Ezekiel 40:48,49

Ezekiel probably thought that he would never receive the honour to serve God in his *holy *temple. But the *angel led Ezekiel past the *altar and up to the door of the *temple. Again, Ezekiel counted the steps as he entered. There were 10. And as he climbed, he was closer than ever to God’s most *holy place.

The *temple building had three rooms. After the entrance hall, Ezekiel would enter the *holy place. He would be able to *worship God there while the *angel measured the most *holy place. That last room was so sacred that only the chief priest could *worship there. And even he could only enter once each year, and never without the blood of a special *sacrifice (Leviticus chapter 16). In that room was the sacred box. God was present there.

vision ~ something that God shows to a person but not with the physical sight. Visions are often in the form of dreams.
exile ~ When people have to live in a foreign country they are in exile. Such a person is called an exile.
vision ~ something that God shows to a person but not with the physical sight. Visions are often in the form of dreams.
holy ~ what God is like. He is completely different from people. He never does anything wrong. The word ‘holy’ also describes something that is separate, for God’s use only. People must never use a holy thing for ordinary purposes.
temple ~ a special building for the worship of God or other gods. The Jews had one in Jerusalem for the worship of the real God.
worship ~ an act to give honour to God (or to a false god). When people praise and thank God.
Jews ~ another name for the Israelites.
Israelites ~ the people whose ancestors are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
worship ~ an act to give honour to God (or to a false god). When people praise and thank God.
glory ~ great honour and beauty.
Babylonian ~ a person from the nation called Babylon or anything that has a relationship with Babylon.
Israel ~ Israel is the nation whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The country in which they live is called Israel. Israel became the name of the northern nation when it separated from Judah. However, Ezekiel sometimes uses the word ‘Israel’ to refer to Judah.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
Lord ~ a title for God, to show that he is over all people and things.
LORD ~ ‘LORD’ is the special name that God gave to himself. It probably means, ‘He is always God’. This name has a relationship with the special promises that God gave to his people.
Messiah ~ The Jews expect a king to come who will save them. That king, called the Messiah, will rule both them and all people.
Jews ~ another name for the Israelites.
Israelites ~ the people whose ancestors are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
sin ~ Sin means the wrong things that we do. To sin is to do wrong, bad or evil deeds and not to obey God. People are called sinners because of their sins.
turn ~ to change your behaviour, your friends, or your God; or, to carry out actions in order to oppose someone.
Israelites ~ the people whose ancestors are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
tribe ~ The Israelites were divided into the 12 families of the sons of Jacob. These families are the 12 tribes of Israel.
Israelites ~ the people whose ancestors are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Israel ~ Israel is the nation whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The country in which they live is called Israel. Israel became the name of the northern nation when it separated from Judah. However, Ezekiel sometimes uses the word ‘Israel’ to refer to Judah.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
prophet ~ person who speaks for God. He can sometimes say what will happen in the future. However, false prophets are people who merely pretend to speak God’s words.
sacrifice ~ something that people gave to God. (or, something that people gave to a false god). It could be an animal, or grain, or oil, or wine. The priest burned all or part of the sacrifice on an altar. Sometimes people gave sacrifices in order to thank God. And sometimes people gave sacrifices so that God could forgive sin (Leviticus 4:35).
altar ~ the special table where people burn animals or offer other gifts to God or to false gods.
sin ~ Sin means the wrong things that we do. To sin is to do wrong, bad or evil deeds and not to obey God. People are called sinners because of their sins.
Lord ~ a title for God, to show that he is over all people and things.
LORD ~ ‘LORD’ is the special name that God gave to himself. It probably means, ‘He is always God’. This name has a relationship with the special promises that God gave to his people.
bronze ~ A brown metal. It glows when in a fire. It polishes well and it reflects the light. It is very strong.'son of man ~ Ezekiel. ‘Son of man’ was the title that God used for Ezekiel. It emphasised that Ezekiel was a mere man. Ezekiel would have to depend on God’s Spirit to make him strong. Only then could Ezekiel do what God told him to do.
angel ~ God’s special servants in heaven. God made angels to serve him and to take his messages.
cubit ~ a length of about half a metre.
altar ~ the special table where people burn animals or offer other gifts to God or to false gods.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
sacrifice ~ something that people gave to God. (or, something that people gave to a false god). It could be an animal, or grain, or oil, or wine. The priest burned all or part of the sacrifice on an altar. Sometimes people gave sacrifices in order to thank God. And sometimes people gave sacrifices so that God could forgive sin (Leviticus 4:35).
altar ~ the special table where people burn animals or offer other gifts to God or to false gods.
sin ~ Sin means the wrong things that we do. To sin is to do wrong, bad or evil deeds and not to obey God. People are called sinners because of their sins.
descendant ~ a later member of a family.'

