Ezekiel Chapter 40 Vs. 5

 

The East Gate to the Outer Court

And behold a wall on the outside of the house round about, and in the man's hand a measuring reed of six cubits long by the cubit and an hand breadth: so he measured the breadth of the building, one reed; and the height, one reed. Eze 40:5




And behold a... The 65th prophecy in Ezekiel (Eze. 40:5-48:35, unfulfilled).



Last prophecy in Ezekiel. Twenty-six Predictions—Unfulfilled:

1. The building of the millennial and eternal sanctuary (Eze. 40:5-42:20)—many details in this prediction

2. The return to the temple of the glory of God which departed at the time of the Babylonian captivity (Eze. 43:1-5 with Eze. 10:4)

3. The establishment of the eternal kingdom and throne of Messiah (Eze. 43:6-7)

4. Eternal blessing on Israel (Eze. 43:7)

5. God dwelling in the midst of Israel forever (Eze. 43:7, 43:9)

6. New laws of the temple given (Eze. 43:10-12)

7. Restoration of the great altar of sacrifice (Eze. 43:13-17)

8. New ordinances of the altar (Eze. 43:18-22)

9. New priesthood and worship

10. Dedication of the altar (Eze. 43:23-24)

11. Consecration of priests (Eze. 43:24-26)

12. New service of the priests (Eze. 43:27)

13. Shutting of the east gate (Eze. 44:1-2)

14. Instructions to the prince (Eze. 44:3)

15. New laws of the temple (Eze. 44:5)

16. New laws to Israel (Eze. 44:6-9)

17. Rebellious Levites to continue in punishment for their rebellion (Eze. 44:10)

18. New services of rebellious Levites (Eze. 44:11-14)

19. Faithful priests blessed (Eze. 44:15-16)

20. New laws to priests (Eze. 44:16-31)

21. Setting apart the holy oblation (Eze. 45:1-7; 48:8-22)

22. New division of land to the 12 tribes (Eze. 45:9; Eze. 47:13-48:7, Eze. 48:23-29)

23. New laws for all Israel (Eze. 45:9-12)

24. New worship in Israel (Eze. 45:13-46:24)

25. New and eternal river (Eze. 47:1-12)

26. New and eternal Jerusalem (Eze. 48:30-35)

one reed; and... A measuring reed was six cubits, but this one was based on the long cubit which is defined here as "the cubit and an hand breadth." A cubit was 18 inches long and the hand breadth, which is width of the hand at the base of the fingers, was a sixth of a cubit or 3 inches. So the long cubit was 21 inches and this reed was 10 feet 6 inches long. Therefore, the outer wall of the house, which was the outer wall of the outer court surrounding the temple, was 10 feet 6 inches tall and 10 feet 6 inches thick.

We are now, looking at the wall on the outside of the house which in reality is the temple. This outer wall is later described as a separation of the holy areas.

This could not be the heavenly temple since Ezekiel was taken to Israel to see it (verse 2). It could not be Zerubbabel’s temple since the glory of God was not present then. It could not be the eternal temple since the Lord and the Lamb are its temple. Therefore, it must be the earthly millennial temple built with all of the exquisite details that are yet to be outlined.



The angelic being with Ezekiel had a measuring rod… six long cubits, each of which was a cubit and a hand-breadth. A common cubit was about 18 inches long and a long cubit (probably the one used in Ezek.) was about 21 inches long So the measuring rod was about 10½ feet in length. The wall surrounding the temple was 10½ feet (one… rod) thick and 10½ feet (one rod) high. We are, now, looking at the wall on the outside of the house which in reality is the temple. This outer wall is later described as a separation of the holy areas.