Author Description

One of the most neglected portions of prophetic scripture is the temple vision recorded in the final chapters of the book of Ezekiel. But this vision is one that the church can no longer afford to ignore. It contains essential information for the end-time church because it is a depiction of that church and what it is to become under the final outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The temple vision of Ezekiel 40 to 48 was given to the prophet during a time of national crisis and calamity. Through apostasy Israel had forfeited the protection of God. The flower of the nation, its most promising youth, its leading men and women, were captives in Babylon. Solomon's temple was destroyed, Jerusalem lay in ruins and Judah was a desolate wilderness. Finally the land rested and enjoyed the Sabbaticals that had been denied it during the rebellion of Israel. But even while God's people were suffering the censure of God's displeasure the vision of Ezekiel pointed them forward to a complete reversal of fortunes and renewal of the divine favor. The vision reassured the repentant of the return of the presence and favor of God, pointing both them and us to the long awaited latter rain of the Holy Spirit. The prophet Ezekiel was shown a new, restored temple filled with the glory of God and Israel once again dwelling in peace and safety in their allotted inheritance at the final restoration of all things, the great and final Jubilee. The prophet Isaiah identifies this final Jubilee as the "acceptable year of the Lord"; the year of full and complete liberty from sin under the power of the Holy Spirit. But Isaiah also calls it the "day of vengeance of our God". Isaiah 61:1-2. Likewise, the temple vision, while it comforts us with the assurance of God's presence, warns of the consequences of being unprepared for God's next great move - the outpouring of the latter rain that ripens the gospel harvest. Fourteen years before this vision was given to Ezekiel he was shown in a similar vision the glo