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Copyright © L. L. Griffith, 1971, 1996. ISBN 0-929554-01-9. This document may be reproduced in whole or in part provided that this copyright notice is reproduced on each copy made.

ZION RESTORED

The Return of the Glory

Introduction

Ezekiel 43 contains a prophecy of the future return and the epiphany of the One Sent in the glory of the LORD.

Herod's reconstruction of the temple did not have the Shekinah Glory attached to it. The departure of the glory of the LORD from the first temple is recorded in Ezekiel's prophecy from 10:18 through 11:23. The return of the glory is dependent upon Israel's repentance and subsequent return to obedience toward God.

Until that happy day there is no salvation or redemption either for the many out of the nations of the world who - in the interim of Israel's continuing rebellions against the Word after declaring, "All which the LORD has spoken, we will do," (Exodus 19:8) - hear the Word of God and answer the call of the LORD to be "holy as [He is] holy."

None of the orthodox established sects of Christendom are looking for the "heavenly" things of which many of the holy prophets of the LORD wrote by His Word; many Christians are supersessionist, wrongly believing that "the Church" has meanwhile replaced the Jews in the favor of God.
...The sects of Judaism too have divided beliefs; most reject the notion that Jesus Christ actually was the true Messiah. Thus the Jewish people hold conflicting traditions about their Messiah. Their eyes and ears are 'stopped' by traditions, by creeds, by dogmas and other forms of idolatry so that the wicked may be weeded out in the Day of the LORD from any inheritance in the land by the covenants of the promises made to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

Isaiah's words (in 64:4 as interpreted in 1 Corinthians 2:9) truly apply to all nations, but Israel in particular since they were the people first chosen to become "like the angels".

Ezekiel's description of the glory's return to the house and the "heavenly" activity compares with the "heavenly" scenes shown in Revelation 5:1-14; 6:1-17; in Revelation 11:1-4; 14:1-5; and with the "heavenly" scenes shown in Daniel 7:9-10, 21-22, 25-28; during the "earthly" events of Zechariah 12 through 14. In the "last days" the Father and His son are present in the earth for the judgment of the present world order, preparing to shine forth in the light of the holiness of the LORD's glory, after all the ungodly are destroyed, when the LORD's wrath against Israel and the nations is at last appeased.

For, the nation - "all Israel," natural sons and adopted - must be reconciled to God before the temple - the king's palace - is rebuilt.

The vision as stated in Ezekiel 40:1 came to Ezekiel in Nisan 10, 572 B.C. It is not until the eighth month of the second year of Darius in 520 B.C., about 52 years after the vision, that Zechariah prophesied concerning the bearer of the glory. At 6:12-13 in an allegory concerning the high priest's office Zechariah said, "Thus speaks the LORD of Sabaoth, saying, 'Behold the man whose name is the branch^2; and he shall grow up out of his place and he shall build the temple of the LORD. Even he shall build the temple of the LORD, and he shall bear the glory and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. ...And they afar off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and you shall know that the LORD of Sabaoth has sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD, your God.'"^3

It is 63 years more, after Zechariah's prophecy, before Ezra comes to Jerusalem, and 13 years later still until Nehemiah comes to build the wall. The nation had no king or priest to rule during these times. The glory of the LORD was gone, only by God's grace was the remnant remaining. The land laid desolate, trampled by the nations for over 125 years.

Micah and Isaiah write plain words concerning the time of the return of the glory. "In the last days it shall come to pass that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains." Of that same day when the mountain is elevated Isaiah also says: "Then the moon shall be confounded and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of Sabaoth shall reign in Mt. Zion and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously."

All the holy prophets agree that the people must respond to His Voice, "If you will diligently obey the voice of the LORD," and when "they be ashamed of all that they have done, show them" the plan for the sanctuary of the LORD's house. The nation of Israel literally will not see the temple again until they wish - are willing - to be ruled by the LORD. Then His glory will appear over Zion, coming from the east to shine high above over a new Jerusalem.

At the Eastern Gate

Ezekiel is brought to the eastern gatehouse by his guide.

1 Afterward he brought me to the gate, [even] the gate that looketh toward the east:

• After the internal measurements are completed and after the outside measure of the wall is done, Ezekiel and his guide return to the east gatehouse.

