The Millennium 3 – In His Presence

This is the third part of a five-part series on what the Bible has to say about the Millennium. In this presentation, Geoff considers the precise plans for a dwelling place for a holy God among sinful men using the Tabernacle in the Wilderness and Solomon’s Temple as specific examples. In both cases, when the work had been completed, the Glory of the Lord filled the sanctuary and, also in both cases, the priests could not perform their roles. Centuries after the reign of Solomon, the Temple was filled with pagan practices and the Glory of the Lord departed (Ezekiel 11:23). Even though a Temple was rebuilt by Zerubbabel following the return from Babylon, there is no suggestion that the Glory of the Lord returned. This is also certainly true for Herod’s Temple. However, it was during the building of this Temple that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. He is the perfect Tabernacle and in him dwell the fullness of the Deity in bodily form (Colossians 2:9). Jesus is the Word made flesh and John tells us that they beheld his glory (John 1:14). Nevertheless, after the Crucifixion and Resurrection, the Glory of the Lord would depart again from the east of Jerusalem (the Mount of Olives). After the destruction of the Temple in AD70, the Jewish people began their great diaspora that would last approximately 2000 years (2 days). Restoration will take place during the Millennium (on the third day). Geoff now considers particular details of Ezekiel’s Temple which is built following very precise plans that are described in Ezekiel chapters 40 through 43. Following its construction, Ezekiel has a vision of the Glory of the Lord returning to fill this Millennial Temple (Ezekiel 43:1-2). This sanctuary has remarkable differences to both the Tabernacle and Solomon’s Temple. There is no Ark of the Covenant, no Menorah, Table of Shewbread, no curtain and, most significantly no Levitical High Priest. Jesus fulfills it all. He is the King Priest after the order of Melchizedek, forever. It is Geoff’s opinion that the small wooden altar separating the Holy Place for the Holy of Holies represents the cross. Furthermore, there is no brazen laver in Ezekiel’s Temple. As the old hymn says, ”There is power, power, wonder-working power in the blood of the Lamb”.