Ezekiel: “They shall know that I am God”

The Future *Temple and *Sacrifices

Ezekiel Chapter s 40 to 48

Ian Mackervoy

Part Four – Ezekiel 40:1-48 The Future *Temple and *Sacrifices

About Chapter s 40 to 48 The purpose of these 9 Chapter s is to give hope to the *Israelites. They were in *exile in Babylon. But the *Lord spoke to them about the future of *Israel. The *Israelites will live in the land that God promised to Abraham (Genesis 15:18). Then the *Lord will take away their *sin. They will be his special people. They will be loyal to him and he will be their God.

There will be a new *temple in Jerusalem. The *glory of the *Lord God will fill that *temple. There will be *sacrifices for *worship in that *temple. There will be priests who serve in the *temple. The people will live in the whole land that God promised to Abraham. Each of the 12 *tribes will have a share of that land. There will be shares of the land for the prince, the priests and the city of Jerusalem.

The description of the *temple should make the *exiles ashamed of their *sins (43:10-11). They should appreciate that the *Lord loves them still. He wants to live with them. This should cause them to *turn again to the *Lord their God.

This is a difficult section of the Bible to understand. There are different ways in which some people understand it. Many genuine Christians have opinions about this passage, which are different from my opinions. So, I have tried to explain the reasons for my beliefs. There are 4 main ideas, which I discuss below.

1. History or future

Some people have tried to argue that this *temple has already existed in the past. They say that this *temple was one of the three earlier *temples. Those three *temples were Solomon’s, Zerrubabel’s and Herod’s. But the size and design of the new *temple are quite different to these three *temples. There has never been a *temple that was like the one in this section (Chapter s 40-42). A river will flow from the *temple (47:1-12). No river has flowed from the previous *temples. Therefore, I believe that the new *temple must be for a future time.

The style of *worship is similar to that in the *Old Testament (Chapter s 43-46). But it is not the same. There has never been *worship quite like this in the past. Therefore, this style of *worship must be for a future time.

The 12 *tribes will have equal shares of the land (Chapter s 45, 47 and 48). This has not happened in the past and it cannot happen today. The geography of the region will have to change before this can happen. Therefore, this division of the land must be in the future.

2. *Allegory or actual

Some people do not believe that there will be a new *temple. They cannot see why there should be any *sacrifices after the death of Jesus. But Ezekiel mentions *sacrifices in the *temple. So, these people believe that this passage is either picture language, or an *allegory. But they interpret it in different ways.

Some people say that these are *allegories of Christian *worship. But the *Lord gave this *vision to Ezekiel for the benefit of the *Israelites. There is nothing in these Chapter s to make it refer to the church.

Some people think that it shows the *temple in heaven (Hebrews 9:23-24). And other people think that Ezekiel saw an ideal *temple, not a real one. If they are right, then the purpose of the *vision was to teach the *Israelites about *worship. But I do not agree because there are so many details in Ezekiel’s *vision, for example, the measurements. Moreover, Ezekiel’s *temple was on the earth. For example, Ezekiel 44:25 mentions dead bodies. But nobody dies in heaven.

3. The idea that this *prophecy failed

Some people say that this *prophecy has failed. In their opinion, it was for the *Israelites who returned from *exile. If they had obeyed all of God’s law then the things in this *vision would have happened. But Ezekiel does not say that the *vision depended on the actions of people. The word of God does not fail. If the *prophecy is from God then it will happen. So I believe that there will be a new *temple. There will be animal *sacrifices and there will be priests. The 12 *tribes will have equal shares of the land that belongs to *Israel.