They have gone completely round all the perimeter of the site of the sanctuary on the mountain top.

2 And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice [was] like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.

• The glory comes from the eastern direction.
• The sound of the glory's arrival is like the roaring noise of much water.
• The ground shined with the light of the glory of the God of Israel.

The appearance of the Holy Spirit of God is accompanied with auditory and visual effects not unlike other manifestations of heavenly beings. The sound may be compared in measure to the torrential roaring of a waterfall. The cataract falls of the Niagara River between the United States and Canada produces both overwhelming sound and vibrations of the ground, as portrayed here in Ezekiel's prophecy.

The earth, the ground underfoot, is brilliantly lighted by the glory, as prophesied by the prophet. Isaiah 60:1, 14, 22 proclaims "Arise; shine! For, thy light is come and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee, þand they shall call thee, "The city of the LORD - the Zion of the Holy One of Israel." ...I, the LORD, will hasten it in his time." See Luke 17:24 and Matthew 24:27, noting the contexts, and Revelation 10:1-7, about the most peculiarly arrayed "angel" who is to be coming down out of the heaven.

In the Revelation's prophecy of the LORD's day, during each "strange act" or "strange work" anticipated by the ancient holy prophets, sounds of thunderclaps, lightnings, earth quaking, and voices issue from the place of the heavenly throne. It is unlikely that these phenomena are symbols, or figures, or that they signify other than what they are stated to be: strange sounds, thunders, lightning flashes, earthshaking and quaking generated from the presence of the Cloud above Mt. Zion. Peter alludes to the strange sounds and great noise of the Lord's coming day...

3 And [it was] according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, [even] according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions [were] like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face.

• The vision appears to Ezekiel in the same manner as did a previous vision which is described in Ezekiel 1:1-28 and Ezekiel 3:14, 22-24.
• This vision resembles the sight that he saw by the river Chebar.
• His reaction is the same; Ezekiel again falls down upon his face.

In the previous sight the Glory had arrived as a whirlwind from the north, as a "great cloud and a fire enfolding itself and a brightness round about it, and out of the midst of it like the color of amber out of the midst of the fire." The Glory was accompanied by the living creatures and the wheels, with the likeness of a throne above all, and brightness all around.

Contrast this vision of the Glory of the LORD with a similar vision "in heaven" as shown in Revelation 4 and Revelation 5. There are numerous texts in the New Testament which describe the coming of the LORD in glory and of the coming of the Christ in his own glory. These texts are remarkably explicit in detailing things that will then occur. See any Greek Lexicon under glory.

4 And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect [is] toward the east.

• The glory of the LORD enters into the sanctuary of the LORD's house via the pathway of the east gatehouse.

5 So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house.

• The Holy Spirit takes up Ezekiel and deposits him within the Inner Court of the sanctuary.
• The Glory of the LORD now fills the temple.

The act pictured here is a unique event. It may be placed under the category of the Christian doctrine about the rapture. In actuality, when does the Holy Spirit descend to "take up" the LORD's chosen people in order to place them in the Father's house? The prophet Joel speaks of this great event in Chapter Two of his prophecy. In the New Testament a sign of the true fulfillment was enacted during Pentecost, read Acts 2. The event occurs at the resurrection of the dead. The gifts of the Holy Spirit enabled the many present to speak in "other tongues" - foreign languages.

The purpose of the gifts in the last days becomes apparent when the prophecy of the Revelation is rightly understood, as shown in Revelation 10:8-11. ...When the Lord comes and raises the sanctified dead, he will commission them, and send them - as the apostle John is instructed - to prophesy concerning the contents of the "little book" to the people and to the nations and languages, and to their many rulers. The bitterness of the message to be preached is also alluded to in Daniel's prophecy of "the last days."

As in Ezekiel's prophecy of the vision showing the measuring of the sanctuary, so Revelation 11 shows that the temple and altar are measured when John is bidden to "Arise." Revelation 14:1-7 also shows Mt. Zion, the throne, with the 144,000 of Israel's elect "firstfruits" with the Lamb, with the cherubim and the elders round about him, as another angel fetches the gospel to be announced to every nation, tribe, tongue and people. Likewise, a warning is issued concerning the coming judgment.

The Warning: Law of the House

6 And I heard [him] speaking unto me out of the house; and the man stood by me.

• From the temple the Holy Spirit speaks to Ezekiel.
• His companion still stands beside him.

