Picture of the Holy City and “Third Temple”

Ezekiel 40

Chapter 39 of Ezekiel speaks about the ‘day after” the Battle of Armageddon, the destruction of Israel, and the destruction of the world government, its global culture, and its military. This chapter of Ezekiel, through chapter 48, speaks about what comes next, which is the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and earth.

God had given Ezekiel the vision concerning the eternal New Jerusalem. It will appear after the “day after” the Battle of Armageddon. “He said: “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet. This is where I will live among the Israelites forever. The people of Israel will never again defile my holy name—neither they nor their kings—by their prostitution and the funeral offerings for their kings at their death.” Ezekiel 43:7 The Holy City. which Ezekiel is describing, is the eternal home of the throne of God.

Through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (named changed to Israel is Genesis 32:27-28) we have been made the children of Israel. Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham, and we are His children adopted into the family of Israel (Jacob). We inherit an eternal home in the New Jerusalem, not an earthly home in the old Jerusalem of this world. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13

Ezekiel saw what looked like a city, “In visions of God he took me to the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain, on whose south side were some buildings that looked like a city.” Ezekiel 40:2-4 The scriptures in Revelation, which is describing the eternal New Jerusalem, mirrors that same vision, “And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.” Revelation 21:10-11. John’s vision in Revelation and Ezekiel’s vision are both referring to the Temple of the New Jerusalem within the new heaven and new earth.

The description of every aspect of the Holy City and Temple is found from Ezekiel40 through 48, which corresponds to the eternal New Jerusalem in Revelation 21 and Revelation 22. The symbolism of Ezekiel 47 speaks of the eternal leaves of healing and the waters of life and healing, and so much more, as does Revelation 22.

The picture below illustrates the envisioned design of the earthly Holy City and “Third Temple” [Ezekiel 41]. Just the description of it given by Ezekiel brought awe, wonder, and hope to the Jewish people. Today, we know the Holy City and “Third Temple” is not a place or building on this earth but is the eternal New Jerusalem. Ezekiel’s vision is referred to as the “Third Temple” because the first Temple was destroyed just years before Ezekiel’s vision for a new Temple, and the second Temple was destroyed in 70 AD. The second Temple was not built according to the design of the Temple Ezekiel saw.

“…the Most High does not live in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: ‘Heaven is My throne,
and earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the Lord, or what is the place of My rest? Has My hand not made all these things?’ Acts 7:48-50

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1