God’s temple today

The book of the Ezekiel ends as it began: with a vision, a vision of a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem. In this vision Ezekiel was taken to the top of a high mountain near Jerusalem to see the splendour of this new temple.

If your reading through Ezekiel (chapter 11) you may remember that earlier the prophet was taken on a tour of Jerusalem – he was able to not only see the city but what was going on in secret as many of the religious leaders were involved in idolatrous worship. Conditions in Jerusalem were so bad that at the end of that vision, the glory of God left the city.

“Then the cherubim, with the wheels beside them, spread their wings, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them. The glory of the Lord went up from within the city and stopped above the mountain east of it.” (Ezekiel 11:22-23)

In the new vision of Jerusalem, at the conclusion of this book, we find the glory of God returning to the temple. Although many today are still looking for this to be fulfilled, I believe this is simply a vision of God returning to live with his people.

“Then the man brought me to the gate facing east, and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with his glory. The vision I saw was like the vision I had seen when he came to destroy the city and like the visions I had seen by the River Kebar, and I fell face down. The glory of the Lord entered the temple through the gate facing east. Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.” (Ezekiel 43:1-5)

God’s glory had left the temple earlier and the city and temple were destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian army. The majority of the people ended up in exile in Babylon. They had now been in exile for 25 years (Ezekiel 40:1). Part of the reason Ezekiel was given this vision was to encourage the Israelites in exile. They still had 45 years left in captivity but there was hope that they would be restored to God.

“Son of man, describe the temple to the people of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their sins. Let them consider its perfection, and if they are ashamed of all they have done, make known to them the design of the temple – its arrangement, its exits and entrances – its whole design and all its regulations and laws. Write these down before them so that they may be faithful to its design and follow all its regulations.” (Ezekiel 43:10-11)

When we consider the temple of God we need to also think of God’s temple today. Where is God’s temple? Where does God dwell today? He is not confined to any particular area or building. God’s temple is his people and he dwells in them. Notice how the apostle Paul wrote about this.

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your bodies.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Not only are our individual bodies to be God’s temple in which he lives, but collectively Christians also make up God’s temple.

“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives among you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

Individually we are temples of the Holy Spirit and Christians together are also God’s temple. God does not need another building to be built in Jerusalem. He already has a temple in which he lives: his people.

Photo: God’s real temple in Jerusalem, 2019

Readings for next week: Ezekiel 39-45