“There is overwhelming scriptural evidence predicting a Temple during the Millennial Kingdom on earth” (Precept Austin). Ezekiel provides the greatest detail of this future temple in Ezekiel 40:5-43:27. The details given to Ezekiel by the angel are strikingly specific, complete with exact measurements of Temple walls, gates, entry rooms, and more.
“And I will make a covenant of peace with them, an everlasting covenant. I will give them their land and increase their numbers, and I will put My Temple among them forever. I will make My home among them. I will be their God, and they will be My people. And when My Temple is among them forever, the nations will know that I am the LORD, who makes Israel holy.”
Ezekiel 37:26-28 NLT
Fruchtenbaum says, “It is obvious that this particular temple will be larger than all previous temples, measuring about one mile square. The area of the present temple compound is not large enough to hold the temple described by Ezekiel and will require some major geographical changes. That is why the new mountain of Jehovah’s house will be necessary” (The Footsteps of the Messiah, p. 438).
Zechariah 6:11-13 says that Messiah Himself will build the Millennial Temple and will wear “both kingly and priestly crowns” (Precept Austin). The Ark of the Covenant will not be present there. Jeremiah 31:6 says, “Then it shall come to pass, when you are multiplied and increased in the land in those days,’ says the LORD, ‘that they will say no more, ‘The ark of the covenant of the LORD.’ It shall not come to mind, nor shall they remember it, nor shall they visit it, nor shall it be made anymore.'”
Fruchtenbaum says, “Since God Himself, in the Person of the Messiah, will be dwelling in and reigning from Jerusalem, there will be no need for any ark of the covenant. Furthermore, the ark contained the tablets of stone that were the embodiment of the Law of Moses. Since this law is no longer in effect, the ark will not be needed anymore and will therefore be missing” (The Footsteps of the Messiah, p. 441).
The most special aspect of this Temple is the return of the Shekinah glory of God. Earlier in Ezekiel, we read that the glory of God left Solomon’s temple in several heartbreaking stages. First, “the glory of the LORD rose up from above the cherubim and went over to the entrance of the Temple. The Temple was filled with this cloud of glory, and the courtyard glowed brightly with the glory of the LORD” (Ezekiel 10:4). “Then the glory of the LORD moved out from the entrance of the Temple and hovered above the cherubim” (Ezekiel 10:18). In one final move, “the glory of the LORD went up from the city and stopped above the mountain to the east” (Ezekiel 11:23). (Here’s a link to a great article from Israel, My Glory).
Despite God’s warnings through the prophet Ezekiel, the people remained rebellious. Finally, the prophecies of the Babylonian exile were fulfilled, resulting in the captivity of God’s people and the destruction of Solomon’s Temple. Over 400 years would pass before the Shekinah glory temporarily visited Zerubbabel’s (Herod’s) Temple. Messiah graced the Temple with His presence, but the people rejected Him.
Fast forward to today. Although Israel has been a nation since 1948, the Jews have been without a Temple for over 2000 years. God’s glory in the Tabernacle and Solomon’s Temple signified His presence with His people. A future Tribulation Temple will be built without God’s sanction or glory. It won’t be until the Millennial Temple that God’s Shekinah glory will return to His people, as prophesied in Ezekiel 43.
- Ezekiel 43:1-2 “After this, the man brought me back around to the east gateway. Suddenly, the glory of the God of Israel appeared from the east. The sound of His coming was like the roar of rushing waters, and the whole landscape shone with His glory.”
- Ezekiel 43:3b-5 “I fell face down on the ground. And the glory of the LORD came into the Temple through the east gateway. Then the Spirit took me up and brought me into the inner courtyard, and the glory of the LORD filled the Temple.”
- Ezekiel 43:7 “The LORD said to me, ‘Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place where I will rest My feet. I will live here forever among the people of Israel. they and their kings will not defile My holy name any longer by their adulterous worship of other gods or by honoring the relics of their kings who have died.”
- Ezekiel 43:12 “And this is the basic law of the Temple: absolute holiness! The entire top of the mountain where the Temple is built is holy. Yes, this is the basic law of the Temple.”
Although the city gates will always remain open, it is interesting that one of the Temple gates will always remain closed.“In the beginning of the Messianic kingdom, the outer eastern gate [of the Temple] will be shut, never to be reopened again throughout the millennium (Ezekiel 44:1). The reason for the shutting of the outer eastern gate is that the Shechinah glory returned by way of the eastern gate (Ezekiel 43:1-9), never to leave Israel again (v. 2). The closing of the gate will symbolize the fact that God’s glory will never depart from Israel again” (Fruchtenbaum, The Footsteps of the Messiah, p. 439).
