THE HOLY TEMPLE This chapter talks about: 1- A general idea on the temple and the city 1-4. 2- The outer wall 5. 3- Gateposts for guards 6-16. 4- The outer court 17-27. 5- The inner court 28-38. 6- The eight tables 39-44. 7- Chambers for singers and priests 45-47. 8- The vestibule 48-49. 1- A GENERAL IDEA OF THE TEMPLE AND THE CITY The Spirit of the Lord set the prophet Ezekiel on a very high mountain; on it toward the south was something like the structure of a very spacious city; that was at the same time the house of the Lord or His temple. It was called “a city,” as it is the dwelling place of the people, who are sanctified by dwelling with the Holy God, enjoying the glory of the Lord. And is called “a temple,” as it is the dwelling place of the Holy God, Who gathers His people around Him, sanctifying them, and glorified in them. The prophet Ezekiel ended his book by this vision, he mentioned in great and accurate details; that he came to enjoy after a life full of bitterness and continuous sighs, on account of the sinners who deviated from the law of the Lord; who, because of their persistence on abominations and blood shedding, the glory of God departed from their city, and even from His temple itself. Yet, it was impossible for the prophet Ezekiel to enjoy that vision, unless the divine Spirit carries him up to the top of a very high mountain; where he brings him to the holy city. It is as if the prophet was lifted up by the Holy Spirit to the heavenliness, through the union with the Lord Christ, who exalts us up to the bosom of His Father. This is the goal of our faith; and this is the end of our vision; it is even the mission of our Christ, to set us forth by the Holy Spirit to the tops of the holy mountains; exalts us in Him, to bring us into the bosom of His Father, to be in, and together with Him forever. How beautiful it is, for the prophet to end his message by proclaiming this joyful vision to his brothers, who live together with him under the humiliation of captivity, to provoke in them the memories of Zion, and its temple with its holy services, to motivate them toward repentance, to enter into a new temple through the Savior Messiah. Concerning this, Origen says: [Those captivated in that location said: “By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept when we remembered Zion” (Ps 137:1). Namely, they could not weep except after remembering Zion; as good memories causes man to feel the causes of his misery. Unless we remember Zion, and raise our eyes to the law of God, and toward the mountains of the Holy Bible, we shall not be able to weep1.] He was particular to say: “He set me on a very high mountain” (Ez 40:2); as he could not possibly climb that very high mountain, unless he is carried by God Himself; who lifts him up to the top. It is God’s work in us! There, “toward the south “ (Ez 40:2), Ezekiel saw, not a city, but “something like the structure of a city;” as it was not man- 1 In Num., hom 15:1. 7 made, nor built with worldly material, but it was something (like the structure of a city) built by the Lord Christ Himself; saying: “He took me there, and behold, there was a man whose appearance was like the appearance of bronze. He had a line of flax and a measuring rod in His hand, and He stood in the gateway” (Ez 40:3). He is the Lord Christ, who, by His Spirit sets us up on the top of the holy mountain, to bring us to the divine sanctuaries, to dwell in the heavenliness and enjoy them. And as Origen says: [Let our thanksgiving be for the coming of Christ who took our souls away from the earthliness, and transferred them to care for the heavenliness, and to contemplate on spiritual facts. He destroyed all that seemed great on earth; and transferred the worship of God from the seen to the unseen, and from the temporal to the eternal1.] He saw Him in appearance like bronze; namely, full of shine, splendor, and power, trampling Satan under His feet, and crushing him forever. That is what St. John the beloved saw: “His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace” (Rev 1:15). The prophet saw Him having a line of flax (linen) in His hand; that refers to His work in the life of His believers: sanctity and purity; and a measuring rod; that refers to the fact that He keeps His children, who are all known to Him (under His measurement) with no exception. Standing in the gateway, proclaims that there is no entry into that holy city except by Him; as He is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” He cries out: “I am the Door, If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture” (John 10:9). “There is no salvation in any other” (Acts 4:12). The prophet noticed that the city was set toward the south; as the people then, were in Babylon or around it by the River Chebar; captivated by people who came from the north; So He is now bringing them back to their land, the land of promise, toward the south. 2- THE OUTERWALL “Now there was a wall all around the outside of the temple. In the man’s hand was a measuring rod six cubits long and a hand breadth; and he measured the width of the wall structure, one rod; and the height one rod” (Ez 40:5). The first thing Ezekiel saw in that holy city or the temple of God, was the outer wall. As God provides us with His Holy Spirit, a fiery wall that keeps the human soul as His sanctuary; nothing foreign or unclean would approach it; His divine Spirit Himself keeps it from all sides. That wall also represents the spirit of Truth and discernment; the spirit that distinguishes between the divine holy life and the worldly life, attached to the love of temporal things. It is fitting for the believer to live sanctified for the Lord to have that divine Spirit, who leads him to know the Truth and to discern it from vanity; to know the righteousness of Christ, and discern it from the evil life; to accept in Him what is Truth, and what is Christ’s; and to keep out all what is foreign to the Spirit of Truth, namely is the Spirit of Christ. In the book of Zechariah it came: “‘For I,’ says the Lord,’ will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst” (Zech 2:5); All the fiery arrows of the enemy could not go through it. As to the measuring rod, there are two interpretations for its six cubits length: The 1 Ibid 23:1. 