Audio Download

Ezekiel 42:1-20 The Inner Temple

[Study Aired January 6, 2025]

INTRODUCTION

Today, we are dealing Ezekiel chapter 42 which continues and concludes the measurement of the passageway to the outer and inner courts of the temple, together with the private chambers arranged in three floors. As indicated, these chapters which focus on the measurement of the temple is to makes us aware of how the Lord comes into our lives with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness to cleanse our hearts and minds for Him to dwell within us. The spirit of His mouth refers to His judgement, and His brightness signifies the illumination of His words for us to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of God. Before the coming of the Lord, our old man or flesh has taken the throne of our hearts and minds claiming to be God that deserve our worship, since we think we make our own decisions. In this world, it is only the Lord who makes decisions and so thinking that we make our own decisions means we are playing the role of God. The decisions we make are caused by the Lord.

Pro 16:1  The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there comes a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
2Th 2:5  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
2Th 2:6  And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

The question that we may be asking is that why would the Lord devotes three long chapters of the Bible to describe the temple to Ezekiel? The answer to this question is that the temple serves as the gathering place for His elect. The gathering of the Lord’s children is very important especially as we see the day approaching. The day approaching is the Lord coming with His judgement to His chosen ones and our gathering supplies what is needed to survive the onslaught of the evil one.

Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

We must also understand that the move of the Lord in this dispensation is the gathering of His people together, which is a prerequisite for the possession of the land, which is our bodies. Possessing our bodies means overcoming the flesh and it is what will qualify us to reign with Christ.

Eze 11:17  Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.
Eze 11:18  And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence.
Eze 11:19  And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
Eze 11:20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.  

Eze 36:24  For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
Eze 36:25  Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
Eze 36:26  A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Eze 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

It is important to note that the Lord loves our gathering together more than our individualistic pursuit of the kingdom. That is what it means when the word of the Lord says that the Lord loves the gates of Zion more than the dwellings of Jacob.

Psa 87:2  The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
Psa 87:3  Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.
Psa 87:4  I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.
Psa 87:5  And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.
Psa 87:6 The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.

In the final analysis, as we mature through what every joint supplies, we shall surely become part of the New Jerusalem whose measurement depicts Christ. The number twelve is the number of Christ and the twelve gates, the foundations and the twelve angels are all to tell us that we shall all measure up to the standard of Christ as the Lord has promised.

Rev 21:2  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Rev 21:10  And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Rev 21:11  Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
Rev 21:12  And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
Rev 21:13  On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
Rev 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Today’s study focuses on the description of the chambers near the courts in terms of their situation and structure. It also touches on the uses of these chambers. Finally, the study shows us measurements of the area containing the house and the courts belonging to it.

The Passageway to the Chambers

Eze 42:1  Then he brought me forth into the utter court, the way toward the north: and he brought me into the chamber that was over against the separate place, and which was before the building toward the north. 

As indicated in the previous studies, the outer court is where everybody comes to worship. Our time in the physical churches of this world or Babylon is represented by worshipping in the outer court. This brings to mind the multitude praying in the outer court while Zacharias, the priest, who represents the elect, was worshipping in the inner temple. It was in the inner temple that he had an encounter with the Lord.

Luk 1:8  And it came to pass, that while he (Zacharias) executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,
Luk 1:9  According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
Luk 1:10  And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
Luk 1:11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

The north signifies judgement as shown in the following verses:

Jer 1:13  And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north.
Jer 1:14 Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.

Jer 4:6  Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction.

This implies that Ezekiel being brought into the outer court towards the way to the north is to tell us that we begin our walk with Christ in the outer court where we give the Lord the occasion for Him to come and judge us. As shown in the introductory section, the key focus of Today’s study is the rooms or chambers which were against the open area and the building on the north. As indicated in verse 13, these rooms represent our hearts and minds where the Lord resides and it is where we receive or eat the holy things which refer to the truth of the word of the Lord.

Eze 42:13  Then said he unto me, The north chambers and the south chambers, which are before the separate place, they be holy chambers, where the priests that approach unto the LORD shall eat the most holy things: there shall they lay the most holy things, and the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; for the place is holy.

