The Millennial Temple

By John C. Whitcomb, Th.D.
Whitcomb Ministries, Inc., Orange Park, Florida

A careful reading of Ezekiel 40 – 43 confirms the impression of a literal temple because of the immense number of details concerning its dimensions, parts and contents. The fact its structure and ceremonies will have a symbolic significance cannot be used as an argument against its literal existence for the Tabernacle was an actual structure, regardless of the fact of its typical significance.

All will agree the temple of Ezekiel 8 – 11 was the literal temple of Ezekiel’s day, Solomon’s Temple, even though the prophet saw it in “visions of God,” Ezekiel 8.3; while he himself was still exiled in Babylon. The “glory of God” is seen as progressively departing from the doomed and defiled old temple and is seen returning to the Millennial Temple: 10.19 and 43.4; exactly as it had departed Solomon’s Temple. If the Millennial Temple is not to be a reality, why insist the return of the God of Israel is to be a reality?

Ezekiel is not the only Old Testament prophet who saw a future temple for God’s chosen people, complete with animal sacrifices in the Holy Land; see Joel 3.18; Isaiah 2.3 and 60.13; Daniel 9.24 and Haggai 2.7,9.

God also definitely promised the priestly line of Zadok an everlasting priesthood: 1 Samuel 2.35 and 1 Kings 2.27,35. In view of this promise of God, it is highly significant the Millennial Temple will have descendants of Zadok serving as priests: Ezekiel 40.46 and 44.15.

There is no earthly temple, altar nor animal sacrifices in Christianity or Judaism today: John 4.21 and Hebrews 7 – 10; but there will be such provisions for Israel after the rapture of the Church: Matthew 24.15; 2 Thessalonians 2.4; Revelation 11.1,2; Hosea 3.4,5 and Daniel 9.24-27. The clear New Testament teaching of a post-rapture “holy place” and “temple of God” in Jerusalem, complete with “the altar,” Revelation 11.1, prepares us to anticipate a magnificent Millennial Temple as Ezekiel describes. This will require topographical changes, which are prophesied in Isaiah 26.15, 33.17, 54.2 and Zechariah 14.4-10.

Concerning the sacrifices, it must be remembered there is a clear distinction between Israel and the Church. Just because God will have finished His work of sanctification and glorification of the Church at the time of the Rapture is no warrant for assuming He has finished His work of instruction, testing and sanctification of Israel.

Even in this present age, the bread and the cup at communion are a memorial to the awful price Jesus paid: 1 Corinthians 11.25,26. So likewise, the five offerings of Ezekiel: 43.13 – 46.15, four of them with bloodletting will serve God’s purposes. These offerings are not voluntary, but obligatory; God will accept people on the basis of these animal sacrifices: 43.27; which make reconciliation for the house of Israel: 45.15,17. The offerings will not take away sin; see Hebrews 10.4; but they will be effective in sanctifying Israelites ceremonially because of God’s infinitely holy presence in their midst.

Hence, these sacrifices will serve as effective vehicles of divine instruction for Israel and the nations during the Millennial Kingdom.