The man still stands beside Ezekiel, but Ezekiel is prostrate upon his face. Ezekiel One ended the same way: "Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw, I fell upon my face and I heard a voice of one that spoke." See Ezekiel 2:1-2. This phenomenon of change of position and change of speaker also occurs in the Revelation at 14:13-18.
...This phenomenon is addressed in my study When Earth Burns when the glory of the LORD is enthroned on Zion for the deliverance of His people.

The peculiar luminous colors of the rainbow (Ezekiel 1:28) shine around the prophet and the light lightens the house as the man stands by. Now Ezekiel hears the voice of One speaking to him. Compare with the scene of Revelation 10:1-7. The voice from out of the house introduces a new stage in the dimension of the vision. The arrival of the Glory of the God of Israel suggests that the pattern which was shown to Ezekiel has been translated and transformed into the actual structures, occupied by the elect; and under preparation for His service.

"Arise, shine! For your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen on you," says Isaiah. The darkening of the sun, the moon and the stars (as reiterated in the Gospels and in the Revelation) is called to your attention. The times of the first six trumpets of the LORD's apocalypse are past. The prophecy of Isaiah 40 to the end of his book should be read at this point in order to prepare for the things which follow in Ezekiel 43. The Law cannot go forth from Zion, nor the Word of the LORD from Jerusalem, until the Lawgiver takes up residence in the king's palace. Isaiah, the prophet, believed the things concerning a literal restoration of David's house (which is Judah), and the son upon David's throne for the millennial age, for the apostle John so testified concerning the throne: "These things said Isaiah when he saw his glory and spoke of him."

Commandment to Build

Ezekiel is no longer addressed by the man who did the measuring of the sanctuary and its structures. The voice of the Holy Spirit of the LORD speaks directly to the prophet, beginning at 43:7-11.

7 And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name shall the house of Israel no more defile, [neither] they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places.
8 In their setting of their thresholds by my thresholds, and their post by my posts, and the wall between me and them, they have even defiled my holy name by their abominations that they have committed: wherefore I have consumed them in mine anger.
9 Now let them put away their whoredom, and the carcases of their kings far from me, and I will dwell in the midst of them for ever.
10 Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern.
11 And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write [it] in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them.

The Law of the House

What an extraordinary proclamation! It is a reading of the charge against the nation while it presents the hope for its future restoration as a kingdom.

Because of their various sins and lawlessness the people of Israel were scattered by the nations and the house was deserted. In His anger with them the LORD allowed the nations to cast out the people, priests and king from the land. When the people repent of their sins of rebellion and then turn back to Him, He will regather the remnant of the nation back around Jerusalem.

The temple, envisioned by Ezekiel, with the new laws and ordinances which then apply, will then be His dwelling place and the place of His throne. It will become a place where He will walk about among His people - the place of the soles of His feet.

Did the LORD expect Israel to return to Him some time shortly after Ezekiel first prophesied? Probably, because the second temple was built. However, it was "as nothing" in many eyes and the glory did not return to dwell in it. The prophets who came after Ezekiel make no mention of any wholehearted or genuine repentance, rather the opposite came to pass, as Malachi's prophecy about their contemptible attitude toward Him and toward the house indicates.

The conditions for the return of His glory are clearly stated by Ezekiel. The people must repent, observe the forms and observe the law, and build His house. Now, since 1948 Israel has been establishing territorial claims upon the land once owned by Canaan. When will the claims fully succeed?

Hear Ezekiel again: "Nevertheless, I will remember My covenant with thee in the days of thy youth and I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant." Is this not the purpose of the report pictured in Revelation 14:6-7? A proclamation of the covenant with God that shall obtain during the millennial age?"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."

Thus the LORD will establish a new covenant with natural Israel after His wrath against them is placated. Zion will have produced 'many sons' (children) to her Lord. The voice of the LORD continues with the injunction concerning the ordinances of the house.

12 This [is] the law of the house; Upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about [shall be] most holy. Behold, this [is] the law of the house.

• This, following - the warning of vv. 7-11 - is the law concerning the house.
• The entire surrounding border is designated most holy.
• They must pay attention to this law.