When the Lord Jesus was referring to the fact that in His Father’s house there are many mansions, the mansions signifies the heart and mind of each of His elect. 

Joh 14:1  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

The separate place or the open area represents our liberty in Christ and the building towards the north symbolizes the inner temple which is accessed through judgement. Being brought into the room which was against the open area and the building on the north means that the Lord must have His throne in our hearts and minds to give us the liberty in Christ which comes through the Lord’s judgment. This liberty in Christ means we are no longer in bondage to the flesh.

Eze 42:2  Before the length of an hundred cubits was the north door, and the breadth was fifty cubits. 
Eze 42:3 Over against the twenty cubits which were for the inner court, and over against the pavement which was for the utter court, was gallery against gallery in three stories. 

The building whose door is towards the north has a length of an hundred cubits and a width of fifty cubits. The fact that the door was towards the north means that we can only access the inner temple or building through the Lord’s judgement of our flesh. The number ‘an hundred’ (100 = 10×10) show us the fulness of the flesh, and ‘fifty’ signifies our liberty in Christ. What these measurements mean is that to have access to the inner temple, which is accessed only by the priests, we must realize that we are the worse sinners as our sins have reached the heavens. That is what gives the Lord the occasion to come and judge us so that we can be liberated from the shackles of our flesh.

Jdg 14:1  And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.
Jdg 14:2  And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.
Jdg 14:3  Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.
Jdg 14:4 But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.

In verse 3, opposite the inner courtyard was an area of twenty cubits wide which was opposite the pavement of the inner courtyard which faces gallery upon gallery in three stories. These galleries are long, covered areas that are open on one or both sides and are used as corridors or walks. What this implies is that it is those who are ready to war against the flesh who are granted access to the chambers in three stories, since the galleries lead to the chambers or rooms on each floor designated for only the priests.

Eze 42:4  And before the chambers was a passage inward, ten cubits wide and a hundred cubits long, and their doors were on the north. 
Eze 42:5  Now the upper chambers were narrower, for the galleries took more away from them than from the lower and middle chambers of the building. 
Eze 42:6  For they were in three stories, and they had no pillars like the pillars of the courts. Thus the upper chambers were set back from the ground more than the lower and the middle ones. 

Verse 4 is telling us that there is a passageway of ten cubits wide and a hundred cubits in length, leading to the doors facing north. This is telling us that those who are privileged to have access to the chambers or rooms are those whose sins have reached the heavens or become full and therefore are being judged.

Rev 18:5  For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
Rev 18:6  Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
Rev 18:7  How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
Rev 18:8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

As we are aware, it is only the Lord’s elect or priests who are being judged in this age and therefore the rooms are specifically for the priests only. As indicated, these rooms or chambers represent our hearts and minds being a habitation for the Lord.

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1Pe 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

In the previous study, we came to know that there were 30 rooms in each floor. The fact that the rooms are arranged in three stories or levels is to show us that we grow in spiritual maturity through the Lord’s judgement. The number ‘thirty’ signifies those who have started to rule over their flesh. They are the ones whose hearts and minds are being prepared as a habitation for the Lord. Later, in another age, we shall rule the kingdoms of this world.

Gen 41:46  And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.

2Sa 5:4  David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

Rev 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

The three floors with thirty rooms on each level is therefore to make us aware that it is only the Lord’s elect who constitute the temple of the Lord and that as we are being judged, we grow in spiritual maturity from one level to another, and that we are perfected on the third day or floor.

Luk 13:32  And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

It is instructive to note that in verse 5, we are told that the rooms on the third floor are narrower than those on the first and second floor of the building because of the corridors that took more space away from them. The corridors on the third floor having more space is to let us know of the liberty we have in Christ as we grow in maturity. The fact that the rooms on the third floor were narrower compared with the first two floors is let us know that although we have the liberty in Christ, we are not to use our liberty to indulge the flesh.

Gal 5:1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Gal 5:13  For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Verse 6 deals with the structure of the three story buildings. It is not clear from the various versions of the Bible what was being said. All versions say that the rooms in the three stories do not have pillar support like the buildings in the courtyard. The CEV version gives an indication of what supports the three stories.

