Before we precede any further we should first like to mention a few of the various individuals mentioned in our study, and who they represent and/or typify.

1) The Prophet Ezekiel, likewise referred to as the “Son of Man” (Ezek 40:4), represents the Elijah class (B252), the true Church in the flesh, more particularly the feet members (Isa 52:7).

2) “The Man”, (Ezek 40:3) the individual who showed the Temple to Ezekiel, likewise “The man in linen with the writer’s inkhorn” (Ezek 9:2), “The Watchman” (Isa 21:11), The Laodicean Messenger (Rev 3:14), “the faithful and wise servant” (Matt 24:25), is none other than the Harvest Messenger, Pastor Russell.

3) The Priest, typify the glorified “Little Flock” (Luke 12:32), Sons of God (Rom 8:14-17), also referred to as the “Sons of Zadok” (Ezek 44:15) The Righteous One, (Zadok means righteous).

4) The Levites typify the Great Company Class (Rev 7:9; 22:3, 4).

5) The Prince typifies the Ancient Worthies “princes in all the earth” (Psa 45:16)

There are others mentioned but these are the central players.

The Layout of Ezekiel’s Temple

“Now he (“The Man”) brought me through the entrance, which was at the (right) side of the (inner north) gate, (J) into the holy chambers of the priests which faced toward the north; and there a place was situated at their extreme western end (B).” “ And he said to me, “This is the place where the priests shall boil the trespass offering and the sin offering, and where they shall bake the grain offering, so that they do not bring them out into the outer court to sanctify the people.” (Ezek 46:19, 20)

Some of the various offerings and their meanings:

A trespass offering signifies the recognition of a trespass committed, repentance for the trespass and a restoration for the wrong. (Lev 5:15-19; 6:1-7)

A sin offering types an acknowledgement of past sins, with repentance and the re-consecration of the offerer. The sin offering differs from the trespass offering, as it refers to sins for which no restoration is possible. Those sins and trespasses of the people, of which the Great Company find too difficult or too great to deal with, will be referred to the Priest, who will mete out judgment (Compare Deut 1:17)

Baked and burnt offerings are also offered at the Priest’s boiling and baking places unlike the four boiling points of the Levites. Burnt offerings typify prayers of thankfulness to God, acknowledgement of His mercy, wisdom and love, as manifested in Christ our ransom. (Psa 96:7-9; 107:21, 22) Baked or meat offerings of unleavened cakes, and etc., suggests the consecration of the offerer’s all. (Ezek 46:14; John 4:34; Psa 51:17)

“Then he brought me out into the outer court and caused me to pass by the four corners of the court (A); and in fact, in every corner of the court there was another court.” “…These are the places where the ministers of the temple shall boil the sacrifices of the people.” (Ezek 46:21, 24)

The sacrifices that will be boiled will be the trespass and the sin offerings, these offerings shall be eaten by the people thus typifying that they will be required to assimilate their consecrations into their very beings. An outward consecration will by no means be sufficient.

The boiling of some of the sacrifices, types the application of stripes, chastening, fiery trials, ameliorated by the word of God (hot water) to those of the world who commit trespasses. The Levites (the Great Company) ministers of the temple (Ezek 44:10) will administer these corrections, typed by their being the ones who boil the peoples offerings.

“The building (C) that faced the separating courtyard at its western end was seventy cubits wide; the wall of the building was five cubits thick all around, and its length ninety cubits.” (Ezek 41:12)

The position of the western building should be noted. From this building it will not be possible to see the great brazen altar, typifying a class, which had no direct connection with the sin offering. Also note that none of the thirty chambers are to be found on either side of this building, representing that unlike the Great Company, the Angels will not stand before mankind to minister unto them, to be their servants. (Ezek 44:11)

“The length of the vestibule (F) (the porch to the temple) was twenty cubits, and the width eleven cubits; and by the steps which led up to it there were pillars by the doorpost, one on this side and another on that side,” (Ezek 40:49) This Porch at the entrance to the temple types, the first resurrection (Rev. 20:6; John 11:25), when the Little Flock having finished their trials will enter into the blessings of life with our Lord on the Divine Plane. (Rom 6:5).

The temple steps are not numbered, suggesting that it is not possible to measure the infinite height and glory of the Divine nature of the Little Flock above the glory of the nature of the Great Company and Angels. The great difference between the Divine nature and all else cannot be suggested by any number of steps. “Canst thou by searching find out God? Or canst thou find the way unto the utmost limit of the Almighty?” (Job 11:7-9; Isa 40:12, 18, Rom 11:33, 34).

“Then he brought me into the *sanctuary (E) (the holy) and measured the doorposts, six cubits wide on one side and six cubits wide on the other side-the width of the tabernacle. The width of the entryway was ten cubits, and the side walls of the entrance were five cubits on this side and five cubits on the other side; and he measured its length, forty cubits, and its width, twenty cubits. (Ezek 41:1, 2)

*Sanctuary: Hebrew heykal, here the main room of the temple, sometimes called the holy place (Compare Exod 26:33)

The Holy types the memory of the spirit-begotten condition. Our experiences while traveling the narrow way, these will never be forgotten, but will be a blessed memory throughout the eternal ages. (Mal. 3:16; Psa 56:8; Heb 6:10)

The only furniture in the temple will be an altar of cedar wood located in the Holy, before the entrance into the Most Holy. (Ezek 41:22; 44:16) The altar types the ransom sacrifice of our Lord and the completed sin offering, of our Lord and His Church. These sacrifices will then be located in the memory of the spirit-begotten condition (the holy). The altar will be of wood and no sacrifices will be offered thereon, typing that all sacrificing by the Christ will then be over. The placement of the table before the entrance to the Most Holy represents that Jehovah appreciates the sacrifices, which the altar typifies and will keep the memory of them before Him forever.

From here “… he went inside and measured the doorposts, two cubits; and the entrance, six cubits high; and the width of the entrance, seven cubits. He measured the length, twenty cubits; and the width, twenty cubits, beyond the sanctuary; (the holy), and he said to me, “This (D) is the Most Holy Place.” (Ezek 41:3, 4)

The Most Holy types the accomplished Divine nature, the glorious time and conditions prevailing when the bride-groom will present his bride to the Heavenly Father, when Jehovah will reveal His own glory to the Little Flock and the Divine nature in all its fullness will be accomplished in them.

Continued with next post.