4. The *millennium or the *eternal state

Some people say that this *vision shows the *eternal state. The ‘*eternal state’ means the new heaven and the new earth. But this *vision cannot be of the *eternal state. In the new earth, there is no *temple (Revelation 21:22). Then the river will flow from the *throne (Revelation 22:1). In Ezekiel’s *vision, the river flows from the *temple.

I believe that the most likely time for this *prophecy is the *millennium. The *millennium is the 1000 years when the *Lord Jesus will rule on the earth (Revelation 20:1-6). This is before this earth ends and before the start of the new earth (Revelation 21:1).

The *Lord Jesus Christ made the one complete and perfect *sacrifice for *sin. He died once for all time because of our *sin. There is now no need for other *sacrifices. There is now no need for the human priests. But in this *prophecy, there are *sacrifices for *sin and there are human priests.

The *temple, the *sacrifices and the priests are for the *Israelites. During the *millennium, people from other nations will *worship with them in Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:16). Ezekiel’s *vision shows perfect practice in *Israelite *worship. In the *Old Testament, the *sacrifices refer forward to the *Messiah. In the *millennium, the *sacrifices refer back to the death of the *Messiah. The *sacrifices never could take away *sins. In the *millennium, the *sacrifices will not take away *sins. The *sacrifices will remind people about the one *sacrifice of Jesus the *Messiah. That was the only *sacrifice that dealt with *sin.

In a similar way, Christians break bread and drink wine. The bread and the wine represent (are signs of) the body and blood of Christ (who is the *Messiah). This act is referring back to the death of Christ. So, the animals in the *sacrifices represent the work of the *Messiah. That work is complete. He died for us all and he rose again from death.

This section follows the messages in the rest of the book. Earlier, Ezekiel showed how the *glory of God would leave the *temple. He told how the *Babylonians would destroy Jerusalem (Chapter s 4-24). He then *prophesied how God would punish the nations (25:1-33:20). Then he gave 6 messages of hope to the *exiles (33:21-39:29).

In those 6 messages, Ezekiel informed them that God will bring them back to their land. God will be like a good *shepherd to them. And God will forgive all their *sins. He will make a new agreement with them. Then they will live in their land and they will be safe. Enemies will attack God’s people. But God will *destroy those enemies (Chapter s 38-39). After all those events, Ezekiel describes the return of God’s *glory to his *temple.

God's *glory is a most important part of Ezekiel's *prophecy. The return of God's *glory to the new *temple is a very important moment in the book (43:1-12). *Israel will return to the *Lord and he will make them *clean from all their *sins. By them, the nations will see that God is *holy (36:23). When God's *glory returns, it will remain among the *Israelites (43:6-7).

Plan of the new *temple – Ezekiel 40:1-43

Chapter 40

The man with a measuring stick– Ezekiel 40:1-4

v1 This is what happened at the beginning of the 25th year during our *exile. And it was in the 14th year after the defeat of the city. On the 10th day of the month, I felt the power of the *LORD upon me. He took me there. v2 In a *vision, God brought me to the country called *Israel. He put me on a very high mountain. On the south of the mountain, there were some buildings. They seemed to be a city. v3 God took me there. And I saw a man who was standing in the gate. He looked as if he were *bronze. In his hands, he had a string and a measuring stick. v4 The man spoke to me. ‘*Son of man, look with your eyes and hear with your ears. Pay attention to all that I will show you. God brought you here for that purpose. Tell the *Israelites all that you see.’

Verses 1-4 Ezekiel received this *vision in 573 *BC. The *Jews had a political year and a year for their religion. The political year started about our September or October. The year for religion started about our March or April. Since Ezekiel was a priest, he probably used the year for religion. If that was so, he received this *vision on the 10th day of the first month of the year for religion. The preparation for the *Passover would begin on that day.

In the *vision, God took Ezekiel to a high mountain in *Israel. From this mountain, he looked to the south. There he could see a city. Then God took Ezekiel to that city.

At the entrance to the city, Ezekiel met a man. This man was really an *angel. His task was to guide Ezekiel and to measure the *temple. Also, he would interpret what they saw. He had a stick for the shorter measurements and he had a string for the longer ones. He would take Ezekiel round the area. He would give the details of the *temple buildings to Ezekiel.