The prophet Isaiah (28: 9, 11-12, 16) confirms the past immaturity of the house of Israel in the knowledge and understanding of the Word of the LORD, "Whom shall He teach doctrine? And, whom shall He make to understand doctrine? Those weaned from the milk drawn from the breasts. For with stammering lips and another tongue will He speak to this people to whom He said, 'This is the rest in which you may cause the weary to rest,' and 'This is the refreshing,' yet they would not hear. Therefore saith the LORD, 'Behold I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation. He that believes shall not make haste." This work precedes the gift of pure language to all the people. The last part of the quotation is found in the New Testament writings three times with varied application, as "He that believes on him/Me shall not be ashamed/confounded." Isaiah repeats the theme in Chapter 49, as "They shall not be ashamed who wait for Me."

Altar of Burnt Offering

Directly after the Glory entered into the house, and after the Spirit of the LORD has admonished the house of Israel concerning the preconditions for the indwelling of the LORD's presence, the altar of burnt offering is exhibited for attention.

The altar, noticed in passing at 40:47, is now described. At 40:47 the man measured the court and noted " the altar... before the house." The measures were not then done because the house was the subject of attention for measuring then. The measures are now revealed.

13 And these [are] the measures of the altar after the cubits: The cubit [is] a cubit and an hand breadth; even the bottom [shall be] a cubit, and the breadth a cubit, and the border thereof by the edge thereof round about [shall be] a span: and this [shall be] the higher place of the altar.

• The altar measures are equal to the long cubit, of a cubit and a hand's breadth.
• The bottom, the lap which surrounds the top of the altar, is a cubit wide.
• The border's edge is a span wide all around.
• This describes the top part of the altar.

The bottom, evidently somewhat like a trough, is the projecting ledge and its border upon which the priest walks as he splashes or pours out the blood on the altar, and when he places sacrifices upon the fire.

14 And from the bottom [upon] the ground [even] to the lower settle [shall be] two cubits, and the breadth one cubit; and from the lesser settle [even] to the greater settle [shall be] four cubits, and the breadth [one] cubit.

• From the position of the bottom, the earth to the lower ledge, is two cubits upward and one cubit wide.
• From the smaller to the greater ledge, the distance is four cubits and one cubit wide.
• The altar therefore has two ledges, each ledge being a cubit wide. The altar is six cubits high.

15 So the altar [shall be] four cubits; and from the altar and upward [shall be] four horns.

• The main body of the altar is four cubits tall upon its base.
• Four horns project upward from it.

The side view of the altar, measuring its height, is done. Next the top view is shown to Ezekiel.

16 And the altar [shall be] twelve [cubits] long, twelve broad, square in the four squares thereof.

• The altar's hearth is twelve cubits wide in each direction, square.

17 And the settle [shall be] fourteen [cubits] long and fourteen broad in the four squares thereof; and the border about it [shall be] half a cubit; and the bottom thereof [shall be] a cubit about; and his stairs shall look toward the east.

• Each ledge of the altar is fourteen cubits long.
• Each ledge is a square framing the altar
• The hollow part of the ledge inside its border is a cubit wide.
• The border to the ledge is one half of a cubit's width.
• An ascent leads up to the ledge; it faces toward the east.

See Diagram Q, The Altar of Burnt Offering. These four verses wholly describe the altar. Its features may be compared with the altar which is described in Exodus. Although of slightly larger dimensions this altar closely follows the original design in brass which Moses received from God at Mt. Sinai.

The first brass altar was designed to be portable. Ezekiel's altar has no such provision; nor is it building material specified. David apparently received no pattern for this altar; nothing is noted in the Chronicles.

Herod's reconstructed altar was similar to this design. Including its horns it was fifteen feet high. The horns themselves were one and one half feet tall.

The ledges are used by the priests as a walkway around the altar for the purpose of laying the sacrifice upon the fire. They entered the ledge on the right side and exited from the left side when doing this work. The top ledge was located nine feet from the ground and was a foot and one half in thickness.

But Ezekiel has noted two ledges.

Ordinances of the Altar

The ordinances concerning the altar are to be observed with the same careful manner as are all the other laws and ordinances which are given concerning the buildings of the sanctuary of the LORD's house.

18 And he said unto me, Son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; These [are] the ordinances of the altar in the day when they shall make it, to offer burnt offerings thereon, and to sprinkle blood thereon.

