantius because of the milky softness of his skin.  He was a master of rhetoric, achieving far greater fame […]