The east gate of the *temple – Ezekiel 40:5-16

• First, Ezekiel saw that the *temple had three outer gates. He describes the east gate first, but all three gates were similar. The gates were not simple doors. When people passed through a gate, they would be in a hall. Inside that hall, there were small rooms for the *temple guards. The halls did not lead directly to the *temple. Instead, they lead into a large outer area. There were also three inner gates. Those gates led from the outer area into an inner area. And the *temple stood in that inner area.

v5 I saw a wall that went all round the *temple area. The stick that the man had was 6 long *cubits. But each *cubit was a *cubit plus the width of a hand. The man measured the wall. It was one stick high and one stick wide. v6 Then the man went to the east gate. He went up the steps and he measured the width of the gate. It was one stick wide.

v7 The rooms for the guards were one stick long and one stick wide. The walls, that came out between the rooms for the guards, were 5 *cubits thick. The width of the room next to the entrance that led to the *temple was one stick.

v8 Then the man measured the entrance by the gate. v9 It was 8 *cubits wide. The walls at the side of the doors were two *cubits thick. The entrance of the gate led to the *temple.

v10 On each side of the east gate were three rooms. They were the same size and the walls between them were the same size. v11 The man measured the width of the entrance to the gate. It was 10 *cubits. The width of the gate was 13 *cubits. v12 In front of each room was a wall one *cubit high. The rooms were square and each side was 6 *cubits. v13 Then he measured the gate from the roof of one room to the roof of another room. There was a width of 25 *cubits from wall to wall. v14 He measured the hall beyond the gate. It was 60 *cubits. Round the hall was an open area. v15 He measured the total length from the entrance gate to the entrance of the hall. This was 50 *cubits. v16 The rooms and the walls at the side of the doors had small windows on both sides. The windows were narrower on the side toward the gate. On the walls at the sides of the doors were pictures of palm trees.

Verses 5 The stick that the man had was 6 *cubits long. But these *cubits were longer than the normal *cubit. The normal *cubit was the distance from the end of a man’s middle finger to his *elbow. This was about 18 inches. The width of a hand is about 3 inches. So, the length of the stick was about 10½ feet (3.2 metres). This longer *cubit is the *holy or royal *cubit. In Babylon, where Ezekiel was, they used the royal *cubit. The use of the royal *cubit here shows that the *temple of God is a very important building.

The wall that went round the *temple was 10½ feet (3.2 metres) high and 10½ feet (3.2 metres) wide.

Verses 6-16 The man took Ezekiel to the east gate of the *temple. He explained the design of the gate and the measurements of each part.

There were 7 steps up to the entrance of the gate. The entrance of the east gate was 10½ feet (3.2 metres). Beyond the first gate, there was an entrance hall. The inside of the hall was 87½ feet (26.9 metres) long and 44 feet (13.5 metres) wide. The outside length of the hall was 105 feet (32.3 metres). Inside this hall, there was a space of 10½ feet (3.2 metres) long and 17½ feet (5.4 metres) wide. Then there were three rooms on each side. They were for the *temple guards so that they could control the entrance to the *temple area. These rooms were square. They were each 10½ feet (3.2 metres) wide and 10½ feet (3.2 metres) wide. The walls between these rooms were 9 feet (2.7 metres) thick. These rooms had windows in the outer wall. At the entrance to these rooms, there were walls two feet (0.6 metres) high.

Beyond the 6 rooms was another space of 10½ feet (3.2 metres) long and 17½ feet (5.4 metres) wide. Then there was another room 14 feet (4.3 metres) long and the full width of the entrance hall. This room had windows each side in the outer walls. The door that led from this room to the *temple was 3½ feet (1.1 metres) thick.

There were gates in the *temple’s outer walls. These were to the north and to the south. Each of these gates was the same as the east gate.

The plan of these gates was similar to the gates in Solomon’s *temple.

The outer area of the *temple – Ezekiel 40:17-19

v17 Then the man brought me into the outer area. There I saw rooms and a path of stones all round the area. There were 30 rooms along that path. v18 The path went past the gates. It was as thick as the gates were wide. This was the lower path. v19 Then the man measured from the outer wall to the inner wall. The outer area between these two walls was 100 *cubits. This was the same for both the east side and the north side.

