Ezekiel Chapter 44 Vs. 1

 

The Gate for the Prince

Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut. Eze 44:1

Then he brought... Then—after being informed about the dedication of the altar, the prophet was brought back to the east gate.

and it was... He found it shut, not to be opened anymore to the general public, except on sabbaths and new moons (Eze. 46:1-3), because of God entering through it in His return to earth and the new millennial temple (Eze. 44:1-2). It was to be for the private use of the prince though, that he might go in and out while living in the chamber of the east gate (Eze. 44:3).

The Lord has returned from the direction in which He departed (10:18-19). It is kept closed, in honor of the Lord’s glory having returned through it for the millennial worship and indicating that the Lord will not depart again (as in chapters 8-11). This eastern gate of the temple should not be confused with the modern sealed eastern gate of the city.

This is the gate that Jesus will enter, when He comes back to the earth as King of kings and Lord of lords. The Mount of Olives will cleave in two and Jesus will walk through this gate into Jerusalem.

The temple ministers

Ezekiel had been standing in the inner court of the temple, receiving instructions about the altar there (Eze. 43:5). Now he was led out of the inner court to the east gate of the outer court, and it was shut.