• Tthe Holy Spirit instructs thus, "Son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD..."
• These laws apply in the days when the altar is constructed for use.
• Its purpose is in order to offer burnt offerings thereon, and to sprinkle blood thereon.

Whatever the previous ordinances which applied to the altar were, in the future day they are superseded by the ordinances given here. This requires a change in the Law once given to Moses; this change is ordered by the Lord GOD for that time.

The matter of any change of the customs which Moses delivered to the people at Sinai was a point disputed against Stephen's preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ by men from the synagogues of the Libertines, the Cyrenian, the Alexandrian, and from Cilicia and Asia. The same point - of a change of the customs of Moses - was made by Paul in his letter to the Hebrews. See Acts 6:8-15 and Hebrews 7:1-28. Both Stephen and Paul spoke the truth concerning the Messiah of Israel, still both were hailed before the highest courts, condemned and executed for daring to preach the doctrine of Jesus Christ.

The LORD God has commanded this change. He will implement the changes in the "last days" after Israel's hitherto hard attitude toward obedience to Him has changed to a heartfelt willingness to listen, to see and to hear His Word.

19 And thou shalt give to the priests the Levites that be of the seed of Zadok, which approach unto me, to minister unto me, saith the Lord GOD, a young bullock for a sin offering.

• A special order of priests shall officiate at the dedication of the altar in those days to come.
• They are designated priests of Zadok's lineage; faithful ones.
• They shall be given a bullock to sacrifice for the sin offering.

The work performed to cleanse the altar is in accordance with the principle embodied in the Law of Moses. It is the same LORD who dictates the manner in which any work for Him must be done.

20 And thou shalt take of the blood thereof, and put [it] on the four horns of it, and on the four corners of the settle, and upon the border round about: thus shalt thou cleanse and purge it.

• The bullock's blood is taken.
• Some is put on each horn of the altar.
• Some is put on each corner of the ledge and the surrounding border.

This is the preliminary work for cleansing the altar before it is used in service for the people. The same ritual was performed when Solomon dedicated the first altar.

21 Thou shalt take the bullock also of the sin offering, and he shall burn it in the appointed place of the house, without the sanctuary.

• The carcase of the sin offering must be removed from the sanctuary.
• It must be burned in the appointed place outside.

This provision agrees with the prior Law of Moses.

22 And on the second day thou shalt offer a kid of the goats without blemish for a sin offering; and they shall cleanse the altar, as they did cleanse [it] with the bullock.

• On the next day a kid of the goats must be offered in the same prescribed manner for the bullock.
• The kid must be unblemished.
• Its blood must be used to cleanse the altar as the bullock's blood was used; some is put on each horn of the altar, some is put on each corner of the ledge and the surrounding border.

23 When thou hast made an end of cleansing [it], thou shalt offer a young bullock without blemish, and a ram out of the flock without blemish.

• The cleansing of the altar with the kid's blood completed, a young bullock and a ram, both unblemished, must be offered.

24 And thou shalt offer them before the LORD, and the priests shall cast salt upon them, and they shall offer them up [for] a burnt offering unto the LORD.

• The bullock and the ram are offered in the presence of the LORD.
• Salt must be thrown upon the offering.
• This is the burnt offering as made to the LORD.

25 Seven days shalt thou prepare every day a goat [for] a sin offering: they shall also prepare a young bullock, and a ram out of the flock, without blemish.

• The goat as a sin offering must be done daily for seven days.
• The bullock and the ram for the sin offering must be done daily for seven days also.

The prophet, addressed as "Son of man," is directed to see that these duties are performed. [On specified holy days the "prince" (45:17-22; 46:2) is designated to officiate during the sacrifice of the burnt offerings. These times will be examined in their order in the prophecy.]

26 Seven days shall they purge the altar and purify it; and they shall consecrate themselves.

• Seven days are required to purge and purify the altar.
• The priests also require the same seven days in order to consecrate themselves.

The time may be required in order to assure the sanctity of the work, but this is a secondary consideration.

27 And when these days are expired, it shall be, [that] upon the eighth day, and [so] forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings upon the altar, and your peace offerings; and I will accept you, saith the Lord GOD.

• From the eighth day onward the people may offer their burnt and peace offerings.
• The Levite priests will do the work of the offerings.
• The LORD will accept the people from that day forward.