Verses 17-19 The man took Ezekiel through the entrance hall. They were now in the outer area of the *temple. Along the outer wall, there were 30 rooms. To get to the rooms there was a path. The rooms with the path were the same depth as the entrance halls at the three gates.

Round the inner area of the *temple, there was a wall. From the outer wall to this wall was 175 feet (53.8 metres).

The north and south gates – Ezekiel 40:20-27

v20 The man measured the length and width of the north gate, that leads to the outer area. v21 This gate had three rooms on each side. The inner walls and the entrance were the same size as the first gate. It was 50 *cubits long and 25 *cubits wide. v22 The windows, entrance, and pictures of palm trees measured the same as the east gate. There were 7 steps up to the gate. The entrance was at the inner end. v23 There was a gate to the inner area across from the north gate. It was the same as that at the east gate. The man measured it. It was 100 *cubits from the inner gate to the outer gate.

v24 Then the man led me south where I saw the south gate. He measured its inner walls and its entrance. They were the same size as the other gates. v25 The gate and its entrance had windows all about like the other gates. It was 50 *cubits long and 25 *cubits wide. v26 There were 7 steps up to this gate. Its entrance was at the inner end. And it had pictures of palm trees on its inner walls. v27 The inner area had a gate on its south side. The man measured from gate to gate on the south side. It was 100 *cubits.

Verses 20-27 The north and the south gates were the same as the east gate.

The gates to the inner area of the *temple – Ezekiel 40:28-37

• As Ezekiel came closer to the *temple building, he had to pass through another gate. There were three gates that separated the outer area from the inner area. The priests offered their *sacrifices at the *altar which was in the inner area. And the inner area surrounded the *temple building.

v28 Then the man brought me through the south gate into the inner area. He measured the south gate. It was the same size as the other gates. v29 Its rooms, its walls and its entrance were the same size as the other gates. There were windows all round the gate and its entrance room. It was 50 *cubits long and 25 *cubits wide. v30 Rooms surrounded it, which were 25 *cubits long and 5 *cubits wide. v31 These rooms opened toward the outer area. There were pictures of palm trees on the sides of the doors. There were 8 steps up to the doors.

v32 Then the man brought me to the inner area on the east side. He measured the gate. It was the same size as the other gates. v33 Its rooms, its walls and its entrance were the same size as the other gates. There were windows all round the gate and its entrance room. It was 50 *cubits long and 25 *cubits wide. v34 Its rooms opened toward the outer area. There were pictures of palm trees on the sides of the doors. There were 8 steps up to the doors.

v35 Then the man brought me to the north gate. He measured it. It was the same size as the other gates. v36 Its rooms, inner walls, and entrance room were the same as at the other gates. There were windows all round the gate. The entrance was 50 *cubits long and 25 *cubits wide. v37 Its rooms opened toward the outer area. There were pictures of palm trees on the sides of the doors. There were 8 steps up to the doors.

Verses 28-37 The way into the inner area of the *temple was through three gates. These gates were on the south side, the east side and the north side. These gates and their entrance halls were the same as the gates to the outer area. But these gates were different in two small particulars. In the outer entrance hall there was a room beyond the 6 rooms. In the inner entrance hall, this room was before the 6 rooms. There were 7 steps up to the outer gates but there were 8 steps up to the inner gates.

Rooms for the priests – Ezekiel 40:38-46

v38 By each of the inner gates there was a room. In this room, the priests washed animals for the *burnt *sacrifices. The door to this room was near the entrance room. v39 There were two tables on each side of the gates. On these tables, the priests killed the animals for the *sacrifices. These animals were for the *burnt *sacrifices and the *sacrifices because of *sin and blame. v40 On each side of the entrance to the north gate, there were two more tables. v41 So there were 4 tables on one side of the gate and 4 on the other side. On these 8 tables, the priests killed the animals for the *sacrifices. v42 Also there were 4 stone tables for the *burnt *sacrifices. On these tables, the priests would put the tools that they used to kill the animals for the *sacrifices. (That is, for the *burnt *sacrifices and the other *sacrifices). These tables were a *cubit and a half long, a *cubit and half wide, and a *cubit high. v43 There were nails in the walls. These nails were in pairs and the length of a nail was the width of a hand. The stone tables were for the bodies of the animals for the *sacrifices.

