Ezekiel 42:20

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.

It had a wall round about ... to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place. No longer shall the wall of partition be to separate the Jew and the Gentile (for Christ "hath broken, down the middle wall of partition between us" Gentiles and Jews, ), but, to separate the sacred from the profane. The lowness of it renders it unfit for the purpose of defense (the object of the wall of the holy city, ). But its square form (as in the city, ) is the emblem of the "kingdom that cannot be moved" (), resting on prophets and apostles, Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone.

Remarks:

(1) This chapter describes the chambers of the priests, and the dimensions of the holy mount whereon the temple is to stand. How far the details of the vast dimensions are literal (Ezekiel 42:16 ), and how far ideal, is as yet uncertain. Perhaps language is used in the description, the full significance of which is not to be exhausted even in the millennial temple, but shall find its full realization in the post-millennial city (Revelation 21:10 , etc), which shall descend from God out of heaven on the regenerated earth, the new Jerusalem, which shall be all temple, and therefore shall have "no" part specially set apart as "temple" ( ). In that consummated and final scene of glory there shall be a real city, of glorious proportions, but one of that heavenly nature which shall correspond to the heavenly earth, and the heavenly bodies of saints that shall tenant it. In the same way the language of Ezekiel concerning Gog and Magog receives only a partial fulfillment in the pre-millennial Antichrist, but receives its exhaustive realization in the post-millennial Gog, the last instrument of Satan which shall ever vex the saints (Revelation 20:7).

(2) Meanwhile on the millennial earth this vast temple symbolizes the mighty enlargement of the (2) Meanwhile, on the millennial earth, this vast temple symbolizes the mighty enlargement of the kingdoms of God when Christ shall reign, and the kingdoms of the earth shall be the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ ( ). "The mountain of the Lord's house," in that blessed day soon coming, shall be established in the top of the mountains, and all nations shall flow unto it" ( ). There shall still be the "separation between sanctuary and the profane place;" for even in the millennium there shall be things secular, as distinguished from things consecrated. Not until the new heaven and new earth (, etc; Revelation 22:1.) shall all things and persons alike be holy, and so no longer shall the distinction of sacred and profane exist.

(3) The chambers, though private, are to be near the temple ( , etc), which teaches us that our communion with God in our secret chambers is to prepare us for public devotions in the sanctuary, and to enable us to derive all the benefits from them which God has design. There can be no real worship in public if them be not also worship in private. In the temple of the Holy Spirit, the Church, there are multitudes dwelling by faith, and yet "there is room" () for more. Let us see that our hearts can say, by blessed experience (), "How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!" So shall we reach, and forever dwell in the heavenly house of our Father, wherein are many mansions ().