The Millennial system of priesthood and sacrifice in the Temple is described in detail in Ezekiel 43-46, as well as other passages (Is. 56:6-7; 60:7; Zech. 14:16-21). The fact that a sacrificial system will be in place within the Millennial Temple is controversial but clearly taught in Scripture. “This controversy centers on why these sacrifices would be needed since Christ’s death was the final sacrifice for sin. First, this is not a reinstitution of the law of Moses in the messianic kingdom but a new system of kingdom law. The numerous differences between the laws of Moses and the laws of the Millennium reveal that the systems are not the same. The law of Moses was terminated permanently with the death of the Messiah. Many Jewish rabbis refused to accept the book of Ezekiel into the Hebrew canon for some time because of the way it describes the law in chapters 40-48” (Hitchcock, The End, p. 427).
Sacrifices during the Millennium may serve as a memorial to Christ’s once for all sacrifice. Precept Austin says, “Animal sacrifice in the Old Testament was a type- a forward-looking memorial- to the eventual sacrifice of the Lamb of God. Some have explained the sacrifices during the Millennial Kingdom as having a similar, backward-looking memorial purpose. The memorial view helps explain one of the purposes of millennial sacrifices, which they share with OT sacrifices. Yet in itself, this explanation is lacking because the Scriptures indicate that millennial sacrifices are more than just memorial, they provide atonement (Ezekiel 43:20, 26; 45:15, 17, 20)” (Precept Austin).
The “atoning nature” of these sacrifices is not intended for salvation but for ceremonial purification. Hitchcock says, “Every mention of ‘atonement’ in Ezekiel 40-48, except 45:15-17, relates to the concept of ceremonial purification or consecration of the Temple or altar. In the one exception in Ezekiel 45:15-17, the purpose would be the same as in the Mosaic system – that is, to provide a graphic picture of the ultimate atoning work of Christ, which alone can pay the ransom price for sin and provide forgiveness” (The End, p. 427).
“Sacrifices during the millennial kingdom will not be a substitute for Christ’s atoning work. Instead, they will provide ritual purification for unglorified people on earth who approach the holy God in worship.”
Fruchtenbaum, The Footsteps of the Messiah, p. 428
This is fascinating to consider. We need to view spiritual life in the Millennial Kingdom as outside both the Old Testament and the Church Age dispensations. The Millennium will be a brand new age where “a holy God will be dwelling on earth in the midst of people in their glorified bodies but also in the midst of sinful people living in natural, unglorified bodies. These sacrifices prevent these worshippers from defiling God’s holy Temple when they come to worship Him. It is a matter of ritual purification” (Hitchcock, The End, p. 427). This truth answers the question of why a Temple is needed during the Millennium. LaHaye adds, “These sacrifices will serve as effective vehicles of divine instruction for Israel and the nations during the Millennial Kingdom” (The Tim LaHaye Prophecy Bible, p. 883). What’s amazing is that in the Eternal Order and New Jerusalem, there will be no Temple because sin and death (the curse in its entirety) will be abolished forever (see Revelation 21:22; 22:3).
I don’t know about you, but I am amazed at the truths we’ve uncovered about the Millennial Temple. One final thing to mention is the Millennial River that will flow from its courts. “All together there are three passages [Ezekiel 47:1-12; Joel 3:18; Zech. 14:8] that speak about the millennial river. One of these is Ezekiel 47:1-12, which depicts the river as beginning in the temple compound and eventually making its way south to the Dead Sea. The entire Ezekiel passage is summarized in Joel 3:18… According to Joel, the millennial river will originate at the temple building itself” (Fruchtenbaum, The Footsteps of the Messiah, p. 450-451).
“In that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine, and the hills will flow with milk. Water will fill the streambeds of Judah, and a fountain will burst forth from the LORD’s Temple, watering the arid valley of acacias.”
Joel 3:18 NLT
Here is Fruchtenbaum’s diagram depicting the Millennial River flowing out from the Temple.
“On that day life-giving waters will flow out from Jerusalem, half toward the Dead Sea and half toward the Mediterranean, flowing continuously in both summer and winter. And the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day there will be one LORD – His name alone will be worshiped.”
Zechariah 14:8-9 NLT
Week 7 Homework Reflections:
- Read Ezekiel 10 and 11:22-23. Record what you learn about the departure of God’s glory from Solomon’s Temple.
- Now read Ezekiel 43:1-12. Describe the steps of God’s glory returning to Israel.
- If you have time, read Ezekiel 40:5-43:27 and familiarize yourself with the description of the Millennial Temple. Record anything that stands out to you.
- Read Ezekiel 47:1-12; Joel 3:18; and Zechariah 14:8. List everything you learn about the Millennial River. Ezekiel 47 has some really neat insights. What will happen to the Dead Sea? (see Ezekiel 47:10)
Simply Persuaded 
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