8 first interpretation, adopted by many, was that each of its 6 cubits, equals a regular cubit plus a handbreadth; namely, about 22 inches. The other interpretation, was that the measuring rod was 6 regular cubits in length, all plus one handbreadth. 3- GATEPOSTS FOR GUARDS The main gate is the one facing east; as it is the one leading to the sanctuary and the Holy of the Holies. Yet there are two other gates: one facing north and another facing south; with the same measurements like the one facing east; for all the world to enter into the sanctuaries of the Lord, with no discrimination between one nation and another, or between one race and another. These three gates refer to the Holy Trinity, through which the world enter into the holy city - the higher Jerusalem; namely, to union with Him; as man unites with God the Father in His Son through His Holy Spirit. These gates remind us of the twelve gates of the heavenly Jerusalem (Rev 21:13) - three gates on each side, that carry a general invitation to all believers in the whole world to come and enjoy the divine glories through the Holy Trinity. And as the Lord says: “Many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven” (Mat 8:11). On the side of each of the three gates there are 6 chambers: 3 on each side; small and equal chambers used by the guards. If the holy building refers to the believing soul that unites with God the Father in His Son by His Holy Spirit, to become a sanctuary for the Holy Trinity. These chambers refer to the persistent watch on every side or at every gate: the gate to the spirit; the gate to the mind; and the gate to the body; So that nothing unclean would approach the spirit, the mind, or the body, with all its senses and energies. But the Lord Himself would enter to sanctify man as a whole: spirit, mind, and body. And as the Lord Himself says: “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (Mat 25:13). If God is the wall of the soul and its gate, He is also the One who watches over it, without denying the responsibility of the soul and its positive role in strict watching; not only by guarding against evil, but also by accepting the entry of the Lord Jesus Christ into it, to enjoy a permanent unity with Him. Those little chambers are provided with beveled window frames in the gate chambers and in the intervening archways, all around on the inside. Through these little windows the watchman can look to the outside, to the inside, and upwards to behold heaven. It is as though those chambers are not only for watching, but also for enlightenment: enlightenment with the exalted heavenly things, enlightenment for the inner soul, and enlightenment for the outer behavior. They are little windows, counted as very weak, if compared to our enlightenment when we come to cross over to heaven itself. As to adorning the gateposts with palm trees; that refer to the righteous; as “The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree” (Ps 92:12). The palm tree was used as a unit in adorning the temple of Solomon (1 Kings 6:29); and its branches were used as a sign of triumph (John 12:13; Rev 7:9). The roofs of the chambers were in the form of archways, referring to the fact that everything in man should bear a heavenly impression. 4- THE OUTER COURT Around the court there is a pavement with 30 chambers facing it; to be used by the 9 people in the days of feasts; seven steps leading up to their doors. 5- THE INNER COURT To reach the outer court, man has to climb 7 steps; while to reach the inner court, he needs to climb 8 steps (Ez 40:31, 34, 37). As the more man approaches the divine presence, he is committed to rise up higher and higher, ascending by the Holy Spirit toward the heavenliness. If the people, in order to reach the outer court, have to climb 7 steps; the priests; to reach the inner court, have to climb 8 steps more. A priest is committed to live, not like the common people, but to have deeper experience, and a shining heavenly behavior; to be counted indeed as a minister to the Lord. St. Jerome was very interested in the issue of the 7 steps to the outer court, and the 8 steps to the inner court. He saw in the first, a reference to the Old Testament; and in the second a reference to the New Testament. By adding the two together, the total would be 15 steps, a reference to the ‘Psalms of Ascent,’ that we sing to lead us step by step until we enter the kingdom of heaven1. That is why those who cut the rocks for the construction of the temple were 70,000 and 80,000 men (1 Kings 5:15); namely men of the Old and of the New Testaments successively, who build the one holy house; being the holy temple of God. St. Jerome says that the temple had 15 steps; the High Priest stands on the uppermost one, followed by the priests, then the Levites. He also says: [Behold, how this temple simulates the heavenly temple; as a celestial body exceeds another in glory; so also is the resurrection of the dead (1 Cor 15:41, 42). Blessed is he, who is worthy of