Eze 42:6  The rooms on the bottom level supported those on the two upper levels, and so these rooms did not have columns like other buildings in the courtyard. (CEV)

As indicated, the rooms represent the Lord’s elect. We can therefore look at the first floor as the work of the apostles which lay the foundation or pillars for us to build on.

Eph 2:19  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Eph 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Eph 2:21  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Eph 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Eze 42:7  And the wall that was without over against the chambers, toward the utter court on the forepart of the chambers, the length thereof was fifty cubits. 
Eze 42:8  For the length of the chambers that were in the utter court was fifty cubits: and, lo, before the temple were an hundred cubits. 

There was a wall parallel to the rooms and towards the outer court and it had a length of fifty cubits. The wall is that which separates those in the outer courts from the rooms or chambers of the priests. Being fifty cubits in length means that what separates us from our brothers and sisters in Babylon is our liberty in Christ. It is also worth noting that the length of the chambers that were in the outer courts was fifty cubits. This affirms the fact that what separates us from our brethren in Babylon is our liberty in Christ.

Gal 2:2  And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
Gal 2:3  But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:
Gal 2:4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

In verse 8, we are also told that the chambers that faced the temple had a length of an hundred cubits. This is to make us aware that the stumbling block to our hearts and minds being made the temple of the Lord is our flesh in his fulness.

Isa 59:1  Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;
Isa 59:2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

Eze 42:9  And from under these chambers was the entry on the east side, as one goeth into them from the utter court. 
Eze 42:10  The chambers were in the thickness of the wall of the court toward the east, over against the separate place, and over against the building. 
Eze 42:11 And the way before them was like the appearance of the chambers which were toward the north, as long as they, and as broad as they: and all their goings out were both according to their fashions, and according to their doors.  

The east signifies the beginning of the rise of the sun in our lives. This sun is our Lord Jesus Christ. When we start our walk with Christ, we enter the outer court. From the outer court, on the east end, there is a gate leading to the rooms meant for priests. It is when Christ comes to us while we are worshipping in the outer courts, that we are able to enter the chambers through the east gate. Entering the chamber means that our hearts and minds becoming a habitation for the Lord as the Lord rises in our hearts and minds.

2Pe 1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

Verse 10 shows us that there were rooms parallel to the wall of the courtyard on the south side. They faced the open area and the building. This suggests that the courtyard, which is where we start our walk, is such that unless the Lord intervenes, there is no way we can come into the chambers, that is, the Lord making a habitation in our hearts and minds. This is because the wall of the outer courtyard runs parallel to the chambers.

In verse 11, there was a walkway in front of the open area and the building which was like the one that was in front of the rooms on the north side. These rooms were as long and as wide as the northern rooms. They had the same exits, dimensions, and doors. The walkway being the same as the one in front of the rooms on the northern side means that from whatever direction or background that we are coming from, we must all face the judgement of our old man or flesh as the Lord makes His habitation in us.

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1Pe 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

Eze 42:12  And according to the doors of the chambers that were toward the south was a door in the head of the way, even the way directly before the wall toward the east, as one entereth into them. 

A simpler version of this verse reads:

Eze 42:12  The doors to the south rooms were the same as the doors to the north rooms. There was a doorway at the other end of the walkway that was parallel to the corresponding wall that ran eastward. People entered through that doorway.

The door to the south rooms being the same as the door to the north rooms implies that irrespective of our background, we all share the same experience with our walk with the Lord. The passageway to the chambers being parallel to the wall towards the east is to let us know that this pathway which the Lord takes us through to become His mansions or habitation is separate from our experience with Christ when we first believed. It is this pathway that the Lord constrains us to walk through to become His elect.

The Uses of the Chambers

Eze 42:13  Then said he unto me, The north chambers and the south chambers, which are before the separate place, they be holy chambers, where the priests that approach unto the LORD shall eat the most holy things: there shall they lay the most holy things, and the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; for the place is holy. 
Eze 42:14 When the priests enter therein, then shall they not go out of the holy place into the utter court, but there they shall lay their garments wherein they minister; for they are holy; and shall put on other garments, and shall approach to those things which are for the people. 