v44 There were two rooms in the inner area. One was by the north gate toward the south. The other was by the south gate toward the north. v45 The man said to me, ‘The room toward the south is for the priests. It is for those priests who serve in the *temple. v46 The room toward the north is for the priests who serve at the *altar. These priests belong to the family of their *ancestor Zadok. Zadok belonged to the *tribe called Levi. Only these priests can come near to the *LORD to serve him at the *altar.’

v47 The man measured the inner area. It was a square, 100 *cubits long and 100 *cubits wide. The *altar was in front of the *temple.

Verses 38-43 Outside each of the inner gates, there was a room. Here the priests would wash the animals. Also, outside the east and the south gates there were two tables. On these tables, the priests killed the animals for the *sacrifices because of *sin and blame. Outside the north gate, there were 8 tables. On these 8 tables, the priests would kill the animals for the *sacrifices.

There were another 4 small stone tables. The priests’ would keep their tools on these tables. And they would cut up the dead bodies of the animals on these tables.

At the time of the *Old Testament, the people killed animals so that God could forgive their *sins. These *sacrifices referred forward to the death of Jesus. His death is the one *sacrifice for *sin.

The blood of animals could not and cannot take away *sin. These *sacrifices in the future *temple will remind the *Israelites of the one perfect *sacrifice, that is, the death of Jesus.

Verses 44-46 These two rooms were in the inner area. One was by the north gate and the other one was by the south gate. The one by the south gate (toward the north) was for the priests who served in the *temple. The room by the north gate (toward the south) was for the priests who served at the *altar.

These priests had to be of the family of Zadok. In chapter 44, Ezekiel explains why God chose Zadok.

Verse 47 The inner area was a square of 175 feet (53.8 metres) long and 175 feet (53.8 metres) wide.

The entrance to the *temple building – Ezekiel 40:47-49

v48 The man brought me to the entrance of the *temple. He measured each wall at the side of the entrance. Each one was 5 *cubits thick. The entrance was 14 *cubits wide. The walls at the side of the door were each three *cubits wide. v49 The entrance hall was 20 *cubits wide and 11 *cubits long. There were 10 steps up to the entrance. There were two columns, one on each side of the entrance.

Verses 48-49 In the inner area, there were the gates to the north, the south and the east. At the west end of the square was the entrance to the *temple building.

In the centre of the inner area was the *altar of *sacrifice. Ezekiel describes this *altar in chapter 43.

The way into the *temple was 24½ feet (7.5 metres) wide. The walls at the side of this entrance were 9 feet (2.8 metres) thick. The walls at the sides of the door were 5½ feet (1.6 metres) thick. Inside the door was an entrance hall. This was 35 feet (10.7 metres) across and 19½ feet (7 metres) long.

There were 10 steps up from the inner area to the gate of the *temple building.

