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The forty fourth chapter of Ezekiel bears witness to the fact that the Lord was communicating with the captives in Babylon concerning a temple in Jerusalem which He would assist them in building. The order of worship which was common to that under the Law would be reinstated. The legitimate priesthood would be restored, but only after repentance on their part and a work of restoration performed by the Lord. The Levites who had forsaken the Lord upon their receiving correction from the Lord would be restored to their proper place in offering sacrifices to the Lord, under the old order and only while it was in effect. Eze. 44:8-14 The Levites, the sons of Zadok (meaning, righteous) Thus illustrating that only those who were righteous before the Lord would be used of Him. Eze. 44:15-31 The special rule of clothing and separation unto the Lord as given to Aaron and his sons was to be practiced in this temple as well. The Law of righteousness and clean living before the Lord is laid before them in chapter forty-five. The Lord was every trying to establish them in His Law. Chapter forty-six covers the order of the sacrifices and offerings which were to be brought unto the Lord.
If anyone in this Gospel dispensation would have understood the building of a new temple and the restoration of the form of religious ceremony which was conducted there, it would be the Apostle Paul. But, he wrote of a new covenant and the exclusion of the old. Stating that it was old and decaying and in his day, ready to vanish away. Heb. 9:11 He also declared that the Lord Jesus through His sacrifice abolished the law of commandments which were contained in ordinances that there might be but one, that is a new man, a man with the peace of the Lord dwelling within him. Eph. 2:15 Again he approached the question of the Law by saying that Jesus took the handwriting of ordinances which are contrary to mankind by nailing them together with Himself on Calvary. Col. 2:14 The Law was but a shadow indicating that there was something in existence which was the cause of a shadow being cast. In this case, that person casting the shadow was the Lord Himself, for, in and through the Law He made known His holiness. Heb. 10:1.
Why would the Lord restore in the end of the age something which never gave Him any pleasure. Heb. 10:8 The revelation of the Lord to Ezekiel was for that day and time and indicated to them the desire of the Lord to be able to communicate with them, that they might indeed become His people. Now, through the efforts of one man, the Lord Jesus, He has established a new and life giving way, therefore because of having received of the nature of the Lord we live the Word. It must become an integral part of our worship before the Lord. Like the changing of the fashions of the world, the old is out and the new is in. It is the Lordís order of the day. Heb. 10:20.