The verses here show us that the north chambers and the south chambers are holy chambers and they belong to those called and chosen as priests. As we have seen, the north represents judgement and the south means being in the land of trouble and anguish, where we are under the domain of the devil and his cohorts as they feed on our flesh.  This gives the Lord the occasion to come and judge us.

Jer 1:13  And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north.
Jer 1:14 Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.

Jer 4:6  Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction.

Isa 30:6  The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.

The north and south chambers therefore represent those who are being judged in this age. It is this people that the Lord is making their hearts and minds His temple to live in. It is in our hearts and minds that we imbibe the truth of the word of the Lord, which is represented in verse 13 as the holy things.

In verse 14, we are told that as priests of the Lord, we cannot go back into the outer court which signifies Babylon or the physical churches of this world. The garments that were worn by the priests represent our righteousness.

Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

It is only when we leave behind our garments, that is, lose our righteousness, that we can become part of the outer court. Becoming part of Babylon is the same as wearing other garments not recommended for the wedding feast with Christ.

Mat 22:11  And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
Mat 22:12  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
Mat 22:13  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

The Measurement of the Gates

Eze 42:15  Now when he had made an end of measuring the inner house, he brought me forth toward the gate whose prospect is toward the east, and measured it round about. 
Eze 42:16  He measured the east side with the measuring reed, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about. 
Eze 42:17  He measured the north side, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about. 
Eze 42:18  He measured the south side, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed. 
Eze 42:19  He turned about to the west side, and measured five hundred reeds with the measuring reed. 
Eze 42:20  He measured it by the four sides: it had a wall round about, five hundred reeds long, and five hundred broad, to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place. 

The East side represents our walk with Christ when He begins to rise within us. The measurement of five hundred reeds on the east side is to let us know that when our sins have reached their fulness because of the dominance of the flesh in our lives, that is when the Lord comes to us with His grace through faith.

Tit 2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching (chastening) us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

This grace is the Lord’s chastening which, through the faith the Lord has given us, we are able to endure to the end. The rise of the daystar within us is therefore through the judgement of the Lord.

2Pe 1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

The north side also had the same measurement as the east side. This is to assure us that this grace through faith that we have received involves the judgement of the Lord since the north signifies judgement.

The south side also had the same measurement. Being on the south side means that we are in the land of trouble and anguish where we are under the domain of the devil and his cohorts as they feed on our flesh.

Isa 30:6  The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.

It is this situation that we find ourselves in that the Lord comes to us with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness to cleanse our temple for Him to dwell in.

The west is where the sun sets. The west side therefore refers to our maturity in Christ as we come to fear the name of the Lord.

Isa 59:19  So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.

The west having the same measurement of five hundred reeds as the other sides of the cardinal points means that it is grace through faith that we mature to have the fear of the Lord. As explained, this grace connotes the chastening of the Lord.

The fact that all the sides of the temple area have the same measurement means that the temple area was a square. This implies that from whatever background we come from, our spiritual experience are all the same.

Ecc 9:2  All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.

In verse 20, the chapter concludes with the fact that there is a wall surrounding the temple area with the measurement of five hundred reeds in length and five hundred reeds in breadth. This is to remind us that it is when our flesh has reached its fulness that the Lord comes with His grace through faith to deliver us, and to makes our hearts and minds His sanctuary or temple. In verse 20, we are also given the function of the wall. It separates the sanctuary or the holy place from the profane place. What separates us, His elect, from the people of this world, including our brothers and sisters, is the five hundred reeds square wall. What we are being told is that the difference between us, His elect, and all others is this grace through faith that the Lord gives us when He comes to us in our spiritual poverty, when the deeds of our our flesh had peaked. As indicated, this grace is the Lord’s chastening. In other words, it is the Lord’s judgement of our flesh that separates us from all others.

Rom 5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Rom 5:3  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
Rom 5:4  And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Rom 5:5  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

May the name of the Lord be praised forever more. Amen!!