temple ~ a special building for the worship of God or other gods. The Jews had one in Jerusalem for the worship of the real God.
worship ~ an act to give honour to God (or to a false god). When people praise and thank God.
Jews ~ another name for the Israelites.
Israelites ~ the people whose ancestors are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
sacrifice ~ The priests killed a special animal and they burned it on an altar. That animal was called a sacrifice. They offered a sacrifice when they asked God to forgive sins. When Jesus died, he was the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Animals or people whom God or other people kill for a purpose are also sacrifices (see Ezekiel 39:17). And people also made sacrifices to false gods.
altar ~ the special table where people burn animals or offer other gifts to God or to false gods.
sin ~ Sin means the wrong things that we do. To sin is to do wrong, bad or evil deeds and not to obey God. People are called sinners because of their sins.
Israelites ~ the people whose ancestors are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
exile ~ When people have to live in a foreign country they are in exile. Such a person is called an exile.
Lord ~ a title for God, to show that he is over all people and things.
LORD ~ ‘LORD’ is the special name that God gave to himself. It probably means ‘always God’. This name has a relationship with the special promises that God gave to his people.
Israel ~ Israel is the nation whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The country in which they live is called Israel. Israel became the name of the northern nation when it separated from Judah. However, Ezekiel sometimes uses the word ‘Israel’ to refer to Judah.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
sin ~ Sin means the wrong things that we do. To sin is to do wrong, bad or evil deeds and not to obey God. People are called sinners because of their sins.
temple ~ a special building for the worship of God or other gods. The Jews had one in Jerusalem for the worship of the real God.
worship ~ an act to give honour to God (or to a false god). When people praise and thank God.
Jews ~ another name for the Israelites.
Israelites ~ the people whose ancestors are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
glory ~ great honour and beauty.
sacrifice ~ The priests killed a special animal and they burned it on an altar. That animal was called a sacrifice. They offered a sacrifice when they asked God to forgive sins. When Jesus died, he was the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Animals or people whom God or other people kill for a purpose are also sacrifices (see Ezekiel 39:17). And people also made sacrifices to false gods.
altar ~ the special table where people burn animals or offer other gifts to God or to false gods.
sin ~ Sin means the wrong things that we do. To sin is to do wrong, bad or evil deeds and not to obey God. People are called sinners because of their sins.
worship ~ an act to give honour to God (or to a false god). When people praise and thank God.
tribe ~ The Israelites were divided into the 12 families of the sons of Jacob. These families are the 12 tribes of Israel.
Israelites ~ the people whose ancestors are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Israel ~ Israel is the nation whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The country in which they live is called Israel. Israel became the name of the northern nation when it separated from Judah. However, Ezekiel sometimes uses the word ‘Israel’ to refer to Judah.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
turn ~ to change your behaviour, your friends, or your God; or, to carry out actions in order to oppose someone.'Old Testament ~ the first part of the Bible; the holy things that the writers wrote before Jesus’ birth.
holy ~ a holy object is special; it is only for religion. God himself and his name are also called ‘holy’. This means that God and his name are perfect, in fact, even more than perfect.
allegory ~ the words are not about actual things but are word pictures of a truth.
allegory ~ the words are not about actual things but are word pictures of a truth.
vision ~ something that God shows to a person but not with the physical sight. Visions are often in the form of dreams.
prophecy ~ a message from God; a gift of the Holy Spirit.
millennium ~ the rule of Christ on the earth for 1000 years (Revelation chapter 20).'eternal state ~ the new heaven and the new earth that will never end.
throne ~ the special chair for the king.
Messiah ~ The Jews expect a king to come who will save them. That king, called the Messiah, will rule both them and all people.
Jews ~ another name for the Israelites.
Israelites ~ the people whose ancestors are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
Babylonian ~ a person from the nation called Babylon or anything that has a relationship with Babylon.
prophesy ~ to speak a prophecy.
prophecy ~ a message from God; a gift of the Holy Spirit.
shepherd ~ someone who takes care of sheep.
destroy ~ to carry out the most severe punishment possible; to cause someone to suffer; to kill everyone in a nation.
clean ~ acceptable to God.
holy ~ a holy object is special; it is only for religion. God himself and his name are also called ‘holy’. This means that God and his name are perfect, in fact, even more than perfect.
Lord ~ a title for God, to show that he is over all people and things.
LORD ~ ‘LORD’ is the special name that God gave to himself. It probably means ‘always God’. This name has a relationship with the special promises that God gave to his people.
bronze ~ A brown metal. It glows when in a fire. It polishes well and it reflects the light. It is very strong.'son of man ~ Ezekiel. ‘Son of man’ was the title that God used for Ezekiel. It emphasised that Ezekiel was a mere man. Ezekiel would have to depend on God’s Spirit to make him strong. Only then could Ezekiel do what God told him to do.
BC ~ years before Christ was born.
Jews ~ another name for the Israelites.
Israelites ~ the people whose ancestors are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
Passover ~ the time of the year when the Jews remember how God brought them out of Egypt.
Jews ~ another name for the Israelites.
Israelites ~ the people whose ancestors are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
angel ~ God’s special servants in heaven. God made angels to serve him and to take his messages.
cubit ~ a length of about half a metre.
elbow ~ where the lower part of a person’s arm joins to the upper arm.
altar ~ the special table where people burn animals or offer other gifts to God or to false gods.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.