standing on the fifteenth step in the temple of the heavenly Jerusalem; the exalted level, that I presume, is reserved for the apostles and martyrs. Therefore, let us pray to become worthy to be, at least, on the lowermost step in the temple of the Lord. They stand on the different steps of the temple, to sing in harmony, one psalm and one thanksgiving to the Lord. The steps may be different, but the praise for God is one and the same. That is as far as the heavenly Jerusalem is concerned; but concerning our present days, I think we are here in this world to be edified every day of our life. If one of us is on the lowermost step, let him be encouraged to reach the next one. And he who is on the second step, let him hope to reach the third! Blessed are the martyrs, who were worthy to ascend to the highest steps at the top. As for us, living in this world, we cannot climb all the steps at once, from the lowest to the highest. But it is fitting for us not to stay on the first step, but to struggle to reach the highest steps... That, I assume, is the meaning of the ladder of Jacob, that he saw as he was fleeing from his brother Esau2.] St. Jerome probably saw in the 7 steps a reference to the Old Testament; as the figure 7 refers to perfection; the Law of God is perfect and flawless. The figure 8 refers to the first day after the week; namely to the new heavenly life; or the resurrected life (the Lord resurrected on that first day). We have already explained the symbolism of the two figures 7 and 8, in several occasions3. 6- THE EIGHT TABLES Eight stone tables were found, on which to slay the burnt offering, the sin 1 On Psalms, Homily 19. 2 On Psalms, Homily 41. . 3 تفسیر سفر الرؤیا، (رؤ 18 :13 )؛ آباء مدرسة الإسكندریة، 1980 ، ص 18 10 offering, and the trespass offering. These refer to spiritual heavenly sacrifices; as the figure 8 refers to the heavenly life, or that past the present one. These sacrifices are offered in the heavenly Christ Jesus, after cleansing the heart and the hands; the inner purification of both the soul and the body together. 7- CHAMBERS FOR SINGERS AND PRIESTS The sacrifice of the New Testament is going hand in hand with the continuous praise through the sacrifice of the Lord Christ. They are connected and integrated works: the sacrifice of praise and the liturgy of the Eucharist. They are actually one work; they are one spiritual heavenly praise, or let us say, one spiritual liturgy. 8- THE VESTIBULE Through the vestibule, man comes to the sanctuaries; so that nobody may approach God’s presence, haltingly and negligently; but with awe, he should quietly cross the vestibule; to forget all his worldly thoughts, and get ready to contemplate on the heavenliness. 11 AN INSPIRATION FROM THE BOOK OF E ZEKIEL 40 SET YOUR HOLY TEMPLE IN ME What can my soul desire, more than Your dwelling in it, O my Savior?! To make it Your holy temple, the work of Your hand?! Turn my heart into a holy city; In it, and in Your presence, Your angels and Your saints get together! In it, set Your holy temple; In which the soul worship You, rejoicing together with Your creation! Penetrate my depths; To make out of it, the very high mountain, that Your prophet Ezekiel saw. There, You hold in Your hand a line of flax and a measuring rod. You Yourself measure the temple to fix its dimensions! You are its Builder and Sanctifier! How beautiful is that wall, with which You surround Your house?! It is the fiery wall; trough which all the fiery arrows of the enemy cannot go! You are my wall, and the stronghold of my life! What are these three gates, through which all nations enter? But You, O the Holy Trinity?! All of us unite with God the Father, in His Son, by the Holy Spirit! This is the true Gate: Our Trinitarian faith! By it, we enjoy the life of worship, so that we live in the heavenliness! On both sides of each gate, there are six chambers for the gateposts. Three on this side, and three on that! It is the Trinitarian faith, that guards the soul, the body, and the Spirit! O Holy Trinity, sanctify my body with all its feelings! And my soul with all its energies, and my spirit with all its possibilities! So as to be altogether kept by You, and a sanctuary for You! How amazing You are, O my God! You are the Gate, and You are the Gate Keeper! By You, I enter into the sanctuaries; and in You, I take refuge against the adversary enemy. What are these numerous window frames in the building? But a sign of alertness, through them, the guard watches! They are a sign of enlightenment; through them we see the pledge of the heavenliness! What are these decorations? They are the palm trees, the signs of conquest and enlightenment! What is this beautiful archway? But a sign of the heavenly life in us! Grant me, O Lord, hope to climb the steps; to ascend the seven steps of the outer court; As Your believers in the Old Testament did, seeking perfection! And to climb the eight steps of the inner court; as Your apostles in the New Testament did, seeking what is beyond the time! Set in me eight heavenly tables; 12 To fulfill my soul; by You; O the Unique Sacrifice! Teach me to have my heart cleansed, and purified by Your blood; To be always worthy of Your feast! Set O Lord, chambers for singers and for priests, to connect the praise with the sacrifice; And to transform my life into a holy liturgy! Set a vestibule along which I quietly walk; through which I enter your temple; Thus, I cast aside the worldliness, and contemplate on the heavenliness! How amazing You are, O Who sets Your temple in me! How beautiful You are, O who dwells in me!
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