Whether the Hebrew calendar is changed somewhat is not a point that this text is concerned about, but other prophecies indicate that the year will be shortened from 365 days to reflect a calendar of 360 days.

The cleansing of the altar of burnt offerings requires only a week of time; presumably a new year is begun at this date in time.

Is This to Be, Literally?

Ezekiel's vision of the sanctuary of the LORD's house and the renewed temple service is looked on by some as merely symbolism that reflects "the Church age." The view shows a woeful lack of understanding, particularly after the angel repeatedly warned Ezekiel to see and to hear with the understanding.

Ezekiel's vision is a prophecy of the structures which are to materialize in the "last days." The sanctuary is a visible structure literally built upon the top of the very high mountain of Zion. That mountain is not very significant or holy at this time, but God can not only move, but can also make mountains, and do other things that He pleases to do. When the site is readied by the many earthquakes of the "last days," these things will come to pass.

Consider some other things:

1. Ezekiel was returned in vision to the site of the smitten city, Jerusalem, where he was shown this city-framed structure situated on the south of the mountain. Such a journey in vision would be a highly dishonest act by the LORD if the vision is not to become a reality.
2. Other holy prophets of the LORD witness that Mt. Zion is the place of Israel's deliverance. "The Deliverer will come out of Zion." Do those prophets concur with deceiving words? Not so! Let God be true and every man who contradicts the Word a liar.
3. The climactic battles of the nations against the LORD will be fought in the valley of Jehoshaphat and around Megiddo. Israel's power is gone; Jerusalem desolated. See Joel 3; Daniel 11:36-45; Revelation 16:16. Is the conclusion of the controversy of Zion just a figment of vain imagination? But God rules in the kingdoms of men, and sets up Whom He wills.
4. The appointed place for the burning of the refuse is in the Hinnom Valley, southwest of present day Mt. Zion. See Jeremiah 31:38-40. The western section of Jerusalem is to be rebuilt to the LORD. The valley westward is to be set apart for "dead bodies" and "ashes." The text of Jeremiah 31:38-40 along with Isaiah 66:23-24 ought to convince anyone that the temple will be built within a new Jerusalem.
5. "And they shall bring all your brethren as an offering unto the LORD, þto my holy mountain in Jerusalem, saith the LORD," Isaiah 66:20. The city will "not be plucked up nor thrown down any more forever," Jeremiah 31:40, when it is established in "the last days." This 'plucking up' and 'throwing down' clearly also refers to seismic activity in addition to damage caused by warfare. How can such texts symbolize "the Church age?"
6. The lack of any gatehouses toward the west side of the sanctuary for the use of the people is clarified. To the west lies the unclean place; Topheth, Geheena, the Valley of Hinnom. Along with the reference to the building that was before the separate place at the end to the west (41:12) this indicates that both "dead bodies" and the "ashes" from the altar, and probably from the kitchen areas too, are dumped in the valley which burns them in its "lake of fire." Certainly a private exit for the purpose of conveyance these ashes, etc., will exist convenient to the judgment hall and the altar.
7. The dedication of the altar of burnt offerings supposes that an order of priests of righteous character has been assembled for the work. It supposes that the "prince" is installed in his office too. It supposes that a sufficient animal husbandry exists to provide animals for sacrifice. These suppositions presume that Malachi's prophecy is fulfilled prior to the building of the altar.
8. The construction of a "new" Jerusalem then, and the construction of the temple on Zion surely then proceeds in the "last days" according to many prophecies of the holy prophets of the LORD. And one supposes, in order for this temple to be built, there must be a further revelation from the LORD of the heavens.
   The "man whose name is the branch" is appointed to oversee the building of the temple, according to the prophet Zechariah 6:12. But Zechariah also concludes the chapter with the statement of the LORD, that "this shall come to pass if you will completely obey the voice of the LORD your God." If.., if.., if... How long yet until Israel will "completely obey the Voice?"
9. Abraham "looked for a city which has a foundation whose builder and maker is God." Having the same righteous faith as Abraham had, we ought to have the same viewpoint and prospect in mind. Of all those who have Abraham's faith it is written, "God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared for them a city." Who will dispute these words?

"Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it; Except the LORD keep the city, the watchman wakes in vain."
- Psalm 127:1